The DRS Media Department is pleased to present to you a week in review video to give you a taste of what all of our students experienced this week. Enjoy!

By Zeke Miller (’07), DRS Address Student Editor In Chief

“DRS Shabbaton ’06: It’s that big.” The DRS student body was constantly reminded of this fact during the week and a half leading up to the Shabbaton, as the school was plastered with signs containing this promise from the office of Student Activities. Well, after having experienced the most amazing DRS Shabbaton in history, we can safely say that Rabbi Emerson and Rabbi Brazil made good on their promise. Swan Lake will never be the same.

The weekend began with the ever enjoyable Shiur Olympics in which each shiur competed with other ones in games such as basketball, football, Madden (on XBOX), and Wolleyball (Volleyball played on a racquetball court in which the walls are in). Rabbi Balsam’s Senior shiur won the coveted Olympics title, dominating the new format of the championship round, in which they took on other finalists in an all out game of extreme Ga-Ga. In another new development, the DRS Aerospace Club went 3 for 3 in their successful rocket launchings, coordinated by Jason Hagler and this author.

Shabbat started with a Dvar Torah by Rabbi Leibowitz setting the tone for the Shabbat. Following that, Senior Ari Lipsky led the Yeshiva in a beautiful Kabbalat Shabbat. Students spontaneously broke into dance during the moving davening. Following Dinner, everyone gathered in a circle for Divrei Torah, Z’mirot, and Benching.

Later, the Freshman and Sophomores heard from this year’s guest speaker, Yisroel Bronstein. Mr. Bronstein spoke of the many challenges he experienced in his life, including being seriously injured at the age of nine in a horrific plane crash of United flight 232. He spoke passionately and eloquently to the students about the theme for the Shabbaton, overcoming obstacles. While the lowerclassmen were hearing from Mr. Bronstein, the Juniors had Chaburot with their madrichim, and the Seniors had a very special discussion about senior year led by Rabbi Kaminetsky.

Following those events, the annual Family Feud and Stump the (Rabbi) Storch games took place. They were followed up by the grade Tisches. The seniors had a special late night Tisch whose beautiful songs and Divrei Torah lasted well into the night.

On Shabbat morning, the Yeshiva was led in davening by Senior Yehuda Nueman and Freshman Nati Abbitan. Following Leining, every shiur gathered around its Rebbe for some inspiring words about the parsha.

Following a lavish Kiddush the Juniors and Seniors heard from Mr. Bronstein, the Sophomores had Chaburot, and the Freshmen had special Senior-Freshman Chaburot. Groups of four to five Freshmen were matched with about twenty seniors who gave Chaburot discussing the shabbaton theme and building on the presentation the Freshmen had heard on Friday night. Thank you to Rabbi Balsam for assembling the Chabura source material.

Following lunch there were more Divrei Torah, and Z’mirot. There was also an impromptu sing-off between Rabbi Sussman (of Shalsheles fame) and Rabbi Freidman.

Following Mincha and Seuda Shlishit, the entire Yeshiva gathered in the Shul for some singing and a Dvar Torah by Rabbi Kaminetsky to escort out the Shabbat. That was followed by Ma’ariv and an inspiring Havdalah by Rabbi Cohen.

Motzei Shabbos was action packed. It started out with the Wolleyball and Madden Tournaments as well as pick-up games on all of the courts. Wolleyball was particularly exciting this year, as many of the 28 participating teams competed for the additional title of top team costume and theme (won by “The Justice League”). Following the sports, there was an amazing Melava Malka featuring a concert by Omek HaDavar. After hours of singing and dancing, a short 3 months plus last year in review video was shown as well as the Senior Video. Thank you to media gurus Jason Hagler, Baruch Schein, and Yonatan Sklar for all of their help with the Melava Malka.

The next morning following davening and a lavish breakfast it was time to go back home. Everyone loaded onto the buses with a look of joy mixed with sadness, happy that the Shabbaton was so amazing, yet upset that it had to end.

The goal of the Shabbaton every year is to promote Achdut, and at the shabbaton there was an abundance of that. Just take a look at the pictures and video! The Shabbaton was a tremendous success in that it was extremely enjoyable and brought the entire Yeshiva together in an amazing way. It remains one of the highlights of the DRS year.

The latest edition of the DRS Reporter school newspaper hit newsstands this week, and the school is buzzing about its contents, including Senior Mark Rocklin’s account of his experience in an NFL football camp, and Zeke Miller’s stinging editorial about student activism. Read it here online, by clicking on the link below!

By Yair Saperstein (’08)

The DRS athletic department, on the heels of its most successful season in the school’s history, is pushing onward. As the new season begins, the pressure is on, but our squads are up to the challenge. The Varsity Wildcats hockey team played two games, both against HANC, and defeated them both times. The first game, a 9 to 2 rout, was followed by an even more impressive 10-0 shutout in the second game. Jonathan Weiss and Sruli Beitler each had hat tricks in the first game. In the second game, Yoni Fein scored four goals.

The Varsity basketball team is quickly gaining its footing. Although it lost its first preseason game against Shaare Torah by two points, it quickly overcame Heschel, defeating them 41-33. They are surely ready for their first regular season game against MTA, this Tuesday night.

The DRS Yearbook 2007 staff is hard at work putting together what promises to be the best yearbook yet! If you would like to purchase ads, download the form below and send it in to DRS, attention Rabbi Brazil.