Principals ShabbaZone

What's with her? Why are you at the zone without the zodiacs? Oh, this is very exciting. We U R A recently has joined together with consortium have a beautiful Shabbos with many principals from all around the United States coming to join us for a beautiful Shabbos of chizuk, the camaraderie together with all the principals, many principals who are principals where are our zodiacs and our campers go to these schools and many other ones that were enlightening them and bringing them to let them know what U R A does. And we have here together with me Rabbi Chaim Engel who works for the consortium, good friend of mine. >> Thank you for introducing me. U R A has been an incredible host. We're all settled in. We're about to have Mincha. We're about to get ready to go. It's been an amazing Shabbos. I'm looking forward So should I record the Mincha if it's only 10 people here? No, I don't think you wait till it's it's a packed Shabbos. Do you know that there's a waiting list to get into the Shabbos? There's every single room in this facility is full. Full, full, full. Every room means every single room. Every room and there's a waiting list. So next year I feel like I'm home. Wait, what did you just say? I feel like I'm back at home. I'm so excited. It's just it this is family. This is warmth. This is real, authentic. It's just it's everything that everything that you can imagine. When were you at the zone? Let's see. I was here for Shabbos zone earlier in the year and then last year I was here for the Menahal, the principal Shabbaton and now it's just like now it's just comfortable. Wow. Thank you so much for back for inviting me again. Aw. >> Thank you so much. I'm so excited to see you. Thank you so much. No, yeah, that's the problem. Who knows? our communities And U R A was supporting them, coming to make sure they go to the Yeshiva, make sure they come to the camp, make sure the parents are learning Torah. And we're really Where are y'all from? Texas. Actually? Yeah, totally. You flew in? We took a 4-hour flight and drove up like 4 or 5 hours. Yeah. So it took a little while. >> Yes. Why did you guys >> Well worth it. Really? Yes. It's amazing. >> We were here last year and it was great. You know, we really liked it. Good program, good speakers, amazing people, good food and we're happy to be back. Amazing. And what's the best thing about Houston? The community, the people, the Torah, it's a great place. Everyone's invited to come visit. And which school do you work in? YT. And what ages are there? It's from 15 months to 8th grade. Wow. Amazing. Thanks for coming. Thank you for having us. We're so excited. from U R A and steiging Uh some of them are tremendous masmidim. Hi, where are you from? Waterbury, Connecticut. There are Jews there? There's a small small community. So tell me about your school. We have 800 uh plus kindelach there. And what's >> Kindelach means children. Uh-huh. And what's your connection with U R A? U R A is the place where every year it's connected to U R A. It's like because of fiveish. Who doesn't know fiveish? Oh, oh, okay, I hear you. And have you been to this Shabbaton before? >> year. I was so impressed I came again this year. I brought my wife. Uh-huh. Did you see her? She's here tonight. [laughter] Chag sameach everybody. This is a chag prust because everyone's getting together, Jewish people getting together is a chag. But it's not just Jewish people, every single person here represents thousands and thousands of Jewish people. We're coming to inspire ourselves, to excite ourselves, to make our getters better on our game to serve as klal Yisrael better. That's how the Yeshiva should be successful. >> just tell the Steigers good Shabbos? Steigers good Shabbos. We'll see you there. Steigers knack in Yerushalayim, Lakewood, Brooklyn all over the United States. Looking forward to seeing you. If there's a child here who would speak good I would leave it open with a quote from Reb Gedaliah Zaks. He said, "We'll bring up a girl that are literate in three languages. Yiddish, Hebrew, English and Yiddish and English and Yiddish and Hebrew. And child They had already The bochur was literally on the wall. I remember this from the pool and the sister. We were like bochurs way up the wall so there was a drop ceiling and he hung up in the ceiling, right? This is this is this is ADHD uh hyperactive bochur. Impossible that that are the ones that are working now. Um they counted it Right, so you're sacrifice sacrifice He has