Today’s Chaburah spotlight is on Binyomin Barman.

Binyomin is from North Miami Beach, FL and is spending his first summer as an advisor for NCSY Camp Sports. Binyomin was an avid NCSYer in NCSY Southern region for all four years of high school, including being his region’s Vice President his senior year. After a two year hiatus from NCSY to learn in Yeshivat Sha’alvim in Israel, Binyomin is eager to come back to NCSY with his unique outgoing personality while majoring in psychology in Yeshiva University.

The NCSYers in Binyomin’s Chaburah are Sean Regenbaum (Atlanta, GA), Leib Wiener (Memphis, TN) and Adam Bressler (Rochester, NY).

Binyomin has focused so far on how we all can achieve greatness through the talents Hashem has given us. Binyomin believes that through the lenses of the Piaseczna’s Rebbe in his Sefer Chovas HaTalmidim, one can really connect to his Avodas Hashem. The Rebbe’s writing is such a masterpiece because he writes it in a unique way which allows each person to feel like the Sefer was written directly towards him. This helps enhance the student to tap into his strengths to better his Avodah.

Many teens in our generation have a difficult time connecting to Hashem and his Torah because the effect of western society upon us. Many Mussar classics tell a person what a person should do in life to serve Hashem wholeheartedly, but this Sefer tells us HOW to do so while relating to the person and the type of environment he lives in.

Our second Shabbos in camp was another great one. After our first full week of intense leagues and fun trips, everyone got some much needed rest on Shabbos. Rabbi Granofsky, Rosh Yeshiva of Ohr David in Jerusalem, was with for Shabbos, along with Camp Sports alumnus Jeremy Lavitt. They both gave meaningful speeches to the NCSYers over the course of Shabbos. There were Rita’s ices in the afternoon for anyone who learned a little, and Rabbi Cooper led an inspiring ebbing to end off Shabbos.

After Shabbos, we had open sports for two hours on the fields. Yet another rugby game was played, as we continue to integrate rugby into camp, as well as pickup basketball, football, and ultimate. Afterwards, we had a pizza Melaveh Malka to go along with our first ever video competition. The NCSYers were given time to make a video/commercial showing the power of the Shofar on Rosh Hashanah. The top 3 groups were entered into a raffle for dugout seats at the Baltimore Orioles game, and the winning group won a free meal at Dougie’s. All of the videos were hilarious, but the judges voted Yaakov Abramowitz’s group, consisting of Yehuda Alter and Eyal Abadi, as the best. What a way to close out yet another amazing week at Camp Sports!

If you ask a Camp Sports Alumnus about his most memorable trip at Camp, odds are that the trip to Hagerstown was mentioned. This year the trip was even more epic, with an additional new activity before the annual minor league baseball game.

The new activity was the Boonsboro Family Recreation Center. This complex was packed with cool activities. NCSYers tested their driving skills on one (or both) of the two go-cart tracks. There were also batting cages (for those of us who are slumping during league games). For those who prefer hitting the ball while it isn’t moving, there was a golf driving range. NCSYers and staff worked tirelessly to try and hit the car which was setup as a target. There were also two mini-golf courses, a basketball court, a volleyball court and a horseshoe throwing thing. We finished off at the complex in classic Camp Sports fashion, with a delicious barbecue dinner.

After we ate, we boarded the buses for Municipal Stadium, one of the five oldest baseball stadiums in America. There, we made some noise for our adopted Camp team, the Hagerstown Suns. We came prepared with signs, banners and rally towels. We also adopted a player, Brandon Miller. We were on our feet for “Miller Time”, and went crazy when he made a catch in the outfield.

Rabbi Green kicked off the game with a ceremonial first pitch (a little low and outside). The Suns rallied behind our support to win 3-0.   All of the fans, players, and stadium staff were very appreciative of the fun atmosphere that we brought into the game. After the game we enjoyed a patriotic fireworks display, and headed back to camp. The play of the game was undoubtedly our very own Samy Hecker, in an orange body suit, winning the diaper changing competition (only in minor league baseball) against Elimelech Fried, and as a prize he received  a free meal at a non-kosher steak house.

On Thursday we finally got some nice weather, and we played two intense games of sports. As the season hits its second week, the Laminators (captained by Elimelech Fried) are sitting in first place with a 7-1 record. In the evening we had Mishmar learning, capped off by a fun raffle, and some delicious cholent.

