07 Sep MTC Highlights: Parshat Nitzavim-Vayelech
Alexis Levy - Assistant Director
What an incredible start to the 11th year of MTC!
The students of MTC 5784 have been impressive from the moment they arrived, from their first day, our first Shabbat together, their first classes and meeting their kids. In fact, they are already living the words of this week’s parsha.
Parshat Nitzavim contains a beautiful section of pesukim in which Moshe tells the people that “this commandment which I command you this day” in neither “in the heavens” nor “across the sea”, but is rather “very close to you, in your mouth and in your heart, to perform.”
There are a number of different opinions which commandment these verses refer to. Rav Hirsch explains that the mitzvah spoken about is the Torah. The Torah is accessible and relevant at all times and under all circumstance. But the pesukim require us to pay attention to a deeper idea hidden in the words; that the Torah is in our mouths and in our hearts.
Rav Sabato points out the reason why the pasuk emphasises both the mouth and the heart. He explains that it is not enough to merely have the good intentions, but we must also articulate our internal thoughts and bring them into reality.
Our MTC students arrived with Torah and chessed in their hearts, and this week they have truly also had them on their lips. They haven’t just thought about religious growth, they have pushed themselves to learn new ideas, to ask questions in class, to understand and connect to the Torah they are learning. They haven’t merely thought about chessed; they have shown incredible kindness to each other and brought so much love and happiness already to the children of Bet Elazraki. They are truly living these powerful words.
As we end one Jewish year and begin the next, these pesukim should guide us all – to always have Torah and chessed in our hearts and on our lips; that we should always strive to live a unified existence in which our thoughts and actions are one and the same.
Student Reflection
Lauren Ashkenazi - West Long Branch, NJ - Hillel Yeshiva, NJ
I can’t believe it’s already been a week at MTC!
After such a short time we’ve already accomplished so many things and created so many amazing memories together!
We started off our journey here at MTC with the famous welcome BBQ hosted by Lauren, our eim-bayit, where we met her adorable children and ate amazing food.
Then we began our Golan Shabbaton at Aqua Kef which brought all of us closer together as a group while making a splash in the Kinneret. This Shabbaton allowed us to begin forming strong relationships with each other and our staff here at MTC. What a perfect way to start our year!
If that wasn’t enough fun, we had a scavenger hunt organized by our madrichot in the kikar and we had a tiyul to Jerusalem where we took a tour of the old city and visited the Kotel.
I don’t think I stand alone when I say how much I appreciate being here in Netanya. Just seeing the sunset on the beach makes it all worth it.
We finally began classes and I’m looking forward to learning from all of the amazing teachers here.
When I received the envelope with my name on it, I was so nervous to see which group I was assigned, and after our countdown we all ripped open our envelopes and excitement filled the room. It was so exciting to the children of Beit Elazraki who we will be working with this year, and they were all so kind and welcoming!
It’s only been a week, but I feel like I’ve been here for months! I’ve already learned so much from my kids, my peers, and my teachers and I cannot wait to see what the rest of the year brings us!
