Ignite - Spring 2015 by NCSY

NCSY CITIES AND REGIONAL LEADERSHIP ATLANTIC SEABOARD

NCSY is the international youth movement of the OU.

EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP Rabbi Micah Greenland............ International Director, NCSY Keevy Fried................................... Associate International Director, NCSY Martin Nachimson...................... President, OU Avi Katz.........................................National Youth Commission Chairman, OU Allen Fagin..................................... Executive Vice President, OU Rabbi Tzvi Hersh Weinreb....... Executive Vice President, Emeritus, OU Rabbi Steven Weil....................... Senior Managing Director, OU Shlomo Schwartz........................ Chief Financial Officer / Chief Administrative Officer, OU Howard Tzvi Friedman.............Board of Directors Chair, OU Rabbi Lenny Bessler.................. Chief Human Resources Officer, OU Dr. Sam Davidovics.................... Chief Information Officer, OU Mayer Fertig.................................. Chief Communications Officer, OU

INTERNATIONAL STAFF Rabbi Dovid Bashevkin............ Director of Education Tova Bashevkin............................ Associate Director of Marketing Rabbi Moshe Benovitz.............. Dean of NCSY Summer Rabbi Glenn Black...................... Director of Strategic Planning Sari Borenstein............................ Summer Programs Associate David Cutler.................................. Director of NCSY Summer Rachel First................................... Educational Content Manager & Designer Samantha Freesman.................. Summer Programs Associate Jen Goldman................................ Assistant Director of NCSY Summer Dan Hazony................................... Director of Information Systems Sasha Kichayeva......................... Executive Assistant Rabbi Yehoshua Marchuck..... Director of Alumni Amy Mauskopf............................. Summer Programs Associate Andres Moncayo......................... Graphic Designer Rabbi Ari Rockoff........................Director of Leadership Development Duvi Stahler................................... Director of Marketing Debbie Stone................................ Associate Director of Education Elliot Tanzman.............................. Director of NCSY Summer Recruitment Josh Weinberg............................. Digital Media Manager; Marketing Coordinator

SUMMER LEADERSHIP BILT................................................... Rabbi Akiva Naiman Euro ICE.......................................... Rabbi Israel Lashak GIVE................................................. Erin Cooper Stiebel GIVE USA....................................... Leah Moskovich ICE Israel........................................ Rabbi Hal Levy JOLT................................................. Rabbi Eli Zians Kollel................................................ Rabbi Moshe Benovitz Michlelet......................................... Rivka Yudin Camp Sports................................. Rabbi Jon Green TJJ & TJJ Ambassadors............ Rabbi Barry Goldfischer TJJ Ambassadors Poland........ Marc Fein

CANADA Rabbi Glenn Black Larry Zeifman, Chair 905.761.6279 ncsyca@ncsy.org canada.ncsy.org Calgary, AB Edmonton, AB Vancouver, BC Victoria, BC Hamilton, ON Kitchener-Waterloo, ON King City, ON Kingston, ON London, ON Ottawa, ON Toronto, ON Montreal, QC

Rabbi Tzali Freedman Judge Daniel Butler, Chair 888.471.4514 ncsyce@ncsy.org centraleast.ncsy.org

Last summer, girls on JOLT (Jewish Overseas Leadership Training), NCSY’s premier leadership summer program, celebrated their Judaism outside the gates of Auschwitz. This year marks 70 years since the camp’s liberation.

Windsor, ON Ann Arbor, MI Bloomfield Hills, MI Farmington Hills, MI Huntington Woods, MI Oak Park, MI Southfield, MI West Bloomfield, MI Akron, OH Canton, OH Cincinnati, OH Cleveland, OH Columbus, OH Dayton, OH Solon, OH Toledo, OH Youngstown, OH Pittsburgh, PA

GREATER ATLANTA Rabbi Chaim Neiditch 404.486.8787

Twin Rivers, NJ West Orange, NJ

Atlanta, GA Alpharetta, GA Dunwoody, GA Johns Creek, GA Marietta, GA Sandy Springs, GA

NEW YORK

MIDWEST Rabbi Moshe Isenberg Rabbi Donny Schwartz Ari Shabat, Chair 847.677.6279 midwest@ncsy.org midwest.ncsy.org Des Moines, IA Buffalo Grove, IL Chicago, IL Glenview, IL Northbrook, IL Skokie, IL Indianapolis, IN South Bend, IN Kansas City, KS Overland Park,KS St. Louis, MO Winnipeg, MB Minneapolis, MN Omaha, NE Memphis, TN Milwaukee, WI

NEW ENGLAND Rabbi Simon Taylor 617.332.6279 nencsy@ncsy.org newengland.ncsy.org New Haven, CT Stamford, CT West Hartford, CT Brookline, MA Framingham, MA Lexington, MA Marlborough, MA Newton, MA Sharon, MA Waltham, MA Providence, RI

NEW JERSEY Rabbi Ethan Katz Dr. Murray Leben, Chair 201.862.0250 office@njncsy.com newjersey.ncsy.org East Brunswick, NJ Englishtown, NJ Fair Lawn, NJ Freehold, NJ Freehold Boro, NJ Hackensack, NJ Highland Park, NJ Hightstown, NJ Livingston, NJ Marlboro, NJ Manalapan, NJ Millburn, NJ Montclair, NJ Northern Highlands, NJ Randolph, NJ Teaneck, NJ

EDITOR

EDITORIAL STAFF

SPECIAL THANKS TO

Tova Bashevkin

Eli Lebowicz Tova Ross Aharon Schrieber Zachary Schrieber Yaffi Spodek Josh Weinberg

Dovid Bashevkin Dan Hazony Batya Rosner Duvi Stahler

ASSOCIATE EDITOR Michael Orbach

Baltimore, MD Columbia, MD Germantown, MD Gaithersburg, MD Olney, MD Potomac, MD Sandy Spring, MD Silver Spring, MD Towson, MD Cherry Hill, NJ Allentown, PA Harrisburg, PA Huntingdon Valley, PA Lancaster, PA Philadelphia, PA Lower Merion, PA Wilkes-Barre, PA Richmond, VA Norfolk, VA Virginia Beach, VA

CENTRAL EAST

ON THE COVER:

PHOTO: BENTZION GOLDMAN

Rabbi Jonah Lerner Michael Elman, Chair 410.358.6279 atsoffice@ncsy.org atlanticseaboard. ncsy.org

rcn@ncsy.org ncsyatlanta.com

ART DIRECTOR

GRAPHIC ASSISTANT

Andrés Moncayo

Deena Katzenstein

Rabbi Yehoshua Kohl Kenny Sicklick, Chair 516.569.6279 nyinfo@ncsy.org newyork.ncsy.org Bronx, NY Brooklyn, NY Cedarhurst, NY Commack, NY East Meadow, NY Great Neck, NY Hewlett, NY Inwood, NY Lawrence, NY Long Beach, NY Manhattan, NY Merrick, NY Oceanside, NY Plainview, NY Port Washington, NY Queens, NY Roslyn, NY Staten Island, NY Stony Brook, NY Westchester, NY West Hempstead, NY Woodmere, NY

SOUTHERN Todd Cohn Saby Behar, Chair Freda Greenbaum, Chair 1-866-887-5788 Southern@ncsy.org southern.ncsy.org Little Rock, AK Birmingham, AL Aventura, FL Boca Raton, FL Coral Springs, FL Hollywood, FL Jacksonville, FL Kendall, FL Miami Beach, FL North Miami Beach, FL Palm Beach, FL Parkland, FL Greater Atlanta, GA Savannah, GA New Orleans, LA Charleston, SC Myrtle Beach, SC Nashville, TN

SOUTHWEST Rabbi Israel Lashak Mrs. Heidy Cheirif, Chair 972.934.9143 ncsysw@ncsy.org southwest.ncsy.org Austin, TX Dallas, TX Fort Worth, TX Houston, TX McKinney, TX Richardson, TX San Antonio, TX

UPSTATE NY

647.703.4876 feinm@ncsy.org upstate.ncsy.org Albany, NY Binghamton, NY Buffalo, NY Catskills District, NY Mount Kisco, NY Rochester, NY Schenectady, NY Syracuse, NY

WEST COAST Rabbi Effie Goldberg Rina Emerson Dr. Josh Penn, Chair 310.229.9000 ncsywc@ncsy.org westcoast.ncsy.org Phoenix, AZ Scottsdale, AZ Berkeley, CA Beverly Hills, CA Calabasas, CA Cupertino, CA Irvine, CA La Jolla, CA Los Angeles, CA North Hollywood, CA Oakland, CA Palo Alto, CA Piedmont, CA Sacramento, CA San Diego, CA San Francisco, CA San Jose, CA San Mateo, CA Santa Monica, CA Saratoga, CA Sunnyvale, CA Thousand Oaks, CA West Hills, CA Woodland Hills, CA Woodside, CA Denver, CO Las Vegas, NV Eugene, OR Portland, OR El Paso, TX Mercer Island, WA Seattle, WA

ARGENTINA Rabbi Marcelo Krawiec 011.54.11.4962.109 x123 kraweicm@ncsy.org

CHILE Michael Bengio 011.56.99.186.5575 ncsychile@ncsy.org

GERMANY Anna Segal 011.49.30.440.10160 a.segal@lauder.de

ISRAEL Rabbi Yisroel Goren 02.560.9100 aberman@ouisrael. org ouisrael.org

Marc Fein

NCSY International Headquarters 11 Broadway New York, NY 10004 Phone: 212.613.8233 Email: info@ncsy.org Web: www.ncsy.org Facebook: www.facebook.com/myncsy Twitter: @ncsy YouTube: www.youtube.com/myncsy Instagram: www.instagram.com/myncsy

MORE THAN JUST SUMMER TRIPS Thanks to NCSY Summer, thousands of teens live passionate, committed Torah lives and will inspire those around them for generations to come. Now itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s your turn to play a role in impacting the Jewish future. To help send a teen on NCSY Summer, call David Cutler, director of NCSY Summer, at 212.613.8317 or email cutlerd@ou.org

summer.ncsy.org/donate

PASSOVER 2015

TABLE OF CONTENTS 8 16

NCSY’S LEARN-A-THON SIYUM Closing the books on NCSY’s yearlong 60th anniversary celebration.

SPEAKING UP 19 Teens in Greater Washington conquer their fears of public

DIRECTOR’S MESSAGE International NCSY Director Rabbi Micah Greenland speaks about finding freedom in serving God.

FACES IN THE CROWD Meet New England NCSY’s new regional director and read why Josh and Michal Rosen support NCSY.

CHAIRMAN’S MESSAGE A holistic approach to revitalizing Judaism.

MESSAGE FROM THE INTERNATIONAL TEEN PRESIDENT Tova Sklar’s thoughts and reflections on the NCSY journey.

COMMUNITY SNAPSHOTS Community members across North America show their support for NCSY.

CHESED ACROSS THE COUNTRY Teens give back to those in need.

A JOURNEY TO JEWISH IDENTITY The results of NCSY’s study on The Anne Samson Jerusalem Journey.

YARCHEI KALLAH 2014 304 teens spend their winter break studying Torah in Connecticut.

speaking.

ON THE FRONT LINES OF INSPIRATION 20 Photos from JSU clubs around the country. EDUCATORS’ EDUCATION 22 NCSY’s top educators gather to discuss their best educational

techniques.

NCSY: A PLACE OF REFUGE When things were darkest for Eliana Halley, NCSY became her shelter.

PRIVATE GOLDSTEIN 26 ASAVING Catholic military school doesn’t stop Josh Goldstein from finding inspiration.

LONE STAR JEW 28 Deep in the heart of Texas, Abbie Solomon builds her own spiritual oasis.

TORAH GOES VIRAL 30 NCSY helps Harel Amsalem pursue his filmmaking dreams.

TWO TEENS, TWO COUNTRIES, ONE TORAH 32 Two teenagers from different parts of the globe build a longlasting friendship thanks to NCSY’s JOLT summer program.

KNITTING A FUTURE 34 Anna and Bill Tenenblatt help weave together the Jewish future.

BEATING CANCER ONE JUMP AT A TIME 35 Superstar NCSY advisor Nina Garkavi discusses how NCSY helped her through a difficult time.

AN NCSY ALL-STAR ON AND OFF THE FIELD 36 When an injury took David Polster out of the game, he found himself playing a different position.

CITY SPOTLIGHT 37 The history of Cleveland NCSY. HER FLAME CONTINUES TO ILLUMINATE 38 Memories of Rebbetzin Peggy Gopin Weiss a”h, NCSY’s first female regional director.

38 4

CITY HIGHLIGHTS 40 Highlights from around the NCSY world. LIGHT AT THE END 50 What the summer of 5774 means to NCSY.

By Rabbi Micah Greenland, International Director

of Kings, with 613 commandments that not only guide us, but limit and restrict us. The Gemara makes note of this irony. In Megillah 14a, our sages comment that we, as Jews, went from being slaves to Pharaoh to being servants to God. We did not progress from slavery to freedom as is often assumed: we remained slaves, only now with a new master. What then, did the Exodus really accomplish? The resolution lies within the paradox itself. In common parlance, to be free is to do whatever one wishes as long as no one else is harmed. No further limits, no restrictions. According to this view, even a basic moral code that governs one’s behavior is an obstruction of freedom. Walk into nearly any office building and you’ll witness the same phenomenon: a small crowd of people huddled outside the front door, puffing on their cigarettes. Restricted by company policy (or in some cases by law) against smoking indoors, these individuals regard their smoking break as a welcome respite from the oppression of the work environment. Each opportunity to smoke seems like a few moments of freedom from an otherwise restrictive atmosphere.

However, the Jewish concept of liberty does not involve casting off shackles, but rather being bound to what is meaningful and eternal. Ironically, true freedom is found not in being completely unfettered — that could more aptly be called free-for-all-ism — but instead in embracing responsibility and a sense of purpose. It is freedom not of the body, but of the soul. When Hashem told Pharaoh to let the Jews go, He said, “so that they may serve Me.”

But does that perception really reflect the reality? In actuality, quite the opposite is true. The smoking addiction is the oppressor; those who are truly free utilize their downtime (indeed, their time during the rest of the workday as well) more freely and often more productively. Ironically, the free time that these smokers crave so badly is, in fact, not free at all.

It is this principle that led Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi (Pirkei Avot, 6:2) to observe that there is no person more free than the individual who involves himself in Torah study. Paradoxically, living within the confines of a spiritual and moral code of conduct — and deepening a relationship with the Creator of that code — is actually a liberating experience. It gives us a sense of soaring, of being elevated, of being free.

The freedom that we celebrate on Pesach is similarly paradoxical. After decades of yearning for our national liberty, of pleading with Pharaoh to let our people go, B’nei Yisrael are finally freed from Egyptian slave masters — only to promptly enter into servitude again! However, this time it is not a human ruler oppressing us with backbreaking work. Rather, it is the King

On a smaller scale, the same can be true of setting goals for oneself, one’s family or for an organization. There is a sense of purpose and meaning that comes from planning, from setting goals and even from holding oneself accountable. This could initially seem to be limiting, perhaps even stifling to creativity. In reality though, having the

freedom to innovate and create within the boundaries of a defined mission and set of goals lends greater definition to creativity and an enhanced sense of purpose to the work. With that in mind, NCSY is now embarking on a 2020 Strategic Vision, a five-year plan that will position NCSY to double its already considerable impact on Jewish teens. Doing so will require a great deal of focus on underserved populations and a willingness to concentrate our attention on the specific areas that we expect will have the greatest effect. We have mapped out seven areas in which we will launch pilot projects, each aimed at impacting teen spirituality and engagement in exciting, and most importantly, replicable ways. I invite you to learn more about the 2020 Strategic Vision and monitor our progress at www.ncsy. org. By targeting such specific areas, one might be concerned that we are suppressing creativity and innovation. However, it is just the opposite. The degree of collaboration and ingenuity that our staff and lay leadership have invested in these projects is truly groundbreaking. Indeed, just like the freedom we experience on Passover, the plan seems thus far to be an example of how greater definition and sharper focus can spark the imagination in inspiring ways. I wish you all a very happy and meaningful Passover. May we all celebrate zman cheruteinu, the season of our freedom, with an enhanced appreciation for the real meaning of freedom. Fondly,

Rabbi Micah Greenland

PASSOVER 2015

QUESTIONS WITH

JOSH AND MICHAL ROSEN NCSY SUPPORTERS

Josh and Michal Rosen live in Chicago, Illinois, with their four children. Josh is the senior vice president of Capital One Multifamily Finance while Michal serves as co-president of Bikur Cholim in Chicago. The two are actively involved in several nonprofit organizations.

HOW DID YOU FIRST HEAR ABOUT NCSY? We weren’t involved with NCSY as teens. Three years ago, Rabbi Micah Greenland — then Midwest regional director and now NCSY’s international director — asked us to attend a Shabbaton with our family. We instantly fell in love with the organization. The teens, the traditions, the inspiration and the culture were all so amazing.

