On Sunday morning, after a restful "out" Shabbos spent with families and friends, the Makor Chaim students met at the famous Malcha mall and the action picked up immediately. We split into pairs and took pictures of depictions of the ten plagues, the most "Israeli" types of food, and more unusual things as part of an hour-and-a-half scavenger hunt through the mall. After a few days of regular classes (with several exciting night activities and special shiurim sprinkled in), we spent Wednesday afternoon at the Yad Vashem Holocaust Museum. As we discussed later around the table with our Av and Em Bayit at the yeshiva, the experience was eye-opening and inspiring in many different ways. There was a profound sadness felt seeing the lost world of European Jewry and a sense of purpose instilled by the shrine in memory of the million plus children lost in the Holocaust. On Thursday night, we attended an all-night mishmar, providing an experience of learning, singing, dancing, and chicken soup! While there is a lot to look back at from this past week, we are already looking ahead to our next week. On Friday, we will be heading into Yerushalayim to visit the Israel Museum. We will be spending Shabbos in Alon Shvut, with a Kiddush and an Oneg specially hosted for us by Ramim from Yeshivat Har Etzion. The schedule for next week also includes a tour of Tel Azeka, crawling through the Bar Kochva caves, watching and even performing shechitah, and, of course, our regular Makor Chaim program. From Mrs. Tova Rosenberg, Director of Makor Chaim Exchange Program: "Everyone who is working with the MTA boys have only the highest of praise for them--they are serious students actively participating in all activities and discussions. At the end of the two and a half hour tour of Yad Vashem, the tour guide complimented them on being so attentive and polite. What a credit to MTA to have such an incredible group of students! The tour was excellent and it was so nice to have had Avi and Izzy's fathers join us."