Last week, 17 MTA sophomores boarded a plan to Tel Aviv for their school’s annual student exchange program with Yeshivat Makor Chaim in Israel. Each year students from MTA spend about six weeks at the prestigious Yeshiva Makor Chaim, located in Kfar Etzion and founded by the legendary Rav Adin Steinsaltz. As soon as they landed at Ben-Gurion Airport, the students – along with Maggid Shiur Rabbi Shalom Richter and program director Mrs. Tova Fish Rosenberg, were greeted by Ashi Taragin, the boys’ head madrich for the duration of their stay.

After davening, the group began with a tour of various sites in Yerushalayim. First, they stopped at Yeshivat HaKotel where they tore k’riyah upon seeing the site of the Kotel. They then toured the old city, venturing through the Kotel tunnels and experiencing the Machon HaMikdash museum.

During the students first few days in the yeshiva, they slowly grew acquainted with the unique and special atmosphere. After spending time singing, dancing, and learning with the Makor Chaim students, they quickly felt at home in the Jewish homeland. The MTA students’ schedules include chaburahs and singing with a couple of the madrichim, MTA alumnus Menachem Weber (MTA Class of ’11) and the aforementioned Ashi. The students also heard a shiur from Rav Dov Singer, the Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshivat Makor Chaim, who explained that true teshuvah requires a communal acceptance of the issue as well as brainstorming about practical solutions.

The experience physically lasts for about five more weeks, but the emotional and spiritual experience of this program lasts for a lifetime. At the culmination of the students’ stay, they plan to return to MTA with a number of Yeshivat Makor Chaim students. The Israeli exchange students will work continuously with all students in the school, as well as school leadership, to further enhance the programming and the ruach.