By Jason Hagler

This past Tuesday evening the students at D.R.S. were privileged to attend the Siyum Hashas. It is hard to describe the sense of achdut with all Jews that this event brought out in all of the students. The Siyum was seen via live satellite hookup all over the world.

The shiurim were very inspiring, especially those given by Rav Yissochor Frand , Rav Efraim Waxman, and Rav Matisyahu Solomon. Never have we davened in a minyan with twenty thousand people, and it was simply amazing. The feeling of the Arena shaking from the dancing after the Siyum was something many of us never experienced before. It is hard to put this feeling into words. We are proud to have been a part of this awesome event.

We give special thanks to our Menahel Rabbi Kaminetsky, and all our Rebbeim for letting us be a part of this special evening.

Recruiting Season is finally over!! Boruch Hashem, DRS again successfully recruited an outstanding Freshman class for next year. This year saw a record number of prospective students visiting Yeshiva to get a taste of the DRS experience.

The visits proved to be very helpful in sharing the ruach, high level of quality Jewish and Secular education and special activities of the Yeshiva, as well as the warm personalities who make up our faculty and students.

We especially thank Director of Recruitment Rabbi Eli Brazil for the outstanding job of preparing the programs for visiting students, as well as all of the student leaders and representatives who escorted the boys from class to class. Thank you so much for helping ensure that the outstanding quality of DRS student will continue next year!

By Jonathan Sklar

The DRS freshmen enjoyed a stupendous Shabbaton this past weekend, including many great activities and "Achdut" - filled tefilot and meals together in the DRS building. The program was set to begin on Friday morning at 11 o'clock with an exciting 3-on-3 basketball tournament, but the tournament as well as yeshiva for the day was unfortunately cancelled due to a Thursday night snowstorm. The program then took a late start on Friday afternoon, beginning with an inspirational Kabbalat Shabbat davening led by David Wertheimer. The delicious Friday night meal in the DRS cafeteria was filled with wonderful Divrei Torah and Zemirot from various 9th grade students and Rebbes. After davening the freshman then returned to the Bait Medrash for "Lights, Camera, Action" an activity in which the 9th graders broke up into groups and prepared skits with the props and words provided for them. The skits were then judged by Rabbi Kaminetsky and sons, who unanimously selected a popular winning skit, featured by the great performance of Yehuda Grossman. After the fun activity, the whole grade headed over to the home of Rabbi and Mrs. Emerson, where they enjoyed a wonderful "tisch" filled with Ruach, Chulent, Kugel, Zemirot and wonderful Divrei Torah from the renowned Rav Spiegel, Shlita, of Congregation Bais Medrash in Cedarhurst.

The fun continued the next morning starting with Shacharit in the Bait Medrash followed by separate shiur kiddushes in the cafeteria. The Freshmen then split up into groups again for pleasant Shabbat lunches in the homes of a few local DRS Rebbes. The students had a few hours break on Shabbat afternoon, followed by a test review for Rabbi Kaminetsky's shiur, and mincha in the Bait Medrash. After Mincha the freshmen returned to the cafeteria for Seuda Shelishit, including Zmirot and an inspirational speech by attorney Mr. Charles Harary, followed by Ma'ariv and Havdalah in the Bait Medrash. Later that night the students returned to DRS for the long awaited and postponed 3-on-3 basketball tournament, won by the team of Goldstein, Weinstock and Salamon. After the tournament, the students returned home, having had a wonderful time at the DRS Freshman Shabbaton 2005.

Last Thursday, the DRS Junior class had a chance to experience a very special event on the Jewish community's calendar: The Yeshiva University Seforim Sale. The day began with a shiur from Rosh Yeshiva Rav Dovid Hirsch, who spoke about Zrizut, followed by a mini-tour of the YU campus.

