The Rest of Chanukah at DEC

Monday night (2nd night of Chanukah) both R' Sheftel and the Rosh Yeshiva had shiurim for their respective afternoon shiurim. On Tuesday night it was morning seder's turn with R' Gittleman and R' Mendel both entertaining.

Here is a photo of the yeshiva singing Ma'oz Tzur on the 3rd night of Chanukah in the DEC beis midrash. The boys lit their personal menorahs in the Richard Gersten Memorial Library.

From Wednesday until Sunday the yeshiva had a brief ben hazmanim. Some students took the opportunity to travel, others spent time with parents and friends that were visiting Israel over Chanukah, but others stayed in Yeshiva and continued learning -- albeit with a less intense schedule. R' Gittleman's shiur continued to meet in the morning and some students stayed in the shiur room and continued on, long after their rebbeim had gone home....

Monday we were back to normal. R' Wolff and his shiur made a siyum on the 8th perek of Gitten and started the 9th. We are looking forward to students to step up their learning and chazarah as we enter the main stretch of winter zman about 9 weeks until Purim.

1st Night of Chanukah at DEC

Chanukah is one of those turning points of the year. Since Sukkos the students have been gradually picking up the learning. It's time to celebrate our accomplishments during Chanukah, and the light of Torah She'Bal Peh.

Sunday night, the first night of Chanukah, the Derech Etz Chaim mesibah was at R' Binyamin Wolff's house at 6:30 PM.

We had some suprise guests, like alumni Ari Galster, whose new yeshiva apparantly doesn't throw an awesome Chanukah party like DEC.

We also had R' Schwartzman, grandson of R' Aharon Kotler, who happens to be R' Wolff's upstairs neighbor, give us a shiur on "Why do we celebrate Chanukah?"

There is nothing better to work up an appetite like a shiur from R' Schwartzman!

After some lasagna, quiche and latkes, R' Betzalel Gersten gave a d'var Torah about the need to "fill our flasks with more oil" than our ancestors may have in order to "last the long, cold, windy night". Madrich and alumni Yaakov Rose brought along his guitar and filled the night with Chanukah songs.

R' Wolff finished off with a d'var Torah and plea to the students to identify all the "bags of gold" around them and gather them up while they still can.

R' Moshe Eliyahu, who also lives in the neighborhood, stopped by to visit and to endulge his "sweet tooth" with a sufganiah.

The Land Down Under

No, I'm not talking about Australia -- I'm talking about the caves of Eretz Yisrael. Yair, or the Caveman, as we like to call him, takes the yeshiva students to explore the caves outside of Beit Shemesh. Below we have the Caveman posing with shana alef Jeffrey "Mendel" Small.

It is completely dark in the caves. Students bring flashlights or use their cellphones to maneuver around the caves. Often they will turn off the flashlights and have fun groping around in the dark trying to carefully make their way through the "obstacle course' like tunnels inside the caves.

Likewise, photos in the caves are complete guesswork as flashes go off hopefully capturing a good picture. Here is a random picture of Rafi and Joey in the caves. The snow-like effect is caused by dust that circulates through the poorly ventilated caves.

If you can make out the triangular indentations in the wall, we were taught that these are actually nests for birds that come in and out of the caves, made by those that once inhabited the caves. Throughout history in Eretz Yisrael, caves like these were where many Jews hid to escape religious persecution -- l'havdil, similar to what we hear about today in places like Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Although the caves are cool, both literally and figuratively, it feels good to make your way to an exit and squint out at the large world out there after such a claustrophobic experience. Here shana bet Uri Henig squeezes out of one of the caves doorways. Come on guys...give a Uri a hand and help him out of there.

Someone's in the DEC Kitchen

Another great perk of DEC is that Kitchen is open for the students to use. Budding B'nei Torah have a chance to work on their culinary skills and perfect their chulent recipes. Above we have Nechemia with the oven mitts on and wide-eyed Jack just can't wait to rip open that bag of potatoes and get that chulent cooking.

