Taking advantage of the break from classes, the MTA leadership traveled to Israel to reunite with the many young alumni who are currently studying in yeshivot throughout the country. Over 90% of MTA graduates spend at least one year in Israel, with about 50% choosing to study at one of the hesder yeshivot of Har Etzion (Gush), Hakotel, Kerem B’Yavneh and Sha’alvim.

Over the course of the week, Head of School Rabbi Josh Kahn, Rosh Yeshiva Rabbi Michael Taubes, Director of Israel Guidance and Maggid Shiur Rabbi Avraham Shulman and Executive Director Shuey Jacoby traveled to each of the many yeshivot to spend time catching up with each of the shana aleph and shana bet alumni. Even though this is Rabbi Kahn’s first year at the helm of MTA, he was fortunate to get to know last year’s senior class over the course of his many visits once he was selected by the search committee and Board of Trustees.

On Motzei Shabbat, the visit culminated with a massive melave malka at the OU Center in Yerushalayim where the class of 2016, as well as some member of the class of 2015 (and even some members of the class of 2017 who were just visiting), gathered to reconnect. Rabbi Taubes and Rabbi Kahn shared brief words of Torah, as did Yoni Schechter (’15) and Shimmy Socol (’16), who both shared their continued appreciation for their MTA experience and the lifelong brotherhood it entails.

“It was really wonderful getting to see all the MTA faces,” said Zev Markowitz (’15) of Bergenfield, NJ, who is currently studying at Yeshivat Sha’alvim. “The connection with MTA really does last long after we don the cap and gown.”