Central East - Chanukah Ignite 2011

CENTRAL EAST E DITION

THE NCSY NEWSLETTER

CHANUKAH 2011

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Central East NCSY graduates are studying in Israel this year

Representatives from a diverse group of 45 yeshivot, seminaries and Jewish colleges pose at NCSY’s Yeshiva Fair weekend.

45 CHOICES, 36 HOURS Throughout their lives, kids rely on their parents’ best judgment in choosing their middle school, high school, summer camp and more. While their personal interests are always a consideration, it isn’t until college that young adults play a major role in significant decisions. It is the first time that teens start asking, “What do I want to do next year?” Jewish teens are also tasked with the additional life-changing question of whether to continue their Jewish education after high school and if so, to what degree.

With its weekend long Yeshiva Fair on November 11-12th, Central East NCSY took the national motto of “Inspiring the Jewish Future” to the next level.

By providing resources, options and of course, inspiration, Central East gave NCSYers something priceless: custom choices.

At the Yeshiva Fair, 120 juniors and seniors pondering these very choices gathered under one roof at the Young Israel of Greater Cleveland in Beachwood, Ohio. There, for 36 hours, teens met a diverse group of representatives from 45 yeshivot, seminaries and Jewish colleges.

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Amir and Edna Jaffa Some donors are generous, some hands on, and some come through in a pinch. With their ears to the ground and their hearts open, Amir and Edna Jaffa of Cleveland, Ohio, are all of the above.

“They’re more than just donors,” says Regional Director Tzali Freedman. “They’re tuned into what’s happening and are guiding the chapter on a path of higher achievement.” With the help of the Jaffas, more than 30 Cleveland teens attended 12 NCSY summer programs in 2011, ranking Cleveland as the largest single city for attendees two years in a row. The Jaffas were also instrumental in having Continued on next page...

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Students from our region were amongst the 890 teens on twelve NCSY Summer Programs

1,200 Active teens in the region from Michigan, Ohio, Windsor, Canada, Louisville, KY and Pittsburgh, PA

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... “45 Choices, 36 Hours” continued “They’re pursuing their post-high school education and independence,” said Rabbi Tzali Freedman, Regional Director of Central East NCSY. “Shouldn’t that include more Torah education? Do they really want to end their formal Jewish education at the age of 17?”

Despite the presence of so many rabbis at the Yeshiva Fair, the Beis Medrash session was given by David Farkas, an attorney at the Cleveland office of Squire, Sanders & Dempsey, one of the largest and most prestigious international law firms. Farkas did not speak about living his life as an observant Jew or how he works as an attorney but still makes time to study Torah. Rather, he gave a shiur.

He taught a class. His very presence at the front of the room illustrated that you can reach great heights in both your career and Torah knowledge without compromising.

Miriam Brodie Shalom from Israel!

I hope everything is going well! From what I’ve heard, this past Shabbaton was amazing and I can’t wait to hear more about how the region keeps growing and growing!

Just wanted to send my regards to all of you back in the States and pass on a quick thought: I’m currently doing my sherut leumi, national service, in Israel. As hard as it is to hear stories from friends back in the States about how great it is to be an advisor and what happened on the past Shabbaton (because I long for NCSY and that nudge to keep going), I can’t help but be thankful for all that NCSY has given me.

Towards the end of last year, I really had to start being honest with myself.

I knew I wasn’t going back to the States to follow in the footsteps of other NCSY alumni. I was making my own path.

I was staying in Israel and starting a completely new life without NCSY, my second family. Little did I know that no matter where I went, NCSY was, and still is, right beside me.

When applying for sherut leumi, I was asked time and again if I had experience with organizational skills, outreach skills, working with disabled young adults and so many others situations. All the answers that were “yes” came down to one thing: NCSY. Fast forward a few months and I can’t help but think that all those people who told me NCSY is not well known in Israel were wrong. Where I work, handfuls of staff members were avid NCSYers themselves and they constantly remind me that “Nothing Can Stop You.” I’m living with three other NCSYers: one from Canada (who also happens to

Miriam Brodie (third from left) together with current Central East NCSYers in Israel.

be a girl I attended NCSY’s summer program Michelelet with), one from Midwest and one from New York. Who would have thought that somewhere, in the middle of Israel, four NCSYers from different regions would be sharing an apartment?

But it’s not just in the sherut leumi system where more and more NCSY alumni are putting in their time and expertise into serving the country, but also in tzahal (army).

It happens over and over again that I’ll meet a soldier who was an NCSYer through and through and made aliyah to serve in Israel and build an enriched life for future generations.

I don’t know what’s in that Shabbaton juice that you’re giving them but it’s working! The NCSYers who are here are constantly meeting and pushing others to grow by carrying on all that NCSY gave to them. NCSY has something special to it. They’re not just inspiring teens, but building future generations in our ancestral homeland.

Thank you so much for everything. I would never have gotten here without all of you in NCSY. All the best,

Miriam Brodie

For those who choose to continue their Jewish education, this decision is a game changer. It will alter and define the rest of their lives. NCSY has a responsibility to provide teens with encouragement and options and not leave them hanging after high school. Included in the Yeshiva Fair were not only yeshivas and seminaries in Israel, but also Yeshiva University, Touro College, Hebrew University, and Bar Ilan. There were so many options, in fact, that it might become difficult for a teen to consider one that doesn’t include Judaic studies.

