After davening on Tuesday, Yeshiva University High School for Boys (MTA) Dean of Student Life Rabbi Jon Green formally welcomed the visiting Israeli exchange students from Yeshivat Makor Chaim (YMC). For the past nine years, MTA has sent 10-15 of its students to YMC for a six week, once in a lifetime, opportunity and received four to five students from YMC in return. After a one day delay in arrival due to an El Al pilots strike, the four YMC students—Zvi Blank, Eitan Dekel, Jonathan Lewis and Ishai Lifshitz (or the “MC4” as they have come to be known)—arrived, alongside the returning MTA students.
Though Rabbi Green welcomed the Israeli students during davening, it was only the beginning of what was to be an inspirational welcoming ceremony. After davening, the entire 11th grade was invited to a gala breakfast with the MC4. The breakfast consisted of bagels and cream cheese, and orange juice and doughnuts, and was topped off with great divrei Torah, songs and stories. Head of School Rabbi Joshua Kahn briefly greeted the boys and introduced Rosh Yeshiva Rabbi Michael Taubes who talked about the opportunity MTA has at its doorstep; the MC students are ready to infuse MTA with their unique energy, enrich MTA chagigot with new sparks of ruach, and enlighten MTA students’ Shabbatot as they initiate their weekly kumzitz before mishmar every Thursday night. Rabbi Taubes mentioned that MTA has a great chance to learn and draw inspiration from the visiting MC students. Yossi Baumol, director of development and public relations for YMC, who helped chaperone the students during their travel, described to the 11th grade the mission of Yeshivat Makor Chaim- namely, to find Hashem in davening and learning, but just as importantly, to find Hashem in friendships and emotional connections. He explained that this was MTA’s opportunity to learn from the Israeli students what YMC has instilled in them and to grow as a school. Finally, the Makor Chaim exchange students spoke. They related a story written by Rebbe Nachman, sending the message that although MTA is ready to learn from them, they are just as ready to learn from MTA. Rabbi Baruch Mendelson, Maggid Shiur of the 11th grade shiur in which the MC4 will spend the next five to six weeks learning, ended off the event by teaching everyone a song. Though it was only the beginning, the 11th grade was inspired and excited for the next six weeks.
