Reporting by one of the participants:
An amazing experience awaited all the shul comers in Postville, this past Shabbos, Parshas Matos. The bochurim and hanholoh of two yeshivas kayitz’s joined with the community for what some termed as “the liveliest shabbos that Postville saw in a long time.”
On Friday afternoon, two vans filled with the bochurim of Yeshivas Kayitz Minnesota arrived to the Mesivta of Postville, with ample time to settle in and prepare for shabbos. They came to join the Postville Yeshivas Kayitz for a special joint shabbaton.
The festivities began straight away, as all of the bochurim gathered together in the shul for a massive seder nigunim, which continued all the way until the baal tefilah began a spirited kabolas shabbos. When davening was completed, the bochurim from both programs split up and were welcomed into the homes of the local anash for the Friday night meal.
On shabbos morning, the bochurim began the day with seder chassidus. Some bochurim paired up and learned with a chavrusa, and others chose to participate in a shiur that was given by Rabbi Eliyahu Benshimon, Menahel of the Mesivta of Postville.
The bochurim then davened shacharis in the spacious yeshiva zal, after which the tables in the zal were reshuffled to host a grand shabbos seuda and farbrengen.
Four bochurim addressed the participants at the seudah. Levi Greenbaum (LA,) a talmid and Levi Naparstak (LA), a madrich from the yeshivas kayitz of Minnesota, and Shneur Zalman Butman (Crown Heights), a talmid in the Postvile yeshivas kayitz shared sichos of the Rebbe on a variety of topics from the parsha and about the time of year; and Dovid Sasonkin (Long Island), also a talmid at the Postville yeshivas kayitz shared stories and experiences from his family’s chabad house on Long Island. Of course, the meal included plenty of nigunim and lots of tasty and nutritious food.
The bochurim were all gladly surprised when members of the local kehila, after ending the communal farbrengen in shul, came to the yeshiva and joined the bochurim’s seudah and stayed for many hours. Mr. Chaim Abrams, Mr. Aaron Goldsmith and Rabbi Michoel Spitzer farbrenged with the bochurim long into the afternoon, until it was time to daven mincha. One member of anash commented afterwards that “he hungered for an inspiring farbrengen like this for many years!”
Soon after Mincha, the bochurim gathered together for another farbrengen. This time, Rabbi Yisroel Noach Vogel farbrenged with them sharing many stories of the Rebbe, and his general impressions from his days as a bochur in the early Mem’s. Again the bochurim enjoyed the farbrengen, which lasted until well after shabbos ended.
Finally, on Sunday morning, following shacharis, Rabbi Gavriel Levin, a Mashpia at the Mesivta of Postville, and the director of the Yeshivas Kayitz there, gave the bochurim a fascinating shiur in an agadata that describes an ideological debate between a Tana and an assembly of Greek philosophers. Rabbi Levin went on to elaborate on the deeper meanings of the debate and how it relates to us.
When Rabbi Levin concluded the shiur, the bochurim from the yeshivas kayitz of Minnesota gathered their belongings and were seen off by the Postville bochurim, as they departed for the three hour drive back to the Twin Cities. Three hours during which they would surely discuss the amazing shabbaton that they just experienced in Postville.
just what it is, Thanks to the wonderful staff and good bochrim, my son can actually learn torah without distractions, have fun, and by happy, all in the same time. A big Yasher Koach!
to the devoted staff of the wonderful yeshivas kayitz, Our son is gaining tremendously from this experience and for that we owe you a big thank you!
keep up the good work!~
my son is there this year and is loving it, I wish they had a bais medrash ….
Great Camp, keep it up.
Should have been – Postville attracted Bochurim from MN for shabbos. The liveliness and excitement of Postville did not go unnoticed.
Yes, diamonds a rare; diamonds are beautiful; diamonds are expensive. There is one exception, Postville Yeshivah, best described as a diamond – it’s location, facilities, hanoholo, atmosphere, 100% chasidishe kehila – and all together (against all rules) affordable. Miracles do happens this days.
Even though my sons learns in Postville all year, he chose to stay for the Yeshivas Kayitz; he is extremely happy with that decission. The Yeshivas Kayitz exceeded his and our expectation. Yasher Koach to the hanolo and bochurim/shluchim.
My son is learning wonderfully in Postville this summer. He loves the chasidishe atmosphere. Its a beautiful change of scenery from his learning in Oholei Torah during the year.
A gevaldike shabbos farbrengen, with gevaldike bochurim in gevaldike shtetel.
Postville yeshivas kayitz is amazing for my son. There is a frum, chassidishe atmosphere, all the space in the world, and people there who expect that each boy has different needs and they cater to each one. The relaxed, trusting atmosphere allows for real growth both in development of character and of learning. Thank you Postville community for welcoming them with open arms. Excellent option for mesivta for those who want a very frum, supportive, naturally peaceful and nurturing atmosphere for their son.
postville is the best place in the world!