Three years ago, Rabbi Simon Taylor was introduced to the magic of NCSY. Living in Jerusalem and teaching at the Derech Ohr Somayach yeshiva, Taylor was invited to National Yarchei Kallah as a scholar-in-residence. There, he witnessed firsthand the incredible work NCSY does. Though he didn’t know where it would take him, Taylor knew that somehow, his journey with NCSY was just beginning. After his visit to Yarchei Kallah, he moved to London to serve as a chaplain in the Army Cadet Force, one of the largest youth groups in England. Today, Taylor is the newly appointed regional director of New England NCSY. He, his wife Leanne and their four children moved across the pond in September to embark on the next stage of their lives. While there have certainly been challenges, Taylor is focused on helping the New England teens grow in their connection to Judaism. “It’s been a crazy transition to say the least,” he said about the last few months, “but I’m looking forward to accomplishing what I came here to do — successfully reaching thousands of unaffiliated local teens and bringing Judaism into their lives.” Taylor hopes to take some of the lessons he learned in the Cadet Force and bring them to NCSY. In the Cadet Force, teens are excited to progress through the ranks of the organization. Similarly, he hopes to foster an environment within NCSY where teens are excited to progress along their Jewish journey. As Taylor settles into his role, the new and innovative ideas he brings from his years abroad are already inspiring the New England region. Perhaps Taylor’s greatest strength is his recognition that each NCSYer is different and NCSY needs to be tailored to every individual. 6

WHY IS NCSY CRITICAL TO THE JEWISH COMMUNITY? We used to think NCSY was just another generic Jewish youth group. But after attending our first Shabbaton, we realized how important it is. NCSY brings together and inspires so many different segments of the Jewish population. Many teens who participate in NCSY have little or no experience with Judaism, while others come from fully observant homes. However, despite their different backgrounds, everyone interacts as one family, and the person you least expect is often the one who has the greatest impact on you. All in all, it demonstrates that a Jew is a Jew and we’re all one family. WHAT MAKES NCSY UNIQUE, IN YOUR OPINION? When you support NCSY, you’re truly supporting the Jewish people. Unlike other youth organizations, NCSY brings together Jewish teens from all backgrounds. There’s something special about seeing everyone come together. HOW HAS NCSY IMPACTED YOU AND YOUR FAMILY? Every time we come back from an NCSY Shabbaton, we are one step closer to fully understanding and appreciating the beauty of Shabbat. The togetherness and sense of community we have as Am Yisrael is often taken for granted — but at NCSY we realize more and more that it’s the most special part of who we are. WHAT MESSAGE DO YOU HAVE FOR OUR READERS? Don’t take our word on how great NCSY is. Go to a Shabbaton and see the inspiration for yourself — you won’t be disappointed.

By Avi Katz, NCSY Youth Commission Chair Jewish history unfolds as a continuous series of familiar arcs: we arrive in a new locale, set up roots, meaningfully contribute to society and gain influence over time. Inevitably, despite a unique cultural character, the external force of assimilation overwhelms successive generations. In each era the story ends a bit differently, though unfortunately the general outline is painfully familiar to us all. What will happen to our generation and those that come after us? I believe the answer lies in the hands of God, but the path towards our ultimate destiny is open to us. Right now we have the ability to influence the direction of that path and thus a moral obligation to ensure that we exercise that power. This latter point is critical as it shifts the nature of our efforts from a voluntary approach to a compulsory one. We must each reflect on our willingness and means to contribute to this cause. A flawed aspect in recent approaches to strengthening Jewish continuity, in my estimation, has been a general lack of multivariable trend analysis. That is not to say that the enormous efforts being expended to fortify Jewish identity have been ineffective, or that there has been no impact thus far. Rather, the dynamic pressure of assimilation that plagues the Jewish community forces us to find a more effective and successful way to fight it. In Moshe Rabbeinu’s first encounter with the Shechina, the Divine presence, we are introduced to a new form of divine engagement. The pasuk tells us that the burning bush was viewed as “hamar’eh hagadol” — the great sight — and was visible to all, but only Moshe saw it — “vayar Moshe.” Until this point in history, God had sought out his intended recipients through a direct encounter or dream, but with Moshe, it was man seeking out God. According to Sforno’s commentary, Moshe analyzed the perplexing sight before him. It was only through this analysis that he came to realize the deep mystery it contained. Chazal

“If we want the Strategic Vision to be successful ... we must look to the future to ensure that we have the right people and resources correctly positioned.” note that this image reflects the Jewish people consumed by raging forces surrounding them, yet remaining distinguishable and capable of survival. The combination of contemplation and unending faith in the future of the Jewish people, embodied by Moshe Rabbeinu, is the model we must adopt. It is with this in mind that NCSY is currently embarking on its 2020 Strategic Vision — a five-year plan designed to double the impact of NCSY on Jewish teens. From an already solid base of success that interacts with more than 16,000 Jewish teens annually, the plan is a bold attempt to chart a new path. The remarkable staff at NCSY has spent months analyzing, debating and planning to put together a coherent strategy designed to move the needle on the existential challenge of assimilation in our community. The Strategic Vision synthesizes the multiple demographic trends impacting the Jewish community and projects their influence into the future. These factors include changes in religious denomination, intermarriage and socio-economics, juxtaposed against a backdrop of geographical shifts over the past 40 years. In addition, the evolving technological environment, and in particular, rapid shifts in social media impact amongst teens, plays a critical role in the analysis.

successful in changing the current paradigm, we must look to the future to ensure that we have the right people and resources correctly positioned to have the greatest impact. Aspects of the Strategic Vision include an innovative set of new pilot projects aimed at distinct demographic groups. Rather than a “one size fits all” approach, the plan is to directly target unique teen groups in our communities. These pilots will include single-gender and co-educational programs focused on yeshiva high school students, heterogeneous programming options at public high schools with large Jewish student concentrations, as well as niche programs focused on underserved target communities. This approach will put NCSY and its resources where the teens will be heading — not where they have been in the past. These pilots, among other aspects of the plan, will be vigorously tracked and evaluated for impact. The goal will involve replicating successful initiatives, improving those that need repair and moving on from those that do not meet our objectives. These efforts will be combined with parallel initiatives to expand NCSY summer programming and improve communication at all levels of the organization. The Strategic Plan represents a holistic approach to combatting assimilation and fortifying the resiliency of this generation. The plan’s success will rely heavily on the NCSY professional staff and support from their lay leaders, but we also need the backing of the broader Jewish community. If you care about the arc of Jewish history and appreciate the great sight that we are amongst the nations, I strongly encourage you to learn more about the Strategic Vision and discover the ways you can help impact your community, family, children and grandchildren. Please join us on this bold new path.

If we want the Strategic Vision to be Avi Katz is a managing member of Agam Capital Management. Prior to that, he was a partner at Apollo Management where he was the portfolio manager of the Apollo Strategic Value Fund and Apollo Value Investment Fund. Previously, he held many leadership positions in the world of finance and in the broader Jewish community. Mr. Katz graduated from New York University with a BS in Accounting and Economics, and he is also a Chartered Financial Analyst. He lives in Teaneck, NJ, with his wife Becky and their four children.

PASSOVER 2015

PHOTO: JOSH WEINBERG

By Tova Sklar

vividly remember the morning of November 18, 2014. I was at the opening session of AIPAC’s High School Summit, where dozens of Jewish teen leaders like me from youth groups and schools around America came together to learn how to effectively advocate for the State of Israel. The AIPAC program director took the microphone and waited for the crowd to fall silent before he began to speak.

obituaries of the four rabbis who were murdered. In particular, I was struck by the obituary of Rav Kalman Levine z”l. I was expecting to read about his righteous upbringing and a love of Torah that began right from his birth. Instead, I discovered that he had grown up in Kansas and was raised in a home that wasn’t Orthodox. One of his childhood peers recalled trading baseball cards with him, just like any other kid.

“I regret to inform you of the tragic events that occurred in Israel this morning,” he said. “In Har Nof, a city on the outskirts of Jerusalem, two Palestinian terrorists raided a shul, killing four rabbis and a policeman, and injuring several other people.”

Rabbi Levine had a religious journey like many people I know from NCSY. After high school, he lived on a kibbutz for six months where he grew religiously and began to keep the laws of Shabbat and kashrut. He then returned to Los Angeles to attend dental school and during his breaks studied at the local branch of Aish HaTorah. He soon realized that he wanted to devote his life to Torah study and moved to Israel.

I remember looking around at all the teenagers who — despite coming from varied religious backgrounds — all shared the same passion for the land of Israel. Together we mourned our nation’s loss. At the same time, teen leaders within NCSY contacted me with different ways to respond. That night, the NCSY national board organized a phone conference with more than 100 teens from across North America to hear words of chizuk (encouragement) and recite a chapter of tehillim (psalms). After the conference call, I began to read 8

I always thought most rabbis lived on a level I could never reach. I thought they had attained wisdom that I could never acquire. However, reading about Rabbi Levine’s life showed me that as long as a person has the desire and will to keep growing, the ability to become a great Torah scholar is within his or her reach. Rabbi Levine could have been an NCSYer on the conference call that night. The teens on the call came from vastly different backgrounds, although

all of us felt a connection to the Jewish people. Some teens on the call already said tehillim and wanted to say more; some might not have said tehillim if not for the call; and for some, this was the first time they had ever said tehillim. No matter how different we were on the outside, thanks to the unity NCSY fosters, we felt like one. We’re all traveling on an endless Jewish journey, discovering our potential to grow. The opportunities NCSY provides for us as teens — whether it’s through inspirational summer programs that promote our religious development or chapter events and Shabbatons that help us maintain our religious growth — gives us the strength to continue our journey. At times, being a teenager can be a scary endeavor, but NCSY empowers us by showing us just how much we can accomplish every single day. Each journey an NCSYer embarks on begins and ends in a different place. While setting and reaching goals is vital for success, it is the journey that we will always remember. The confidence NCSY gives us allows us to persevere on whichever path we choose as we become the Jewish leaders of tomorrow. Tova Sklar is a senior at Ma’ayanot Yeshiva High School for Girls and lives in Bergenfield, NJ.

MAJOR EVENTS AROUND NCSY

COMMUNITY SNAPSHOTS Community members across North America show their support for NCSY.

CHESED ACROSS THE COUNTRY Teens give back to those in need.

A JOURNEY TO JEWISH IDENTITY The results of NCSY’s study on The Anne Samson Jerusalem Journey.

YARCHEI KALLAH 2014 304 teens spend their winter break studying Torah in Connecticut.

NCSY’S LEARN-A-THON SIYUM Closing the books on NCSY’s yearlong 60th anniversary celebration.

SPEAKING UP Teens in Greater Washington conquer their fears of public speaking.

ON THE FRONT LINES OF INSPIRATION Photos from JSU clubs around the country.

EDUCATORS’ EDUCATION NCSY’s top educators gather to discuss their best educational techniques.

PASSOVER 2015

PHOTO: JEFF COHN/BALTIMOREJEWISHLIFE.COM

BALTIMORE, MD Rabbi Yitzchok and Edit Dinovitzer were the guests of honor at Atlantic Seaboard NCSY’s 40th Annual Isaac H. Taylor Jewish Music Festival. More than 2,200 community members came out to celebrate the Dinovitzers’ 30 years of service to Klal Yisrael. From left to right: Dovid Meir Loeb, concert co-chair; Jerry Wolasky, concert co-chair; Dr. Michael Elman, chairman of Atlantic Seaboard NCSY’s youth commission; Rabbi Jonah Lerner, regional director of Atlantic Seabord NCSY; Rabbi Yitzchok Dinovitzer; Edit Dinovitzer; and Dana Sicherman, director of institutional advancement for Atlantic Seaboard NCSY.

WEST VALLEY, CA More than 50 people attended California Uncorked and tasted California wines with Jonathan Hajdu of Hajdu Wines, Shimon and Gabe Weiss of Shirah Wines, and Jezreel Wines. Pictured (left to right): West Valley Director Yisrael Katz welcomes NCSY supporters Jeff Barak, Paul Cohen and Jason Pietruszka.

SAVANNAH, GA Rabbi Eli Lob and chapter president Sam Raskin raised more than half of their operating budget in one evening as they spoke about the great accomplishments of Savannah NCSY at the Congregation Bnai Brith Jacob annual gala fundraiser, Shalom New York.

PORTLAND, OR Oregon NCSY’s first-ever Kishka Klassic Golf Tournament at Lewis River Golf Course was a resounding success. The event raised nearly $8,000 and participants called it the best tournament they ever attended. Pictured (left to right): Mike Jaffe, Yossi Malka, Ron Sidis and Tim Martin.

TORONTO, CA Renowned Jewish singer Yaakov Shwekey performed for 1,000 people at Canada NCSY’s 34th Annual Concert at the Toronto Center of the Arts. It was an evening that guests will remember for years to come.

PHOTO: NOACH KLEIN

BRENTWOOD, CA Fifty NCSY supporters attended West Coast NCSY’s first-ever Trustee Dinner. Pictured, Bella and Yossi Essas enjoyed a kosher culinary experience with exclusive California wines and 24 dishes prepared by Napa chef Isaac Bernstein of Epic Bites. Nationally acclaimed speaker Rabbi YY Rubinstein and JSU alum Allie Weeks shared words of Torah with those in attendance.

BAL HARBOUR, FL Judy and Monroe Milstein hosted a beautiful havdalah ceremony at the close of NCSY’s Leadership Training Shabbaton. Community visionaries raised more than $93,000 in pledges to engage Jewish students from private secular academies and to send teens to Israel with NCSY summer programs.

COLUMBUS, OH More than 150 community members celebrated the chapter’s accomplishments at its annual Garden Champagne Sizzler, generously sponsored by Jonathan Schottenstein (pictured). Guest speaker Rabbi Steven Weil, senior managing director of the OU, delivered inspiring divrei Torah.

TEANECK, NJ New Jersey NCSY held their annual Bergen County Founders Dinner at the home of Rabbi and Mrs. Steven Weil. Regional director Rabbi Ethan Katz (standing) introduced the evening and special guest Jeremy Garelick captivated the crowd with his story of living as an Orthodox Hollywood director, producer and screenwriter.

PITTSBURGH, PA More than 125 supporters enjoyed Pittsburgh NCSY’s Annual Casino Night held at Congregation Poale Zedeck. Pictured (left to right): Becky Weinberg, Chantal Belman and Rachel Goldberg.

PASSOVER 2015

PHOTO: MELNICK STUDIOS INC.

LAS VEGAS, NV Nearly 100 parents and supporters joined NCSY for an evening of Hops ‘n Scotch at the home of Les and Andrea Silver. Rabbi YY Rubinstein (pictured) inspired the crowd with a beautiful speech about the work of NCSY. Nearly $25,000 was raised during the evening.

ATLANTA, GA JSU partnered with Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta to provide sick children with Jewish-themed presents for Chanukah, including hundreds of dreidels decorated by JSU students.

SAN FRANCISCO, CA NCSYers from the Jewish Community High School of the Bay showed their support for Jewish American soldiers by sending them handwritten Chanukah cards .

CLEVELAND, OH NCSYers volunteered at the Jewish Federation’s 8th Night of Chanukah event to teach children about the importance of giving back to each other.

PITTSBURGH, PA Pittsburgh NCSYers decorated and assembled a bookshelf that they donated to a children’s hospital after filling it with books.

OTHER INITIATIVES: MIAMI BEACH, FL: In “The Blind Side,” Emtza members (Jr. NCSY) experienced what it is like to live with visual impairment. Teens then learned how they can support those with visual impairments.

BOCA RATON, FL NCSY teens celebrated Chanukah with residents of an old age home. After singing and dancing, the event culminated with the lighting of the menorah as teens helped the residents fulfill the mitzvah.

MINNEAPOLIS, MN Minneapolis NCSY joined the residents of Menorah Plaza, an assisted living home, for the seventh night of Chanukah. Everyone enjoyed a lively game of Jewpardy, delicious Chanukah cuisine, singing and dreidel playing.

BAL HARBOUR, FL: Alex Gross, a Holocaust survivor, spoke with teens about his experiences in the war and taught them to never give up. “How fortunate we all are to have family. We are blessed with the ability to be involved in Judaism,” he said. BAL HARBOUR, FL: NCSYers learned about the daily challenges of living with ALS from local community member Jeff Fogel, who was diagnosed with the disease in 2012. Teens left with the message that despite life’s challenges, it’s important to keep growing and remain inspired. SAVANNAH, GA: Savannah teens took initiative and ran a heartwarming toy drive with the motto of “bring a smile to a child’s face.” SEATTLE, WA: Seattle NCSY partnered with BBYO for a special pre-screening of “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay,” and collected canned goods for Jewish Family Services. Over 200 people attended the event and hundreds of pounds of food were donated to the needy.

MONMOUTH COUNTY, NJ In October and January, New Jersey NCSY sent teens on social action missions to New Orleans to volunteer with Habitat for Humanity and Green Light New Orleans. The teens heard firsthand accounts of the devastation of Hurricane Katrina and spent Shabbat with the local Jewish community.