Now every so often, as boys will be boys, the students may lose their kitchen privlidges from time to time, usually for making a big mess and not cleaning up after themselves, or snacking on prepared food in the kitchen that was supposed to be for yeshiva meals. But usually the perpertrators have a sit down with Mrs. Katz and/or Chef Doni to go over proper kitchen procedures and pretty soon the Derech Etz Chaim kitchen is vibrant with our students homemade recipies once again, like Avraham Trieger's...uh....what is that...donuts?...fried bagels?...I'm sure whatever it is tastes deeeeeelicious!!!!!

Golan Shabbaton

One of the Shabbatons that we look forward to every year at Derech Etz Chaim is the Golan Shabbaton. The yeshiva spends the Shabbos in the town of Nov and trades the urban Har Nof for a peaceful weekend in the rural Golan. It is so beautiful up in the Golan, sometimes it's hard to find our way back to Jerusalem

We don't have too many pictures from Shabbos, but we have a few from the Thursday and Friday that we spent up at the Golan. Although it is breathtaking to hike around the Golan terrain, and visit interesting historical battle sites, the students always find the Golan Winery to be the most enjoyable of all. Nechemia please give someone else a turn.

Students get to taste test different Golan wines and act as wine connisores whafting in the fruity wine aroma and swirling it around in their wine glasses. Below we have from left to right: Jeffrey Small, Alex Bistritz and Yitzy Fox learning about some of the finer points on Kosher wines.

And here is a final picture of a beautiful Golan sunset
Photo Credits: Avraham Trieger

The Derech Etz Chaim Connection

One of the most wonderful things about being a student at Derech Etz Chaim is that relationships with rebbeim and talmidim last a lifetime. A talmid at Derech Etz Chaim becomes an exclusive member of an extended family with R' Aharon Katz as our rosh yeshiva and patriarch.

When R' Katz comes to the United States to meet with potential DEC students around the country, he makes time to visit with Alumni. These days there is a giant cluster of alumni in Kew Gardens Hills, both at Lander College as well as THE HOUSE on 147-09 75th Avenue, which is home to DEC alumni working or going to graduate school in the area and basically functions as the non-official DEC Frat House.
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We are used to seeing R' Katz give his shiurim around the table, but this past Thursday night THE HOUSE living room became the setting for the alumni shiur. There were over 25 students in attendance and another 10 other alumni were live online sending in questions and comments. Morris Isaacson, one of the alumni arrange for the shiur to be live webcast, but if you missed it you can still catch it online at the following link

Another example of the connection of DEC alumni is when our talmidim get married. The custom has developed to not just invite individual friends from your year in yeshiva, but all DEC talmidim from all years of the yeshiva's existence

Two recent examples come from Josh Musicante Year 5 whose wedding is coming up IY"H in Baltimore on January 18th, as well as Ben May Years 5 and 9 (as madrich) whose wedding is scheduled IY"H for March 1st in London. These events become mini DEC reunions as rebbeim and talmidim get together and simcha dance for the chassan and kallah.

Mazel Tov to Josh, Ben and all of us. We look forward to seeing ourselves at these simchas and many more...

Are You Ready For Some Football...

Here we go again. Another great start to another great season of DEC Football. Our record of 6-1-1 puts us in the top tier and after tonight's results are re-tabulated perhaps into the top 10. You can always check on the AFI website which seems to have more up to date results than the DEC Football Group on Facebook.

The photo above is Derech Etz Chaim's tribute to the Purple People Eaters. From left to right we have Jack Goldberg on defensive line, Adam Siebzener at middle linebacker and Yakov Hill as outside linebacker.

