Last Sunday morning, after a restful “out” Shabbos spent with families and friends, the Yeshiva University High School for Boys (MTA) Makor Chaim students met at the famous Malcha Mall and the action picked up immediately. They split into pairs and took pictures of depictions of the ten plagues, the most Israeli types of food and other unusual subjects as part of an hour-and-a-half scavenger hunt through the mall.
After a few days of regular classes (with several exciting night activities and special shiurim sprinkled in), the boys spent Wednesday afternoon at the Yad Vashem Holocaust Museum. As they later discussed around the table with their Av and Eim Bayit at the yeshiva, the experience was eye-opening and inspiring in many different ways. There was a profound sadness felt seeing the lost world of European Jewry, and a sense of purpose ignited by the shrine in memory of the million plus children lost in the Holocaust.
On Thursday night, the students attended an all-night mishmar, providing an experience of learning, singing, dancing and chicken soup.
While there is a lot to look back at from this past week, the MTA students are already looking ahead to the next week. On Friday, they will be heading into Yerushalayim to visit the Israel Museum. They will be spending Shabbos in Alon Shvut, with a kiddush and an oneg hosted by ramim from Yeshivat Har Etzion. The schedule for next week also includes a tour of Tel Azeka, crawling through the Bar Kochva caves, watching and even performing shechitah, and, of course, the regular Makor Chaim program.
Mrs. Tova Rosenberg, Director of Makor Chaim Exchange Program reports, “Everyone who is working with the MTA boys have only the highest of praise for them, they are serious students actively participating in all activities and discussions. At the end of the two-and-a-half hour tour of Yad Vashem, the tour guide complimented them on being so attentive and polite. What a credit to MTA to have such an incredible group of students! The tour was excellent and it was so nice to have had some of our students’ fathers join us.”
