Photo Credit: YNA.edu

This past Shabbat, Rosh Chodesh Nissan 5776, the Yeshivat Netiv Aryeh Alumni Shabbaton was held in the DRS High School in the 5 Towns. It was not only a yeshiva reunion but also a family reunion.

Eight rebbeim, including the Rosh Yeshiva Rav Aharon Bina, and more than 200 alumni got together to have a Shabbat filled with holiness and inspiration.

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With spiritual growth as the Shabbat’s theme, the program consisted of interesting and practical shiurim (classes) from our rebbeim that dealt with the age-old question, “How to be a healthy, well-balanced Jew?”

Alongside the extremely powerful message of the day was the palpable energy of our alumni.

The walls of the Beis Medrash and the lunchroom shook during Kabbalat Shabbat, morning Hallel, and Shabbat Zemiros as we locked arms to welcome in the Shabbat and the new month with utter joy and excitement. It felt as if we were back in yeshiva davening across from the Holy of Holies.

The highlight of the Shabbat, however, was the opportunity to speak with our role models for life, our rebbeim. Each rebbe made himself available to speak with each of his talmidim to answer questions or just to chat and catch up. We all truly felt the love that our yeshiva has for each and every person who walks through the doors of Netiv Aryeh.

The day ended off with a panel where each rebbe discussed his own approach for healthy service to Hashem, the greatest testament to Netiv Aryeh’s unbelievable and diverse staff (colloquially termed the “Netiv-Kebab”). The discussion then shifted towards helping the alumni find the best way to incorporate Hashem into daily life, an ongoing struggle for all Jews in the world today.

Rav Bina always says,” Once you come to Netiv Aryeh, you never leave.” This Shabbat really showed the absolute truth of that statement.

On behalf of all the alumni, thank you to all of our rebbeim for always being there for us. The warmth of Netiv Aryeh and the dedication of its staff has made Netiv Aryeh more than a Yeshiva for us. Netiv Aryeh is our home.

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Meir Zeidman is an alumnus of Yeshivat Netiv Aryeh and currently attends Columbia University.