(Although though I admit its a little bit backwards as we are eating the purple people and we are not people eaters that are purple - although come to think of it we have enough Pittsburgh guys in our yeshiva who wear Steelers jerseys that I could have said the Steel Curtain) - sorry about all these references to 1970 football, but I assume you guys know your football history)

You know people get this wrong impression about our yeshiva DEC is only a football powerhouse, but that's nonsense. We are a powerhouse at basketball and softball also and we challenge anyone, anytime, anywhere as long as it doesn't conflict with morning, afternoon or night seder!!!!

And one thing is for sure. DEC knows how to celebrate after a big victory...

Trip to Mitzpeh Rimon -- Day II

Hooray for Derech Etz Chaim!!! When you have lots of time in a machtesh in the middle of the Negev desert there is plenty of time to gather large stones and spell out the letters DEC for future generations.

Day 2 of our Tiyul to the South featured jeeping and rappelling. During the jeeping Itamar and Alon took us to different parts of the Machtesh and explained how it was formed.

We took the jeep up the rocky part of V'ridim summit that overlooks the entire machtesh. We also learned about the different stones, limestone, clay, sandstone, flint, volcanic rock, etc. how they got there and how they are used

Rappelling (or in Israeli slang snappeling ) featured Assi (short for Asaf) the enormours Israeli Commando who demanded our respect, (especially Pinchas Schwarzbaum). He was our anchor that made sure we didn't fall off the side of the mountatin as shown below by Jack Goldberg

Not everyone was up to rappelling as some had a fear of heights or one of many lame excuses. Kobi Schwartzbaum volunteered to go first and after a crash course from Asi learned how to disconnect everyone from the rope when they got to the bottom. Everyone else from Group II of rappelling are pictured below from left to right: Yaakov Hill, Josh Corcos, Chaim Margolese, Jack Goldberg, R' Betzalel Gersten, Avraham Treiger and Yoni Calabrese
The long and the short of it: 6' 6" Josh Corcos and 5' 7" Chaim Margolese each showing us that when it comes to rappelling, you only have to be tall enough for your legs not to touch the ground.

Photo Credits once again to Avraham Treiger and joint praise for the winners of the daily trivia question: Yaakov Rose and Uri Henig

Trip to Mitzpeh Rimon -- Day I

At the end of bein hazmanim, right before Derech Etz Chaim begins its intense winter z'man, the yeshiva travels to Mitzpah Rimon for the first of our four overnight tiyulim. We left yeshiva about 9:30 and got to the Machtesh by 12:15 and immediately davened Mincha.

The Machtesh is a natural wonder that is similar to a crater, but was formed completely through erosion instead of any other cause like a meteorite. Only five are known to exist on Earth and are only found in Eretz Yisrael (Although is a matter of dispute)

Fearless tour guide Danny Sokol, our chovesh Gershon, and R' Betzalel accompanied the yeshiva students though the heart of Machtesh Rimon. We marveled at the different landforms that are carved out throughout the Machtesh, the dry river beds and the panoramic views. Pictured above from left to right we have Josh Gersten, Rafi Abraham, Adam Tepler, Yissie Kramer and Uri Henig.

Shana alef Alex Bistritz (pictured above with Joey Hamaoui) entertained us with some amazing free climbing on the giant rocks. Someone (we won't say who) illuminated a bonfire in the highly regulated and ordinanced National Park and we all enjoyed the warmth and camaraderie as we sat around the fire in the late afternoon. After the hike we headed to our hotel accomodations at Ohr HaDarom for dinner, Maariv and downtime in Mitzpeh Rimon

Photo credits go to shana alef's Avraham Treiger, pictured here with his cousin Jack Goldberg with a nice view of the Machtesh below. Also credit to Kobi Schwarzbaum for correctly answering the daily trivia question.

Simchas Torah at DEC

After a month at Derech Etz Chaim our students have already covered the first perek of Gitten in bekiyus seder. After an uplifiting Rosh HaShana and Yom Kippur and V'Samachta B'Chagecha Succos, it was time to sing, dance and celebrate with the Torah.

