MTA Yeshiva Fellowship Students Enjoy Pennsylvania Shabbaton
MTA Yeshiva Fellowship Students Enjoy Pennsylvania Shabbaton
MTA Yeshiva Fellowship Students Enjoy Pennsylvania Shabbaton

Fellowship Students Enjoy Pennsylvania Shabbaton

A few weeks ago, MTA’s Yeshiva Fellowship program held its much anticipated Shabbaton at the Mount Laurel Resort in White Haven, Pennsylvania. The weekend kicked off with learning and dinner on Thursday night at Congregation Beth Abraham in Bergenfield, where the boys began studying the first perek of Makkos, which they would complete over the course of Shabbos. On Friday, the Fellowship boys headed to Coastal Sports where they enjoyed a day of indoor sports, including archery tag, a new game called “tchoukball” and bubble soccer. From there, they went to the hotel where they prepared for an exciting and uplifting Shabbos.

After an inspiring Kabbalas Shabbos, they sat down for a special seudah filled with lively zemiros and a stimulating dvar Torah from Eli Szafranski. They then returned to the beis midrash for another seder, which was followed by an oneg. Rabbi Axelrod introduced an original niggun, which has since become the unofficial Yeshiva Fellowship niggun. Afterwards, there was more learning, ping-pong, billiards, talking with rebbeim, and just hanging out with friends.

After davening and Kiddush on Shabbos morning, the beis midrash was once again filled the with a beautiful kol Torah as the boys continued chazarah on Makkos. The seudah on Shabbos day featured divrei Torah from Noam Josse and Izzy Klavan. Shabbos was capped off with an inspiring shalosh seudos filled with uplifting zemiros and divrei Torah. Another religious group at the hotel commented as to how inspired they were by our moving zemiros and the special kol Torah that emanated from our beis midrash.

On motzaei Shabbos, there was an exciting melaveh malkah which doubled as a chazarah siyum on the first perek of Makkos. The event featured music, singing, and lively dancing to conclude an inspiring and enjoyable Shabbos.

Thanks to the families who generously helped sponsor the Shabbaton, as well as Rabbi Danto, Rabbi Axelrod, and Rabbi Pearl who worked hard planning and implementing this incredible weekend. The boys are also grateful to Meir Levy, Reuven Penn, and Jack Alkhabaz who helped prepare and serve the food during Shabbos.

New Head of School Rabbi Josh Kahn Spends Time at MTA

Hours before Rabbi Josh Kahn was officially announced to the broader public as the next head of school at the illustrious yeshiva, Rabbi Kahn was formally introduced to the Yeshiva University High School for Boys (MTA) faculty. Senior Vice President of Yeshiva University Rabbi Josh Joseph described the search process and how excited the committee and board of trustees were to welcome Rabbi Kahn. RIETS Rosh Yeshiva Rabbi Yaakov Neuburger, who is close with Rabbi Kahn from the Bergenfield community, then introduced Rabbi Kahn by describing his exemplary middos, warm personality, and leadership skills as a ben Torah. Finally, Rabbi Kahn shared his vision and passion, after which Rabbi Taubes shared his own excitement of the hire, having had the opportunity to spend much time with Rabbi Kahn over the past couple of weeks. Mrs. Miriam Goldberg, chair of the YUHS Board of Trustees, concluded by thanking the faculty for their continued support and patience throughout the search process.

On Monday, Rabbi Kahn made his first official visit! At Shacharis, Rabbi Kahn received the kibbud of an aliyah, and he then spent the day meeting with faculty, school leaders, and students. He spent the time getting to know them and hearing their thoughts and interests, and gathered information as to what people loved in MTA and what areas they thought could be improved. The boys are looking forward to many more of Rabbi Kahn’s visits of the following months, until his official start date of July 1.

Rabbi Mendelson’s Shiur Spends Shabbos in Brooklyn

Rabbi Mendelson’s shiur had their annual Brooklyn Shabbaton, on March 18-19. Accompanied by the four Makor Chaim boys, the weekend kicked off with a tour of the Living Torah Museum on Friday morning. The boys were shown many ancient historical artifacts as well as the smallest kosher sefer Torah in the world, which is amazingly just a few inches long. After lunch at Mendelssohn’s Pizza (not associated with Rabbi Mendelson!) and bowling, the boys prepared for Shabbos at their hosts and then headed to Rabbi Mendelson’s shul, Kehilla Marine Park, for Kabbalas Shabbos.

After the first seudah at Rabbi Mendelson’s house, the shiur had a tisch and heard from Rabbi Tzvi Twersky, who spoke about the significance of the number 40 in Tanach. On Shabbos day, following the second Shabbos seudah, the shiur was entertained by three skits–put on by Rabbi Mendelson, a few boys from the shiur, and the Makor Chaim boys–which had been prepared earlier in the week. A gala shalosh seudos was held at Kehilla Marine Park with a special shiur on the topic of “Gambling in Halachah” by Rabbi Mendelson.

On motzaei Shabbos, the shiur went to a karate dojo where the boys practiced kicking and punching, and also learned basic self-defense from knife attacks, a prevalent issue in the subways and unfortunately in Israel. Next, they headed back to the Mendelson home, where they enjoyed a pizza, french fries, and ice cream melaveh malkah that featured a second skit and a schmuess from Rabbi Mendelson, as well as some interesting words of Torah and history by Rabbi Brownstein. To cap off the night, they had a kumzits that included an inspiring story from Rabbi Mendelson.

The Shabbaton was a meaningful experience for the whole shiur, who bonded together and with Rabbi Mendelson. Additionally, it was the shiur’s final opportunity to spend time with the Makor Chaim boys before they returned to Israel on Monday. The boys would like to thank the Mendelson family, and especially Rebbetzin Mendelson for all her hard work and preparation.

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