done the average before. Rabbi Engel, what do you want to tell the zodiacs? U R A's camp for girls and for boys is the greatest experience you can have. I've been here for a few years now. Look at the grounds. They're beautiful. So many good things to do but more importantly people that care about you, people that are going to love you, people that are going to take an interest in you. You're never going to be bored. You're always going to be motivated and you're going to come away with such beautiful ideals for your life. You're not going to believe what kind of person you're going to become. The growth is going to be incredible. And are you happy that the consortium is here? I love being here. Um all the principals are coming. You know, the first year we did it here is our third year. We made a chazaka this year. So first year we had 30 principals. Last year we had about 45 and this year we have 120. Wow. So yes, they love coming >> 120? 120, 120 and they they come here, they can't believe Rabbi Mendelson, how's the principal Shabbos? It's going unbelievable. I'm here with one of our great partner schools, Rabbi Eli Geller from Ezra Academy. Oh, I've heard of it. >> yes, hi. Thank you, Rabbi Mendelson. It's an honor to be here. I want to send my best regards to all the Ezra zodiacs, the chillers >> Oh, you're you're holding. >> steigers >> [laughter] >> And the partnership with U R A and Ezra is stronger than ever. It goes way back. >> How many students? Oh. Too many to count. Too many, yeah. A lot a lot to count especially I'm not that good at math. I have a little hard time with that but it's amazing partnership. We love that we're here. We're so honored to be here for this Shabbos. And we're honored to do anything we can with U R A together. It's good. That's a good message. Yeah, compliments to you. Thank you. Most regulated. You cannot build the building without paper. Basically the learning program over vacation and they texted in and there is and then they this is the end of the raffle. We're together. What are you guys doing this afternoon? Whatever my wife wants to do. Rabbi Brog, what are we doing this afternoon? So many stuff to do here. I want to first say who this is. I'm standing here together with Rabbi Newman all the way from Cleveland, Ohio and a little fun fact, I don't know if people know, Rabbi Brog is from Cleveland, Ohio. And this Rabbi Newman was my rebbe in fourth grade. Wait, what did you do to my favorite favorite talmid. Yeah, I I had a good time. Right, Yaki. Right, Yaki. >> [laughter] >> He was definitely a good rebbe. But I'm going to tell you today we have so many exciting activities. We have horseback riding, we have alpine slide. We're doing special rides up to the vista. We have swimming now. It's so exciting. Possibly the ski lift. Oh yeah, did I tell you this is the new ski lift? It's so exciting. >> What time is Shabbos? No, don't worry about that. In the zone there's time for everything. You can go on a ski lift on Shabbos. Why can't you go on a ski lift on Shabbos? As long as the mile and a half that's what it is. This is very exciting. vista It was just built this year. Um my first time up there actually. And Brog says great views. Do you know the names of the cattle up here? I don't but other people do, definitely. The mile to the middle of the lake We actually go swimming there. They swim from from the shore for a little for a little while. That was good. Thank you very much. Wonderful. Should we go? How was the ski lift? Very nice. Very nice. How long was it? A little long. 30 minutes but it was good. Thank you very much. Oh, [laughter] no. How was the vista? Oh, beautiful. Would you go again? Yeah. Of course. Of course. It was gorgeous. >> say no? Wish we live Wish we could live here all year round. Wait, say that again? Wish we could live here all year round. Where are you guys off to? alpine slide and it's kind of fun. After I finish with my talmidim with the horse over there I'm going to try and understand what type of talmidim go on this thing. I'm figuring it out. And how do you guys know each other? We don't. Yeah, never met him. It's a gorgeous camp. I said we're really having a nice time and the weather is perfect. Who are you talking to? My son. Uh-huh, is he jealous that you're here? No, he's really really happy for us. The fact that the eighth seder night is made that Oh, I don't know How do you guys know each other? Well What you said Rabbi Liner was my ninth grade rebbe and uh high school Menahal. Really? Yes. Are