|
Alumni Shabbaton 5770
Parshat Vayakhel-Pekudei/HaChodesh,
March 12-13 in Woodmere
|
|
|
HaRav Ami Merzel
|
|
|
 
Over the years we have received numerous requests from recently married alumni for special permission to join us at the Shabbaton.
Starting this year, there is no longer any need for special permission.
We invite all of our alumni and their wives, and we will do all we can to make your Shabbaton experience as enjoyable and meaningful as possible, including separate "couples" tables.
ALUMNI SHABBATON: The Annual Alumni Shabbaton will be Parshat Vayakhel-Pekudei/HaChodesh, March 12-13 in Woodmere.
Please register as soon as possible - CLICK HERE!
After Monday, 3/8/10 housing will not be guaranteed. Please contact
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
.
In addition to Rav Bina we will be joined by;
Rav Amos Luban, Rav Chizkiyahu Nebenzahl, Rav Yoel Rackovsky, Rav Zvi Ron, Rav Ami Merzel and Rav Ariel Cohen!
  
By Eliyahu Rosen, from Chicago, attended Netiv Aryeh 2002-2004, and is currently learning in Yeshiva Gedola of Washington Heights
As the faces of Netiv Aryeh Alumni shuffled into DRS from the wintery March tundra of the Five Towns for another Alumni Shabbaton, there were jubilant high fives and “haven’t-seen-you-in-a-while” handshakes galore. Even as famous Israeli musician, Eitan Katz, was leading a breathtaking Kabalas Shabbos, the familiar sound of guys slapping each other’s backs as they embraced could be heard littering the periphery of the Beis Medrash.
It was clear to all 230 people gathered for Shabbos that everyone was delighted to be rejoined with old friends and acquaintances, but everyone’s favorite (if not close second) Netiv Aryeh family member, Rav Nebenzahl – aka Moshe Rabenu according to Rav Bina – made an anxiously anticipated appearance at the Shabbaton as a special treat for the alumni. “Seeing him here just makes me feel all tingly inside,” commented overjoyed alum, Alan Lobemann (03-06).
Shabbos dinner was replete with cramped benches, good food, exuberant singing, and most importantly—Netiv Aryeh’s famous family-esque aura permeating every corner of the room. “The tremendous feeling of a big warm family is impossible to ignore; half the people here don’t even know each other—you can’t find this anywhere else,” remarked the recently married Bobby Faigen (02-04) after dinner.
As if that wasn’t enough to evoke those long-lost feelings of the good old days, dinner was followed by a Netiv Aryeh-style oneg complete with heartfelt singing and an inspiring speech from Rav Bina about the importance of remaining “connect” to Yeshiva. “It was like being back in Yeshiva again—if only for just one Shabbos.” verified Daniel Waltuch (04-06).
Shabbos morning brought with it the distinct honor and unforgettable privilege to hear Rav Nebenzahl lain the entire double parsha, followed by his 65th siyum ha-shas. Even though this was my second time being present for one of Rav Nebenzahl’s Siyumei ha-shas, the moment he recited the words, “Hadran Aluch Kol HaShas” a stampede of goose bumps traversed my spine. Suddenly the mellow hush of the cars outside and the 200 people in the room seemed to disappear; for a moment everyone there was catapulted into the life of someone who’s entire existence is devoted to Torah. Watching him makes you realize that everything in this world, no matter how pressing it may seem, pathetically pales in comparison to the importance to a life of Torah. To say it was an awe-inspiring moment would be a terrific understatement, but one that really characterizes the tone of the entire Shabbos. (Rav Nebenzahl also made a Siyum on all of Tanach later in the weekend).
Perhaps the most anticipated part of the Shabbos, however, was after lunch when all of the Rebbeim – including Rav Bina – sat in the Beis Medrash just to talk to alumni – ranging from young to slightly old – eagerly seeking the advice and directive wisdom that guided them through their time in Yeshiva, and will continue to foster their personal growth for life, please G!d. This classic Netiv Aryeh custom speaks volumes of the undying care and support all of us receive from our Yeshiva, as all of us know that no matter where we are – geographically or in life – there is a staff of gifted Rabanim there anxious to guide us.
Shalosh Seudos and Rav Eisenstein’s fiery speech about learning with Emes topped off the Shabbos, and left everyone with exactly what they came for—inspiration. This was, in fact, the pervading theme of the Shabbos, and we all owe a tremendous amount of gratitude to Rav Bina & Co. for leaving their families in order to keep our Netiv Aryeh family together; we all know how difficult it is and we surely appreciate it—Shabbos, and the rest of the year for that matter, wouldn’t be the same without them.
by Yossi Davis (5767)
After a nine hour flight, I was exhausted. As I got through customs, rescued my luggage from baggage claim, and walked outside on to the Netiv Aryeh bus, the warm bus ride lulled me to sleep. Still tired, I awoke to the sound of horns blasting and without even looking out the window, I somehow knew that I was in the Old City of Jerusalem. I do not remember what happened next because it was all a blur: there was mincha at the Kotel, paperwork, pictures, a Gemara test, my first look at the dormitory rooms, and "the speech." For anyone who has ever started Shana Alef as a student at Netiv Aryeh, you know what "the speech" is. Nothing could have prepared me for it. It was the first time that the legendary Rosh Yeshiva, Ha'Rav Bina Shlita, spoke to the entire incoming Shana Alef year.