The most beautiful aspect of the Yeshiva Fair is that the attending NCSYers were not looking at post-high school Jewish education because it was expected of them, but rather because they wanted to. Despite formal weekly events, multi-media websites, and expensive programs, the real heart of the organization is the spark that each teen develops from the personal relationships cultivated with their advisors, directors, and yeshiva and seminary representatives. This is the essence of NCSY.

... Donor Spotlight continued Rabbi Chaim and Tzivia Zimmerman join the NCSY team to meet the growing needs of nearly 500 teens currently active in Cleveland NCSY. Amir reflected: “It’s important that the community support all of its institutions – education, outreach and chesed. However, we must recognize that informal education of teens will shape our future. Dollar for dollar, more than anything else, the impact of NCSY is hard to match.”

Originally from Pittsburgh, PA

We must recognize that informal education of teens will shape our future.

Dollar for dollar, more than anything else, the impact of NCSY is hard to match.

Bringing to Light the Local News You Need to Know

Sam Kastan from Bexley High JSU speaking at the Garden Sizzler event at the home of Eda and David Schottenstein in Columbus.

Pittsburgh Cincinnati NCSY ReIgnited!

Cincinnati

Columbus

After several years without a full time staff member and only a trickle of kids actively involved in NCSY, Rabbi Pinchas Landis formally took over the Cincinnati chapter. Last November, Cincinnati started with humble beginnings—only one brave young lady attended the Fall Shabbaton. One year later, twelve young men and women excitedly partook.

Cincinnati is back on the map and on the road to greatness!

120 community members, leaders and NCSY parents joined together on September 13 under the “broad community tent” at the home of David and Eda Schottenstein in support of NCSY at its second annual gourmet Garden Sizzler. The event highlighted 12 graduates, each an avid NCSY participant, who left for Israel that week to embark on a year of Torah study.

Most of them credit NCSY as a significant part in their decision to invest in their Jewish future.

Cleveland As a result of Cleveland’s tremendous growth in recent years, city director Rabbi Arieh Friedner and his wife Elissa were joined by Rabbi Chaim and Tzivia Zimmerman to help serve the ever-expanding NCSY chapter. For the first time, Cleveland joins the ranks of many larger cities that have added staff to meet the needs of the growing NCSY community.

JSU in Pittsburgh expands to the suburbs with a new club opening in Upper Saint Clair High. After returning from a summer on NCSY’s summer program TJJ, Sam Neft decided to spearhead the efforts in bringing Jewish programing to his school. As the only person in the school to wear a kippa, Sam felt the need to share his passion with other Jews around him.

The club now meets every week on Mondays with a dozen regular participants.

Detroit As part of the growing national Jewish Scholars Program, 16 young men and women joined the largest “Partners in Torah” in the country. Each student has committed to a semester of weekly one-hour Torah study with a community layleader. The teens delve into sources and enjoy substantive learning on a one-on-one basis while developing a relationship with their mentor.

David Brystowski learning with his friend at the Detroit Jewish Scholars Program.

NCSY: WHERE MATCHES ARE MADE Raffi Glickman and Rachel Immerman are beloved and devoted members of the Central East NCSY family. Much of their spiritual development took place growing up in NCSY and till this day, both serve as head advisors. Raffi and Rachel worked on NCSY Summer Programs—he on Kollel and she on GIVE—and this January, they are going to become a family of their own.

Now engaged, they plan on pursuing careers in Jewish education and staying committed to NCSY. Raffi had been involved since middle school, “so for him, NCSY is life,” says Rachel. He continuously tried to bring her to a Shabbaton, but it wasn’t until her best friend also joined that she was finally swayed. “I then saw exactly what Raffi had been trying to share.”

What are they most excited for about their winter Cleveland wedding? Rachel says, “We are excited to be able to share this experience with our NCSY family and include them in our simcha!”

16947 W. 10 Mile Rd. Southfield, MI 48075

Regional Leadership Rabbi Pinchas Landis Cincinnati City Director landisp@ncsy.org

Rabbi Arieh Friedner & Rabbi Chaim Zimmerman Cleveland City Directors friednera@ncsy.org

Rabbi Jesse Boiangiu Columbus City Director boiangiuj@ncsy.org

Rabbi Dovid Lichtig

BEST R E M M U S EVER.

BILT ICE let Michle JOLT GIVE TJJ ports Camp S A J J T Kollel

Detroit City Director lichtigd@ncsy.org

Rabbi Ari Goldberg Pittsburgh City Director goldberga@ncsy.org

Sarah Cooperman Yachad sireland85@hotmail.com

Executive Leadership Rabbi Steven Burg International Director, NCSY

Mr. Keevy Fried Assoc. International Director, NCSY

Mr. Joseph Stechler Youth Commission Chairman, OU

Rabbi Dr. Simcha Katz President, OU

Honorable Daniel Butler Youth Commission Chairman

Rabbi Tzali Freedman Regional Director, Central East NCSY

CENTRAL EAST NCSY 16947 W. 10 Mile Rd. Southfield, MI 48075 248-557-6279 NCSYce@ncsy.org www.NCSYce.com

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NCSY is the international youth movement of the OU.

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