We kicked off our Purim celebrations on Motzaei Shabbat at a tisch at Rav Knapel’s house in Beit Shemesh. The whole Yeshiva got dressed up, prepared their divrei Torah, and headed over for a night of singing, tisching, inspiring each other and getting into the Purim spirit.

On Sunday morning we went to a hospice center nearby and helped the residents enjoy some holiday joy before we left for Alon Shvut to visit Rav Blau. While in Alon Shvut we stopped by the community center to enjoy some dancing and viewed a performance that Hayim Ani had arranged. We continued our excursion at Rav Jacobson’s house in Neve Daniel for more divrei Torah and singing.

As nightfall fell on Sunday night, we began Shushan Purim here in Jerusalem with our own Megillah reading. Our own Simcha Tamkin, who has been practicing with Rav Mann for months, read beautifully both Sunday evening and at Shacharit on Monday. After dinner we had a mesibah capped with a showing of the students’ video. The 30 minute video was one of the best Purim videos I’ve ever seen. It was hysterical – thanks to the producers, the actors, and the writers.

After reading Megillah again Monday morning, we continued our “around the world” tour visiting Rav Shimon, Dr. Kuhr and Rav Reichel before the afternoon break. We came into the Seudah around 4pm to add as much time to the Purim festivities as possible. We danced, we sang, we heard divrei Torah from Izzy Haar and Rav Knapel among others. Even though we expected many people to be exhausted from the previous two days of running around, there was a decent contingent of guys who stayed up to play basketball in the gym.

On Tuesday, the Yeshiva returned to its normal schedule. Wednesday morning, Rav Mann took his shiur to visit Eretz Chemdah, a rabbinic institute for halacha, where Rav Mann teaches. He explained and showed us how Eretz chmdah is able to answer difficult halachic questions from many people worldwide. On Wednesday night we heard from Rav Jacobson – this time wearing his Dr. Jacobson hat –who spoke to the guys about maturation and their relationships with their parents. Some of the Talmidim may not have realized that their relationships have changed and will continue to change.

This Shabbat is an out-Shabbat with many of the Talmidim going to visit places within Israel as this is their last free Shabbat before Pesach break.

Shabbat Shalom!