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.