MTA hosted an inspirational “Shavuot in Yeshiva” for juniors and seniors. Talmidim arrived on erev Shabbat, excited for what promised to be an incredible Shavuot with Head of School Rabbi Joshua Kahn, Yeshiva University students, YU’s Kollel Elyon, and YU Roshei Yeshiva Rav Yitzchok Cohen, Rav Hershel Reichman and Rav Baruch Simon, as well as other YU rebbeim. Yom Tov began with Mincha, followed by a sicha from Rav Yitzchok Cohen, who discussed the importance of Shabbat as a day to prepare for Kabbalat HaTorah. After davening and dinner with Rabbi Kahn, the evening was enhanced by a Dvar Torah from MTA alum Jeremy Borgen (‘15) who spoke about the value of a chiddush in terms of how it connects to the mesorah. An uplifting tish followed, led by Rabbi Dani Zuckerman, Rabbi Ike Sultan and Rabbi Jake Steinmetz of the YU Kollel Elyon. After some uplifting singing, they each delivered divrei chizuk about the request that Hashem make Torah sweet.
The Shabbat lunch Dvar Torah was given by junior Abe Horowitz (‘19), who spoke about the extreme importance of hachanah for Kabbalat HaTorah. A few talmidim also enjoyed lunch at the home of Rav Reichman. Following lunch, the talmidim heard a shiur from Dov Fink (MTA ‘13) on the topic of career planning as a ben Torah, exploring the important topic of balancing a life of Torah learning with earning a living. At seuda shelishit, talmidim heard from Rabbi Kahn about the importance of chazzarah and building on the mesorah as we receive the Torah.
Rav Yitzchak Cohen spoke later in the afternoon, providing a new explanation for why we eat dairy on Shavuot. At dinner, Yehuda Snow (‘18) gave a Dvar Torah about the significant effect that Shavuot must have on the rest of the year, quoting Rav Yitzchok Cohen’s famous response when asked how his Shabbat was: “I’ll let you know.”
The intensity of the Shavuot night learning made it a night like no other. Shiurim were given by Rabbi Baruch Simon, Rabbi Netanel Wiederblank, Rabbi Kahn and Rabbi Mordechai Shichtman. Rabbi Kahn discussed the halachic sources regarding yeshiva admissions policies.
The night was capped off by divrei chizuk from Rav Yitzchak Cohen, where he insulted the Mets, challenged the importance of discussing the weather, and impressed upon talmidim the emphasis they should place on the important parts of life. Following the historical piyut “Odeh Lakeil,” a tradition since Rav Lipshitz, talmidim enjoyed Rav Cohen’s Birchat Kohanim during an uplifting Shacharit.
On Sunday, a group of students went to visit the Fort Tryon Nursing Home and brought simchat Yom Tov to its residents. The sicha after Mincha was given by Rav Simon, who discussed the unique nature of Yom Tov Sheini of Shavuot in halacha and hashkafa, the importance of learning beiyun and the Laurel and Yanny machloket.
On Monday afternoon, a group of talmidim travelled to the Breuers shul, where they heard a presentation about the history of the Breuers community and Washington Heights from Avram Gutmann, the grandson of Rav Yosef Breuer (thus a great-great grandson of Rav Samson Raphael Hirsch). Those who were there also had a chance to visit Rav Mantel, the rav of Breuers for “Matnas Yad,” where the rav opens his home to the community on the last day of Yom Tov.
Shavuot ended with a closing divrei chizuk from Rav Yitzchok Cohen, where he described how Torah should be like a bag of potato chips, you either eat none or the whole bag and we should yearn for kol haTorah kulah.
Talmidim are grateful to Associate Principal Rabbi Shimon Schenker for arranging everything, Rabbi Kahn for joining us and Dov Fink, the amazing madrich, as well as the waiters and all the talmidim that helped throughout Yom Tov.
By Noam Mayerfeld (‘19)
