Today started off with Shacharis, featuring a d’var halacha from Rabbi Marcus, a scrumptious breakfast (waffles, bagels, and cereal), and then an exciting chabura-shiur combination. After a delicious mac and cheese lunch, we traveled to Progressive Field for an intense matchup between the Indians and the Red Sox. After the game, we headed to Dave and Busters (including unlimited soda and water!) and then The Multiplex Sports Facility for a fun afternoon of arcade games and sports leagues. When we got back to the hotel after a fun-filled day, we heard a riveting mussar schmooze from Rabbi Marcus before Davening Maariv. We can’t wait for another jam-packed day tomorrow!

Our day got off to a thrilling start with Shacharis, breakfast, and learning. We then quickly boarded the busses and headed to Cedar Point Amusement Park. Upon arriving at the park, we ate lunch before spending the day going around the incredible rides, playing the fun games and exploring this amusement park which virtually none of the campers have been to previously. We then ate dinner, davened mincha, and enjoyed a couple of more hours in the park before Davening Maariv, boarding the busses, and heading back to the hotel for a good night sleep.

Our final week got off to a rocking start with an early Shacharis and breakfast at Keter Torah in Teaneck. We then made our way over to Guppy Gulch Aqua Park in Pennsylvania, where we ate lunch, and spent hours diving, zip lining, swimming, and wrestling on the water park on the water. Following the water park, we made our way over to a rest stop on the way to Cleveland, where we davened Mincha, ate dinner (schnitzel sandwiches and deli roll), davened Maariv, and headed to our hotel in Cleveland, Ohio. We can’t wait for Cedar Point tomorrow!

Rafi Kreitman is enjoying being part of the inaugural summer of RTC! Rafi just finished his first year learning at Sha’alvim after spending his high school years in TABC.

Rafi’s chaburah consists of six unbelievable guys who just finished their first year in high school: Ari (Cedarhurst/DRS), Elisha (Bergenfield/TABC), Abie (Teaneck/MTA), Tzvi (Holliswood/MTA), Raffi (Teaneck/MTA) and Dani (Bergenfield/MTA).

The Chabura has been discussing different Halachic topics that are often not thought about or discussed. For example, they discussed the Halachic ramifications of davening from a smartphone.

Each boy in the chaburah was asked the following question: “What has been your favorite part of RTC?”

Ari: “My favorite part of RTC is meeting new people and going to so many amusement parks.”

Elisha: “My favorite part of RTC is the life-long bonds that I‘m making with the other campers, Madrichim, and staff members.”

Abie: “The Baltimore Orioles game because we got to see a great game, chill with friends, and spend time with a camp of Venezuelan Jews.”

Tzvi: “I think my favorite thing we’ve done so far with RTC was probably the baseball game of the Yankees against the Orioles.”

Raffi: “Hanging out with friends on the awesome trips.”

Dani: “The Chaburahs because we learn a lot but it’s still very enjoyable and interesting.”

On Friday, we ushered in Shabbos with a beautiful davening and a delicious dinner with the Emerson, Pfeiffer, and Kurtz families as well as the Yeshivat Shaalvim/OU ‘UveLechtecha BaDerech’ Summer Kollel. The seudah also featured a D’var Torah from one of our all star campers as well as Mr. Rob Kurtz. We were then privileged to have an exclusive Q&A session with Rav Yaakov Neuberger, followed by a very leibidik tisch with Rabbi Aryeh Leibowitz.
The next morning, we davened shacharis with inspiring words from RTC Director, Avi Rosalimsky about the importance of having hakaras hatov and a positive outlook throughout life. Davening was followed by a scrumptious kiddush of poppers, chulent, and kugel. After going back to our hosts for lunch, we reconvened at Keter Torah for mincha and guest chaburas given to the campers by members of the Yeshivat Shaalvim/OU ‘UveLechtecha BaDerech’ Summer Kollel. We then had a seudas hamafsekes as we ushered in Tisha B’Av together with song.
After Tisha B’Av set in, we davened Maariv, followed by a pre-Eicha schmooze from Rabbi Dr. Ari Sytner. Rabbi Sytner used his experience in the aftermath of the Pittsburgh and Poway shul shootings, coupled with his kidney donation to inspire us to go the extra mile for our fellow Jews. After Eicha, we read the first five Kinnos, and then ended off the night with a powerful kumzitz featuring words from Rav Yosef Carmel and RTC staff members.
The next morning, we returned to Keter Torah for Shacharis, featuring a truly inspiring and meaningful Kinnos program with inspiring words from Rabbi Dovid Bashevkin, Rabbi Aryeh Leibowitz, Avi Rosalimsky, Rabbi Aryeh Wielgus, and Rabbi Ezra Wiener.
In the late afternoon, we came back together to daven Mincha, followed by an incredibly inspirational outdoor kumzitz featuring divrei torah from Rav Moshe Tzvi Weinberg. This kumsitz carried us until the end of the fast when we davened maariv, made havdalah, said Kiddush levanah, and broke our fasts. We cannot wait for our final week, starting tomorrow morning with Shacharis!