Monday July 10

Today we learned about a special thing they used to do a long time ago –

During the time of the Gemara, Rav established a system known as Yarchei Kallah. While most Jews in Bavel spent the majority of their time working their fields, they would leave their homes and travel to the beit midrash to learn for two months a year. They would leave behind their businesses and their regular routine in order to fully engage and immerse themselves in Torah. Yarchei Kallah refers to the two months of the year (Elul and Adar) when agricultural activity was at a low, and former Yeshiva students from all over were able to return to their yeshivas to refresh and bolster their Torah knowledge, thus strengthening their ties to Torah and mitzvah-observance.  The word Kallah here means assembly; Yarchei means month: the term refers to those two months when they would assemble to study Torah.  At the end of their time learning, before returning home, Halachic questions were presented to and discussed by the Roshei Yeshiva. 

We took this opportunity to discuss the idea that we MUST make time for Torah study – as we learn in Pirkei Avot: Make fixed time for Torah learning. Anything important – we make time for 🙂 And that is why, each shiur teacher told his/her chanichim, we all learn Torah “first thing in the morning” in Machane Stone. It is important to us and we, therefore, make tme for it.

The chanichim went on to a have a fun-filled day of peulot, and then right before hachanot-erev (evening shower time) everyone was called to gather near the greenhouse and the agam (our lake). They all did some planting and “tending to their fields” before they left for Yarchei Kallah! Some bunks planted corn! For real!! The special trek/journey was to Indoor World where dinner was served -yes, all the tables were moved for this special recreation of a Yarchei kallah. The chanichim were told to come dressed nicely for the event, in their Shabbat clothes, and they did. After some learning (everyone had to pick someone from a different eidah and learn together sources about…learning together b’chavruta!) and some eating and singing, a fire truck pulled up with the letters SPLASH LAGOON painted on the side!! Everyone went to change into bathing suits so they could join the trip to the indoor water park after maariv. But after maariv…Yakov came and said there is a mix up because the buses were not ordered. Isaac, our Rosh Moshava, angrily shouted back “but we planned this three weeks ago!” They went back and forth for a little while (some pretty convincing stuff!!) until Isaac unfurled his beach towel which had written on it COLOR WAR!! And that was that! Let the games begin 🙂   Some said “I knew it” but they always do! ha!   The Roshei Moshava announced the team captains and the list of who is on which team and then quick team meetings were held: lots to plan for the next two days. More about the team names, colors and the schedule tomorrow.

P.S. They told everyone we are going to Splash Lagoon for real on Thursday!