A Yeshivas Kayitz in Costa Rica

By Moshe Minsky and Tzali Wilschansky

“A Yeshivas Kayitz in Costa Rica?”

We’ve gotten that question since the very first minute we boarded the plane in J.F.K., from Mivtzoim in the mall, to the beautiful rain forest in the mountains. 


A Yeshivas Kayitz program like no other, under the direction of head Shliach of Chabad of Central America, Rabbi Hershel Spalter, is taking place this summer in the heart of San Jose, Costa Rica.

A group of 20 Yeshiva Bochurim from Shiur Bais/Gimmel Mesivta, and six dedicated staff are taking the capital San Jose by storm (it´s the rainy season here as well).
We are four weeks into Yeshiva, with much thanks to the warmest host in the country, Shaul Kahana.

We dorm in a beautiful house with a pool and seven bedrooms not too far from our air-conditioned Zal in the Chabad House of San Jose where we have been taking advantage of a full daily schedule of learning. We have already studied many Dafim in Gemara and Mamarim in Lekutei Torah, as well as Shiurim with Baalei Batim from the community, playing sports with the local Jewish boys, milking cows, baking fresh bread, cake and much more.


We’ve taken many trips like to the resort city of Dominical and Manual Antonio four hours away, enjoying trips like world class level four white water rafting, horseback riding along the beach, A.T.V.ing, visiting the tropical Rain Forest, the largest canopying tours in the country-980 meters (3200 feet—thats like from 770 to the Kretchme two times!) the beautiful Volcano Arenal in La Fortuna-one of the worlds most active volcanos, scuba diving with the sharks 40 feet deep in Playa Del Coco and much more.

We are all looking forward to the next coming weeks of inspiration and learning here in Costa Rica.

The camp is directed by Moishe Minsky, along with staff – Head Counselor Tzali Wilschanski, L.D. Yossi Krieman, G.M. Mendy Gniwisch, Trip coordinators and learning teachers Yoni Sarue, Dovid Orenstien and Levi New.