Dozens of talmidim from Yeshiva Tiferes Yaakov Yitzchok in Lakewood, led by Harav Chanina Brudny and HaRav Chaim Zalman Hertzka, recently went on an all-expenses paid trip to Eretz Yisroel as a reward for their participation in a program that gave them a deep appreciation for tefillah and exponentially strengthened their bond with Hashem.

The program was the brainchild of a philanthropic baalebus who requested anonymity, to whom tefillah is an integral part of his life. In an effort to spread his own appreciation for tefillah, he offered the bochurim the chance to go to an Eretz Yisroel on his dime if they partook in some simple – but crucial – measures.

Included in the requirements to be included in the trip were a kabbalah not to talk during davening, coming on time, not missing tefillah b’tzibbur, and others, including listening to shiurim on hilchos tefillah and pirush hamilos – and then taking bechinos on what they learned.

As the baalebus who sponsored the trip told the bochurim, “If you start your day off right by connecting to Hashem, your entire life will be changed for the better. The bond you forged with Hakadosh Baruch Hu will carry you throughout the day.”

Many of the yeshiva’s bochurim participated, and with the help of the roshei yeshiva, they excelled in achieving their objectives of making tefillah and integral part of their daily routing. Importantly, parents have reported that when their sons are home for off-shabbosim or bain hazmanim, they still don’t miss tefillah b’tzibur or talk during davening.

The boys who completed the program were subsequently flown to Eretz Yisroel, where they were provided both an inspiring and fun vacation from the rigors of daily life.

The baalebus who sponsored the trip did not come along with the bochurim.

“This is about them, not me,” he explains. They’re the ones who put in the effort, not me. This trip was intended to be about the bochurim, not a baalebus.”

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)