This past week at Makor Chaim, the boys began their review for final exams. On Wednesday, however, while the rest of the yeshiva was on break, the MTA students decided to take a vacation as well. We started the afternoon with a pleasant bus ride to the "Blind Museum," where visitors are able to experience life in the dark. The tour guide, who was visually impaired, guided us through different scenarios and street settings which are all in the dark. We also had the opportunity to buy and eat different snacks while "blind." This experience really showed us the disadvantage blind people have, and how dependent they are upon their other senses. We then went to the "Deaf Museum," in which we were led by a hearing impaired tour guide through different rooms where we saw how deaf people use their hands, face, and body to express themselves in intelligent and humorous ways. After these museums, we embarked on yet another pleasant bus ride to Yeshivat HaKotel in the Old City in Yerushalayim, where we met some MTA alumni and toured parts of the Old City.

On Thursday, the boys were introduced to their chavrutas for the day, some of whom were MTA graduates, and learned a sugya from Bava Kamma together, in preparation for a shiur given by Rabbi Horn. We also were privileged to hear shiur from Rabbi Elly Storch, DRS Roshei Yeshiva, on the topic of emunah. After that, we went to nearby Yeshivat Oraita to speak with Rav Yair, who gave a very powerful speech on Tanach and the land of Israel, and then were all led onthe tour of Ir David where they have recently excavated the possible palace of the kings of Beit Dovid and found seals with written names of people we know from Tanach. The tour guide showed us the tunnels that brought water into the city; some of the guys went through the Chizkiyahu water tunnels that were actually waist deep with water at some points. We also saw the excavated area known as the Shiloach Pool, where people from the early times of the city would celebrate Succos and the Simchas beis HaShoevah. At the conclusion of the tour, the boys headed on back to Yeshivat HaKotel, but only for a short time, before being redirected to "Parsha and Pizza" with Rav Binny.

The adventure didn't stop there, though. The students returned to Makor Chaim to participate in many weekly events, including learning the new niggun of the week and a shiur related to modern day medical epidemics. Although, the boys were enjoying themselves tremendously, all good things have to come to an end, and as the boys prepared for Shabbos at the YU Gruss Center in Yerushalayim, they also prepared for one final week at Makor Chaim and in Israel.