At Derech Etz Chaim, the students observer 2 days of Yom Tov which means 4 sets of 7 hakafot. Although sometimes it gets exhausting the Rosh Yeshiva remarked how this year was the most energetic and leibadig Simchas Torah in recent memory.

To keep the excitement going, on the second night we encourgaed the guys to take to the streets. Even though the festival was over for the DEC staff, the rebbeim joined the yeshiva boys for hakafot shniyot. The boys also "crashed" a hakafa with our next door neighbor Machon Yaakov

Shana Bet on the Beach

After spending a year of learning in Israel, one of the most monumental decisions a student can make is to stay Shana Bet. After a year of breaking bad habits, fine tuning life goals and developing learning skills, Shana Bet is about blasting off in the rockship that you have built Shana Alef shooting for the stars.

Shana Bet brings with it a lot of responsibility. It is important to be role models for the Shana Alef students, to bring the ruach on Shabbos meals and Onegs and to set the tone in the Beis Midrash. At Derech Etz Chaim, Shana Bet is synonomous with R' Zalman Gittleman and R' Moshe Eliyahu Rosenbaum, the morning Iyun shiur and the afternoon Bekiut shiur, respectively.

Shana Bet has its priviliges as well. Above Shana Bet students Yeruchum Pliner and Adam Siebzener join R' Moshe Eliyahu for Shabbos in Netanya. Here they are returning from the private beach on Friday, after an opportunity to say Tashlich and relax by shore.

Working Up An Appetite

At Derech Etz Chaim, our students develop a strong hunger for Gemara and a thirst for Torah knowledge. Naturally, this spiritual appetite of the soul manifests itself in the physical appetite of their digestive systems.

Here we have shana bet students (left to right) Yeruchum Pliner, Adam Siebzener, Sam Ash and Meir Gersten loading up on refreshments before sitting down to review the first perek of mesechet Gittin in R' Moshe Eliyahu's shiur

Tiyul to Ein Gedi and the Dead Sea

Our first full-day tiyul started off in Ein Gedi. Our fearless tour guide and DEC alumni Danny Sokol took us through lots of water on a very hot day in Ein Gedi. The views were stunning, but more importantly, the guys got to see first hand where all of their Ein Gedi water bottles come from.
We all got back in the bus and headed a little further south to the Dead Sea. We round a pretty deserted spot on the beach and we all went in for a float. Below we have Adam Siebzener, Avraham Trieger and Joshua Gersten showing off the Dead Sea's buoyancy powers.


We finished off the evening with a barbeque on the beach. The guys had an awesome time. Yeruchum Pliner, a shana bet student said that the tiyul was probably the best tiyul he had ever been on since coming to Derech Etz Chaim, then he paused, thought for a minute and said, "Well, maybe tied with the Golan tiyul at the end of last year."

On the Derech - Off to a Great Start

The students trickled in on Monday and got settled in. By Tuesday we had our first morning seder. Below is R' Mendel holding court in his newly renovated shiur room, with from (left to right) Rafi Abraham, Sean Littman, Jeffrey Small, Jeffrey Mally, Jack Goldberg
Next we have R' Gittleman learning with Adam Siebzener the first blatt of mesechet Gitten, waiting for the other shana betters to arrive. Look at R' Gittleman's face shine with joy over another zman of learning at DEC

What do Michael Deutch, Akiva Keningsberg and Meir Gersten all have in common? They all have had R' Sheftel as a morning seder chavrusa in DEC over the past three years - a very prestigious honor. Here is Meir in full gesticulation causing R' Sheftel to ponder his explanation.

The New Home of DEC

We are excited to start our 11th year of DEC in a new home. We (mostly Shmulik) have been renovating over the summer and we hope the new group of shana alef boys enjoy and appreciate the new building (we know the shana bet students will). Alumni will appreciate the larger beis midrash and cheder ochel when they come visit. Much thanks to Rabbi Katz, Zack Eisner, Raimy Rubin, R' Sheftel, Betzalel, Yaakov Rose, B.J. and everyone else who helped with the move.

