THE BANQUET!!

Goodbye YK Tsfas....farewell to those wonderful times.....

LETS JUST CALL IT "THE GRANDEST GRANDABLE GRAND TRIP!!"

THE GRAND TRIPS WAS SO.......I DONT EVEN KOW WHAT TO SAY... JUST SO ABSOLOUTELY AWESOME AND FULL OF FUN, SO IIIINTENSE AND ABSOLOUTELY IIIIIIIINCREDIBLE I CANT EVEN DESCRIBE. POSHUT 4 FULL DAYS (and those days were long. we woke up at like 4:00 every day) OF NON-STOP ACTION PACKED EXCITEMENT, BARELY ANY SLEEP (read absolotuely zero sleep), FARBRENGENS AND MOST OF ALL, A BEAUTIFUL WAY TO END THE BEST SUMMER OF MY (and i'm sure everyone else's also) LIFE. FROM CLIMBING MASADA (in like 150 degrees with our favorite tour-guide Gilli and) TO THE DEAD SEA (the dead sea actually works.... haha..... you really float) , FROM MEARAS HAMACHPEILA TO SHABBOS IN CHEVRON, FARBRENGING WITH THE STAFF TO FARBRENGING WITH SHLIACH-TO-CHEVRON RABBI DANNY COHEN, FROM SPEAKING TO SOLDIERS TO TAKING A TOUR OF CHEVRON AND REBBETZIN MENUCH ROCHEL'S KEVER( and meeting Baruch Marzel and some other cool guys) , FROM AN AWESOME SHOW BY ILLUSIONIST SHLIACH RABBI VIKTOR ATTIAH (i totally know how he did that...) TO A PIZZA PARTY, FROM SPENDING 4 HOURS ON A 3 STOREY YACHT WITH MUSIC AND DANCING ( Leibel Hecht literally danced for 4 hours straight) TO SLIDING AND SWIMMING IN EILAT'S BEAUTIFUL WATERS, FROM PARASAILING (incredible)  TO TUBING (even more incredible), FROM GETTING PIZZA DELIVERED ON THE BOAT TO DRIVING TO MITZPEH RIMON FOR SOME CAMEL RIDING (yoah, camel riding is haaevily wierd), FROM RAPELLING DOWN THE CRATER (and getting screamed at by the instructors....not very comforting when youre rapelling down 200+ feet) TO ARCHERY (with real bowss and arrows), FROM A BEAUTIFUL BBQ TO A SEDER  NIGGUNIM AROUNFD THE BONFIRE, FROM DRIVING TO 770 KFAR CHABAD TO VISITING ROEBERS FACTORY. THEN FINALLY SITTING DOWN TO A CHOSHUVE, HOOKED UP BANQUET KIDEBA'I L'MEOVAD (here all the staff got their staff gifts-a megillah in a beautiful case) WHERE THE AWARDS WERE GIVEN OUT AND SONGS WERE SUNG. I WAS QUITE TEARY-EYED (or maybe i was just sweating) AT THE END WHEN THE BOCHURIM LOADED THE BUSES AND IT WAS TIME TO SAY GOODBYE.

 CHEVREH, HATZLACHAH RABBAH WHEREVER YOU WILL BE NEXT YEAR AND MAY YOU GROW UP TO BECOME CHASSIDIM, LAMDANIM AND YIREI SHAMAYIM.

  B'IKAR MOSHIACH NOW!!!

SHWARMA IN THE HOUSE!!!

LISTEN TO THIS . WE HAD SHWARMA. BUT WE DIDNT GO GET IT. WE DIDNT EVEN HAVE IT DELIVERED.  WE HAD THE ENTIRE STORE OF SHWARMA YERUSHALYIM MOVE TO YESHIVAS KAYITZ, SET UP SHOP AND MAKE EACH BOCHUR A SHWARMA "LEFUM SHIURAH DILEIH." BOSS!! JUST A REGULAR SUPPER IN YK TZFAS!!! (or not)

"I DONT THINK WE TOOK THE RIGHT PATH" trip

THAT WAS SOME ADVENTURE!!! Here in YK Tzeirei Hashluchim we forget the old regular paths and forge new ones (blaaa .....blaaa .....) We went to this place called Chatzbani  for whatwas meant to be a beautiful scenic hike next to the natural spring. But, instead of taking the regular path next to the water we went straight in and walked through the water the whole way. Now don't think this was some ankle deep puddle where you just get your socks a bit wet, this was full-on white water rafting.Without a boat. We walked through rapids, swam against the current and tumbled down waterfalls. All i can say is, it was iiiiiintense. Then we rolled off to the Syrian, Lebanese border to a place called Ben-Tal which is a legit strategic outpost with a full-on bunker (which we got to check out) and telescopes overlooking Syria. We also met some bored UN guys "armed to the teeth" with radios and binoculars who were convinced that thanks to them Israel has been safe since somehing like 1267. Then we finished off the day with a smashing Seder Sichos and a farbrengen for a bochur's birthday.