PHILADELPHIA, PA/CHERRY HILL, NJ Kohelet Yeshiva High School’s JUMP team partnered with Martins Run, an assisted living home in Philadelphia, to help raise money for dementia research by running in the Martins Run 5K Race. The JUMP team also recruited fellow students, friends and the school’s running team to join them. PASSOVER 2015

PHOTO: JOSH WEINBERG

By Dan Hazony

teens that attend the program. Under the leadership of NCSY alumnus Rabbi Barry Goldfischer, a certified Israeli tour guide who also led the first bus in 1999, the program prides itself on its educational programming, quality of staff and fostering a micro-Jewish community on each bus. In an attempt to fully understand the impact of TJJ, NCSY hired two sociologists, Professor Steven M. Cohen and Dr. Ezra Kopelowitz, to study the

PHOTO: BENJI CHEIRIF

In the summer of 1999, a bus full of public school teens embarked on a tour of Israel and an exploration of their Jewish heritage. This marked the start of a revolution known as The Jerusalem Journey (TJJ). Fastforward to the summer of 2015 and the program — renamed The Anne Samson Jerusalem Journey — is NCSY’s premier Israel experience for public school and unaffiliated teens. The program boasts 12 buses for the nearly 500

Girls listened as their advisor spoke about the beauty of their homeland.

program and the influence it has on participants long after the summer has ended. THE IMPORTANCE AND STRENGTH OF TJJ FOLLOW-UP

The four-week trip to Israel is only half of the TJJ success story. NCSY strives to fill its buses with teens and staff from similar geographic areas, with the longterm goal of facilitating local follow-up programs and continued relationships. The study proved that teens who remained connected with their advisors were more likely to grow in their Jewish identity than those who did not remain connected. “We see a web of Jewish involvement, of which TJJ is an important strand,” stated Professor Cohen. “TJJ opens up additional social and educational opportunities — becoming involved with mentors, involved in NCSY and returning to Israel on a gap year program. In combination, all contribute to the broader social process of which TJJ is clearly an important part for those who become more fully engaged with their Jewish heritage.” Of the alumni surveyed, 75 percent indicated that they were in touch with their staff after the trip. Those who

TJJ VITAL STATS

NCSY COMMISSIONED NOTED SOCIOLOGISTS TO STUDY WHAT LONG-TERM IMPACT THE ANNE SAMSON JERUSALEM JOURNEY HAS ON THE JEWISH IDENTITIES OF THE PROGRAM’S ALUMNI.

95% said they would recommend TJJ to a friend 95% stated that marrying a Jew is important to them (76% state that it’s very important) 94% attended a Passover seder last year 92% identified as being emotionally attached to Israel 92% indicated that dating someone Jewish is important to them, with 59% (of the total) indicating that dating only Jews is important

88% fasted on Yom Kippur 66% considered themselves Zionists 61% participated in Jewish learning on a weekly or more frequent basis 41% returned to Israel after attending TJJ, with 12% (of the total) on a gap year program 23% already made aliyah or are considering it

connected on a more frequent basis showed stronger growth in their Jewish identity. TJJ ALUMNI BUILD THEIR OWN JEWISH IDENTITIES

PHOTO: BENJI CHEIRIF

On the trip itself and in the followup programming, participants are encouraged to ask the tough questions they have as modern Jewish teenagers. NCSY staff members foster an environment that is safe and comfortable for all questions. An anonymous responder shared: “I’m a passionate Jew because of TJJ. My Judaism is connected to Israel and TJJ... I feel strongly that it was TJJ that shaped my life and led me to become the Jew I am today. Questions I’ve asked and answers I received on TJJ still inspire me. I don’t know where I’d be without it.” GAP YEAR IN ISRAEL = GROWTH IN JEWISH IDENTITY

One out of eight TJJ participants decides to spend five or more months studying in Israel after high school before

I’m a passionate Jew because of TJJ… Questions I’ve asked and answers I received on TJJ still inspire me. I don’t know where I’d be without it. Anonymous TJJ responder

Overlooking the mountains at sunrise, boys davened with their advisors.

returning to their studies in North America. These alumni are three times more likely to increase their observance and practice compared to those who do not study in Israel. The decision to study in Israel can be attributed to the continued relationships with NCSY staff from TJJ, as well as the immense educational and cultural experience of spending extended periods of time in Israel.

emphasis on follow-up programming to help each teen grow on his or her path of Jewish involvement. REGISTERED PARTICIPANTS FROM 2007 TO 2014

THE FUTURE OF TJJ

This study demonstrates that TJJ works. NCSY hopes to expand TJJ in the coming years to give this life-altering experience to as many Jewish teens as possible. Also as a result of this study, NCSY will place an even greater

GOAL

PASSOVER 2015

PHOTO: JOSH WEINBERG

NCSY teen president Tova Sklar held the havdalah candle as an inspiring Shabbat came to an end.

with a deep passion for learning about their heritage. This year, participants witnessed the celebration of NCSY’s 60th anniversary Learn-a-Thon on Kol HaTorah Kulah (see page 18 for more details). This Yarchei Kallah also marked the launch of a new program: “What’s Under the Hood? A Hands-on Jewish Experience.” NCSYers put their learning into action with sessions on baking challah, making cholent, writing

Hebrew calligraphy, tying tzitzit and designing Judaica, along with an array of other hands-on applied learning experiences. “Yarchei Kallah is truly a magnificent experience, with hundreds of teenagers learning Torah in a mini-yeshiva type of environment,” said International NCSY Director Rabbi Micah Greenland. “I have no doubt that Yarchei Kallah 2014 has made a profound difference in the lives of the teens who participated and in the lives of their families.”

PHOTO: BENJI WEINTRAUB / KRUTER PHOTOGRAPHY

In December, 304 public school teens from across North and South America spent their winter break in Connecticut as part of NCSY’s Yarchei Kallah. The premier five-day learning program connects public school teens to their Jewish heritage and is one of NCSY’s most anticipated and popular events. Traditional classroom learning is supplemented with group study, one-on-one chavruthas and late night discussions with teachers, advisors and fellow NCSYers. After a week of studying Torah and bonding, teens are imbued

NCSY’s Summer Fair on Saturday night gave teens the opportunity to learn about different NCSY summer programs.

In “What’s Under the Hood: A Hands-on Jewish Experience,” teens experienced a wide range of hands-on learning opportunities.

Late night discussions between peers, advisors and mentors made Yarchei Kallah a life-changing experience.

PHOTO: BENJI WEINTRAUB / KRUTER PHOTOGRAPHY

Yarchei Kallah 2014 kicked off with MidraShow, a multimedia educational experience combining stage acting, video and music.

Thanks to Touro College, NCSYers picked two Jewish books of their choice to add to their personal Jewish libraries.

NCSYers gathered together to sing songs and share words of inspiration at a kumzits on Saturday night.

NCSYers shared their own stories of personal struggle and inspiration.

Top Jewish educators taught and guided NCSYers in their study of the book of Jonah. PASSOVER 2015

NCSY concluded its yearlong 60th anniversary celebration with a siyum on Kol HaTorah Kulah (the entire written and oral Torah) at the annual Yarchei Kallah convention in Stamford, CT. With more than 450 public school teens, staff, board members, parents, alumni and supporters in attendance,

the event was a true demonstration of NCSY’s commitment to Torah study. The evening began with inspiring words from Rabbi Mayer Twersky, Rosh Yeshiva at Yeshiva University’s Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary, followed by the recitation of the concluding mishnah by Rabbi Moshe

ALL PHOTOS: KRUTER PHOTOGRAPHY

Rabbi Mayer Twersky discussed how Torah study allows Jews to connect to eternity.

Tzvi Weinberg, Mashgiach Ruchani at Yeshiva University’s Irving I. Stone Beit Midrash Program. The program then segued into music, spirited dancing and a dessert buffet for a sweet ending to a thrilling night of inspiration. Mazal tov to all of our learners!

Before reciting the final mishnah, Rabbi Moshe Tzvi Weinberg delivered words of inspiration.

NCSY WOULD LIKE TO ESPECIALLY THANK OUR GENEROUS SPONSORS:

NCSYers celebrated the completion of the largest Learn-a-Thon in NCSY history.

Mr. Lee Samson — Learn-a-Thon Sponsor, in memory of Anne Samson, a”h Mr. Yossi Stechler — Siyum Sponsor, in memory of R’ Zelig ben Kalmun, a”h Mr. and Mrs. Maury and Ora Aaron and family — Sefer Bereishit Mr. and Mrs. Todd and Raphaela Stern — Sefer Shemot Milt’s BBQ for the Perplexed — Sefer Bamidbar Mr. and Mrs. Kenny and Yael Ripstein — Shir Hashirim Mr. and Mrs. Arnold and Esther Gerson — Hamalach Hagoel Mrs. Margie Shabat — Ten Commandments Mr. and Mrs. Heshy and Debbie Wengrow — Masechet Brachot

It’s not just what you say, but how you say it. Jewish Teen Educational Development (JTED) teaches teens the necessary public speaking skills to become active leaders in their schools, shuls and communities. Beginning with a weekend training session led by Rabbi Dovid Bashevkin, director of education for NCSY, teens take the first step in conquering their fears of public speaking. During the kick-off event and throughout the school year, participants develop the techniques and skills needed to create a Torah session while sharpening their research, creativity and analytical abilities, all within a positive Jewish framework. In each training session, teens practice and learn from one another about content and delivery. Often, their speaking performances are recorded so they can watch them back and track their improvements.

“Being a part of JTED has exceeded all of my expectations,” said Ashira Rosen, a junior at Yeshiva of Greater Washington Girls Division. “In addition to spending time with my friends, it has helped me understand what it takes to be a public speaker. JTED has given me the confidence to voice my opinions and make a real difference in my community.” Rabbi Yudi Riesel, city director of Greater Washington NCSY and founder of JTED, explained: “JTED was created to build future leaders of the Jewish people by offering our teens training in concrete leadership skills. It’s been an incredible success and participants have made great strides in conquering some of their greatest public speaking fears.”

Ethan Dalva presents a brief Torah thought to his peers.

PASSOVER 2015

JSU was created as a forum for public school students to meet other Jewish teens while learning about their Jewish heritage in a fun and relaxed environment. During weekly or biweekly club meetings, teens learn and engage in Jewish topics, in addition to hearing about Jewish opportunities within their area.

JSU educators provide educational programming through interactive discussions, guest speakers and video presentations. Topics include Jewish holidays, Israel education, current events, leadership and anti-Semitism. While teens may initially come for the free food, they keep coming back to nourish their newfound interest in their

Jewish identities. By going directly to public schools where students spend most of their day, JSU clubs successfully reach thousands of Jewish teens who otherwise might never have been exposed to their heritage and rich tradition.

ENCINO, CA Students from the JSU club at Sherman Oaks Center For Enriched Studies celebrated after learning key conversational words in Hebrew.

PORTLAND, OR On Martin Luther King Day, students at Wilson High School learned about diversity. Teens then made a banner with all their handprints to hang in the school.

BROOKLYN, NY Brooklyn JSU girls spent the morning at Stella K. Abraham High School for Girls on Long Island learning about the holiday of Chanukah.

MARIETTA, GA Students at Lassiter High School celebrated Sukkot by shaking a lulav and etrog at JSU. For many of the teens, it was the first time they fulfilled this mitzvah.

MINNEAPOLIS, MN JSU teens at Minneapolis Hopkins High School showed off their menorahs after learning about Chanukah.

HIGHTSTOWN, NJ The teens of Hightstown High School insisted on building a kosher sukkah in their school parking lot so their JSU club meeting on Chol Hamoed could be held inside of it.

ROSWELL, GA Teens at Centennial High School baked challah while learning the laws and customs of the mitzvah.

DETROIT, MI Teens from Berkley High School proudly decorated a iPad-themed cake after learning about Israel’s many technological achievements.

PHILADELPHIA, PA Students at Wissahickon High School learned about the Jewish holiday of Tu B’Shevat by dipping fruit into chocolate.

PASSOVER 2015

ALL PHOTOS: JOSH WEINBERG

NCSY educators from across the country spent two days in Stamford, CT, discussing their best practices and sharing experiences as they strategize for the upcoming year in NCSY education.

ow do we create a connection? How do we foster camaraderie for teens across the Jewish spectrum? How do we create a feeling of sustained inspiration? These were some of the questions educators sought to answer at this year’s first-ever National NCSY Educational Summit in November. Held in Connecticut, the two-day conference — organized by Rabbi Dovid Bashevkin and Debbie Stone of NCSY’s education department — brought together two dozen NCSY educators from North America to establish models for the best educational practices.

NCSY,” he said. Rabbi Phil Karesh, educational coordinator for Midwest NCSY, flew in from Chicago to attend the conference. “The educational summit gave us the framework to reflect on our accomplishments thus far and to brainstorm about where we are headed in the future,” he said. “This initiative has the potential to enhance what we are all aspiring to do: inspire the Jewish future.”

Educators swap books they felt have been most influential to them.

“There’s no formula to the magic of NCSY,” explained Rabbi Bashevkin, “but you can distill the primary ingredients.” Rabbi Ari Rockoff, NCSY’s director of leadership development, explained that this summit is part of a new initiative within the organization to focus on staff development. “We identified a cohort of educators and brought them together to enhance their own skills and develop the infrastructure to increase the educational viability of

West Coast Director of Education Rabbi Derek Gormin shares some of the techniques he uses in his JSU clubs.

PROFILES OF THE PEOPLE AND PLACES THAT MATTER

NCSY: A PLACE OF REFUGE When things were darkest for Eliana Halley, NCSY became her shelter.

SAVING PRIVATE GOLDSTEIN A Catholic military school doesn’t stop Josh Goldstein from finding inspiration.

LONE STAR JEW Deep in the heart of Texas, Abbie Solomon builds her own spiritual oasis.

TORAH GOES VIRAL NCSY helps Harel Amsalem pursue his filmmaking dreams.

TWO TEENS, TWO COUNTRIES, ONE TORAH Two teenagers from different parts of the globe build a long-lasting friendship thanks to NCSY’s JOLT summer program.

KNITTING A FUTURE Anna and Bill Tenenblatt help weave together the Jewish future.

BEATING CANCER ONE JUMP AT A TIME Superstar NCSY advisor Nina Garkavi discusses how NCSY helped her through a difficult time.

AN NCSY ALL-STAR ON AND OFF THE FIELD When an injury took David Polster out of the game, he found himself playing a different position.

CITY SPOTLIGHT The history of Cleveland NCSY.

HER FLAME CONTINUES TO ILLUMINATE Memories of Rebbetzin Peggy Gopin Weiss a”h, NCSY’s first female regional director. PASSOVER 2015

PHOTO: KRUTER PHOTOGRAPHY

having only one student in a grade. Pittsburgh NCSY Director Rabbi Ari Goldberg encouraged and supported Eliana during the difficult move. “NCSY gave me the strength and support to switch from a large public school where I had many friends and lots of social opportunities to a small Jewish school where I am the only student in my grade,” said Eliana, who is now a senior in Hillel Academy and plans to attend Midreshet Moriah in Israel next year. “NCSY made me understand that switching schools was a necessary step to strengthen my Jewish identity and my faith in Hashem.” At Leadership Boot Camp, NCSY International Director Rabbi Micah Greenland dedicated havdalah to Eliana (far right) in honor of her tremendous personal growth.

When things were darkest for Eliana Halley, NCSY became her refuge. Eliana grew up in a home imbued with a strong sense of family, Jewish tradition and values. However, things weren’t always easy for the family. Eliana’s mother Wendy worked several jobs to meet the family’s basic needs. When Eliana was in fourth grade, Hillel Academy, the local Jewish day school in Pittsburgh, PA, began having separate classes for boys and girls. Since Eliana was the only girl in her grade, the administration asked her to leave. She switched to Pittsburgh Colfax, a public school, where she excelled academically but felt distant from her Jewish identity. Soon after the switch, Eliana’s brother Aharon, with whom she was particularly close, was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. “NCSY was a huge part of Aharon’s life,” explained Eliana. “He was a regional board member who took responsibility for inspiring people all around him. When his health took a dramatic turn, NCSY was there to give us an unending stream of moral and religious support.” Devastatingly, just a few months later, Eliana’s grandfather was re-diagnosed with skin cancer. Lonely, sad and confused, her Jewish observance began to falter. Aharon and Eliana’s grandfather died in 2008, five months apart. Eliana questioned her faith even more. “I didn’t know what God was thinking,” shared Eliana. “He took my brother and my grandfather. My mom and sister Temima weren’t the same either. I had no idea who to turn to or where to go. Aharon was not only my brother, but he was an amazing role model and one of the most important people in my life. Aharon taught me how to be kind,

non-judgmental and a good person. He taught me to live each day to the fullest. I felt lost without him.” Within a few weeks after Aharon’s passing, Eliana attended her first Junior NCSY Shabbaton at the behest of Aharon’s friends, who urged her to benefit from the comfort and inspiration NCSY could offer. “I remember every detail of my first Shabbaton,” recalled Eliana. “I made so many new friends right away, and the ruach and ebbing were so moving I didn’t want the weekend to end.” Family losses continued to pile up for the Halley family. Wendy’s last close relatives died, leaving her without any emotional support. Eliana’s sister Temima struggled with the situation and eventually moved in with her father in Vermont. Eliana continued attending NCSY events and Shabbatons. NCSY quickly became a safe space for her, a place where she could nurture her Judaism and begin to move past the pain of losing her loved ones. In NCSY she found a way to strengthen her faith, even though profound spiritual questions remained unanswered. As for which high school she should attend, Wendy believed that a Jewish school would be in Eliana’s best interest. Despite the encouragement of her mother and NCSY, Eliana was hesitant to make the switch for social reasons. But after spending a few months at Alderdice High School, she agreed it was time to immerse herself in an entirely Jewish environment and decided to return to Hillel Academy, the private school she had attended earlier in her youth, midway through the year. Thankfully, the new administration at Hillel Academy was eagerly willing to tackle the educational challenge of

Describing her daughter, Wendy spoke about Eliana’s acquired positive attitude and resilience. “In the face of life’s significant challenges, I am proud of the way Eliana is determined to believe that somehow, it’s all for the good,” said Wendy. “Our relationship is stronger than it has ever been.”