We began our first full week of camp with a typical day at Camp Sports. After 2 hours of advisor-camper learning sessions, we were off to the sports fields. Even though there were thunderstorms in the morning, the sun had come out just in time for us to get two league games in. The weather has been consistently inconsistent, and right near the end of  the second league games, it started to rain again. However, it cleared up and was hot and sunny again, just in time for us to go to the pool for a late afternoon swim. After Maariv, Rabbi Green gave a night class about the disputes of G-d, ending off an amazing day at Camp Sports.

On Monday, after a regular morning of learning groups, we boarded the buses and headed off to Hershey Park! The weather called for a rainy day, which was good for us because it kept the wait for rides short. Not only was Hershey Park an awesome thrilling amusement park, but it was also an excellent opportunity for the NCSYers to stock up on their chocolate stash for the rest of the summer. We spent almost 5 hours in the park before breaking for Mincha and dinner. We then returned to the park for an additional two hours before heading back to camp. Even though we didn’t play sports, we returned to camp just as exhausted, if not more exhasted, than any other intense day at Camp Sports.

After Shabbos was over, we went bowling, as we do after every Shabbos. Only this time, we had to go to a new bowling alley because our longtime bowling alley had closed down. When we got there, we were in for a big surprise. This was no ordinary bowling alley, it was a type of bowling known as Duckpin Bowiling. Duckpin Bowling differs from regular bowling in that both the bowling balls and pins are tiny (see pictures). Additionally, you are allowed three throws instead of two. Most of the NCSYers and Advisors had never heard of this type of bowling before and it made for a very interesting night. When we returned from bowling, we were treated to a pizza Melava Malka as we put a close to our first, albeit shortened, week of camp.

How would one describe the first Shabbos in camp? Well, one could say that “Shabbos is really, really nice.” Just ask Ilan Friedner!

We began our first Shabbos in camp with an exciting Kabbalas Shabbos Davening (prayer) lead by advisor Benjy Dennis. We sang and danced around the Beis Medrash as we welcomed in the Shabbos for the first time this summer. After a meal filled with zemiros (shabbos songs) and fun, the NCSYers were treated to Oneg led by Rabbi Moshe Zucker, which of course was filled with chulent and candy.

The next day, the NCSYers and advisors made good use of the long Shabbos afternoons to catch up on some sleep and spend some quality time ‘chilling’ in the dorms, away from the hot Baltimore sun. There was Rita’s Ices for those who hung around the Beis Medrash to learn a little extra on Shabbos. After Mincha, Rabbi Green had a talk with the NCSYers about G-d’s existence, which was followed by a delicious Shaleshuddes (third shabbos meal).

We then entered the just-about-to-be-renovated main Beis Medrash of Ner Israel Rabbinical College for one of the most amazing Ebbings in Camp Sports history. The entire Yeshiva moved out of the Beis Medrash, which has been in use for 60 years, in order to undergo summer renovations. We had the amazing opportunity to spend the last few moments of Shabbos singing and hearing inspiring words from NCSYer Chad Horwitz and Rabbi Green, just before they tear down the walls. It was truly a special moment in Camp Sports history, and an Ebbing to be remembered!

NCSY Summer Programs began this week with the commencement of NCSY Camp Sports! After a hectic day of flight arrivals, bus arrivals, orientation, unpacking, and, of course, one of Ner Israel’s delicious dinner’s  on Wednesday, camp was officially underway on Thursday morning. This summer, we are focusing on the Yomim Tovim in Tishrei during the first learning session. We began by discussing the meaning behind the Shofar, as well as other aspects of  Rosh Hashanah. After breaking for lunch, we kicked off Camp Sports’s famous leagues, with each team sharing one common goal, that coveted championship. We wrapped up the first day of camp with our weekly mishmar, where campers match up with advisors for special Thursday late night learning. There was a raffle and a BBQ after Mishmar for all who stayed up to enjoy it! What a way to start up the summer!

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NCSY Summer Programs are more than just summer trips. They’re one of the most meaningful and memorable experiences of a person’s life. NCSY runs twelve unique summer programs in the US, Israel and Europe that cater to teens with different interests and backgrounds.