Shalom L'Kulam!

Last weekend, we spent a beautiful (physically and spiritually) Shabbat at Shilo, where we were hosted by the Hesder Yeshiva and local families. Upon our arrival on Friday, we were treated to a very special tour of the makom hamishkan. We saw the ruins of the former city of Shilo and the probable home of the Kohen Gadol (Eli HaKohen) with his personal mikvah right outside his front door. Our guide then brought us to the Makom HaMishkan itself. There we stood, at the same place our ancestors stood bringing their korbanot and directing their tefillot for the nearly 400 years that the Mishkan stood at Shilo.

We then welcomed in the Shabbat with the talmidim and Rabanim of the hesder yeshiva which rests on the top of the hill overlooking the city. We were treated to good food, wonderful camaraderie and some amazing divrei Torah about the meaning of life and living in Eretz Yisrael, the beauty of Avraham Avinu, and the history of modern Shilo.

On Monday, we took a fascinating tiyul to the Blind Museum in Holon. You really need to ask your son about this and experience it for yourself. Its effect on a person is impossible to put into words. But, in short, the museum is in total darkness where you are guided around by a blind person taking you through some everyday events in the dark (like a rain shower, and ordering food in a cafeteria). The visit to this museum was certainly among our tiyul highlights.

Thanksgiving week always brings a lot of cherished and beloved guests to the Yeshiva. We are thrilled to get to meet and greet parents, siblings, cousins, Rabbis and friends who come to Israel to visit our very special talmidim and also to learn a little bit about our wonderful Yeshiva. Thanksgiving Day started with special shiurim about Thanksgiving and its celebration. After regular shiurim, the Yeshiva celebrated its own Thanksgiving with turkey, sweet potatoes and of course football on the big screen TV. We even got our Canadian and Australian guys to participate.

Many of the boys cut their celebration short and decided to go to a rally of support for Gilad Schalit who has been held for close to 900 days in captivity in Gaza. The rally was held right in the center of town, near the Prime Minister's residence and the President's house. May he come home soon, b'eztrat Hashem.


On Friday morning, many of the guys dashed off to hear Rav Jonathan Sacks – the Chief Rabbi of the UK – speak at the Ramada Hotel. Lots of the guys have become fans of his many books during their time here. His charm and eloquence are matched only by his intelligence and the importance of his religious and philosophical message.

This Shabbat is an out Shabbat so we are expecting to once again hear stories about the wonderful times that the guys are having as they continue to explore the bounty that Eretz Yisrael provides.

Shabbat Shalom,
Nate