“What’s behind my mask is a girl whose life was turned upside down, but then turned back around because of the magic of people like you...” Eliana’s personality radiates at NCSY events. “Eliana is a ball of positive energy,” stated Rabbi Goldberg. “People just flock to her. Her excitement is magnetic. She has been a valued member of our chapter board from 8th to 11th grade and this year she serves as vice president of communications for Central East NCSY’s regional board. She’s also been able to spread her kindness across the world by spending the last two summers on NCSY Summer’s GIVE and JOLT programs.” Speaking to a crowd of her peers and friends at a Central East Shabbaton last year, Eliana made an impassioned speech. “The reason I’m telling you all this,” she said after recounting her challenging journey, “is because I want to show you all what’s behind my mask — not just some story of sorrow, but a young woman who is able to see how lucky we are to live every day of our lives. What’s behind my mask is a girl whose life was turned upside down, but then turned back around because of the magic of people like you, and I could not be more grateful. NCSY did not only change my life, it saved my life.” PASSOVER 2015

PHOTO: BENJI CHEIRIF

Josh visits the Old City of Jerusalem while studying in Israel for the year.

As the only observant Jew in his Catholic military high school, Josh Goldstein was his school’s most unorthodox student. After graduating from elementary school, Josh faced a difficult decision: move away to attend a yeshiva high school or stay with his family in Savannah, GA, and attend a non-Jewish school. Not ready to leave his family, Josh opted for the latter and picked Benedictine Military School. Founded by Benedictine monks in 1902, the school, known as BC, boasts a rigorous academic and athletic track modeled after the United States Army. “There have been Jewish students at BC throughout the years, but I was one of the few observant Jews to ever attend,” related Josh. Though he was hesitant and worried to put himself in that position, his parents, — who spoke with Josh at length about the challenges that would be involved — supported his decision. “It’s one of the difficulties that comes with living in a place with no Jewish high school, but not everyone is ready to go away when they’re 13,” reflected Toby and Joseph, Josh’s parents. While Josh became friends with many BC students and quickly earned spots on the soccer and wrestling teams, he also faced many personal struggles along the way. Since most of the soccer games and wrestling matches were scheduled for Friday nights and Saturdays, Josh recalled moments where he doubted the choices and priorities he made for himself, especially when he missed an important game and knew his presence would have been a major asset to the team.

NCSY gave me the chance to immerse myself in a Jewish environment during a time when I was mostly surrounded by non-Jews.

“I had to work extra hard in practice and become a team leader to make up for my absences,” said Josh, who made it to the varsity level for both sports and became captain of the wrestling team. Josh’s social life also had its fair share of challenges. It was tough to always stay in when his friends went out on Saturdays. He felt like he was often missing out — though his friends were considerate and often came over to his house for Friday night dinner. Josh received ongoing support from his involvement with NCSY, which he credits with helping him stay observant during those difficult times. “NCSY gave me the chance to immerse myself in a Jewish environment during a time when I was mostly surrounded by nonJews,” he said. “I loved being around other people who all kept Shabbat and understood where I was coming from. NCSY gave me strength and a real sense of unity. It helped me stay observant and feel proud of my decisions.” Josh participated in NCSY throughout all four years of high school, serving as chapter president for Savannah NCSY in his junior and senior years. He also served on regional board during his senior year, the same year he won the prestigious chapter president of the year award. While Josh missed all the BC games and matches scheduled for Friday nights and Saturdays, he rarely missed an NCSY Shabbaton.

Other people in the school responded positively to Josh’s commitment to his faith. In a speech at senior banquet, Josh’s coach publicly praised his passion for sports, but said that Josh’s dedication to his religion was even more impressive. The coach added that it was rare to find such dedication in a young man. Josh’s parents felt immense pride in their son for being able to have such a positive high school experience and emerge with his faith strongly intact. “My parents are proud of the fact that I got a unique perspective on religion by attending a Catholic school and that my own faith became stronger because of it,” he said. “Josh brought tremendous enthusiasm to our Savannah chapter,” said Rabbi Lob. “He was always the first to jump in to organize and recruit for any program, and he made sure to be there early to help ensure that things ran smoothly. He put his whole heart into each event and people were, in turn, inspired by his passion.” Josh Goldstein is a student at Yeshivat Ashreinu in Beit Shemesh, Israel, where he learns Jewish subjects for half of the day and volunteers for the other half. He hopes to attend the University of Maryland next year.

“There’s something magical about an NCSY Shabbat, especially the havdalah ceremony, that really draws you into the beauty of being Jewish,” said Josh. “I’ve met amazing people with whom I expect to have lifelong connections. They were always there for me, just as NCSY was there for me when I needed inspiration as I dealt with the challenges of remaining observant and maintaining my faith at BC.” Rabbi Eli Lob, director of Savannah NCSY, also played a vital role in fortifying Josh’s unwavering commitment to Jewish observance. Rabbi Lob visited BC every day to teach a class to the handful of Jewish students, while the rest of the students took a course in Catholicism. For Rabbi Lob, it’s easy to see why Josh responded so well to NCSY. “For many Jewish teens in Savannah who have social circles and networks almost entirely composed of non-Jews, it’s easy to feel lost,” he explained. “NCSY is the link for these teens to their Jewish heritage.” Josh (left) and a friend in uniform at BC.

PASSOVER 2015

PHOTO: MICHALEAH SKAIST

By Zachary Schrieber

There are over 2,000 teenagers at Wakeland High School in Frisco, TX, and exactly one observant Jew. Her name is Abbie Solomon. She never cheered on her team at a Saturday football game, never danced at homecoming and doesn’t plan on attending prom. “I won’t be at graduation because it’s on Shabbat,” Abbie said. “My family thinks I’m crazy for not going. But I believe that keeping Shabbat is worth more than graduation.” And despite being the only Orthodox Jew at her high school, Abbie has 28

managed to found a thriving JSU club, become co-president of the Dallas NCSY chapter and launch a program that will soon be implemented in Bais Yaakov schools across the country. “I don’t want to just change who I am, I want to help influence the world,” Abbie explained. Abbie’s NCSY career began at age 10 when she attended Camp Nageela Midwest, a summer camp run by Agudath Israel in partnership with NCSY. Her family had just begun keeping Shabbat and, as she described

it, a “mostly” kosher home, following her sister’s bat mitzvah a few years earlier. As Abbie’s freshman year of high school began, she made the decision to take a few more steps in her religious journey: she began wearing tzniut (halachically modest) clothing, keeping kosher and davening every day. “I saw people in my community running away from things all the time: school, responsibilities, even the police,” Abbie said. “I wanted to be running towards something. Seeing the beauty and purity of an Orthodox lifestyle made me want to be a part of it.”

“Once Abbie learns something, she puts it into action and doesn’t even think twice,” said Dolly, Abbie’s mother. Her father Ron echoed the idea: “She’s determined,” he said. “When she puts her mind to something she is going to do it. She sticks to her convictions.” While visiting a friend in Baltimore during winter break of her sophomore year of high school, Abbie attended the annual Atlantic Seaboard NCSY concert. Seeing so many Jewish teenagers from different backgrounds inspired her. “Hearing everyone sing ‘Someday We Will All Be Together,’ was an incredibly moving moment,” she said. Upon returning home, Abbie connected with Dallas NCSY director Rabbi Michel Lomner and attended an NCSY Wednesday night learning session. Immediately, she knew she wanted more and became a regular at Dallas NCSY programming. Rabbi Lomner quickly recognized Abbie’s talents and dedication, and asked her to become president of the chapter. “NCSY became a focal point in her life,” said Ron.

PHOTO: BENJI WEINTRAUB / KRUTER PHOTOGRAPHY

Initially, Abbie’s parents were uncomfortable with her growing religious observance, fearing that Abbie would slowly drift away from the rest of the family. “I used to hide whatever I could from my parents,” she said about those first few weeks after returning home from camp. Eventually her parents noticed she had stopped wearing pants and was consistently avoiding foods that were not stamped with an acceptable kosher symbol. Now, years later, her parents take pride in her decisions.

Abbie (third from left) with her friends at National Yarchei Kallah.

While NCSY helped fulfill her longing for more spiritual avenues, deep down Abbie knew she could be doing more to help the Jews in Wakeland High School. She realized that there was a sizable Jewish population in the school and some of the Jewish students might be looking to explore their Judaism. A JSU club — a public school club that provides Jewish teens with programs that strengthen their Jewish identity and connection to Israel — was the perfect way to attract those who had been too nervous to publicly acknowledge their heritage. “Attending Camp Nageela Midwest showed me who I wanted to be as an individual, but joining NCSY showed me how to be a part of a community and help change the lives of others,” said Abbie. “After going on NCSY’s Leadership Boot Camp last summer, I realized I wanted to build a similar community at Wakeland High.” Abbie’s first step was to find a teacher to sponsor the club. As she started to take off for the Jewish holidays, Abbie struck up a friendship with a Jewish physics teacher at her school, Steven Horowitz. When she approached him about sponsoring the club, he was taken by her enthusiasm.

PHOTO: MICHALEAH SKAIST

“She’s passionate about what she’s doing,” said Horowitz. “To start a program like this from scratch is an incredible endeavor.” Next, Abbie contacted Rabbi Israel Lashak, regional director of Southwest NCSY, and asked him to visit her school once a month to teach a JSU club. Her confidence that those Jewish students existed turned out to be true. Fifteen teens came to the first meeting, and attendance has held steady since.

“Students were so excited to have a Jewish outlet that even someone’s mother came to the club’s first session,” Abbie said. “There is little Jewish life in the Frisco area, and I’m doing what I can to help change that.” “It’s one thing to go to school and have a Jewish life outside of it. But Abbie has brought the Jewish life right into her school,” said Rabbi Lomner. Last summer at Camp Nageela, Abbie met a group of Jewish girls from Camp SPARK, another girls summer program located on the Nageela campus. After three Israeli teenagers were kidnapped and brutally murdered, Abbie realized that the tragedy united Jewish people across the world. In an effort to continue that sense of togetherness, she proposed that the girls create videos featuring inspirational messages about Jewish unity and send them to Bais Yaakov schools across America. The program, which they called “Project United Sisters,” has now been implemented at a number of Bais Yaakov schools. Abbie is also building a bright future for herself: a member of the honors society at her school, she also works as a graphic designer for Frisco Style Magazine, a local community paper, and plans to study graphic design in college after spending a gap year in Israel. She was honored with an award for designing the winning poster for a fine arts festival in Frisco. Although Abbie has not spent one day studying in a yeshiva, Rabbi Lashak said that the girls at the local Jewish high school look up to her. “She is their role model,” he said. “She is a very special NCSYer whom we all can learn from.” PASSOVER 2015

ALL PHOTOS: ADAM SIMON

What can you do in six seconds? If you’re Harel Amsalem, you can launch a career. As the co-creator of Torah Vines, his six-second long Torah-themed videos have been seen by thousands. When Harel started ninth grade at Southern California Yeshiva High School, commonly known as SCY High, he met Rabbi Adam Simon, director of San Diego NCSY, who taught an elective film class there. Harel soon joined NCSY and eventually the film class — a decision he said changed his life. “I was really amazed by the people I met from NCSY and the relationships we formed,” said Harel, 17, now a junior at SCY High. “It was the first time that the Torah being taught to me was inspiring and I felt like I was able to connect to it. I felt like I wanted to do more.” Harel had always been interested in social media and was looking for ways to develop that passion. In tenth grade, he sat down for a brainstorming session with Rabbi Simon to see how he could use his media skills to teach Torah to others. “Harel is extremely talented and at NCSY, we encourage our teens to take their talents and natural passions and channel them towards the Jewish community to advance Torah education,” explained Rabbi Simon. Soon after, Torah Vines was born. Together with fellow NCSYer Marcus Loebenstein, Harel began using Vine, the popular video sharing service that allows users to post and edit six-second videos, to illustrate Torah concepts and teach lessons from the weekly parsha. After posting the first Torah Vines on Twitter and Facebook, the video went viral, garnering 10,000 hits in one day and over 1,300 likes on Facebook. Now, over a year since the project’s inception,

I discovered there is more to just being inspired; you have to do something with that inspiration.

new videos are posted weekly and the momentum is still strong. “Torah Vines has really developed a cult following in San Diego NCSY,” said Rabbi Simon. “They give out t-shirts with the logo and people are really into it.” Following the success of Torah Vines, Harel fell in love with filmmaking but was initially hesitant to pursue his interest. “At first, I was intimidated because filmmaking is a risky and unstable business, but the people I met in NCSY, especially Rabbi Adam Simon, recognized my passion for film and encouraged me to pursue it,” noted Harel. Earlier this year, Harel co-wrote and filmed a short movie called Talking to Mr. Summers, which explores the notion of happiness through conversations between a teenager and his guidance counselor. He is working with Rabbi Simon to have the film submitted to the San Diego Jewish Film Festival and is also collaborating with him on writing the script for a longer feature film. “Some of the lessons I’ve learned from NCSY inspired me to work on those films,” he said. “The Shabbatons have amazing sessions and speakers and I truly take what they say to heart. I participated in several sessions about finding your passion and following your inspiration. On the last Shabbaton I had the chance to speak, and while preparing something to say, I discovered there is more to just being inspired; you have to do something with that inspiration. For a while I wanted to do something with film, and not until that Shabbaton was I inspired to actually take the initiative and do something — not just think about it.”

like a Jewish midrash, is embedded with Jewish values that are relevant, personal and meaningful. “Harel assisted us with the scriptwriting, production, logistics, storyboarding and visual art aspects of MidraSHOW,” said Rabbi Simon, who runs the project with Rabbi Josh Cohen, assistant director of San Diego NCSY and alumni coordinator of West Coast NCSY. “He is really gifted and uses those skills to help the Jewish community beyond NCSY. He also wrote the script for the Chanukah play at the Soille San Diego Hebrew Day School.” Harel’s family supports his religious growth and future ambitions while his NCSY advisors and mentors continue to play a key role in helping him advance in both areas. “My family is not very religious, but they are proud of what I’m doing,” said Harel. “NCSY has changed my view on life. I learned that it’s in my power to get what I want out of life. I’m trying to do what I feel is right instead of just choosing the safe, easy way. I’m very thankful to NCSY for helping me see that I can pursue my dreams while maintaining my Jewish lifestyle.”

That Shabbaton also helped Harel gain the confidence he needed to get his career off the ground. “I’ve always been terrified of public speaking, and after I spoke at the Shabbaton, I had this feeling of accomplishment,” he said. “I proved to myself that I can overcome my fear and really grow from it. It was the push that NCSY provided and the people who supported me that inspired me to face my fears of pursuing filmmaking.” This year, Harel also worked closely with Rabbi Simon to produce MidraSHOW, a new multimedia project that debuted at the West Coast Regional Convention in December to rave reviews. MidraSHOW is a theatrical performance that includes live actors, music and custom-made videos, and PASSOVER 2015

PHOTO: CHAIM NEIDITCH

Samuel Kalnitz learning with Georg Khokholyev via Skype.

amuel Kalnitz and Georg Khokholyev have a lot in common: both are 17, both love basketball and both share an affinity for rappers Eminem and Kendrick Lamar. However, it was their love of Torah and personal growth that bound these two teenagers — each from a different part of the world — together. Geographically, the two couldn’t have been farther apart. Samuel hails from a Jewish suburb in Atlanta, Georgia, while Georg lives with his family in Gronau, Germany, a small town of 40,000 where he and his mother are the only Jewish people. The two met during the summer of 2013 while Samuel was part of NCSY Summer’s JOLT (Jewish Overseas Leadership Training) program. One of NCSY’s oldest and most successful programs, JOLT takes several dozen select Jewish teenagers to visit the concentration camps in Poland. Afterwards, the teens run a camp for unaffiliated Jewish teenagers from Germany called Am Echad, and then spend the last two weeks of the summer in Israel. During the weeklong camp experience, Samuel and Georg struck up an easy friendship because of their shared interests. As the summer wound down, Samuel asked Georg if he would like to keep in touch via Skype; Georg had a better idea: why not continue learning during the year? Samuel readily agreed, though as busy teenagers, they were skeptical about 32

the long-term possibilities of a longdistance chavrutha. “I’ll admit, it was kinda tough starting out,” said Samuel. The only possible time for Georg was at nine in the evening, which was smack in the middle of Samuel’s Sunday afternoon. “I first thought this is going to last for two weeks and after we’ll lose contact,” Georg added. Having such a late-night chavrutha also meant he would need to be up an extra hour to finish his schoolwork. But the two persevered and as they spent an hour learning Tanach with each other every week, they found their friendship deepening. “It wasn’t just learning,” stated Samuel. “It was like a beis medrash. You form a relationship.” “Our friendship grew even bigger,” explained Georg. “It developed each time we learnt.” As the year progressed, Samuel realized he wanted to see his friend again and, concerned for Georg’s summer prospects, planned on inviting him to America for the summer. When that didn’t pan out and Samuel ended up applying to NCSY Kollel in Israel, he decided to bring his friend with him. While Georg was open to the idea of joining Samuel on NCSY Kollel, there

were some hurdles. Germany’s school year is different than America and Georg would have to get permission to take off from the Catholic school he attended. In addition, Georg needed a scholarship for the program. With the help of Samuel’s family and the national NCSY office, the two managed to overcome all the issues. (Rabbi Eli Zians, director of NCSY’s JOLT, sent the Catholic school a note that NCSY Kollel would be good for Georg’s spiritual development and help with his English.) Rabbi Chaim Neiditch, regional director of Greater Atlanta NCSY, said, “We are very proud of Sam. It is wonderful to see how he has grown and internalized the lessons he’s learned in NCSY to reach out to others.” Last summer the two were again inseparable as they spent the summer learning in NCSY Kollel. Admittedly, transitioning from Am Echad, which caters to non-affiliated Jewish

teenagers, to the intense learning experience of NCSY Kollel was difficult for Georg. “When Sam asked me to go on Kollel with him, he told me that we’re going to play basketball the whole day and learn a little bit,” Georg laughed. “It ended up being the exact opposite: we learned almost the whole day and played a little bit of basketball.” Rabbi Zians called the transition from Am Echad to NCSY Kollel “unheard of.” “This has never happened before,” said Rabbi Zians. “Because of their friendship, Georg went to Israel for the first time and experienced Judaism in such a rich way.” The experience was especially powerful for both boys given the situation in Israel, since the country was then in the throes of a war in Gaza. The highlight for Samuel came during one of NCSY Kollel’s wilderness trips, where he and some friends jumped off a cliff into a pristine pool of water. “I swam to the side and Georg jumped off and swam up to me. He said, ‘Thank you for inviting me,’” recalled Samuel. “I thought to myself all this work paid off. Look at the impact I’ve had on him and his family. It made me feel really proud.” Since his time on NCSY Kollel, Georg says he has a different perspective on his religion. “I didn’t grow up in a Jewish community in Germany,” he explained. “In German society most things are held on Saturdays — birthdays and other things. After NCSY Kollel, I started to hold Shabbat more often than I did before.” “We grew together,” Samuel said. “When you go on the journey and you take initiative, you grow in the same direction.” Rabbi Micah Greenland, international director of NCSY, said that the friendship between the two is emblematic of what NCSY does. “We take Jews from around the world and show that despite our superficial differences, the Jewish people are all am echad, one nation,” he said. Next year Samuel will be attending yeshiva in Israel. Georg isn’t sure what his plans are yet. But no matter what happens, the two have the memories of the time they shared together and of course, the weekly chavrutha that they still maintain.

