 CAMP
MORASHA (cont...) (BACK
TO NEWSLETTER) In
a tightly scheduled itinerary of events, the boys
took full advantage of the 400-acre complex playing
roller
hockey on
the
three
hockey
rinks,
basketball on the eight basketball courts, softball
on the five baseball fields, tennis on the 12 tennis
courts, rock climbing and boating on the 25 acre
Lake Como. (See
Photo Gallery...)
On Day One, round-robin tournaments began
in softball and basketball wherein students played
with and
against other students and some of the teachers
and administrators on the trip.
Each
day included thought-provoking shiurim for
the entire Yeshiva.
The shiur on Tuesday featured perspectives
by Rebbeim Eliach, Taylor
and Friedman providing deeper insights on the impact
of tfilos.
"Davening is more than simply asking Hashem for
something, a 'list of the things you want,' but
gives us an opportunity to express thanks and
praise for those things we often take for granted,
such
as
our health, "said Rabbi Eliach.
Rabbi
Friedman discussed how tfilos are
answered, and the proper mindset, kavannah,
required for tfilos drawing
on sources from the Rambam, Ramban and Rav
Soloveitchik.
"We jammed so much in," said Program Director
Scott Firester. "It was only two days, but
it felt like a week."
 Day One also featured a presentation of rock climbing
and rappelling by Captain Yoni
Zagdanski of the U.S. Army Rangers. Those
who volunteered got a chance to climb the 40-foot
rock climbing
wall supported by safety lines. This activity also
included closely supervised target practice with
a paint
ball gun at a moving life-sized target dummy and
a rescue demonstration emphasizing the risks and
training required to be a solider.
Day
One ended near midnight around a blazing bonfire
down by the lake. The boys enjoyed toasted marshmallows,
and a hilarious epic tale woven by Rabbi Eliach
about his adventures as a
young volunteer at a kibbutz in Israel.
Day Two featured more of the same including
the finals of the basketball and softball tournaments.
Davening mincha on the final day took
on a special significance. After two long and happy
days together in the sunshine, the
mesivta gathered at sunset in an outdoor,
open-air shul overlooking the picturesque
lake, and davened
mincha one more
time before packing out onto the busses again.
"Playing, davening and learning
together in a completely different environment,
especially one
as beautiful as this, changes the whole atmosphere
of the regular school day back at Rambam," said
Rambam principal Rabbi Yotav Eliach.
"It brings everyone together - teachers, students,
administrators - in a whole new way. It was well
worth it"
"This was a great Rambam trip," said senior Simcha
Gross.
"There was a lot of ruach and it
really brought everyone together."
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