We arrived in West Orange, NJ on Friday morning to meet everyone on Yad B’ Yad! What was to follow was a spectacular Shabbos. However, bowling was not to be overlooked. After the classic yet exciting game of ‘bloop’, we headed to bowling and were teamed up with our attendance groups for an afternoon of fun and new friends.

In preparation for Shabbos, we headed over to our gracious hosts and then made our ways back to the shul (AABJ+D). Following davening we played a game of ‘Human Guess Who’, after which we enjoyed a delicious ‘western’ themed dinner.

Shabbos morning came and mussaf was beautifully led by the man himself Yonadav Rimberg. After kiddush we had our first learning program officially commenced with the value’s game led by staff member Josh Eagle. As a group we discussed our individual and group values in stimulating and thought provoking conversations. Succeeding lunch, where the seating arrangement was organized by birthdays, we were graciously awarded with free time where we relaxed, played games and had the option to attend staff member Shimon Cohen’s chabura. Once free time had concluded, there was an oneg at the Esses’ home.

Following the oneg, we headed back to the shul for a fun game of ‘musical memory’, followed by mincha and shaleshudis, at which point Yoni Seinfeld, the program director, gave an inspirational Dvar Torah to all of Yad B’ Yad and the AABJ+D community.

We said goodbye to Shabbos with an amazing musical havdala led by David Wolkoff followed by crazy dancing!! After Shabbos we had our first night activity where we played a fun and interactive game of Panoply. We are eagerly waiting tomorrow – when we finally fly to the holy land. Our Shabbos on Yad B’ Yad can be deemed a great success.

Jojo Cons, Maya Greene and Jacob Lerer