After that, it was off to the Seforim Sale, where the students, guided by their Rabbeim, selected seforim for their studies in and out of Yeshiva. The day concluded as Yeshiva University graciously provided lunch to our students. It was especially gratifying to see so many DRS alumni learning at YU, as they joined with our group to say hello and meet the current students.

Once again, the stillness of the early morning was broken by DRS students and Rabbeim, who gathered together on Sunday for the annual DRS Ski Trip. For the first time ever, two busses were required to handle the overflow crowd who wanted to spend the day at beautiful Hunter Mountain.

The group stopped along the way for Shacharit, and to enjoy a delicious Dunkin Donuts breakfast. After arriving at Hunter Mountain, all the skiers and snowboarders got their equipment, and off they went to the slopes. After a weekend full of snow, the conditions were great. The mountain was perfect for the group, as it offered a wide range of runs, from beginner to expert, and offered a ski school for those interested in lessons. By the time 12:30 rolled around, everyone was starving, and headed to the Ski Lodge for a special 'all you can eat' lunch buffet. After eating, it was back up the mountain, until the lifts closed. Everyone had a fantastic time.

By Mully Fein

In the midst of all the hype about hockey and basketball in DRS, the bowling team quietly made its way to the championship in dominating fashion to face their arch- rivals MTA Lions. Fans from all over came to watch the two teams face-off and enjoyed free Wok-Tov.

In the first round of games, season MVP Jonathan Eskowitz, took control of the momentum by bowling a career high, and DRS high, 203. MTA won the first round overall 15-5 putting the Alleycats in a big hole. Facing the best bowler in the league, Meir Shubowitz shook off his first loss of the season by beating his opponent 175-174. Through 5 frames in the second round the Alleycats were down but not out. A strong comeback lead by Eli Sinnreich and Josh Hersch, put DRS back in the game and setup a sprint to the finish.

The intensity was higher than ever at this point as MTA was watching the championship slip through their fingers. It all came down to the 10th and final frame with MTA clinging to a slight lead. After Rafi Green finished off his big head to head win, DRS found themselves down 16 pins going into the final bowler. Mully Fein, who suffered his first loss of the season in the first round, came back and bowled three straight strikes in the final frame to clinch it for the Alleycats.

With Commissioner Rabbi Eli Brazil on hand watching, DRS made history by making the biggest comeback in bowling championship history. The season was a huge success thanks to the hard work of Meir Shubowitz, Rabbi Eli Brazil, Woodmere Lanes and the sponsorship of Mr. Sinnreich a.k.a. "The Boss". Congratulations to the DRS Alleycats on the big win!

Playoff fever has arrived at DRS! With 3 of our teams competing, there is sure to be excitement! The playoffs started just last night, as the DRS JV wildcats won a thrilling victory against perennial rival HAFTR by 2 points, nearly squandering a ten point late fourth quarter lead. The victory of course meant doughnuts for all for Friday breakfast!

Then on Tuesday, March 8, the Junior Varsity hockey team plays North Shore at the DRS Greenhouse, at 7 pm. The Varsity hockey team has a bye in the first round, and is eagerly awaiting the news of who their next opponent will be. Come cheer all our teams on to victory!

Start studying you dictionaries! DRS is going to be bringing in Adar II with its first ever Spelling Bee! Over the next week, each shiur will be narrowing down the field, selecting a finalist to represent them in the big event on Friday. Get ready for music, dancing, food, and spelling!

The 50th Annual HALB Dinner will take place, IY"H, on Motzai Shabbat, March 12th at the Sands at Atlantic Beach at 8:45pm, where we will pay tribute to "50 Years of Our History". HALB will honor its past presidents who have worked tirelessly to make HALB what it is today. Rabbi Dr. Armin H Friedman will be the recipient of a Distinguished Educator Award and HALB will also present a special Community Service Award to Mr. John Adam Kanas, President, Chairman and CEO of North Fork Bank.

To make dinner reservations, please call 516-791-8200 x107, fax 516-791-6261, or e-mail dinner@halb.org.