Shoshana Polakoff (left) with her grandparents Sima and Jack Salzberg, and Gertruda Moldrzyk (center), who rescued her grandmother from the war, at an Anti-Defamation League dinner in 1991.

IN MEMORY OF MY GRANDPARENTS: A SCHOLARSHIP TO JOLT When Shoshana (Hulkower) Polakoff was 17, she saw the concentration camps her grandparents survived. Thanks to a financial scholarship, Shoshana participated in NCSY’s JOLT. Part of the trip included a week in Poland where the teenagers visited the most infamous sites of World War II, including Auschwitz-Birkenau. For Shoshana, whose grandparents’ stories had been woven into the fabric of her adulthood, the trip was a chance to see the horrors her grandparents had so long described to her. Shoshana’s maternal grandparents, Jack and Sima Salzberg, had survived the worst of the Holocaust. Both had been sent to Auschwitz and both, miraculously, had managed to escape during their respective death marches — Jack disappeared into the forest and Sima pretended to be a member of a peasant family that was serving the officers. Her grandparents had told over their story publicly to ensure that the Holocaust would not be forgotten. “The experience was incredibly empowering,” Shoshana, now 32, recalled about her JOLT trip. “We had the privilege of standing in the same place our family members suffered and died and we were able to say: ‘It didn’t work, we’re still here and we’re proud, committed Jews.’ That was the message my grandfather instilled in us.”

Before she left that summer, Shoshana’s grandparents asked her to light a yahrtzeit candle for the family members they lost in the camps. The candle was prescient as Shoshana’s grandparents passed away within months of each other shortly after her return. In their memory and in gratitude for the scholarship she received, Shoshana established The Jack and Sima Salzberg JOLT Scholarship. She began the scholarship when she first began working for NCSY Summer in 2004 and as her career progressed, she has increased the scholarship amount. The scholarship is for $1,800 and is awarded for financial aid. Eligible teens must write an essay describing why they are interested in the JOLT trip. “The scholarship is a tribute to my grandparents,” explained Shoshana, who is now the director of facilities management and logistics at the OU. “This is what they wanted. They wanted people to go back, experience Poland and never forget. It’s frightening and sad for me to know that the generation of survivors and heroes is coming to an end. But programs like JOLT allow us to triumph over what happened.” For more information and to create your own scholarship fund, email David Cutler, director of NCSY Summer, at cutlerd@ncsy.org.

PASSOVER 2015

Anna and Bill, together with children Daniel and Karen, and grandson Sam, on a family vacation.

rom their home in Los Angeles, CA, Anna and Bill Tenenblatt, co-owners of Antex Knitting Mills, a textile manufacturing company, are helping weave together the Jewish future. Among their many philanthropic causes, they consider supporting NCSY — whose goal is to connect Jewish teens to their heritage — a proud endeavor. “A group like NCSY creates passionate and committed Jewish youth,” said Anna. “It is vital for our future as a people.” For the last four summers, the Tenenblatts have generously underwritten the cost of a bus for NCSY’s The Anne Samson Jerusalem Journey (TJJ) — the NCSY flagship summer program that takes public school teens to Israel to connect with their rich Jewish history and homeland. In just four weeks, participants experience transformational changes in their Jewish identity. The Tenenblatts became involved with NCSY through their friendship with Rabbi Steven Weil, senior managing director of the Orthodox Union. Rabbi Weil grew up on a cattle farm in Upstate New York and became religious through NCSY. “Rabbi Weil explained the importance 34

of NCSY and motivated us to become involved,” Anna stated. Supporting NCSY fits into the Tenenblatts’ worldview, noted Rabbi Weil. “Bill and Anna have a care and concern for Jews of all backgrounds, from all places,” he said. “They have been strongly involved with building the Los Angeles Jewish community as well as supporting the national Jewish community. Jewish ethics is not theoretical for them, but a lifestyle which they live each day in the business world, in their personal lives and in their communal involvement. Their profound sense of integrity compels them to be proactive in making the world a better place for all Jews.” In 1973, Bill and his family founded Antex Knitting Mills. The company took off and now provides knitted fabrics for apparel to fashion and sports brands, including Nike, Adidas and Under Armour, as well as specialized fabrics for military and workwear brands. As CEO, Bill handles all planning, equipment purchases, sales and dayto-day operations, while Anna, as vice president, oversees production planning, customer service and finance. The Tenenblatts also provide generous support to their local Jewish day schools, summer camps and day school scholarship endowments, among many other important causes. “Bill, Anna and their children are

committed to the future of the Jewish people,” Rabbi Weil added. “They want each and every young Jew to have the opportunity to explore the rich traditions of Judaism, have a relationship with four millennia of Jewish history and experience the magic of Israel. Bill and Anna, as well as their parents, have been committed to rebuilding the Jewish people after the Holocaust both here in the United States and in Israel.” “We are fortunate in the gifts bestowed upon us and feel it is important to give tzedakah,” said Anna. “Our children are involved as well and understand the importance of funding programs that help the Jewish community and world at large.” Writing to the Tenenblatts to thank them for their support, a TJJ participant reflected on her experience: “These past few weeks on TJJ taught me so much about Israel, Judaism and myself,” she wrote. “I don’t live in a Jewish community, I have attended public school my whole life, and my family is extremely secular…Without your help, I would not have had the chance to connect with my Judaism. TJJ also inspired me to devote time to learning about my heritage when I get home. Thanks to you, I know that I want to marry someone Jewish to preserve the Jewish tradition.”

PHOTO: QUINN RUSESELL BROWN

s part of last year’s national NCSY Jewish Unity Mentoring Program (JUMP) competition — a leadership program for Jewish day school students — the Seattle team had an idea to create Insecuri-T’s, t-shirts that revealed insecurities to the public. The front of the t-shirts would state what each teen was insecure about and the back would explain how they dealt with it. While the idea was novel and exciting, there was one slight problem: none of the teens spoke up. That is, until mentor Nina Garkavi did. While most insecurities remain hidden within, Nina related that her insecurity was in plain view and definitely something to talk about. After radiation and chemotherapy treatment, Nina, a 26-year-old with blue eyes, did not have much hair. Her courage to share and her willingness to be vulnerable is part of what makes her a top NCSY advisor, noted Seattle NCSY Director Ari Hoffman. “She’s one of our superstars,” he said. “Kids can always tell if you’re sincere and real, and there’s no one more sincere and real than Nina.” In 1993, Nina immigrated with her family to Seattle from the former Soviet Union. Though they weren’t religious, her parents felt strongly about Jewish education and enrolled her in the local Jewish school. Her high school was more religious than what she had been used to at home, which made it somewhat difficult to fit in. But with the social support she found in Seattle NCSY, the transition became easier. After being an active NCSYer for four years, and with the help of Hoffman and his wife Jessica, Nina made plans to study in Israel for a year after high school. When war broke out in Israel

that summer, her family decided against it. The Hoffmans quickly worked to get Nina into Stern College for Women on a special scholarship. At Stern she thrived and eager to repay her dues to NCSY, flew back to Seattle as an advisor for many chapter Shabbatons. Soon after graduating from Stern, Nina’s life took a drastic turn during the Pesach of 2011. While working as a camp counselor in a Miami hotel during the holiday, she suffered severe, debilitating headaches. “The headaches were unbearable. It was as if someone was wringing out my brain, like a towel,” she said. The headaches worsened and dark circles bloomed underneath her eyes. Nina’s mother and her employer in New York convinced Nina to go to the ER before returning home. After an initial CT scan, Nina was rushed to the ICU where she was diagnosed with a lifethreatening cancerous tumor known as Medulloblastoma Desmoplastic. With her mother at her side, the next five weeks were a blur: one nine-hour brain surgery followed another. The Jewish community of Miami provided an endless supply of food, support, love, prayers and entertainment for Nina and her mother. After a large portion of the tumor was removed, Nina was transferred to the Seattle Children’s Hospital. The Hoffmans, together with the community, organized a Google document to ensure that she always had someone with her and a way of getting to her appointments. The road to recovery was a long one. The treatment left Nina weak and sick for most of every month. She lost her balance and coordination and needed to relearn how to walk. Seattle NCSY raised several thousand dollars to

help cover the cost of her treatments, including lengthy rehabilitation. “The Jewish community is incredible,” she said. “It’s a special feeling to have organizations and individuals across the globe dedicate time and money to me. Without even asking, organizations like Seattle NCSY took the initiative and helped raise money on my behalf. I am forever grateful to all of them.” Fortunately, the treatment was successful, and in 2012 Nina was finished with treatment. “People were crying when they heard the news,” Hoffman said. Due to her medical needs and outpatient follow-ups, Nina decided to stay in Seattle, where she has become an integral part of Seattle NCSY’s team. Maya Pogrebinsky, one of Nina’s NCSYers, describes her as a “dedicated mentor who is always willing to help. She has great ideas and inspires those around her.” Nina is actively trying to start a Jewish cancer survivor program for young adults called L’Chayim — to life after cancer. “When I finished treatment at 23, there was no Jewish organization for me to turn to for support, and I’m determined to change that,” she said. While pursuing her Masters degree and working for NCSY, Nina aims to empower teens and make them grateful for every moment they have. Her attitude towards life is clear from her Insecuri-T shirt, which read: “Rapunzel, Rapunzel, let down your hair…” on the front, and the back boldly states: “Just because I don’t have long hair doesn’t mean I’m not a princess.” If you’d like to be involved in helping start L’Chayim, contact Nina at ninagarkavi@ gmail.com.

PASSOVER 2015

“We realized that David would have a bigger impact on his peers and NCSY by not serving on the chapter board — he was almost like an undercover NCSY board member,” recalled Rabbi Frankiel. “He reached out to befriend unaffiliated teens. He helped at events whenever needed. At Shabbatons, David led the dancing.” “Coming from a non-Orthodox background, I feel I can connect more to others who lack an interest in Judaism, since I used to experience that myself,” noted David.

When all-star high school athlete David Polster couldn’t play sports because of an injury, he found a silver lining with NCSY. At 17, David found his niche by excelling on the field. Which field? All of them. Whether he was shooting a three-pointer, kicking a goal or hitting a home run, David was a natural athlete. But one day in March of his junior year, he found himself in tremendous pain. A doctor’s diagnosis confirmed a very uncommon sports injury among young athletes: three herniated disks in his spine and a stress-fractured vertebrae. But what his doctor told him next was even more disheartening: an unknown recovery period with no sports or any light physical activity. “I was in so much physical pain, and after a few weeks of not being able to play sports or take care of myself on my own, I began to feel depressed,” shared David. And so, as the pain continued, David

turned to Rabbi Yaakov Frankiel, director of Columbus NCSY. David and Rabbi Frankiel had been slowly building a relationship. Though his family identifies as Conservative, David attends the Orthodox Columbus Torah Academy (CTA) where Rabbi Frankiel teaches. In sixth grade, friends encouraged David to attend NCSY Shabbatons, but he didn’t think it was for him. “I felt NCSY trips were too religious for me,” he admitted. Yet in the summer following tenth grade, he discovered NCSY’s The Anne Samson Jerusalem Journey — popularly known as TJJ — and it turned out to be a game changer. “After TJJ, I ended up slowly getting into putting on tefillin,” he said. “Previously, I was mandated to put it on at school, but I would leave it at school over the weekend. When TJJ began, I didn’t go to davening since no one forced me to go, but slowly I found myself joining the morning minyan. Although I was tired, it was something I wanted to do. I found myself enjoying the davening. It made a big difference that I chose to be there instead of being forced. TJJ, in conjunction with my strong Torah education at CTA, showed me that regardless of one’s background, there’s no limit to how much one can grow and accomplish as a Jew.” Shortly after David’s injury, Rabbi Frankiel saw David’s interest in Judaism spike. He lent him several Jewish books, which David credits with helping him cope with his injury. In fact, his devastating sports injury was the assist that gave him the strength to transform. With more time on his hands, David found himself participating in numerous NCSY programs and taking on leadership roles within his local chapter. David went from being a participant in NCSY to being a force in the organization, though he managed to do it in his own way.

After six months, David’s body fully recovered and he was anxious to get back on the field. But the all-star athlete recognized he had also become an all-star teenage leader. In addition to organizing weekly Latte & Learning programs and the divrei Torah for all the Shabbatons, he helped lead his school’s team in NCSY’s JUMP program, a competition that challenges teens across the country to make an impact on their Jewish community. “David’s an unbelievable guy — a real self-starter who gleans from everything and does what he thinks is right,” explained Rabbi Avrohom Drandoff, dean of student life at CTA and Columbus NCSY JUMP leader. “From school to TJJ to Yarchei Kallah, he continues to build himself up. You can’t peg him in one area — he learns from every experience he’s had. David’s growth, while a testament to his selfdedication, is a great example of the synergy between a family, Yeshiva day school and NCSY working in tandem.” Today, David describes himself as climbing a mountain of Judaism, where each day he reaches a new foothold in the way he wishes to lead his life. “NCSY continues to support me in so many ways,” he said. “As my spiritual journey continues, I look forward to reflecting on my years with NCSY, combined with other experiences, and saying that together they’ve helped shape the person I am today.” David will be the first in his family to learn in yeshiva after high school, a decision that his family supports. Nowadays, David has a different perspective on his injury. “I realized it was the greatest personal challenge I’ve had to face. But my values became clearer to me and I now realize that Judaism is an important part of my life,” he explained. “I’d never wish such an experience on anyone else, but I learned that our greatest struggles are often the keys to our greatest growth.”

PHOTO: NOACH KLEIN

Cleveland NCSYers, staff, advisors and alumni at Central East NCSY’s Regional Shabbaton in Toledo, OH, in February.

As young newlyweds, Rabbi Arieh and Elissa Friedner made a catastrophic mistake: they agreed to fly in from Israel for a Central East NCSY Shabbaton. The two wanted to see what Central East NCSY was all about, but they had told Central East NCSY Regional Director Rabbi Tzali Freedman that they had no interest in leaving Israel for the next several years. Once they were at the Shabbaton, they knew they were in trouble. “There was such meaning and emotion at the Shabbaton,” Rabbi Friedner recalled. “We said to each other: ‘Oh no.’ We didn’t want to leave Israel but we knew we had to do it.’” Rabbi Friedner was soon offered a spot as the director of Cleveland NCSY and he and his wife took a risk and bought a house. Quickly, the Friedners realized it was a wise move. “It was comfortable right away,” Rabbi Friedner said. “Everyone brought us welcoming gifts when we moved in. We called our block the chulent pot because everyone was so warm.” Since then Rabbi Friedner and his wife have never looked back as they led the thriving Cleveland NCSY chapter to even greater heights. The chapter itself has a rich history dating back more than 40 years when the chapter — largely inspired by Irving Stone zt’l — was founded. Before the Friedners, the chapter was successfully run by Chanah Appel (who still attracts many teens to NCSY programming) and then a partner team of the Berkowitz and Feldman families. Rabbi Friedner admits that starting out with such a strong chapter was a bit difficult for him given his inexperience with NCSY methods. “The chapter had

everything we ever wanted, and we loved everything about it,” he explained. “It was a huge learning process.” Rabbi Friedner depended on an array of NCSY mentors including Rabbi Tzali Freedman, Central East NCSY regional director; Rabbi Jonah Lerner, Atlantic Seaboard NCSY regional director; Rabbi Glenn Back, Canada NCSY CEO; and Rabbi Steve Burg, former international NCSY director. Under Rabbi Friedner’s leadership, the region took advantage of the positive sentiment the Cleveland Jewish community had towards NCSY and expanded the city’s programming. He and Elissa opened their home to NCSYers and as the demand increased, they built a dedicated coterie of staff by hiring popular NCSY advisors like DL Lavin and Jasmine Hoff, administrative director Ayala Menkin-Israel, and educational directors Chana and Yudi Levine. “The Friedner family has always been there no matter what,” said NCSYer Max Goldstein. “They always welcome me along with hundreds of NCSYers with open arms. The amount of events held at their home to make new kids feel comfortable is unreal. Personally, I can ask Rabbi Arieh about anything at anytime and he’s always there to help.” Cleveland NCSY also maintains several JSU clubs throughout the area. The total amount of teens active in Cleveland NCSY and JSU programming is nearly 800. However, no matter how large the chapter gets, the Friedners ensure they have close personal relationships with all their NCSYers. For the last three years, Rabbi Friedner has also led the Central East NCSY bus on The Anne Samson Jerusalem Journey

program. In February, he was inducted into to the Ben Zakkai Honor Society, the prestigious NCSY hall of fame. Cleveland NCSY is also blessed with a strong support network of donors — including the Jaffa, Klein, Malcmacher and Weiss families — and receives help from The Jewish Federation. “Cleveland NCSY is an important part of our city and it does important work with kids in Cleveland,” said Gary Weiss, who was instrumental in the chapter’s founding years ago and is a stalwart Cleveland NCSY supporter. “There’s of course the public school factor in NCSY, but NCSY is also critical in helping kids at our day schools grow as well. There’s a lot of kids that need NCSY.” “Under Rabbi Friedner’s leadership during the past seven years, Cleveland NCSY has become a model for other cities to emulate and has inspired dozens and dozens of teens to study Torah and become passionate Jews,” said Rabbi Freedman. “Each year was a progression of excellence and growth.” The goals for the region include a continued expansion throughout the Cleveland area. Their main hope, Rabbi Friedner said, is that in the future, “every Jewish teen will have a strong Jewish affiliation thanks to NCSY, and the only question that will be asked is which track or program gave them the experience they were looking for.” However, Rabbi Friedner remains quite humble about Cleveland NCSY’s groundbreaking success. “The bottom line is we’re successful because the soil we’re given — the amazing Cleveland Jewish community — has been primed for our organization to succeed,” he said.

