Mazel Tov to Mr. Eli and Shira Mirlis

For the past two and a half years Eli Mirlis has been an integral part of Derech Etz Chaim. After two years as a student, he came back this Elul to DEC for a third year taking on many of the day-to-day organizational responsibilities for the yeshiva. The wedding turned into a mini DEC reunion as many Alumni from all over the country came in for the wedding, as well as a few rebbanim from Eretz Yisrael, including the Rosh Yeshiva and R' Sheftel.

We wish Eli and Shira all of the joy and happiness in the world. We look forward to having them back in Har Nof and celebrating with them all over again upon their return.

Haircuts

Derech Etz Chaim would like to wish a Mazel Tov to the entire Horowitz family on the occassion of Shmuel Chaim's upshearin. Above you can see the Rosh Yeshiva 'get his snipets' while Rav Mendel looks on in amusement.

On a more humorous note we would also like to extend a Mazel Tov to our shana alef student, Meir "Memphis" Gersten, on his haircut as well. You can see the before and after pictures below

Oh Chanukah...Oh Chanukah

On the 3rd night of Chanukah, Derech Etz Chaim had their annual Chanukah Mesibah. We lit the oil menorah in the beis midrash. The menorah was kind enough to pose with shana bet student Moshe Steibel



Next we were treated with potato latkes (apple sauce and sour cream), lasagna, salatim and vegetable quiche, while we waited for the rebbanim to show up with their families. R' Gittleman gives pointers to Moshe Schaffer and Mordechai Birnbaum on how to pick the perfect latkah. (Look how carefully Rav Gittleman is m'ayain the latkes -- like he would a Tosfot -- to select the right one.) Meir Hauser takes a break from waiting on line to pose for the picture



Next, Rav Horowitz inspired us with some words about Chanukah. He pointed out that the root of Chanukah is Chinuch. Just as the re-dedication of the Beis HaMikdash on Chanukah was done in the most mehadrin min ha'mihadrin way, without cutting corners with thinner wicks or tumah hutra b'tzibur; so too, our dedication towards Torah learning in our Beis Midrash must also be in a pristine environment and with a pure attitude.



Then came the entertainment portion of the night's events with Yehudah Katz making his second appearance at a Derech Etz Chaim event (See previous blog entry for Zman Simchateinu). After we danced, sang, rocked and rolled for a little while, we turned the lights low and were treated to a kumzitz of stories, d'vrei torah and soft music.



Of course there were sufganiot -- like you had to ask!

Do you live in a cave or something?

Every once in a while, the boys at Derech Etz Chaim need a change of pace from their intensive learning schedule. So the Rosh Yeshiva decides that everyone should pack out of the beis midrash and go on a tiyul. Our most recent day of adventure was spelunking outside of Beit Shemesh -- or as our students commonly referred to it as "caving".


Above we have shana bet, Justin Kohn, showing shana alef, Joshua Gersten, the meaning of what it is like to live in "a hole in the wall". Below, although you may not be able to make it out, is a picture of shana bet, Moshe Steibel, enjoying the view of the sunset, while impersonating a statue.