This past Shabbos, MTA’s Class of 2028, along with their Senior Cubs2Lions mentors, came together to bond on a special Shabbaton. The talmidim boarded the buses for Camp Nageela after their regular Thursday night Mishmar, and after a quick surprise stop for bowling, arrived just in time for a delicious midnight barbecue. After receiving their room assignments, the talmidim enjoyed ping pong, nine square, and of course the open beis midrash until curfew.
On Friday, after a beautiful Rosh Chodesh davening and deluxe breakfast, the Freshmen enjoyed Concentric Chaburahs with the Seniors. Each Senior prepared a 90-second d’var Torah on the parshah. The room reverberated with words of Torah and companionship as the mentors rotated from group to group.
As it was Parshas Noach, it seemed fitting to have a Teivah Challenge! Groups of Freshmen, teamed with their Senior mentors, were tasked with building a teivah out of cardboard and duct tape, with the goal being to float across the pool with a talmid on it! The teams worked together to plan and build their crafts – while competing in quick team-building activities in order to win extra duct tape for their teivah. In the end, most of the cardboard teivos met a soggy finish – but two groups managed to build a teivah that made it across the pool!
The unseasonably warm weather enhanced the sports and recreation that took place on the grounds of Camp Nageela. Softball, football, basketball, tetherball, tennis, and hiking were enjoyed by the talmidim, rebbeim, and administrators. Then the boys headed to their rooms to prepare for Shabbos.
Shabbos itself was jam-packed: filled with inspiring t’filah, delicious seudos, and uplifting z’miros and divrei Torah by rebbeim and talmidim. The tish was a highlight for many, as the grade joined together along a table packed with candy, fruit, cake, and cholent for divrei chizuk and spirited singing. The beis midrash was hopping throughout Shabbos, as the talmidim tried to complete their first MTA360 – a learning incentive program that challenges each talmid to learn for 360 minutes over the course of Shabbatons or extended breaks from Yeshiva. There was also time for board games, ping pong, mini-hockey, and of course well-deserved menuchah.
The Shabbaton concluded with a melaveh malkah that led to singing and dancing. It was an amazing Shabbos that really helped the Freshmen bond as a grade. The boys boarded the buses home with smiles on their faces, reflecting on the new friendships made and memories that will, im yirtzeh Hashem, fuel four years of growth ahead. As MTA begins its winter z’man, the Freshmen have a renewed sense of belonging at Yeshiva and are ready to learn with increased zeal.
