This Shabbos was being looked forward to for the special Friday night meal which will be hosted by the Strauss family. After some decsions it was decided that due the extreme called weather (=10F) the Bochurim would have a hard time walking both ways, so instead of doing Mincha and Mariv in Yeshiva then having to walk there, we will just go the their House and Daven Mincha and Mariv there then to be followed with the Meal, sounded great and the Vans were in front of Yeshiva at 3:50pm to get there before Licht'zinden which was at 4:02pm. Everyone got there and all were told to go downstairs where we will be Daveing and having a brief Chumash shiur. Mincha was lead by Rabbi Shabse Krevsky then the Rosh Yeshiva Rabbi Berger made a few remarks about the host and thanked him for the invitation. Then it came the time for Kabolas Shabbos, Maggid Shur Berel Zaklikofsky lead us in the Service. Once we were finished all went upstairs to find their seats for the long awaited delicious meal.
It came time for Kiddush the Rosh yeshiva made Kiddush and had in mind those who wanted to him to be Yoitzei. After the meal got well into the fish course the Rosh Yeshiva thanked once again the host and how much the Yeshiva appreciates the invite and make us feel like a home away from home. Many Nigunim were sang with lots of Chayois and warmth. Then Rabbi Berger called up the first Bochur to give over a Dvar Torah, it was none other than Mendy Lichteinstein who said a brief vort regarding the source of not eating the Gid Ha'Nashe all comes from this weeks Parsha. After he finished, the host asked what were the names of a few of the Bochurim, so Rabbi Berger decided he will go around and introduce everyone around the table. It took a few minutes and was very nice. After that Rabbi Berger called up the Keynote speaker Sruly Estrin to say a Dvar Torah. He spoke about the concept of the name change of Yakov to Yisroel just like we see by Avraham, and the meaning behind it, it was very nice and brief. Then the Soup course came out and all enjoyed the great food. Once the main course was out, never mind the unlimited amount of meat per person, it was great.
Then the Host said a few words. He began to thank all for coming in the cold, and was saying how he ended up in Ottawa, he was a boy that grew up in Czechoslovakia as a little boy he grew up and how he moved here and built himself up to where he is today. He said some stories from his youth, he recalled a story from many years ago when he was a little boy, that it was one Friday afternoon, and his mother a"h saw he had np pants, he then was told to go buy another pair which he did. He said "The only pair I found was a brown pair and was a little to big so I took it anyways...When I got home I wanted to have some fun, so I climbed over the fence and guess what ..The whole back side was ripped up" and continued "so I went right away to a Taylor to fix it, the Taylor took his needle and fixed it in a way not my mother would notice right away what happened". And he said "Right when I got home my mother realized and I was not on her good side that day...". He told the guys not to learn from him and how important it is to keep your self in line and to be responsible for what you do, and "Now that your in Yeshiva and your parents pay for you...Take advantage of this time you will never get it again"!. Some more Niggunim were sang including "Podo Beshalom" only a few hours to Yud Tes Kislev, it was a very nice time together, every single one of the Bochurim joined in. At about 9:00pm the Bentchers came out. After Bentching all the Bochurim thanked the hosts and all were very delighted and thankfulness for a great night together. The walk back "was not bad at all" said one of the guys, all were in the Dorm by 9:40pm.
Shachris this morning began ealrier then regular for some reason, and the Minyan upstairs started later for some reason, things were not going that right this morning. Shachris was lead by our Baltimore Chazen Yossi Emunah. The service of Mussaf was also lead by Mr. Emunah. About seven minutes after Shachris was over, Rabbi Smith decided that Mincha will be prayed. We were blessed with Sruly Estrin to be our Chazen, nice one! Then the Bochurim went to the Dining Hall for the Seudah. It was a nice and a bit faster then usual so the guys can go to the Caytaks who were hosting a Pre-Yud Tes Kislev Fabrengen/Kiddush in their home, so the Rosh Yeshiva said over a story from the Mazritsher Maggid who's Yohrtzeit is tonight and another Story from Reb Boruch Mezibu'zer. Bentching was then commenced and the Seudah ended about 2:00pm.
At the Caytak's there were a few Bochurim. First when we got there Dr. Caytak said over a Dvar Torah then said a story. He said "Its now almost 20 years my wife, director of the "Jewish Youth Library of Ottawa has arranged a annual Shabbaton to NY for the local members in the Community,
Jewish Youth Library of Ottawa located on Switzer St.it was in 1991 when we brought a group in, and it was Sunday and of course we all went by the Rebbe for dollars, I was in the back of the whole line from our group, and when it came time for his turn "The Rebbe was trying to call me back and for some reason I was just to busy directing the group, so when I got back to Ottawa, the Rebbe's secretary Rabbi Groner phoned us up and said The rebbe called you back because he wanted to tell you that all the men of the group should check their Tefilin by Rosh Hashana (=In a week from that time), so I said OK!" and he continued "Now I need a Sofer what do I do? so I called Rabbi Cohen in Montreal and his wife told me he was very sick from a terrible cold and will not be able to make it, so we told her The rebbe wants this to be done we have to do it, she then hung the phone on us, we tried a few hours later she hung up again, we called later that night and somehow he agreed to come". He arrived to Ottawa at 3:00am and began checking all the tefilin, Dr. Caytak said he took a nap every hour on the floor, and he managed to finish all of them by 3:00pm that day. After the story we sang a few Niggunim, Magid Shiur Moshe Maness began "Podoh Beshalom" which was very nice. After all Bencthed and went to the Yeshiva.
Mariv began a few minutes off schedule and the Rosh Yeshiva came in to begin the "Niglah Seder" right there after. Havdalah was lead by Dovi Small and then all went to their Niglah classes. After the Class was over which was at 6:30pm Rabbi Berger spoke to the guys for some feedback regarding the trip to Israel. And mentioned three options:
1) To fly to Israel direct with Israir for $800.00
2) fly with Molavair to Israel with a day stop over (both ways) in Budapest Hungary for a price of $859.00
3) or to fly with Czech airlines with a day or two stop over in Prague (both ways) for $899.00
He added, we may find cheaper then this, we will keep you posted, and he wanted some feedback. Most of the Bochurim went for # 3
Gut Voch!
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