Purim Shpeils

Motzai Shabbos March 22nd the Yeshiva got together in the cheder ochel for our annual Purim Shpeils. Pictured above is R' Sheftel Weinberg with two of his talmidum from his bekius shiur Bert (Binyamin Jacobovitz) and Ernie (Gil Broochian)

The night featured some form of standup comedy from R' Mendel Horowitz. Purim Grammen from shana alef students Moshe Kaplan, Mordechai Landesman and Ari Leskowitz; as well as stand up from Lesko. Josh Gersten and Meir Gersten (no relation) put on a variety of skits about life at DEC. The show stopper was a music video and a documentary about the yeshiva put together by Ari Galster, Ari Manheim and Danny Aronovski.

But by far the most unbelievable, extraordinary and shocking moment of the night came when R' Zalman Gittleman was caught on camera in a Purim costume.

Derech Etz Chaim capped off the night with a beautiful Melave Malka of singing and deli. It was a very sweet touch to a ruach filled Shabbat Purim at the yeshiva. A lively Kabbalas Shabbos led by R' Sheftel and Shabbos Meals with all of the DEC rebbeim in attendance was part of a three day Purim weekend that won't come along for more than a DECade -- 2021

The Music Video from this year's Shpiel

A DECade at DEC

So about 11 years ago Rabbi Katz met with R' Aharon Leibowitz and shared with him the desire to open up a new yeshiva; a better yeshiva than what was available for high school students coming for a year or two to Eretz Yisrael. A tight knit yeshiva community that could motivate talmidim to achieve beyond mediocrity. A warm environment to create Bnei Torah that can synthesize the Torah with the realities of our world. The result was Derech Etz Chaim

After 10 years of Derech Etz Chaim we have much to celebrate -- and we did. On March 9th, at Ohel Simcha in Queens, New York, the alumni of the past 10 years got together with the Rosh Yeshiva, R' Leibowitz, R' Sheftel Weinberg and R' Mendel Horowitz

Thanks to all the alumni that came and made the afternoon really special. A special thank you to those alumni who helped organize it and were instrumental to putting everything together: Eric Adelman, Chuck Boyars, Morris Isaacson, Zack Eisner, Sam Henteleff and Noah Lang. Last but not least a groissa Yasher Koach to Yoli Margolese for his endless dedication and to Mrs. Miriam Weisel for her special efforts.

Tribute to the DEC Football Team

DEC What....DEC Yeah....DEC OK............

The Year 10 Derech Etz Chaim Football Team made us very proud

A lot of exciting plays and games

After having an excellent regular season the young team fizzled out in the first round of the Tier I playoffs. Well, there is always next year.

Catch the recap of the season and all the highlights at the Derech Etz Chaim Football Blog

Back Row (r-l) Simcha Feldman, Justin Kohn, Eli Mirlis, Yitzy Adelman, Mordechai Landesman
Front Row (r-l) Jacob Kon, David Robbins, Sam Ash, Yeruchim Pliner, Joshua Gersten, Mordechai Birnbaum, Moshe Steibel
Not Shown: Team Owner, Rabbi Katz; Coach Emeritus, Mayer Weisel; Eli Tabaria,

Putting It All Together

Presenting Year 10 of Derech Etz Chaim:

Pictured Above (Back Row l-r) Joshua Gersten, Danny Aronovski, Meir Gersten, Reuben Morrow, Mordechai Birnbaum, Ian King, Ari Leskowitz, David Kohn; (Standing l-r) Uri Henig, Dov Zwebner, David Robbins, Justin Kohn, Meir Hauser, Ephraim Perro, Yeruchum Pliner, Jacob Kon, Sam Ash, Moshe Stiebel, Akiva Kenigsberg, Binyamin Jacobovitz, Gil Broochian; (Seated l-r) Eli Mirlis, R' Sheftel Weinberg, R' Moshe Eliyahu Rosenbaum, R' Aharon Katz, R' Zalman Gittelman, Betzalel Gersten, Adam Szipsiner, Mordechai Landesman; (Kneeling l-r) Moshe Caplan, Moshe Schaffer, Yitzy Adelman, Ari Galster, Ari Manheim; (not pictured) R' Mendel Horowitz, R' Binyamin Wolff, Eli Kenigsberg, Dan Levine, Simcha Feldman, Yehudah Apter, Yaacov Rose, Yisrael Ackerman and Eli Tabaria