Today, in no uncertain terms, was absolutely crazy. From the moment I arrived at the hotel, it has been a whirlwind of hugs between old friends and the beginnings of new relationships. The incredible feeling of seeing the people that I have spent so many special moments with, like my fellow TJJ Ambassadors, is nothing compared to the anticipation of creating so many more memories with such awesome people. Our first speaker, Rabbi Menachem Nissel, opened the night by explaining the importance of the relationship between man, G-d, and the Torah. He taught us that our connection with Torah and G-d is so valuable because it keeps us going as a nation and acts as a lifeline in hard times.
Adele, left, reunites with a fellow NCSY TJJ Ambassador.
Next, we had optional learning sessions, with the options of learning in sessions run by a rabbi, an NCSYer, or to learn in chaburas. I chose to learn this week’s parsha with one of my fellow NCSYers, Zev Spigelman, and my regional director, Marc Fein. The hour that we spent learning was one of the highlights of my day, because it reminded me of the learning and inspiration at Yarchei Kallah last year that motivated me to become more interested and involved in Judaism. To close the night, my region, Upstate New York NCSY, had a meeting in which the 18 NCSYers and handful of advisors shared our experiences during the day and what we were looking forward to in the rest of this week. It’s been a long day, but I’m totally ready to continue on the awesome journey that is Yarchei Kallah. Stay tuned for more posts!
Adele Lerner
Regional Historian, Upstate New York NCSY
Junior, Vestal High School