you having nachas? Terrific. Really? The fact that my talmid is going is a chinech and accomplishing so much is the greatest uh nachas in the world. Well than anything. What are your favorite hobbies? One of them, yes. So, what was it like arguing with Rabbi Reichman? It's very exciting. I would almost say entertaining. Uh-huh. And you really think that students should have homework? Yes, I think homework has a lot of benefits when done properly and right amount. You have to know why you're doing it, what you're trying to gain, and it has to be in a way that doesn't create stress. Wait, where did you guys just move to? Dallas, Texas. Opened up the Jewish Girls Academy in Plano, Texas. No way. How many students? >> 23 right now. We're going to triple next year. Bring those in shul together partnering with Aura for public school straight to Yeshiva. And how was your Shabbos? Our Shabbos was great. It was great here. We learned from all the different perspectives of different rabbanim from the schools, but really unified in the same challenges of bringing Yiddishkeit to every neshama that comes our way that we have the opportunity to benefit. James, how was your Shabbos? Shabbos was really awesome. It's first time over here at the zone. Initially, I didn't think it's worth coming for 4 hours, but when I got here, I was greeted by donkeys and chickens and llamas which never really happened before. Um parrots were like going crazy when they saw us. And then when it came to the meal, food was amazing. The davening was over the top Kabbalas Shabbos. I haven't had such a Kabbalas Shabbos since Camp Kaylie Gardens when I was 15 years old. Everyone sang about feeling dynamite. >> And the shul was uplifting and fantastic. Right, those those birds on top of the animals made me quiet. I didn't know if I touched the llama it would bite me. And it was really beautiful the way Aura takes care of you here. It's absolutely great. Food over the top. Good food, good speeches, good learning. And the energy at Bnos Yisrael and that of Klal Yisrael is the greatest. So, you guys went to the girls camp this past summer and now you're at the boys camp. Which camp is better? Both camps are great. We love Aura. Here we had so many menahel together with Rabbi Mintz. It was a beautiful Shabbos. How many people total? Over 250 people there for Shabbos. Uh-huh. Are you guys doing it next week? Next week or next year? How was your Shabbos? Shabbos was amazing. Where are you guys coming from? Baltimore. Wait, what did you say? Baltimore is the bomb. Why is it so explosive? It's just amazing. It's an amazing opportunity they give. It's amazing how they find people and they bring them back to their roots. Wow. And what's your connection to Aura? Um no, my connection is to the consortium. Wow, beautiful. Thank you so much for speaking. >> Thank you. I had a good relationship with the menahel. He really connected with me and I was I think I was doing well for myself. >> How did you get these shul zone sweaters? So, I am a head chiller in Greater Washington area. Actually? >> I'm a wannabe. I'm a wannabe head chiller. Actually. Wait. >> I'm not a head chiller, chief chiller. Oh, oh. And how did you get this job? How did I get this job? I am privileged to work with the Yeshiva boys who are run the chill zone and it's a it's really it's an honor and privilege to hang out with them every week and to plan with them and to let them bring this amazing energy to chill zone. They have so much energy. I walked in there once and they were like jumping off tables and the kids were all excited and I was like, "This energy is awesome." And where's your chief chiller sweater cuz So, we have a boy who hangs out at our house. He got engaged and stole my sweatshirt and gave it to his kallah. Can we have a shoutout of his name? Yeah, Eer. I need my sweatshirt back. Eer, mazel tov. Guys, thanks for all you do. Oh my gosh, thanks for all you guys do. You are amazing and it's an honor to be a part of this amazing organization. But with that in mind, with that in mind and one other quick anecdote, when I was at How was your Shabbos? Beautiful. From the Kabbalas Shabbos to the Havdalah and all the presenters, the speeches, the debates, the menu. How was your Shabbos? INCREDIBLE. REALLY? YEP. >> [applause] >> WE HAVE A COUPLE OF WE HAVE SHUL ZONES GOING ON. ACTUALLY, my daughter also participates in our shul base Yaakov. No way. Yeah, my daughter does the shul zone. She's got the sweater on all for the second