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.

So Let's Hear What You Have To Say

As per a Derech Etz Chaim student's suggestion I have enabled comments for the blog. So let's hear what you all have to say!!!

Tiyul Down South

Hang on David!!! Whatever you do -- don't look down!!! Wow look at that view. Shana Alef, David Robbins, making it look easy from a couple thousand feet up. The truth is that we generally get on David's case for "hanging around".



This is actually a picture of the walk from the dormitories to the beis midrash at Derech Etz Chaim



Yeah, it's definitely more fun once you get to the top. Smiling from right to left are Meir Gersten, Justin Kohn, Ari Galster and Mordechai Birnbaum