It is six days after we returned from the Tiyul up North, and Yeshiva has 5 new bochrim. Could very well be that they came because Britain is just not the place anymore, but I think it has very much to do with our trip and how incredibly it worked out. Who can resist coming to a yeshiva that is capable of planning a Tiyul of such grandiose proportions and executing it to pinpoint perfection? (Of course it may also be also be that they saw how easily the Yeshiva deals with there not being enough beds, so what difference does it make whether or not they get a Dirah), but I stand by my original point. There was something special to the extreme about the 3 days we spent together up North.
Before I begin to talk about the trip itself and how we spent all 64 amazing hours of it, I would like to extend a humongous “Thank You” on behalf of the entire yeshiva to Rabbi Lichtman, without whom the trip could ever have happened at all. Rabbi Lichtman planned the entire trip from A to Z, and made sure each and every one of us had the best time we could possibly have had, while coordinating the tens of minor details necessary to ensure that the Tiyul would run smoothly, which it did. OK, it is time.
DAY ONE: Twenty-two pumped Sharrei Tevunisians boarded the bus at 5 AM Sunday morning and headed to the Kever of R’ Meir Ba’al Haneis to daven Shachris, eat breakfast, and feed moldy milk to the cats. The drive took us through the deserts surrounding the Kinneret, and the rising sun turning night into day spread its light and warmth over the miles of angular, white, desert terrain and created an extremely beautiful sight to see. After davening, eating, and giving some Tzeddaka by the Kever, we headed to the Kevarim of the Rambam, his son, and the Shelah HaKadosh to daven some more, and see who could get the most professional looking pictures of the melting candles. Then, off it was to the banks of the Jordan River for white water (?) rafting! More beautiful weather we could not have asked for, while we rafted through alternating shade and warm patches of light caused by the suns rays filtering through the foliage. Not only was the ride incredibly relaxing, it was also quite exciting at times, as the currents slammed us against the river banks, and shopping bags full of water flew back and forth between the rafts. After drying off and taking a shuttle back to the beginning of the course where our bus awaited us, it was off to…(drumroll please)…. The Villa!!
There are no other words to describe the villa in which we stayed other than “outta control”. The Ping-Pong table under the gazebo in the front yard was only an introduction to what awaited us inside. It was truly beautiful; large, comfortable rooms, a couch-filled indoor chilling area, and – wait for it – a heated pool in the backyard, beside which stood a pool house housing a Jacuzzi and sauna! Everyone settled right in, and went out back to enjoy the pool. Immediately the property, which had been utterly empty 15 minutes earlier, was filled with the sounds of music blasting, water splashing, and guys just having a wholesomely awesome time. After Mincha, we enjoyed a scrumptious barbeque, run by our Chief Griller, Vromie Mutterpel. The guys were incredibly wiped out from our long day, so after bentching, we went straight to our bed. (s)
DAY TWO: Monday morning had us up bright and early and heading to the Kever of R’ Shimon Bar Yochai to Daven Shachris with a Sefer Torah. It is incredibly inspiring to don Tefillin outside, surrounded by the beautiful mountains of Meron; the pasuk “ Esah Einai El HeHarim” immediately comes to mind. After davening we went to the parking lot and danced on top of a “Na-Nach” van, while some guys went to look for a bochur who didn’t come back to the bus with the rest. We couldn’t find him, so we left. (Now is that a great start to a day or what??! We Davened amongst incredible scenery, danced atop a vehicle, and got rid of the Sfardi!! But it was only to get better.) From there we drove high up into the aforementioned mountains to the Kever of R’ Yossi HaGlilli to Daven a little, and eat breakfast on the edge of a cliff with an absolute and utterly breathtaking view. Then it was on to the Dalton Winery, for a lecture on the production of grapes and wine, from the stages of planting and pruning, all the way to fermentation and Gross getting yelled at. Following the informative speech, we took a tour of the winery and viewed a storage room, one of their many, filled with hundreds of barrels of wine, each holding the amount of 300 bottles! We then went into the main building for wine tasting and making sure the entire Moshav Dalton knows that I am still 17. (Thank You Bogo.) Banana boating was next, so off to the stunning Kinneret we were. Banana boating was a blast, the driver was not, and “Mah Zeh Ba-na-na” is now a Sharrei Tevuna catch phrase. We hung around on the promenade for a while afterward, enjoying Ultimate Frisbee, pool in the arcade room, and the amazing view, until it got dark, when we had the privilege of seeing a really cool light and water show which worked perfectly. After that, we went back to the Villa for another barbeque, and a Siyum by Yehuda Pitterman, and more swimming and chilling in the Jacuzzi and sauna. After the dinner, we celebrated Kalman Friedman’s birthday party.
DAY THREE: The morning of our third and final day of the Tiyul had us up, bright and early, to Daven at the Sfardi Shul down the block in Safsufa, after which we spent the day relaxing at our beloved Villa and getting the most we possibly could out of all it had to offer. After lunch, (and a Near Death Experience with the psychotic and very angry cleaning woman), we packed up and left the house that had, and I think will always have, a special place in our hearts. On the way back to reality, we stopped off at a stream with pipes passing through it, made with the intention to create currents, and like the crazy Americans we are, used them as water slides. It was an absolute blast and the perfect ending to a perfect trip.
