Ruach and unity evident at 17th DRS Shabbaton

Sports, food, music, and fun combined for an enjoyable time at Davis Renov Stahler (DRS) Yeshiva High School’s 17th annual Shabbaton, held at Hotel Somerset-Bridgewater last weekend.

“The purpose of the Shabbaton is to provide an enjoyable, relaxing experience for the student body to spend time with each other, as well as to promote school spirit and achdus (unity),” said Rabbi Yisroel Kaminetsky, principal of DRS in Woodmere. “The Shabbaton also provides an opportunity for the Rebbeim and students to interact in an informal way and build relationships.”

After a pizza dinner on Thursday, students headed to the hotel, and had a trivia contest, Madden football video game and ping-pong tournaments, as well as a late night barbecue. Students swam in the hotel pool, and worked out in the fitness room.

On Friday, excitement was in the air for the annual football tournament, as students hit the gridiron for competitive flag football action. “The best part of the Shabbaton was the football tournament because it was very intense and it was a good game to play with friends,” said sophomore Shmulik Roth.

During Shabbat, students heard from inspirational speaker and stand-up comedian Rabbi Lawrence Hajioff, and took part in the “great debate” and other activities designed to build school spirit and imbue unity among students.

Rabbi Aryeh Cohen led inspirational musical hymns and students feasted on cholent (a traditional Jewish stew) and kugel. “The Shabbaton is a time when the entire DRS Yeshiva can come together as one and spend a Shabbat together in a ruach (spirit)-filled atmosphere,” said Rabbi Eli Brazil, Director of Student Activities.

After Shabbat, the hilarious senior video was shown, and students danced together in unity. “I got a tremendous feeling of achdus out of the Shabbaton,” said junior Maury Rosenfeld. “It was nice to see the school come together as one.”