PASSOVER 2015

By Rabbi Ari M. Solomont

Rabbi Saul and Peggy Weiss rejoicing at their granddaughter’s bat mitzvah.

When I was 16 and uncertain about my direction in life, I sought advice from New England NCSY’s Regional Director Rebbetzin Peggy Gopin Weiss a”h: “Do you have faith in me?” I asked her. “No,” she responded. “I have confidence in you — but faith? That I reserve exclusively for my creator, Hashem.” Over 30 years have passed since that brief exchange, but it left an indelible mark on me. That was the kind of woman she was: positively influencing countless teens through her meaningful insights and the lifechanging lessons we were privileged to learn from her. Rebbetzin Weiss, affectionately known as Reb, was a trailblazer. As the first woman to become a regional director, a position she held in the New England Region (NER) for almost 10 years, she served as a role model for me and thousands of other teens as we strengthened our commitment to Judaism and developed our Jewish identities. While she was a compassionate, non-judgmental listener, Reb also imparted valuable life lessons to her NCSYers by allowing us a glimpse into the beautiful home that she built with her beloved husband Rabbi Saul Weiss and their family. I vividly remember sitting at her Shabbat table, which was always full of zmirot and divrei Torah. Throughout the meal, I heard Reb comment that the flowers were so beautiful. Later, I learned that it was a code between her and her children that the conversation needed to be changed, as it was heading in a direction that wasn’t appropriate for the Shabbat table. To this day, my wife and I model our Shabbat table after hers, striving 38

to make it a place of inspiration. Reb helped me recognize the importance of consistency — that we need to be uncompromising in our standards and always teach by example. Reb was one of the most modest people I’ve ever known, while at the same time, she was also dynamic, outgoing and approachable. But that was typical — she was often a lesson in contradiction. She exuded warmth and kindness through her gentle and unassuming disposition, yet, she was somehow able to fill a room with her powerful presence. Regardless of the number of people at a Shabbaton or event who wanted her attention, she made every person feel noticed and important, as if she was only there for them. Reb possessed uncompromising standards of integrity and humility, steeped in Torah values and trust in Hashem. The manner in which she demonstrated what was proper and moral inspired us all, and she truly led by example. My friend Rabbi Shimmy Trencher was once on the phone with Reb. She was about to tell him something when she paused and asked him to hold on. When she returned a few moments later, she said she had asked her husband a halachic question because she wasn’t sure if what she was about to say was considered lashon hara (forbidden speech). She then politely changed the topic. Another former NCSYer, Rachel Levitt Klein, recalled how Reb’s davening

made a lasting impression on her: “She was at her husband’s side after an operation and was davening mincha out loud for both of them. When he woke up, she was about to stop. However, he indicated that she should continue, so she joyously did, postponing her welcome with him by finishing her prayer for the two of them. I remember thinking how amazing their marriage must be and how special her prayers must be. They both realized that her words, on behalf of both of them, were so essential. She made me think of my own tefillah as powerful and essential.” Reb was driven by a mission to help make the world a better place, and her children — both her biological children and her NCSYers — were always at the center of her work. Even after many years passed, she never forgot about her NCSY family and she stayed connected to us. Although she was fairly new to social media, she loved following us on Facebook and rarely missed an opportunity to comment on a picture, send a blessing for a simcha or just check in to say hello. She derived so much nachas from hearing about our families and our accomplishments. So many flourishing Jewish families exist today because of Rebbetzin Peggy Gopin Weiss, Perel Leah bas HaRav Shlomo Dovid v’Yafa Bayla. May her memory always be a blessing, and may her husband and family be comforted by the extraordinary legacy and bright NER she left behind; a candle that will continue to spread the light of Torah for years to come.

A native of Lowell, Massachusetts, Rabbi Ari M. Solomont was a national NCSY officer for two years and regional officer for three years. Later, Ari served as regional director of New England NCSY for a decade before making aliyah in 2003. He is the founder of the Cycle for Unity Foundation. Ari and his wife Sarah Beth (the 1984 president of Atlantic Seaboard NCSY) are members of NCSY’s Ben Zakkai Honor Society and recipients of the Ezra Ben Zion Lightman Memorial Award. They live in Hashmonaim with their four children.

HAPPENINGS FROM AROUND THE NCSY UNIVERSE

READY, SET, GLOW Baltimore NCSY lit up the darkness in their annual Chanukah party.

RAV DOVID LAU IN CHICAGO Rav Dovid Lau joined Chicagoland NCSY for a Latte & Learning.

ROCKINâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; AROUND THE TORAH West Orange NCSY provided spirited holiday cheer during Simchat Torah.

BRINGING JUDAISM TO ST. ANDREWS Rabbi Eli Zians, city director of South Palm Beach, founded a Jewish club at a Presbyterian school.

SAN DIEGO NCSY FEEDS THE HOMELESS San Diego NCSY made sandwiches and collected donations to help feed over 600 homeless individuals.

PASSOVER 2015

ATLANTIC SEABOARD Rabbi Jonah Lerner, Regional Director 410.358.6279 // atsoffice@ncsy.org atlanticseaboard.sncsy.org

Baltimore, MD Moshe Heideman — mosheh@ncsy.org

See mini-story at right.

Greater Washington, MD Rabbi Yudi Riesel — yudi@ncsy.org

ALL ABOUT INNOVATION Greater Washington NCSY has been at the forefront of innovative informal education. The traditional Latte & Learning model has been transformed into rotations of teen and advisor-led learning sessions, and the Friday night oneg has been restructured to include an inspiring tisch with beautiful singing and divrei Torah. The JSU clubs feature exciting activities such as the original “Apples in Honey 2.0 Challenge” and the “Chanukah Challenge,” which take classic appledipping and menorah-building to whole new levels.

READY, SET, GLOW: BALTIMORE NCSY LIGHTS UP CHANUKAH!

altimore NCSY gathered for the annual Chanukah party! The chapter board worked tirelessly to create a “Lighting the Darkness” themed bash. Everyone enjoyed the glow-in-thedark fun complete with latkes, sufganiyot (jelly donuts), an ice cream bar and a sushi platter in the shape of a menorah. The teen leaders moderated group sessions about topics of finding one’s inner Maccabee and overcoming impossible odds in life.

Philadelphia, PA & Cherry Hill, NJ Rabbi Yitz Levi — Rabbiyitz@ncsy.org

HUNTINGDON VALLEY LATTE & LEARNING WELCOMES ALUMNI

CHANUKAH IN NCSY PROGRAMS

Thanksgiving break is usually a time for college students to relax for a couple of days, but not in Huntingdon Valley. More than 20 alumni came home to reconnect. They relived their high school days with Latte & Learning and learned how to advocate for Israel when they return to campus.

NCSY celebrated Chanukah across Toronto. Many programs like DVR and Learn ‘N Earn saw recordbreaking attendances with students, parents and mentors all learning about Chanukah together. The learning was followed by beautiful menorah lightings, delicious sufganiyot and sushi.

CANADA Rabbi Glenn Black, CEO 905.761.6279 // ncsyca@ncsy.org canada.ncsy.org

Montreal, QC Nava Dworkin — nava@ncsy.ca Marg Polowin — marg@ncsy.ca

CANADA SHOWS APPRECIATION FOR ISRAELI SOLDIERS At SWAG (Students With A Goal) — a lunch program at Herzliah High School — teens wrote letters to Israeli soldiers expressing their gratitude for protecting their homeland. The soldiers were extremely appreciative, and many even wrote back. The students were so excited to hear from the soldiers and were filled with a strong sense of what it means to be a part of the Jewish nation.

Toronto, Ontario Shyndee Kestenbaum — shyndee@ncsy.ca

JSU GOING STRONG More than 300 teens have attended JSU clubs around the city. One of our largest campaigns was to raise money for the families of victims of terror. Students made bracelets and sold them around their schools.

TEENS AND FAMILIES CELEBRATE 40

Vancouver, British Columbia Rabbi Samuel and Gila Ross — samuelross@ncsy.ca

New York tour with visits to the off-Broadway show Blue Man Group, the Freedom Tower, Times Square, Chinatown, the Avenue J shopping strip in Brooklyn, Hatzalah headquarters and a meeting with Rav Aaron Schechter, Rosh HaYeshiva of Chaim Berlin.

Cleveland, OH Rabbi Arieh Friedner — rabbiarieh@ncsy.org

See City Spotlight on page 37.

IMPRESSION ON GAP YEAR PROGRAMS

Columbus, OH

As Vancouver’s learning and leadership revolution continues with increasing attendance at Impact, Torah High and iLearn, a group of last year’s graduates are having an amazing and meaningful year studying in Israel. Currently, four teens are attending The Israel Experience at Bar Ilan University and two teens are studying at Yeshivat Netiv Aryeh. Over Chanukah, the teens reunited with friends from Western Canada, whom they met at Regional Shabbatons. As many seniors from Western Canada are planning to spend a gap year in Israel, Vancouver NCSY looks forward to another exciting reunion.

Rabbi Yaakov Frankiel — frankiely@ncsy.org

SHABBAT SHABANG IGNITES NEW JSU CLUB Columbus NCSY’s first Shabbat Shabang of the 20142015 school year attracted teens from the distant New Albany High School for the first time. Inspirational singing and words of Torah welcomed the newcomers. By the night’s end, the group committed to opening a JSU club at Albany High School. The club now has over 20 participants on a weekly basis.

Detroit, MI CENTRAL EAST Rabbi Tzali Freedman, Regional Director 888.471.4514 // ncsyce@ncsy.org centraleast.ncsy.org

FROM CENTRAL EAST TO THE EAST COAST The Central East Region brought a sold-out bus to NCSY’s Yarchei Kallah, a five-day Torah study retreat for public school teens over winter break. Students from cities across the region attended, including Burlington, Columbus, Cleveland, Cincinnati, Detroit, Pittsburgh, Louisville and Windsor. Teens enjoyed a

Rabbi Dovid Lichtig — lichtigd@ncsy.org

BERKLEY HIGH SCHOOL JSU GOES VIRAL Since its founding in 2013, Berkley High School’s JSU club has become the go-to destination for Jewish students. Berkley High School has the highest percentage of Jewish students of all public schools in the region. Thanks to an effective social media campaign and a series of successful promotional events, the JSU club has tripled in size.

Pittsburgh, PA Rabbi Ari Goldberg — goldberga@ncsy.org

PHOTO: NOACH KLEIN

CLEVELAND, OH Thirty-five yeshivot were represented in Beachwood, OH, for a Central East NCSY-sponsored Gap Year Shabbaton.

PITTSBURGH CHAPTER SHABBATON Over 40 Pittsburgh teens and advisors gathered for a spirited Shabbat filled with singing, great food and classic NCSY ruach.

JEWISH SCHOLARS PROGRAM The Pittsburgh Jewish Scholars Program continues to expand in the community. Last semester, 40 teens participated and learned about an array of intriguing topics including the Torah’s perspective on organ donation and prisoner exchange.

GREATER ATLANTA Rabbi Chaim Neiditch, Regional Director 404.486.8787 // info@ncsyatlanta.com ncsyatlanta.com

Atlanta, GA 400 TEENS ATTEND JEWISH UNITY OVERNIGHT NCSY’s Atlanta Region hosted its fifth annual Jewish Unity Overnight, one of Atlanta NCSY’s biggest and most well-attended events of the year. Over 400

participants from 52 Atlanta Jewish day schools, public schools and several major Jewish youth groups united as teen leaders in this beautiful display of friendship. The evening began with a moving havdalah ceremony led by Regional Director Rabbi Chaim Neiditch and was followed by a go-kart competition among the chapter presidents. Teens also enjoyed an extreme ropes course, rock-climbing, bowling and unlimited access to an arcade. The evening ended with boisterous music and dancing.

Alpharetta, GA See mini-story on top of page 42.

DETROIT JEWISH SCHOLARS PROGRAM RETURNS

fter experiencing tremendous success over the past few years, the Detroit Jewish Scholars Program returned for the winter of 2015 with new learning sessions and incredible speakers. The program has become a fixture in the Detroit Jewish community and has revitalized teen unity and Jewish learning by bringing together Jewish teens from diverse backgrounds to study Torah.

Rabbi Leiby Burnham wraps up a successful session at the Detroit Jewish Scholars Program.

PASSOVER 2015

Chamblee, GA 700 TEENS CELEBRATE SUKKOT Over 700 JSU teens at a dozen Atlanta high schools got into the spirit of Sukkot by learning about the meaning behind the holiday’s customs and observances, including building a sukkah and shaking the lulav and etrog. Rabbi Neiditch led discussions and guided teens through the biblical sources behind each ritual. For many of the teens, the JSU Sukkot activities represented their first exposure to the holiday.

HUNDREDS OF TEENS LEARN THE IMPORTANCE OF TZEDAKAH

Dunwoody, GA HUNDREDS OF TEENS LEARN SHEMA AND THE MITZVAH OF MEZUZAH

PHOTO: CHAIM NEIDITCH

At a dozen JSU clubs across Atlanta, hundreds of teens learned about the shema prayer and the mitzvah of affixing a mezuzah on the doorpost. The teens saw and felt an authentic handwritten parchment mezuzah scroll and then learned in-depth about the Shema prayer inscribed on it. Teens were then given a wooden mezuzah case to customize, paint and decorate.

Roswell, GA 600 JSU TEENS AND FAMILIES CELEBRATE CHANUKAH Delicious food and spirited conversations marked the Chanukah celebrations for more than 600 JSUers from 11 different high schools. Each teen was given a menorah to decorate and personalize as well as a box of Chanukah candles. For many teens it was their first time lighting the menorah and all were excited to include their families in this special holiday.

Johns Creek, GA 1,200 ATLANTA TEENS PARTICIPATE IN HIGH HOLIDAY PROGRAMMING 1,200 Atlanta teens participated in Rabbi Chaim Neiditch’s JSU High Holiday programs. Teens engaged in discussions about the deeper meanings of the High Holidays, as well as different Jewish ideas related to the holidays like teshuva. Attendees also got a sweet taste of the New Year through apple decorating activities — not just with honey, but also melted

Teens proudly display their new tzedakah boxes that they made in JSU.

abbi Neiditch recently taught hundreds of teens from Alpharetta, GA, about the importance of tikkun olam, repairing the world. Teens learned that tikkun olam can be fulfilled by giving of one’s time or

caramel and various candy toppings. It proved to be a tasty way to teach the teens about the High Holidays, which many had never observed before.

money. In the subsequent discussion groups, teens spoke about different causes near and dear to them, and then decorated their very own tzedakah boxes to use for collecting funds to donate to their favorite charitable causes.

MIDWEST Rabbi Donny Schwartz, Regional Director Rabbi Moshe Isenberg, Executive Director 847.677.6279 // midwest@ncsy.org

RABBI DOVID LAU SPEAKS AT CHICAGOLAND LATTE ‘N LEARN

n a recent trip to Chicago, Rabbi Dovid Lau, Ashkenazic Chief Rabbi of Israel, met with over 40 Chicagoland NCSYers at Latte ‘n Learn. Rabbi Lau spoke to teens about the importance of prayer and its power to change the world. Before and after he spoke, Rabbi Lau met with NCSYers individually and ended the night by blessing the teens that they should become proud Jews. Rabbi Lau impressed the NCSYers with his warmth and the attention he gave to their questions. The teens were so appreciative that the chief rabbi took the time out of his busy schedule to spend the evening with them.

