“Rosh Yeshiva Road Trip” Review

9.7.08 – 7 Elul, 5768

The “Rosh Yeshiva Road Trip” was a great success!

The day began with an early Shacharis and a quick breakfast before our group of “Torah Travelers” boarded the van and headed to New York. While on the road we enjoyed each other’s company and heard the day’s first Divrei Torah from Rabbi Gottlieb and Srayah Sobol.

Blessed with “kefitzas ha-derech,” we arrived at Yeshiva University slightly ahead of schedule and the extra time allowed for an impromptu tour of the campus, with special focus on the Beis Midrash.

We then enjoyed a delicious lunch generously sponsored by YU’s Center for the Jewish Future. While enjoying the CJF’s hospitality, we were unexpectedly joined by Shomrei’s own Dovid Zirkind (a semicha student at YU) as well as Rabbi Shmuel Maybruch, a recently appointed Maggid Shiur at YU who actually spent a summer at Shomrei a few years ago running a wonderful Kollel program. Rabbi Maybruch graciously accepted our invitation to share Divrei Torah and Divrei Bracha.

Refreshed and reenergized, we were then privileged to hear our first shiur of the day from HaRav Hershel Schachter, shlita, who spoke to us in the topic of “Tekias Shofar al Seder HaBerachos.” HaRav Schachter’s shiur was filled with characteristic breadth and clarity and we all came away not only better informed about the halachos discussed, but also with a confirmed sense that we were part of something very special.

Next, we drove further uptown to Riverdale and our next stop at the Yeshiva of the Telshe Alumni. After davening Mincha, we were warmly welcomed by the Rosh Yeshiva, HaRav Avrohom Ausband, shlita.

Our visit in Riverdale consisted of 2 parts: First we spent about an hour learning b’hasmadah in the Beis Midrash alongside the bachurim as part of the yeshiva’s “Afternoon Seder” and we were all impressed with the not only the seriousness of the students, but also the wonderful middos and hospitality that they demonstrated.

After that, we proceeded to the Rosh Yeshiva’s office where HaRav Ausband offered beautiful and inspiring “Divrei Hisorerus,” focusing on the twin themes of appreciating what can be accomplished in even a few minutes and the need for each person to create his “own world” of Avodas Hashem.

We then proceeded – overcoming the yissurin of New York City traffic – to the Agudath Israel of Madison in Flatbush, where we met HaRav Yisroel Reisman, shlita, and heard a fascinating shiur on the topic of, “The Two Aspects of Tefillah.”

During the shiur we were treated to HaRav Reisman’s well known combination of wit and wisdom, as personal and humorous anecdotes were sprinkled into the Torah discussion. Some of the participants are regular attendees of the TCN broadcast of HaRav Reisman’s popular weekly Navi Shiur, and it was therefore an extra special treat to be able to spend time with him in such an intimate setting. Our stay at the Agudah concluded with Ma’ariv where the benefit of the day’s events was noticeable in the extra kavannah apparent during davening.

Having nourished our souls, we had just one more stop to make – dinner, Brooklyn style! After a delicious meal at “Caraville” (the “New Essex”) we were ready to return to Baltimore.

The drive back home went smoothly and was highlighted by a spontaneous medley of classic “kumzitz style” niggunim. It’s unclear if the other cars on 95 or 695 could hear us singing on the top of our lungs, but one thing is clear – we didn’t care!

All good things come to an end, and eventually we made it back to the Shomrei parking lot, physically tired but spiritually energized.

Once again we thank HaRav Hershel Schachter, HaRav Avrohom Ausband, and HaRav Yisroel Reisman for sharing beautiful Torah and giving of their precious time.

Thanks as well to Shraga Goldenhersh for taking care of many of the logistical details, to Avi Frydman, Avi Greenlinger, and Eli Schlossberg for sharing the driving duties, and to Elly Lasson for his help preparing this review.

Please stay tuned for news of the next “Rosh Yeshiva Road Trip” as we are hoping to make this a part of the annual shul calendar of events.