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All Hands On Deck: ULYOP Kicks Off Mishmar!

Kicking off this year’s Mishmar program at Lubavitcher Yeshiva Ocean Parkway, students of the 8th grade set off a day of sailing out of South Street Seaport on a real working Tall Ship which was built in 1885, and is the only of its kind still in merchant service!


Mishmar is one of the many programs that run in the school and is done in conjunction with the Shmuel Schrage Middos Program.

Rabbi Michoel Harari, an avid outdoorsman, along with chaperon Bourch Lipkind set off to Pier 16 of South Street Seaport Museum, Where Captain Richard Dorfman and his eager crew were awaiting the classes’ arrival on the Schooner Vessel Pioneer.

The Pioneer is a real working tall ship, Built in Pennsylvania in 1885 Pioneer had wrought iron hull.

At 102 ft., 47 tons and a Sail Area of 2,737 sq. ft. S.V. Pioneer is the only iron-hulled American merchant sailing vessel still in existence.

After a brief instructional safety talk from the captain we were soon under way.

With direct commands from the first mate and deck hand the talmidim hauled and handled all peak and throat halyards, learned the knots, worked the lines, were briefed in intercostals navigation and chart reading, not to mention a talk on parshas Noach in such a befitting setting.

After sailing around the New York Harbor past Liberty Island, The Pioneer “came about” with ease in the strong breeze and headed for home port. The students all had a great educational time and the captain and crew exclaimed “it was great having them aboard”.

The Shmule Schrage Middos program is designed to encourage students to improve their middos. The talmidim learn so much from the program and really develop amazing character traits (Middos tovos). As a positive side effect the program incorporates Teamwork, Responsibility, Self confidence and Leadership skills. Helping them both at home and in yeshiva.

A special thanks to Captain Richard Dorfman and all the staff and volunteers at the South Street Seaport Museum, Rabbi Baras Rabbi Harari and Hatomim Baruch Lipkind.

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