MIDWEST NCSY’S NEW SEFER TORAH At the Midwest Winter Conclave, the Sefer Torah was unfortunately found to be invalid. Led by the efforts of Youth Commission Chair Ari Shabat, more than $50,000 was raised by the guests to purchase a new Sefer Torah by the time the weekend was over. To find out how you can participate in Midwest NCSY’s Sefer Torah event, please call 847.677.6279 or email isenbergm@ncsy.org.

Chicago, IL Levi Zeffren - zeffrenl@ncsy.org Avigayil Strulowitz - strulowitza@ncsy.org

75 TEENS ATTEND CHICAGOLAND FRIDAY NIGHT DINNER In October, 75 teens joined community members for the most successful Chicagoland chapter Shabbat dinner and oneg in its history. Ben Kaplan, chapter vice president of education, emceed the event and chapter co-presidents Shira Elovic and Shana Rosenberg helped recruit nearly 20 teens for their very first NCSY experience. Everyone is looking forward to the next Shabbaton.

CHICAGO GIRLS COME TOGETHER NCSY 4G, Midwest NCSY’s new girls-only program in Chicago, held its inaugural seudat shlishit this past fall. Over 100 high school girls enjoyed an inspirational meal complete with ebbing, singing and an unplugged havdalah. This initiative allows girls to attend NCSY events who would otherwise not participate in a coed setting.

Nearly 50 Jewish teens from across Minneapolis enjoyed a weekend of inspiration and fun at the Joint Chapter Shabbaton. In addition to making new Jewish friends, participants enjoyed delicious Shabbat meals with community members, learning sessions with advisors and interactive activities. For some teens, this was their first experience spending Shabbat in a Torah observant community and they felt right at home in the warm and welcoming environment.

Kansas City, KS

South Bend, IN

Rachel Prero — preror@ncsy.org

KC NCSY SUKKAH HOP Kansas City NCSY teens don’t sukkah hop halfway, they do it in style in a stretch limo SUV! The sukkah hop event kicked off with a delicious dinner at the sukkah of chapter co-president David Robinow. From there, teens visited the sukkah of Rabbi Daniel Rockoff of Congregation BIAV for some words of inspiration. After traveling around town with lively Jewish music in the limo, the event ended with a final visit to the sukkah of Gabriella Sonnenschein, the chapter’s vice president of outreach. There, teens decorated a wall of her family’s sukkah in paint with their handprints. You might say it was a real hands-on activity!

Memphis, TN Shira Nachbar - Shiranachbar@ncsy.org

See mini-story on page 46.

Minneapolis, MN Rabbi Tzvi Kupfer— kupfert@ncsy.org Bella Smith — smithb@ncsy.org

Akiva Gutnicki — akivagutnicki@gmail.com

NCSY’S GOT TALENT 2014 EDITION

Over 100 people from all across Indiana attended NCSY’s talent show. Highlights included a rendition of Hall and Oates’ “Rich Girl,” a balancing act on roller skates and a reenactment of Abbot and Costello’s legendary comedy sketch “Who’s on First.” The winner, David Safur, performed his own original blues music on the guitar and took home a $25 gift certificate.

St. Louis, MO Rabbi Mike Rovinsky — RovinskyM@ncsy.org

ST. LOUIS NCSY RUNS LEADERSHIP RETREAT AT CAMP NAGEELA St. Louis NCSY brought leadership training to the next level at a leadership mini-Shabbaton for 17 teen leaders at the beautiful Camp Nageela Midwest facility in Marshall, IN. The weekend was filled with paintball, hiking, bonfires, organized sports, leadership training programs and, of course, bubble soccer. Special thank you to chapter co-presidents Netanya Fremerman and Adira Weisel for planning the weekend.

MINNEAPOLIS NCSY, BBYO AND JSU TEAM UP FOR JOINT SHABBATON

ST. LOUIS JSU SENDS DELEGATION TO AIPAC SCHUSTERMAN HIGH SCHOOL SUMMIT See mini-story on top of page 44.

NEW ENGLAND Rabbi Simon Taylor, Regional Director 617.332.6279 // nencsy@ncsy.org newengland.ncsy.org

Boston, MA FIRST JOINT JSU-HILLEL SHABBAT DINNER Forty teens from Boston JSU and NCSY joined BU Hillel for their last Shabbat of the semester for beautiful services and a delicious dinner. Teens from eight public schools around the Greater Boston area attended, in addition to teens from Gann Academy and Maimonides School who participate in regular Boston NCSY programs. It was especially exciting to see so many NCSY alumni studying at BU, and it was a lovely display of unity between high school teens and college students.

Brookline, MA BROOKLINE ROADSHOW LONG OVERDUE The first Brookline Roadshow of the year was a huge success! Teens from around the region made their way to Brookline to take part in a communal dinner at BU Hillel, followed by a weekend of bonding with amazing advisors, delicious food and lots of friends.

CHICAGO, IL Girls from NCSY 4G gathered for a group photo after an inspiring Shabbat.

PASSOVER 2015

ST. LOUIS JSU SENDS DELEGATION TO AIPAC SCHUSTERMAN HIGH SCHOOL SUMMIT

ive St. Louis JSUers joined 400 teens from around the United States at the AIPAC Schusterman High School Summit to demonstrate their commitment to the State of Israel and learn more about the U.S.-Israel relationship. The young activists spent three days engaged in stimulating discussions and debriefings on current negotiations with Iran, oversight of the Gaza reconstruction and the U.S.-Israel Strategic Partnership Act. The summit concluded with a trip to Capitol Hill where the JSUers lobbied with elected officials on topics of mutual concern and benefit to both U.S. and Israeli interests.

Special thanks to the Young Israel for a spectacular teen kiddush, the Taylor family for an inspiring seudat shlishit and havdalah, and the Mamanes family for hosting a spectacular Saturday night movie, ice cream and smores extravaganza!

New Haven, CT Rabbi Uri Grosberg — grosbergu@ncsy.org

NEW JSU LEAD PROGRAM

St. Louis JSU/NCSY AIPAC Schusterman Institute delegates posing with AIPAC Leadership Development Director Jonathan Kessler. Left to right: Yossi Rovinsky, Aaron Koshner, Jonathan Kessler, Tova Cohen and St. Louis NCSY/JSU Director Rabbi Mike Rovinsky.

group made its way over to the Young Israel Youth House for an oneg.

West Hartford, CT Rabbi Uri Grosberg — grosbergu@ncsy.org

JSU PROGRAMMING CONTINUES TO GROW

A new weeknight program hosted by New Haven teens brings together students from schools throughout the Greater New Haven area to learn about Jewish topics. Participation throughout the year allows teens to be eligible for scholarships towards NCSY trips, retreats and summer programs.

JSU programs in West Hartford keep getting better. The weekly clubs at Hall High School run by Moshe Waren show strong attendance and the new weekly advanced learning groups allow teens to explore their Judaism and ask questions. JSU Friday night dinners and onegs remain popular with West Hartford teens and continue to attract many participants.

Providence, RI

NEW JERSEY

A group of teens from several Jewish youth groups of different denominations and backgrounds hosted a Chanukah party for all Providence teens. The party featured delicious food, great music and awesome friends. Providence is also excited to add another JSU club at The Wheeler School and planning is underway for its first JSU dinner in the spring.

Stamford, CT Daniella Lieberman - liebermand@ncsy.org

SUSHI & SHMOOZE: THE PLACE TO BE Stamford NCSY launched Soosh & Shmooze, a weekly learning program with free sushi, hosted by the local restaurant Soosh. Stamford also had one of its biggest local Roadshow Shabbatons over Shabbat Chanukah. Elaine Finkelstein graciously hosted Friday night dinner for over 30 teens and staff. After dinner, the 44

Teaneck NCSY had an exciting Chanukah party where they learned Torah, made their own latkes and enjoyed a friendly competition of cake wars. Each team made their own cake with a personal Chanukah touch.

Twin Rivers/Hightstown/ East Windsor, NJ Rabbi Menachem Chinn — rabbichinn@gmail.com

EXPERIENCE SHABBAT FOR THE FIRST TIME

Rabbi Ethan Katz, Regional Director 201.862.0250 // office@njncsy.com newjersey.ncsy.org

In Twin Rivers, Friday night is an open house every week at the home of city director Rabbi Menachem Chinn. Whether it’s a Shabbat meal or a Friday night oneg, the youth of Twin Rivers have a place to experience the beauty of Shabbat. Local unaffiliated teens always come by, many of whom experience Shabbat for the first time there. “I never knew what Shabbat was about before, and now I love coming,” said Aaron, a local NCSYer.

Highland Park/Elizabethl, NJ

West Orange, NJ

Devora Weinstock —weinstockd@ncsy.org

CHANUKAH PARTY JOINTLY HOSTED BY ALL PROVIDENCE JEWISH YOUTH GROUPS

TEANECK CHANUKAH EXTRAVAGANZA

Hadassah & Jeffrey Smulevitz — hadassahsmulevitz@gmail.com

HIGHLAND PARK CELEBRATES CHANUKAH WITH LEARNING & LATKES Every Tuesday night, NCSYers gather for an exciting and inspiring program called Bible and BBQ. There, attendees enjoy delicious food from Park Place, a local burger restaurant, while learning Torah together. On the first night of Chanukah, teens transformed the evening into a special Learning & Latkes Chanukah extravaganza. Eli Englard delivered a Chanukah shiur and teens enjoyed discussing the new ideas they learned over latkes and sufganiyot.

Teaneck, NJ Spence and Leora Weitzen - weitzens@ncsy.org

Jen and Eric Israeli - israelie@ncsy.org

WEST ORANGE ROCKS SIMCHAT TORAH West Orange NCSY helped supply spirited cheer throughout town during Simchat Torah. Teens enhanced the dancing with their ruach at Congregation AABJ&D at night and at Congregation Ohr Torah in the morning. Teens also enjoyed the annual Simchat Torah dinner at the home of West Orange directors Jen and Eric Israeli. Though seating was tight, everyone squeezed in to sing, hear divrei Torah and enjoy delicious food from Gotham Burger. The energy and spirit of Simchat Torah helped West Orange NCSY reach new heights of communal involvement!

NEW YORK Rabbi Yehoshua Kohl — kohly@ncsy.org 516.569.6279 // nyinfo@ncsy.org newyork.ncsy.org

Brooklyn, NY

Nechama Kamelhar and Moish Zucker — kamelharn@ncsy.org

WHAT’S COOKING AT BROOKLYN NCSY Brooklyn NCSY launched an exciting program: Kosher Cooking. The program brings high school girls from both public and yeshiva day schools to city director Nechama Kamelhar’s kosher kitchen where they learn about brachot and the laws of kashrut while cooking. Allison, an attendee, said, “It’s like tasting Judaism in a whole new way, and you get to bring it home too — unless we eat it all at Nechama’s house.” The program has been a huge success and continues to draw more and more girls every week.

BROOKLYN CHAPTER LEARNING Every Thursday night in Brooklyn, NY, teens come together to learn with Rabbi Moish Zucker. The program, which started with just three teens, now has nearly 70 participants. “I attend a yeshiva where Hebrew studies takes up half of our day. But I believe Thursday night learning has given me a whole new view on Judaism and opened my eyes in a way I never could have imagined,” said attendee Huvie Spector.

HOOPS IN BROOKLYN Monday nights in Brooklyn have become a slam dunk. In an effort to reach more public high school boys, City Director Moish Zucker started a Monday night all-boys basketball game. Following the game, Zucker hosts the teens for some Torah study and hot food.

Great Neck, NY GREAT NECK IS GREAT

ver 300 NCSYers, advisors and staff visited the Stamford Hilton for Fall Regional to kick off an inspiring new year. Guest speakers Miriam Borenstein and Rabbi Lawrence Hajioff delivered motivational and humorous divrei Torah, and teens enjoyed What’s App Divrei Torah by regional board members, Advisor App Center discussion groups, a Hard Rock Havdalah and a carnival that lasted late into Saturday night. While the participants might disagree about which part of the Shabbaton was the best, they all agree that they are looking forward to the upcoming year with NCSY.

Teens get ready to welcome in an inspiring Shabbat.

in place and a solid number of returning TJJ alumni, Great Neck NCSY has established itself as a trendsetter in the region.

Manhattan, NY Avi Feder - federa@ncsy.org

MANHATTAN NCSY KICKS OFF THE NEW YEAR Manhattan NCSY kicked off the New Year by making homemade caramel apples before Rosh Hashanah to represent the opportunity for a sweet new year. The following week, a moving musical kumzits and learning session at the OU National Office in downtown Manhattan gave participants a fresh perspective on the meaning behind fasting, repentance and introspection. For Sukkot, teens in the Bronx High

School of Science JSU Club constructed a real, fullsize sukkah on campus with the help of Manhattan Coordinator Avi Feder. The city that never sleeps has doubled its number of Latte & Learn programs in Midtown and the Upper West Side, and has also founded three active and growing JSU clubs.

Monsey, NY MONSEY BLOSSOMING Last year, Monsey NCSY began with three teens, an advisor and a dream. Now in its second year, Monsey NCSY has seen a huge increase in its membership with over 40 teens attending weekly Latte & Learning sessions. From Friday Night Lights to traveling concerts at nursing homes and hospitals, Monsey has become a force to be reckoned with.

PHOTO: CHAIM NEIDITCH

After taking an early lead in New York NCSY’s registration for TJJ, Great Neck NCSY is quickly becoming one of the shining beacons of the region. The chapter hosted The Shabbat Project, Friday Night Lights and Ice Cream & Inspiration, and is just beginning to warm up. With strong chapter leadership

NY FALL REGIONAL SHABBATON KICKS OFF EXCITING NEW YEAR

ATLANTA, GA Hundreds of teens at JSU made sandwiches for a children’s shelter in Atlanta.

PASSOVER 2015

BOCA RATON, FL In December, more than 150 teens gathered for the Southern NCSY Pre-Chanukah Fire & Ice program at the Panthers Ice Den.

Plainview, NY PLAINVIEW IS ANYTHING BUT PLAIN Long Island NCSY is expanding and Plainview is back on the map! Numerous Friday Night Lights have been planned and the number of active public school teens has nearly doubled over the course of the first semester. The Plainview chapter has been spotted at Chanukah parties in West Hempstead, as well as fundraising nights in Cedarhurst.

Queens, NY Daniel Eisenberg - EisenbergD@ncsy.org

QUEENS NCSY HAS A SHABBATON TO REMEMBER Queens NCSY promised to deliver a Shabbaton to remember, and it did just that. With over 60 participants, Queens NCSY took over Congregation Etz Chaim in Kew Gardens Hills and had an amazing Shabbat featuring a beautiful davening, Friday night tisch/oneg, a group lunch, seudat shlishit with a guest speaker and a classic NCSY ebbing followed by a musical havdalah. The Shabbaton concluded with an exciting Torah discussion and a melaveh malka catered by Carlos and Gabby’s. NCSYers had an incredible Shabbat and are looking forward to the next Queens Shabbaton!

program, Pizza In The Hut or bringing teens indoors for a Friday night Chillin with Cholent, the chapter has emerged as the bedrock of Jewish teen programming in West Hempstead.

SOUTHERN

PRE-YOM KIPPUR SHIUR, TASHLICH AND KUMZITS ON THE BEACH After listening to a pre-Yom Kippur shiur at the Young Israel of Bal Harbour, teens walked to the beach for Tashlich and a beautiful kumzits.

Boca Raton, FL

Todd Cohn, Executive Director 1-866-887-5788 // southern@ncsy.org southern.ncsy.org

Rabbi Eli Zians — zianse@ncsy.org

Bal Harbour, FL

Rabbi Eli Zians founded a Jewish club at Saint Andrew’s School — a religious Presbyterian Christian school of 600 high school students, with approximately 200

Avi Fried - frieda@ncsy.org

NCSY BRINGS JUDAISM TO ST. ANDREWS HIGH SCHOOL

SPREADING THE CHANUKAH MIRACLE

Roslyn, NY ROSLYN REPRESENTING Did we have the most teens in the region on TJJ last summer? Check. Did all of them go on Yarchei Kallah this year? Check. From Roslyn High to Herricks High, and from the Wheatley School to HANC, the Roslyn chapter hosts Chanukah parties, Friday Night Lights and a multitude of other programs. Wherever NCSY programs in New York take place, Roslyn is always there.

West Hempstead, NY WEST HEMPSTEAD BROADENING ITS REACH West Hempstead NCSY accepted a new challenge this year by discussing the book “The 6 Constant Mitzvot,” over several Latte & Learning sessions. Whether it’s reaching out to the community with a special Sukkot 46

n the second night of Chanukah, Memphis NCSYers celebrated with residents of Plough Towers, a local senior center, as part of Midwest NCSY’s Chesed Night Out initiative. NCSYers spent the evening singing, dancing, playing dreidel and bringing happiness to the residents. “It was so nice to give back to the community and come together as a chapter to put smiles on people’s faces,” remarked NCSYer Michelle Bouchard.

EMTZA HITS THE SCENE IN SOUTH FLORIDA

NCSY JAX BIG SISTERS SUCCESS

CSY Jax successfully launched its second season of the Big Sister mentoring program, which pairs Senior NCSYers with their Junior NCSY counterparts. Under the leadership of Lori Wayne, Jax’s new coordinator, the program has blossomed and become a highlight for

Jacksonville’s teen girls. The older teens have reveled in their new leadership roles and the younger girls have found healthy role models to emulate. The memories of a wonderful year live on in a recap video posted on Vimeo entitled NCSY Jax Memorable Moments 5774.