year. Wow. And yeah, she has the gray one also. I think my wife stole that one. >> [laughter] >> But we have we have our boys our base medrash bachurim do a shul zone in the Yeshiva. In the Yeshiva? Yeah. Wow. And they they run one on a weekday night in Hollywood for another group of boys and we we take the high school bachurim on a on a mishmar night when they need a little change of pace. And they go learn with these with these boys in Hollywood. And she was okay with giving them off off their own time to pay Sheva's time for them to go We're very happy. The boys are happy. I've actually taken my shul there a number of times. It gives them a real sense of what they could accomplish. Makes them really feel proud of their own learning and what they're there holding in their own Yiddishkeit. >> [music] >> And these are regular teenage kids who themselves are struggling getting into learning and they see how much they have to offer to other kids who don't have that exposure. Wow. And and it's really beautiful for them. It's one of those situations where sometimes you wonder who's really gaining more. Wow. Is 10th grade boys that are teaching these kids or the kids that are at their boarding? >> [music] >> They they go, they work with them, they get some pizza. So, from 1 to 10, how amazing was Shabbos? Amazing. 10. Shabbos was awesome. Was it better than Shabbos at the zone? I was just waiting for each speaker when they got up and said good Shabbos. The ones I wanted to respond to looked so good Shabbos. They looked so beautiful as usual. And you're na na na na na na. Your shoes, your shoes. What's in his backpack? That's good stuff. Show me, show me, show me. We have Woah. >> [clears throat] >> Where are you a principal? Detroit. And you flew all the way here? Flew through LaGuardia. What? LaGuardia. Wow. And was it worth coming? Absolutely. One of the best in the world. It's my third one. Actually? You were like an OG. OG, you mean? Original. Yes. Uh-huh. Wow. And it gets better every year? Yes. Yeah, three two years ago there were 30 menahel here. Uh-huh. And it was very small. Uh-huh. And I told my wife, "Then trust me, in 2 years from now, it's going to be packed, sold out." So, how how many people are going to come in 2 years from now? We'll be out of more space. We'll make space. We're going to have 200, 300 menahel. Amazing. The Shabbos at the zone was off the charts. Rabbi the Shabbos of Rabbi Engel, Rabbi Glass put together. I I can't even describe it. It's unbelievable how uplifting, inspiring, how much chizuk. And that guy who spoke about ADHC on Friday, wow. No, I'm kidding. Don't Guys, how was your Shabbos? BEST SHABBOS EVER. We don't want to leave. >> And what swag did you guys get? A lot. Whole backpack. BEEN TOGETHER IN THE MENAHEL TRAINING cohort and we met here at this year. So, you guys knew each other from before? LPC. What's that? >> did a course once for menahel. Zoom session for menahel. Okay, smile. Now he's finishing some sort of How was the principals conference? It's my third year here and every year it gets better and better. Unbelievable. This year was jam-packed and the educational content was amazing. And speakers, everything, accommodations. Couldn't ask for more. And which school do you work in? I work for the consortium of Jewish day schools. Oh, so all the schools? Yes. Well, we work for the consortium which helps all the day schools, whoever wants. And this is our third year we've been coming here and I'm more impressed every time. I waited this whole Shabbos. I mean, I love boys camp and all, but let's be real. We're going to check out the girls camp, see what it's up to, how the Oasis is being built. So many cool things are coming this summer. I'm going to check it out. I want a sneak peek. And the girls rooms, like the art rooms. No way. I heard there's a kiln. Oh, what? Oh my gosh. This Look at this. Woah. That's cars for kids, the plaza, the lake, the other part of the Oasis. Oh my gosh, there is so much happening. And that's the lake that will always be there. Yes. And the zip line. How many rooms are going to be in this building? I don't know. Probably like 50? No, there's got to be more. I mean, honestly, it's huge. And only that, there's a second building. Or two buildings. Between them, kishka and kebbab. >> [clears throat] >> We're going into the patio. Come check it out. Fancy stairs. Look. Come on. Woah. Oh my god. You ready for your morning coffee? Oh, I am so ready. Oh my gosh. What a beautiful view to look at.