On Thursday evening, November 17, the busses took off for the Raleigh Hotel in upstate New York, packed with students for the annual Yeshiva University High School for Boys (MTA) yeshiva-wide shabbaton. A special surprise greeted the students in the hotel’s main ballroom. The surprise consisted of performances by a contemporary poet, followed by an amazing, laughter-inducing hypnotist. Afterward, the talented Mr. Jacob Bernstein, Instructor of Jewish History, incredibly designed an “Escape the Room Challenge” for groups of students to participate in. Students also had time to relax, swim in the pool, play mini hockey and then enjoy a midnight barbeque.
The excitement continued Friday morning. After davening and a short but inspiring shiur by Maggid Shiur Rabbi Axelrod, students had the opportunity to bowl with Associate Principal Rabbi Schenker and Ptach Maggid Shiur Rabbi Blackstein, hike with Mr. Sragow or play in the annual massive flag football tournament expertly organized by Maggid Shiur Rabbi Pearl. This year’s tournament championship featured an epic battle as Executive Director Shuey Jacoby’s team fended off Head of School Rabbi Josh Kahn’s team to claim the crown.
In addition to being joined by the rebbeim and their families, as well as some of the general studies teachers and their families, this year MTA was also joined for Shabbat by alumnus and singing sensation Mordechai Shapiro, who led an incredible kabbalat Shabbat, Friday night tisch, mussaf and zemirot throughout. His havdalah to close out Shabbat was perhaps the capstone of the entire event. One of the most beautiful moments of Shabbat was when Mordechai sang along with ninth graders and alumni of Miami Boys Choir and Yeshiva Boys Choir, respectively, Tzvi Simchon and DJ Wartelsky, along with members of the school’s chorus.
On Friday night, programming included a modified shiur with each rebbe, as well as a special and hilarious “Newlywed Game” for freshmen and sophomores hosted by Maggid Shiur Rabbi Kessel, and “Shiur Feud” for juniors and seniors.
Shabbat day programming included—in addition to the massive kiddush, lunch and shalosh seudot—a special advisory workshop with the many young college mentors that came along. In the afternoon, there were optional shiurim, board games, mini hockey, and, of course, the option to just rest.
After Shapiro’s incredible Havdalah, the shabbaton concluded with the screening of a senior produced video and an exhilarating melave malka, with singing, dancing and food. The weekend was inspiring for all involved and the students will, undoubtedly, carry this experience for the rest of their lives.