Most of our address is the same. 12 Ibn Danan instead of 4. Part of the Ma'alin B'Kodesh approach we profess. We appreciate the shana alef guys "roughing it" a little bit while we complete all the final little details over the next week or so.

The Golan Excursion

On June 18th and 19th Derech Etz Chaim headed up to the Golan to finish the zman. The students were accompanied by rebbaim R' Aharon Katz, R' Sheftel Weinberg and Betzalel Gersten.

On Wednesday we headed to Nachal El Al, a leisurely hike with a waterfall at the center. Here we have Eli Mirlis at the edge of the waterfall looking for a barrel to take the fast way down the gorge.

Below we have Dani Meisels who was snapped posing with some bovines who seem to have no problem handling the terrain on hikes like these.

You really feel in touch with the land, walking the paths of the ancients -- that is until you arrive at the makolet conveniently placed at the end of the long, hot, exhausting hike, stocked with Dora the Explorer ice cream, Fruitie ices and a variety of soft drinks

Following that we had rafting and kayaking at Kfar Blum. For some reason the yeshiva boys were not content with staying in their rafts for to long.

Thanks to Mordechai Birnbaum, Zac Eisner, Daniel Sokol, Sam Ash and Daniel Robbins for making sure that everyone, including R' Sheftel and Betzalel were tossed out of their boats and into the water.

We slept over at a campground for a barbeque. Thanks to Danny Aronovski, Josh Gersten and Akiva Keningsberg for setting up the barbeque and cooking all the food. The were properly rewarded by R' Sheftel for preparing his steaks with steaks of their own.


Thursday was Nachel Yehudiah. A scary moment in the beginning when as we were coming in a rescue team was carrying out a man who had fallen. The rescue team formed a human chain to carry the stretcher out of the steep canyon.

After applauding the rescue workers, we descended to the first water spot and enjoyed jumping from the cliff into the deep water below. Betzalel demonstrated a textbook dive off the cliff for the yeshiva boys in preparation for the Beijing Summer Olympics.

The second cliff jump was closed so we all had to take the ladder down. R' Sheftel and his "magical powers" allowed him and his children to float over the deep water on an inflatable raft.

Our final stop was some swimming in the Kineret beachside on our own private beach. One could see how far the water was from the beach, indicating the massive beach erosion and low level of the Kinneret over the years.

The Trees and The Forest: Lag B'Omer

At Derech Etz Chaim, we constantly instill in our students the need to find a proper balance in their life between Torah and Derech Eretz; between Mitzvos Bein Adam L'Makom and Bein Adam L'Chaveiru; between "Im Ain Ani Lee -- Me Lee" and "K'sheani L'Atzmi -- Mah Ani" (Avos 1:14)

As you can see, sometimes the boys take us a little too literally.

Usually the boys gaze into the Jerusalem forest from their dorm rooms and balconies. Once a year we take them into the forest on Lag B'Omer to our special secret spot in the woods. Thanks to alum Zac Eisner (Year 6) who led the brigade into the forest to search for firewood and erect the bonfire. Thanks to Eli Mirlis, Daniel Aronovski and Mordechai Birnbaum for manning the barbecues. Thanks to Shifra and Yoni Katz for bringing enough marshmallows for everyone.

After Maariv and the Rosh Yeshiva counting the 33rd day of the Omer we lit up the night. Within minutes, the intense heat pushed the boys back to gaze at the flames from afar. Alum Yaakov Rose (Year 8 & 9) serenaded us with tunes on his guitar (obviously, he has been practicing since he left yeshiva) and the voices of the yeshiva boys carried through the night.

Here is a shot of the bonfire. The boys found some sort of chair-bed nearby and tossed it into the fire. As shana alef student Ari Leskowitz quipped, "It looks like a roller coaster ride gone haywire"