Gabriel Nelkin, an alum of SAR High School and The Moriah School, grew up in Englewood, attending Kehilat Kesher with his family. This year, he is at Yeshivat Migdal HaTorah in Modiin, where he hopes to learn and grow before heading off to Brown University to study physics and astronomy.

Why were you drawn to Migdal HaTorah and what makes it different from all the other programs you considered?

Well, for starters, Migdal is not in Yerushalayim; it is in Modiin. Some people may feel they are missing out but I don’t feel like that.

I don’t know how to phrase it but Migdal felt very right to me. It just felt like the most relatable place for a massive nerd like me who is really into science but also a religious Jew. Migdal absolutely felt like the place for me. We do not just learn gemara all day but also are very dedicated to philosophy and the pursuit of knowledge in all areas. Learning about the world through science or philosophy is encouraged. So Migdal just called out to me.

How does Migdal allow you to express your love of science?

Every Sunday night at 8:30 I go to the class you teach, Science and Torah. You give a little presentation on a topic in science and math and then connect it to philosophy and religion. So far we have discussed things like free will and are now moving on to intelligent design.

During my free time I have been modeling the two body problem of physics on desmos, and a lot of the other nerds find it just as cool, which is really awesome.

Is there any particular rebbe that you personally connect with?

Obviously, our rosh yeshiva, Rabbi Ginsberg. He just sort of has this magnetic pull that draws you in when he talks to you. You really feel like you’re learning from him and that he cares about you and your growth. But also my shoel u’mashiv, Rabbi Weisz, has really helped me in morning shiur because my Hebrew and gemara skills aren’t the best. Rav Weisz really helps out with a charming smile.

What is your favorite shiur at Migdal HaTorah?

The Kuzari shiur with Rav Herzog and philosophy with Rabbi Ginsberg are definitely my favorite so far, and I don’t mean to imply anything negative about the other shiurim. The Kuzari is interesting, but the teacher is just as important, and Rav Herzog is great. He has a really engaging teaching style.

Outside of learning, what else do you enjoy doing in Israel?

I used to go into Jerusalem to meet up with friends and explore, and that was really fun; shout out to Pizza Time. We got a chance to meet up only once, but I hope to start going out again soon [because I] do not want to stay in Modiin all the time. I came to Israel to connect with it and explore. I hope to start going out for Shabbat and seeing all the places Israel has to offer. Run fast, explore more, and persevere is my motto.

What does a typical Shabbat look like for you?

I have been in for most Shabbatim and it’s been great. We get Friday off and there are no Blue Laws here, which is awesome. Stores are open and I can get errands done.

I come to Migdal for davening, dinner and cholent. I really enjoy singing Kabbalat Shabbat with my friends. I also really love playing One Night Werewolf with my friends on Friday night and on Shabbat afternoon. It’s a social deduction game where everyone is trying to figure out who is lying and who they can trust, so it’s a very Migdal game. I once had a game where I really trusted someone, and after 20 minutes of debating with the other players, I lost the game and learned that he was lying the entire time, which was really funny.

What has been the highlight of your year so far?

Going to the Old City and participating in an archaeological tour. It was fun to explore the tunnels in the dark, until a family came in with flashlights. Also meeting up with my friends over Chol HaMoed was amazing and I hope to do it again. It was so cool to see them all again and catch up on our year so far. But being here and learning is also a highlight. There’s no one thing that I can point to because I would feel sad to say there is just one peak. I have a bunch of great experiences here and it’s all amazing.

How do you think this year will prepare you for the rest of your life?

Next year I will be going to college and it would have been a massive jump from life at home to college, so Migdal is a good way to get a sense of taking care of myself and be independent. I do my own laundry and have to be responsible for myself. We don’t have dorms; we have apartments that we need to keep clean.

Anything you want to tell people at home?

I am not living in a war zone, I feel very safe in Modiin. I have only heard two sirens in the past month. Modiin is very far from any conflict so I feel very disconnected from the war and I’ve been struggling with that. But there is no reason to be worried. I came here for the year, and I am going to be here for the year.

Sam Savetsky of Bergenfield is a shana bet student currently studying at Yeshivat Migdal HaTorah in Modi’in.