FRIDAY MIVTZOIM

Nothing like Mivtzoim in Israel. We literally conquered all the places around Tzfas with mini-busses heading all around. We b"h got 66 tefillin and had a great time, arriving back to experience our last shabbos in the holy city of Tzfas

BREAK-FAST/DANCE NIGHT

Tisha B"Av was highly inspirational and meaningful day in YK Tzfas. After the fast ended we had an iiiincredible Seudah which led into a spontaneous dance night with DJ Leibel Hecht.  

COLOR WAR!!!

What? COLOR WAR? in YK Tzfas? . Nooo, this is a mature color war. Designed for Bochurim, full of toichen and chassidishkeit. No screaming and cheering like kids (...ummm...yea.....forsure....whatever....) Whatever it was (or wasn't) Color War Black Diamond 3.0 (don't ask why its called that, its a head staff secret) was totally off the charts. We packed it in to one and a half days of non-stop-action with tons of different things for all Bochurim to get iiinvolved. We had  halachah skits, toichen sppeeches, a photography competion, a cooking competition, grammen, scavengers, songs and of course 3 great, great plays. The 3 teams were named appropiately for the 3 main things in a Bochur's life, namely Team Limmud Hatorah, Team Darkei Hachassidus and Team Mivytzoim which correspond to the 3 factions in every army, namely the air force, the navy and the infantry division (עיין התוכן ספיטשעז ). Color War culminated with a grand farbrengen in the zal and you knoiw what they say, "whether we lose or win the judges go in..."

AVARAHAM (or ibrahim)?

Woooow this guy is iiintense. Avraham (formerly Ibrahim) was born a muslim in Lebanon and was a spy for the Israelis in Hezbollah for 17 years. Now he's a frum yid living in tzfas, and he came to share his life story and lessons with us.  Incredible stuff!!!

T.O.T. SUSHI NIGHT

WHO EVER HEARD OF SUSHI IN ISRAEL? WELL T.O.T HOOKED IT UP

MIvtza T.O.T (Taste Of a Tomim) had an evening of "tomim tasting" make-your-own-sushi,  with many different types of sushi and sauces. Boruch Hashem T.O.T is rocking away, tons of bochurim are iiinvloved, learning chitas bentching with a hat n' jacket, krias sheam al hamitah, amongst many other things that makes a tomim who he is. Also by the event we were also treated to an Intelligence Officer who came and spoke to us.

SHHHH.......... WE SMUGGLED SOME PICS OF THE TRIP........SHHHHHH.......DONT TELL THE MOSSAD

Thanks to 30 year naval commander Mr. keshahayiti batzava Dudu, and our dear menahel klali Eli it was arranged for us to go on a trip to visit a full-on active IDF navy base where we were treated to full on in-depth viewings of many battle-hardened-sea vessels topped off with a tour of the Israeli navy flagship, the "INS Eilat"  worth $3 000 000 000 (at least that's what the soldier said.) The rest of the information about the navy base is classified and is only revealable in 20 years. Then we went to one of the most beautiful place in Israel, "Rosh Hanikrah" where we cable-carred down to witness the marvelous caves that were created by the water over many years and also were treated to a delicious lunch

FRIDAYS TRIP!!!

Due To The Sensitive Nature Of The Place We Visited, No Pictures Were Taken

A "Poshuter Mitvoch" with boating AND biking AND swimming AND bbq

Wedneday started off a regular day but then, WABAAAAM straight after lunch we were told to pack our camelbaks, get bathing suits and head on the busses for an absoloutely waaaasome trip of biking, banana boating, swimming and barbecueing. First, the biking was some crazy trail on a kibbutz through fields and orchards on a haaaaevy offroad trail. Then, shvitzing like anything we bussed over to the Kinneret for some chilling double banana boating for double the fun. Then to top it all of we headed to our favourite "Dudu's Pool" in Chatzor where we did swimming, had a bbq for supper  and played some sports. All that on a "Poshuter mitvoch" in Yehsivas Kayitz Tzeirei Hashluchim.

Pssssst.... i heard theyre taking us to some secret place on friday...... dont tell anyone...... Eli and Dudu hooked it up...shhhhhh.....lights out.....let the parties begin..........

EVEN MORE YERUSHALYIM PICS Davening, Kosel tunnels, and "Ir David"

YERUSHALYIM TRIP CONT.

After an inspirational-uplifting-awesome-elevating-stimulating-chassidish-whatever-other-word-that-describes-something-totally-wwwawwwsomme shabbos, where we had seder niggunim and davened by the kosel on friday night, had a tour of the old city on shabbos day, farbrenged, learned a maamor-bal-peh (not to  mention we had awesome accommodation in an awesome location 5 minutes from the Kosel,) and took a Yeshivah picture against the Kosel on Motzei shabbos, we split up into 2 groups, one group to go on a magnificent, beautiful, stirring night-time tour of the Old City's wall's with our very own tour guide Gili, while the other group rocked over to "Kolel Chabad's Pantry Packer's" factory to do some chessed and pack rice and beans for the needy all the while using these cool machines and factory equipment to do the packing. They saying we're waking up at 6:00 tomorow morning again. When are we ...yaaawn ... suppossed to sleep ...yaaaawn..on this trip?...zzzzzzz

YERUSHAHLYIM, HERE WE COME

WOW, Our Yerushalyim shabbos trip was iiintense. We started off waking up at 5:30 in the morning, davvened, fueled up on shokos, pounded some danishes and hit the road. We arrived in Litron at the armored corps base where we got a tour, checked out all the tanks and armored vehicles and watched a video about the armored division. We also took a picture of the ENTIRE camp standing on 1 tank. We then time-machined backwards some 2 000 years ago to Bar Kochbas caves, and went through tunnels that were so narrow we had to CRAWL the whole way through. Then we set off again to Kever Rochel and afterwards we headed to Yerushalyim to prepare for Shabbos. 