In conclusion, our Tiyul up North was incredibly enjoyable and relaxing for mind, body, and spirit. We were able to recharge our batteries, and as a result, if the first week can be any indicator, this is gonna be one ba-na-na of a zman.
Before I begin to talk about the trip itself and how we spent all 64 amazing hours of it, I would like to extend a humongous “Thank You” on behalf of the entire yeshiva to Rabbi Lichtman, without whom the trip could ever have happened at all. Rabbi Lichtman planned the entire trip from A to Z, and made sure each and every one of us had the best time we could possibly have had, while coordinating the tens of minor details necessary to ensure that the Tiyul would run smoothly, which it did. OK, it is time.
DAY ONE: Twenty-two pumped Sharrei Tevunisians boarded the bus at 5 AM Sunday morning and headed to the Kever of R’ Meir Ba’al Haneis to daven Shachris, eat breakfast, and feed moldy milk to the cats. The drive took us through the deserts surrounding the Kinneret, and the rising sun turning night into day spread its light and warmth over the miles of angular, white, desert terrain and created an extremely beautiful sight to see. After davening, eating, and giving some Tzeddaka by the Kever, we headed to the Kevarim of the Rambam, his son, and the Shelah HaKadosh to daven some more, and see who could get the most professional looking pictures of the melting candles. Then, off it was to the banks of the Jordan River for white water (?) rafting! More beautiful weather we could not have asked for, while we rafted through alternating shade and warm patches of light caused by the suns rays filtering through the foliage. Not only was the ride incredibly relaxing, it was also quite exciting at times, as the currents slammed us against the river banks, and shopping bags full of water flew back and forth between the rafts. After drying off and taking a shuttle back to the beginning of the course where our bus awaited us, it was off to…(drumroll please)…. The Villa!!
There are no other words to describe the villa in which we stayed other than “outta control”. The Ping-Pong table under the gazebo in the front yard was only an introduction to what awaited us inside. It was truly beautiful; large, comfortable rooms, a couch-filled indoor chilling area, and – wait for it – a heated pool in the backyard, beside which stood a pool house housing a Jacuzzi and sauna! Everyone settled right in, and went out back to enjoy the pool. Immediately the property, which had been utterly empty 15 minutes earlier, was filled with the sounds of music blasting, water splashing, and guys just having a wholesomely awesome time. After Mincha, we enjoyed a scrumptious barbeque, run by our Chief Griller, Vromie Mutterpel. The guys were incredibly wiped out from our long day, so after bentching, we went straight to our bed. (s)
DAY TWO: Monday morning had us up bright and early and heading to the Kever of R’ Shimon Bar Yochai to Daven Shachris with a Sefer Torah. It is incredibly inspiring to don Tefillin outside, surrounded by the beautiful mountains of Meron; the pasuk “ Esah Einai El HeHarim” immediately comes to mind. After davening we went to the parking lot and danced on top of a “Na-Nach” van, while some guys went to look for a bochur who didn’t come back to the bus with the rest. We couldn’t find him, so we left. (Now is that a great start to a day or what??! We Davened amongst incredible scenery, danced atop a vehicle, and got rid of the Sfardi!! But it was only to get better.) From there we drove high up into the aforementioned mountains to the Kever of R’ Yossi HaGlilli to Daven a little, and eat breakfast on the edge of a cliff with an absolute and utterly breathtaking view. Then it was on to the Dalton Winery, for a lecture on the production of grapes and wine, from the stages of planting and pruning, all the way to fermentation and Gross getting yelled at. Following the informative speech, we took a tour of the winery and viewed a storage room, one of their many, filled with hundreds of barrels of wine, each holding the amount of 300 bottles! We then went into the main building for wine tasting and making sure the entire Moshav Dalton knows that I am still 17. (Thank You Bogo.) Banana boating was next, so off to the stunning Kinneret we were. Banana boating was a blast, the driver was not, and “Mah Zeh Ba-na-na” is now a Sharrei Tevuna catch phrase. We hung around on the promenade for a while afterward, enjoying Ultimate Frisbee, pool in the arcade room, and the amazing view, until it got dark, when we had the privilege of seeing a really cool light and water show which worked perfectly. After that, we went back to the Villa for another barbeque, and a Siyum by Yehuda Pitterman, and more swimming and chilling in the Jacuzzi and sauna. After the dinner, we celebrated Kalman Friedman’s birthday party.
DAY THREE: The morning of our third and final day of the Tiyul had us up, bright and early, to Daven at the Sfardi Shul down the block in Safsufa, after which we spent the day relaxing at our beloved Villa and getting the most we possibly could out of all it had to offer. After lunch, (and a Near Death Experience with the psychotic and very angry cleaning woman), we packed up and left the house that had, and I think will always have, a special place in our hearts. On the way back to reality, we stopped off at a stream with pipes passing through it, made with the intention to create currents, and like the crazy Americans we are, used them as water slides. It was an absolute blast and the perfect ending to a perfect trip.
In conclusion, our Tiyul up North was incredibly enjoyable and relaxing for mind, body, and spirit. We were able to recharge our batteries, and as a result, if the first week can be any indicator, this is gonna be one ba-na-na of a zman.