I will never forget what Rav Bina said to everyone that day. He told us that when we decided to enroll in Yeshivat Netiv Aryeh, we had really just enrolled in a jail. To tell you that I was astounded would be an understatement. What had I gotten myself into!? In case I had not heard him the first time, Rav Bina felt the need to repeat himself: "This place is a jail...but it is a jail with a lot of love." Even though I am a year removed from my stay in Yeshiva, I am still "doing my time."
Judging from the huge turnout at this past Shabbat's Alumni Shabbaton in Woodmere, New York, I think it is safe to say that I am not the only one. It was overwhelming to see over 150 past students, some that I had never seen before, and others that I had not seen in too long a time. It was nice to see Rav Bina, Rav Eisenstien, Rav Ami, and the newly appointed assistant Rabbi of the Old City, Rav Chizkiyahu Nebenzahl, who each came from Israel. It was interesting to see how some people changed while others stayed the same. Although the setting was different, I felt like I was back at Yeshiva. There was learning going on in every corner of the DRS high school beit midrash, shiurim were offered throughout Shabbat, there were some funny alumni stories, the food was good, and the company was great. The one thing that I missed the most from Yeshiva, however, was the incredibly passionate singing that would take place during Friday night onegs with Rav Bina and at Chug. So, when it came time for the oneg last Friday night I was excited.
While the singing at the oneg was great, it was surpassed only by a great speech from Rav Ami. In his talk, Rav Ami gave a parable about a very poor man who could barely feed his family and decided to travel to an island where there were diamonds all over the ground. When he first arrived to the island, the natives looked at him like he was insane for collecting diamonds. Diamonds, they told him, were worthless on the island and that if he wanted to collect something valuable, he should collect chicken fat. After establishing himself as the island's leading chicken fat collector, the now rich man returned home to his family with ships full of chicken fat. Understandably, his family was shocked and upset. Throughout the rest of the Shabbat, Rav Ami and Rav Bina each called the students their diamonds, which they wanted to take with them from the island. While I understand their explanation of the parable, I would like to take this idea of a diamond further: if I, a Netiv Aryeh student am a diamond, then my rebbeim are all diamond cutters.
As Rav Bina has said many times, "The talmidim need Yeshiva and Yeshiva needs the Talmidim." When my friends and I, as well as many other students, arrived at Yeshiva, we were very much like inmates in a jail who had to be improved and perfected. Essentially, we were diamonds in the rough. We went through an entire year (or more) of intensive chiseling, shaping, and shining. By the time we had left Yeshiva, to our rebbeim we had become beautiful diamonds that they had personally crafted. To them, we were pristine.
Diamonds are beautiful when they are new, but they tend to lose some of their sparkle as the years go on. The beautiful thing about the rebbeim at Yeshiva is that whenever a student feels like he needs a quick shine, the rebbeim go back to work. These shabbatonim and alumni events are opportunities for students to continue their polishing, a process that will never end. It really is a life sentence. We must always be striving to improve ourselves and to grow in our torah. We must always be looking for that extra shine.
As a past student, I understand that the rebbeim think I am one of their diamonds. What I hope they understand is that without them, I would still be just another diamond in the rough.
by Yossi Davis (5767)
Another year, another beautiful Netiv Aryeh Shabbaton. Just as expected, there was a great turnout (over 250 alumni according to Rav Bina) and of course, great company. With all of the Rabbeim the Yeshiva brought in from Israel, it was impossible not to be excited. As Rav Hirschhorn put it, it was simply amazing to see all of the alumni, from just about every year of Yeshiva, uniting. All the hard work that Sam Bienenfeld and Jason Goldschmidt put in to coordinate and run the event (from soup to nuts) paid off.
After Mincha there was no looking back. There was a spirited Kabbalat Shabbat in the DRS High School Beit Midrash followed by a brief welcome by Rav Bina, and a massive dinner, during which Rabbi Dr. John Krug gave a powerful speech on the importance of unity and hard work. After a dinner of catching up with rabbeim and friends, there was an incredible Oneg back in the Beit Midrash, where Rav Hirschhorn gave an inspiring speech about taking up the reigns, together as a united group, as the leaders of the future.
In the morning, Shacharit was extremely uplifting, and towards the end of davening, Rav Ariel Edelstien gave a nice shiur. After the end of davening, there was a delicious lunch and a great speech by Rav Ami Merzel. Following lunch was Mincha and a very nice shiur by Rav Eisenstein. During the down time immediately after, alumni had a chance to speak to the Rabbeim, go to a fantastic oneg with Rav Chizkiyah Nebentzahl, and learn. Right before Seudah Shlishit, Rav Yoel Rackovsky spoke about the importance of taking something new out of every experience, especially when the experience seems the same. Then, just when the zmirot were winding down, Rav Bina spoke about a wide range of topics, including the importance of shalom bayit.
By the end of Shabbat, everyone had gained some torah and a great, memorable Shabbat. As Rav Bina always says, just as the Yeshiva needs us, we need the Yeshiva. As Ma'ariv ended, and havdalah had been said, everyone walked away having enjoyed yet another beautiful Netiv Aryeh Shabbaton.
|
HaRav 
HaRav Chizkiyahu