So far this trip is  so good, it literally cannot get get better (oh, you bet it got better)    

a (not so) regular day.

In Yeshivas Kayitz even a regular day is packed full of excitement. The chayusdike davenings, shiurim with our incredible learning teachers, fabulous meals (prepared by our very own shin bet investigator, code named Itzik,) intense league games (and i mean IIIINtense) with the best players drafted from all over the globe, and the various Mivtzahs run by our devodicated staff members, TOT, Rambam, Seder Sichos etc.. all make me wonder what do we even need trips ("outings") for.

Rabbi Shimon and Kabbilistic Wine

After staying up the whole night learning Zohar and farbrenging (at least the staff were,) we went to mikvah early in the morning and set off on our 3^rd TRIP IN LESS THAN A WEEK AND A HALF to the Tzion of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai in Meron. After meeting up with some Na Nach guys bouncing on top of a truck we went inside, davvened mincha and said some tefillos. Afterwards, to prevent anyone having “Klois Hanefesh” we rocked out lunch “kideboi Le’miovad” with food imported from all around the world. We then set off to the Lebanese border and after making sure the area was secure we went to” Galil wineries” for a tour and some wine tasting (more like Kiddush making.) To be honest, I’m still pretty dizzy from the experience. 

Wine Tasting

Trackteronim ..

This trip just took the cake!! A hike to start off brought us an awesome view of the Golan heights (and a little too close to Syria for my liking) and when we stepped back on the bus, we thought the action was over. Really, it was just beginning....Now when Israelis drive you always feel like you're on a rollercoaster, imagine ATVing with staff!! Well that's what we did, and when I stepped off that thing I was covered in sweat and pumping with adrenalin!! Toning it down a bit we cooled off at "dudu's" swimming arena(complete with volleyball, soccer and football courts) and enjoyed a delicious BBQ of various rare cuts of turkey(only in Israel). The rest was a blur... Maariv... Lights out...hamapil...sleep.

Yud Beis/Yud Gimmel Tammuz.

Here in tzfas yud beis/gimmel tammuz didn't just mean no tachnun. Birthdays from a bunch of staff and campers added to the spirit along with the 2 new mivtzos of rambam and Seder sichos. A video of the rebbe was shown on yud beis night followed by a farbrengen the next night discussing the special day and it's connection to us. Getting straight to work, the zal was full with bochurim(and farbeisin!!!) shteiging away over a sicha marking the beginning of the new mivtzo of seder sichos. My eyes are nearly drooping when I hear music to my ears...tomorrow...TRIP!!!

Motzai Shabbos

That’s what a Shabbos should look like!! Mamorim baal peh, farbrengens and talks on all different concepts in yiddishkeit all culminated in a beautiful seder niggunim at a point overlooking the whole Tzfas. Melave Malke was celebrated on some original Israeli pizza (with sesame seeds!!) where we got to meet our captains of the Shlemus Haaretz sports league with

The teams are being announced tomorrow. I’m sure I’ll be 1st pick…….

1st Trip!!!

Once canteen opened time really started flying and soon it was Friday and our 1st trip!! 1st stop was a grueling 3 hour hike with some awesome views of the region and some (random but) interesting information given by our tour guide, Aryeh.  BTW, it gets HOT over here! So a dip in the kinneret was the next practical option (though some guys needed some encouragement), followed by a shopping spree at the nearest food store (I’ve never seen so many hechsharim in my life!!). It doesn’t get better than making a siyum on Ramabam at his Kever , so back in camp late Friday afternoon we were on a high, ready for Shabbos!!

1st Day!!!

AT LAST!!!!!צפת

After an exhausting trip(with a stop in Moscow) we finally arrived in Ben Gurion Airport, with some of us still not sure if it was Monday or Tuesday. After meeting our bus drivers and munching our turkey sandwiches we really started to feel like were in Israel. Arriving in camp we got the typical speech from Rabbis Hecht and Rosenfeld about behaving ourselves and making the best of the summer or else…..(and I really don’t want to do that flight again), followed by a delicious supper served by our main man chef Avi. Lights out came all too soon after I parted with my beloved phone, but I crashed on my bed with a smile dreaming of the awesome summer approaching…. Wow!! Morning already!! Our counselors are shouting something about krias shma and I'm up and running with shoko in one hand and teffilin in the other for shachris. Anyway, my learning teacher(who Rabbi Hecht said are from the best in lubavitch) is waiting for me to start shiur. Gotta go….