With the participation of 10 different shuls, the Southern Region initiated the Emtza program in South Florida with the goal of bringing exciting programming to middle school-aged students. Programs include limousine scavenger hunts, krav maga training, visual impairment awareness programming, holiday programming and, of course, Shabbatons. Teens and community members are loving the initiative and can’t wait to see how it continues to grow.

South Palm Beach, FL Rabbi Eli Zians — zianse@ncsy.org

TEENS RELAX WITH A GRILL & CHILL One hundred teens attended Grill & Chill. The teens played volleyball, football, soccer and ultimate frisbee, and enjoyed a delicious BBQ.

SOUTHWEST Rabbi Israel Lashak, Regional Director 972.934.9143 // ncsysw@ncsy.org southwest.ncsy.org

Dallas, TX Michel Lomner — michellomner@ncsy.org

SHABBAT PROJECT TEXAS STYLE

JACKSONVILLE, FL NCSY Jax teens bond with their little sisters at the Big Sister kick-off event.

Jewish students. Rabbi Zians first came to St. Andrews as a guest speaker and has since been asked to give a Chanukah sermon to the entire school and faculty. The teens associated with the Jewish forum led a beautiful menorah lighting ceremony for the entire high school.

See mini-story above.

Broward County, FL

SPREADING THE CHANUKAH JOY

Eli Albert — alberte@ncsy.org

HOLLYWOOD NCSY HELPS HOLOCAUST SURVIVORS Hollywood NCSY collected candies and chocolates for children as well as tea bags, oatmeal and canned food for Holocaust survivors for the Miami Kosher Food Bank. After raising money through Holly Hoodies and a Saturday night bowling event, the teens packaged the food, gelt and Shabbat candles, and wrote beautiful letters to accompany the gifts. In total, Hollywood NCSY was able to make over 70 festive packages.

Greater Miami, FL Avi Warman - warmana@ncsy.org

GREATER MIAMI NCSY CHANUKAH TOY DRIVE FOR JAFCO

Miami Beach, FL Avi Fried - frieda@ncsy.org

On the 10th yahrtzeit of Rabbi Irving P. Glickman z”l, his daughter Debbie Cash arranged with Southern NCSY’s Rabbi Avi Fried to distribute bags filled with a menorah, candles, a dreidel and chocolate gelt to teens who otherwise would not have had these Chanukah necessities.

Savannah, GA Rabbi Eli Lob — lobe@ncsy.org

SAVANNAH TEENS READY FOR ANY CHALLENGE Savannah may be a small city, but its teens accomplish big things. For the first time, Savannah NCSYers took the initiative to form a Savannah NCSY JUMP team and competed with teams from across the country.

FIVE FOR FIVE

Teens from the Greater Miami area came together to purchase Chanukah gifts for orphans and children in foster care. Teens ran around Aventura Mall and fulfilled as much of the children’s wish lists as possible.

For the fifth year, Savannah hosted a Regional Jr. Shabbaton. NCSYers from Charleston, Jacksonville and South Florida visited Savannah for a beautiful bonding experience. Highlights from the Shabbaton included an inspiring ebbing, a famous NCSY havdalah, and a dynamic color war.

Jacksonville, FL

South Florida, FL

Rabbi Shaya Hauptman - info@ncsyjax.com

Jason Segelbaum — segelbaumj@ncsy.org

Dallas NCSYers came together for an amazing Shabbaton featuring world-class speakers Rabbi Israel Lashak, Southwest NCSY’s regional director, and Rabbi Gavriel Friedman, senior lecturer for Aish Jerusalem. Teens enjoyed a spiritual and fun Shabbat, which concluded with an incredible havdalah concert under the stars led by Jewish music star Eitan Katz. “The unity, excitement and inspiration made this concert a memory that will last a lifetime,” said Abbie Solomon, Dallas NCSY co-president. Every teen left the Shabbaton with a renewed appreciation for the beauty of Shabbat.

UPSTATE NEW YORK Marc Fein, Regional Director 647.703.4876 // feinm@ncsy.org upstate.ncsy.org

Albany, NY ALBANY’S NEW PROGRAMS Albany NCSY hosted their inaugural Mishmar where Junior and Senior NCSY joined together to learn Torah and enjoy delicious Chinese food. Mishmar was just the latest in a series of exciting events for Upstate’s fastest growing chapter. Albany NCSY even hosted a Friday night meal with over 40 NCSYers in attendance! Everyone can’t wait for Winter Convention to be hosted in Albany.

Buffalo, NY BUFFALO LEADS THE WAY Buffalo NCSY created the shtick and energy for the record-breaking 18 Upstate NY NCSYers at Yarchei Kallah this year. Buffalo NCSYers also welcomed the NYC advisors for a Chapter Shabbaton at the end of January.

Rochester, NY ROCHESTER CONTINUES TO INNOVATE PASSOVER 2015

Rochester continues to lead the way with innovative and tasty learning programs including Taco Tuesday, Rashi & Ritas, and Shas & Sabra Grill. In addition, their passion for Israel advocacy and battling BDS shone through at Fall Shabbaton where NCSYers learned about the battles they will face on college campuses against BDS and Jewish assimilation.

Syracuse, NY SYRACUSE’S SHABBAT Syracuse NCSY ran their first Chapter Shabbaton with advisors from NYC and a fun-filled and delicious lunch at the shul. Junior NCSY couldn’t wait to join Senior NCSY for a full NCSY Shabbat experience and exciting Saturday night activity.

WEST COAST Rina Emerson, Interim Regional Director Rabbi Effie Goldberg, Executive Director 310.229.9000 // westcoastncsy@ncsy.org westcoast.ncsy.org

East Bay/ NorCal East, CA

Advocacy Program (T.A.P.) empowers NCSYers to advocate for themselves and lobby for new laws that are in line with Jewish values. T.A.P. fellows learn from local politicians about the legislative process, hear from local organizations such as JCRC and JPAC, and spend a day lobbying in Sacramento, putting everything they’ve learned into practice. Last year, NCSYers met with officials including State Senator Bob Wieckowski and Assemblyman Rob Bonta.

OC CHAPTER SHABBATON VISITS THE VALLEY

Las Vegas, NV

Phoenix, AZ

Yehuda Maryles — marylesy@ncsy.org

Shmuli Josephson — shmuli@ncsy.org

SHABBAT PROJECT WITH LAS VEGAS NCSY

ARIZONA JUNIOR NCSY ON THE RISE!

In late October, hundreds of Jews in Las Vegas participated in this year’s Shabbat Project, with nearly 40 participants from JSU and NCSY. For some of these teens, it was their first time celebrating Shabbat. As nightfall came and Shabbat ebbed away, Tal Facher was inspired to join the Las Vegas Jewish Youth Council (JYC) and spread the NCSY inspiration across the entire Las Vegas Valley. Less than three days later, Tal’s personal motto became etched into the JYC logo: “The leaders of tomorrow start today.”

Rabbi Akiva Naiman — naimana@ncsy.org

NORCAL YARCHEI KALLAH WITH RABBI NISSEL NorCal NCSY hosted its second Yarchei Kallah and Skibaton (Ski Shabbaton) at beautiful Lake Tahoe with NCSYers from all over in attendance. The Skibaton was full of learning, skiing, sledding, snow ball fights and incredible guest speakers. NCSYers learned with old and new friends during this meaningful weekend. Everyone had a blast!

2ND YEAR OF TEEN ADVOCACY PROGRAM Led by chapter board member Ali Zak, the Teen

Forty high school teens attended an amazing chapter Shabbaton in the Valley this past January. Hospitality, meals, events and sessions were held in homes throughout the North Hollywood community. The Shabbaton capped off with an epic night of paintball, pizza and sushi!

Los Angeles, CA

In November, Arizona’s Junior NCSY chapter joined forces with the Las Vegas chapter for a mega -Shabbaton. Over 60 teens experienced a spirited and fun-filled Shabbat. The program began with teens singing and dancing as they welcomed in Shabbat, followed by lively meals, educational skits, friendly competitions and interactive Torah sessions. On Saturday night, the teens toured the famous Vegas Strip in stretch limos, followed by a visit to the worldfamous Adventuredome theme park.

Portland, OR Doovie Jacoby — doovie@ncsy.org Meira Spivak — meira@ncsy.org

Yosef Miller — millertime@ncsy.org

CITY CHAPTER GIVES BACK Led by City chapter board member Daniella Coen, City NCSYers spent their day off giving back to the community. Teens went to the PATH homeless shelter in Los Angeles to cook and serve dinner to hundreds of people. Additionally, students spent the morning packing bags with soap, shampoo, toothbrushes and other essentials. Seeing students voluntarily give up their time was truly inspirational!

Orange County, CA

PORTLAND HOSTS FIRST ALUMNI SHABBATON This summer, Portland NCSY was privileged to host nearly two dozen alumni currently studying in Israel or college who were back in town for the summer. The weekend was filled with inspiring classes and delicious food. “It was nice to see so many alumni from the last few years come back for some traditional NCSY spirit and fun,” said Rabbi Chanan Spivak, NCSY staff consultant and executive director of the Portland Kollel. “I hope it’s a tradition we can continue for many years in the future.”

Mike Donovan — donovanm@ncsy.org

THE SEATTLE SHABBATON

ver 200 people attended the annual Seattle Shabbaton hosted by the Jewish community of Seward Park. Teens from Seattle, Portland, Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton and Los Angeles spent an inspiring weekend learning about mitzvot and personal responsibility. Participants were treated to an inspiring Shabbat, followed by a Saturday night trip to an indoor soccer venue where they enjoyed an epic carnival. The group concluded the weekend with a delicious Sunday breakfast buffet.

The Seattle chapter board girls and advisors take a quick picture at the 2014 Seattle Shabbaton.

EAST BAY/NORCAL, CA Last year’s Teen Advocacy Program culminated with a day of lobbying in Sacramento, CA.

San Diego, CA Adam Simon — simona@ncsy.org

NCSY PARTNERS WITH JNF FOR ISRAEL TEEN LEADERSHIP SUMMIT More than 35 teens from San Diego traveled to Beverly Hills to join other teens and leaders from the Jewish National Fund (JNF) for an all-day Israel Leadership Summit. The Summit included presentations from visionaries, pioneers and policy makers, including the CEO of JNF International. This incredible event was made possible thanks to NCSY alumnus Daniel Friedman, who is now JNF’s West Coast director of education.

SAN DIEGO NCSY TEENS FEED OVER 600 HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS As part of her role on NCSY’s West Coast regional board and in collaboration with Project Rescue Party, San Diego NCSY’s Dania Halperin helped coordinate and raise funds to feed over 600 homeless individuals. Teens from all over the region assisted Halperin in making sandwiches and collecting donations. The project was in honor of Winter Regional Convention, which took place in December.

Seattle, WA Ari Hoffman — thehoffather@gmail.com

SEATTLE NCSY’S TEEN LOUNGE TO BE REBUILT After 50 years of using the Yavneh Building at Bikur Cholim-Machzikay Hadath (BCMH) as its youth center, NCSYers helped bid it farewell with a glow-in-thedark paint fight. Later, they also helped demolish

parts of the building. Construction will soon be underway for a new state-of-the-art youth center with a teen lounge, office, youth beit midrash and classrooms.

Valley, CA

CHILE Michael Bengio, Regional Director 011.56.99.186.5575 // mbengio@ncsychile.com ncsychile@ncsy.org

Sarah Leah Gormin — sarahleahgormin@gmail.com

END OF THE YEAR WRAP

VALLEY NCSY EXPANDS

At the end of an amazing year, NCSY Chile hosted a final ice cream party with Torah learning. More than 140 students attended Chile’s weekly NCSY classes and more than 100 teens were inspired by trips and Shabbatons. The graduating Senior NCSYers each received a special graduation present as they continue their Jewish journey.

Valley NCSY is seeing huge success with its newly formed single gender projects. A bi-monthly Ladies Night Out and the famous all-boy programs Deep Fried Torah, Skate to Israel and Joe’s (Jewish + Bros) Night have been amazing and highly attended. Valley NCSY is always striving for the best ways to bring inspiration and education to the next level. All the programs have an emphasis on learning Torah and connecting to our Jewish heritage.

West Valley, CA Yisrael Katz — ykatz@ncsy.org

TEENS GATHER IN WEST VALLEY FOR TISHA B’AV Over 50 teens from across the Valley attended the West Valley NCSY Tisha B’Av program. The program consisted of a kumzits, inspiring videos and speeches from the Valley directors. At the end of the night, each NCSYer wrote a letter to an IDF family thanking them for their loved one’s service. The following Friday, the letters were delivered with fresh challahs to the families to brighten their Shabbat.

TRIP TO NEW YORK CITY There was no better way to say goodbye to the successes of this past year than by taking 11 of the finest Senior NCSYers on a 10-day trip to NYC that included the region’s first-ever participation at Yarchei Kallah. Chile’s Regional Director Michael Bengio, together with advisors Ron Fritch and Taly Zycer, visited the Big Apple with the Chilean teens and provided them with an extensive learning experience. The trip was enriched by the company of Rabbi Israel Lashak, regional director of Southwest NCSY and Chile’s senior educator during Yarchei Kallah. These teens are now on their way to becoming part of Chile NCSY’s regional board.

PASSOVER 2015

BY RABBI MOSHE BENOVITZ In our version of this popular puzzle, we present two images that are ostensibly the same. Closer examination reveals some subtle distinctions. Exhibit A is a copy of this magazine from previous years. There are reports and images of the fantastic success of NCSY’s summer programs. Exhibit B appears much the same. Pictures of smiling teens, enjoying and accomplishing during their time in the “Best. Summer. Ever.” But what does a closer look reveal? The summer of 2014 was certainly not just another summer. Itineraries were significantly altered. Groups booked for journeys to Jerusalem were detoured to California. Trips to Europe were unexpectedly extended and denied a climactic last leg in Israel. Even for the hundreds of NCSYers who were privileged to spend a summer in Israel, it was hardly business as usual. Their experience will always be linked to the Gaza war, and virtually nothing we did was independent of the national crisis and trauma of yet another battle for the land. The roar of warplanes and the frightening ring of emergency sirens were the background sounds for our programs. There were severe restrictions on travel. For NCSYers and parents, advisors and directors, it was an experience like no other, and one that we are unlikely to forget. Certainly, the summer was a great success. The main goals of all NCSY summer programs were reached in full. NCSYers were provided a safe, fun and meaningful experience. It was still an exhilarating summer, with no lack of sports, trips, concerts and more. And yet, it was a meaningful summer like no other. There was nary an empty prayer; very little was taken for granted. Tisha B’Av was moving beyond words, as it was a culmination of a summer of reflection on what we have, what we lack, what we cry for and what we fight for. We never would have planned or asked for such an experiential immersion in the values and realities of modern Israeli life, 50

The way in which we can care more and better is by caring differently. but we were surely incomparably and immeasurably impacted by the safety drills, shiva house visits and wartime prayer sessions at the Kotel. Perhaps one of the most enduring lessons concerned our general outlook on American and Israeli citizens. In the past, this relationship was marked on a line somewhere between the extremes of concern and indifference. A good Jew was one who cared. Headlines from across the globe mattered. The plight of brothers and sisters wherever they may be was everyone’s problem. A more flawed member of the tribe might admit to a somewhat selfish perspective. “Settlers” and residents of Sderot were worthy of compassion, but the empathy remains detached and tepid. Local events and mundane concerns took priority over crises so far away. The failure of this model lies in its construction and makeup. Even in its greatest success it can miss the point. Like Jews around the world, we recited tehillim (psalms) frequently and fervently throughout the summer. But for so many of us, somewhere in the course of our adventure, there was a moment of realization that these prayers tearfully uttered in Yerushalayim, Beit Shemesh or the Golan were qualitatively different than any that had been recited before in Detroit, Los Angeles or New York. And it wasn’t merely that we were closer to the fire, and this afforded us a unique vantage point on the needs and suffering of the nation. Rather, there was an epiphany that for the first time we weren’t praying for any vague “other.” We were praying for us. To be sure, this wasn’t always entirely accurate. From our perch

largely outside of harm’s way, we joined the global community in focusing our attention on Jews under far greater duress. We thought of Gaza border communities, residents of cities under a more constant bombardment and, of course, our brave and indefatigable soldiers in the IDF. In that sense, it wasn’t about us and our relatively small problems. Yet, at the same time, it was inescapable that we ourselves were the object of others’ prayers, and sometimes of our own. And it was an enlightening realization. In all aspects of community involvement, charity, outreach and advocacy, the ideal is not a high level of concern and compassion — because concern and compassion too often highlight difference and “otherness.” The highest level we are charged to reach is “oneness.” We should not be content to care about Jews in Israel (as admirable as even that level may be). We should strive to reach the point where we know that we are the Jews in Israel. This was manifested physically in our experiences this summer, but must have a lingering effect wherever we find ourselves today. The way in which we can care more and better is by caring differently. When we identify with Jews far away and view them as true brothers — connected to us at the core — we are capable of a far deeper level of compassion and support. There will be a piece of Summer 5774 in every program we run for many years to come. That’s likely a very good thing.

Rabbi Moshe Benovitz, an NCSY alumnus, is the dean of NCSY Summer and the director of NCSY Kollel. He is also a rebbe at Reishit Yerushalayim in Israel. He can be reached at benovitzm@ncsy.org.

MAZEL TOV! NCSY ALUMNI CONNECTIONS WANTS TO “SHARE OUR NEWS” IN REUNION MAGAZINE

To submit your latest simcha, visit alumni.ncsy.org/sharenews or email alumni@ncsy.org to be included in the next issue of Reunion. We look forward to sharing NCSY Alumni Connections’ news with you!

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