Ignite - Rosh Hashanah 2014 by NCSY

NCSY CITIES AND REGIONAL LEADERSHIP ATLANTIC SEABOARD

NCSY is the international youth movement of the OU.

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

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 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 David Cutler..................................Director of NCSY Summer & Finances Marc Fein........................................Associate Director of Experiential Education Rachel First...................................Educational Content Manager & Designer Samantha Freesman..................Summer Programs Associate Frieda Gartenhaus......................Office Manager 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 Professional Development Duvi Stahler...................................Director of Marketing Debbie Stone................................Associate Director of Education Elliot Tanzman..............................Director of NCSY Summer Recruitment Josh Weinberg.............................Digital Media Manager

Summer Leadership

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

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

CENTRAL EAST

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

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

ON THE COVER: Edan Kamara puts on tefillin at the top of Mt. Tzvachot while spending the summer on NCSY’s The Anne Samson Jerusalem Journey summer program (TJJ) in 2013. TJJ is dedicated to giving public school teens an appreciation of Israel and their Jewish heritage.

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 Photo: BENJI CHEIRIF

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

Erin Freilich Simcha Himmel Eli Lebowicz Aharon Schrieber Zachary Schrieber Gabby Teaman

Dovid Bashevkin David Luchins Vivian Luchins Batya Rosner

Associate Editors Michael Orbach Tova Ross

ART DIRECTOR Andrés Moncayo

Rabbi Chaim Neiditch 404.486.8787

rcn@ncsy.org ncsyatlanta.com

graphic assistant 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

Marc Fein 718.216.6445 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 Solly Hess 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

SOUTHWEST

CHILE

Rabbi Israel Lashak Mrs. Heidy Cheirif, Chair 972.934.9143 ncsysw@ncsy.org southwest.ncsy.org

Michael Bengio 011.56.99.186.5575 ncsychile@ncsy.org

Austin, TX Dallas, TX Fort Worth, TX Houston, TX McKinney, TX Richardson, TX San Antonio, TX

UPSTATE NY

GERMANY Anna Segal 011.49.30.440.10160 a.segal@lauder.de

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

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

IT’S NOT TOO EARLY TO SIGN UP

FOR ONE OF NCSY’S INCREDIBLE SUMMER PROGRAMS

Boys Israel Leadership Training (BILT) is a leadership program for boys looking to challenge themselves and have an incredible adventure through the land of Israel.

CAMP SPORTS

Camp Sports, located in Baltimore, MD, focuses on recreational and highly competitive sports leagues.

EURO ICE

Euro ICE brings Jewish history to life by exploring Greece, a land full of rich Jewish culture and history. This co-ed trip culminates in Israel by visiting all the popular sites.

GIVE

Girls Israel Volunteer Experience (GIVE) is for exceptional high school girls looking to experience Judaism through the art of giving back in Israel.

GIVE USA WEST

GIVE USA West provides a select group of girls with a fun and meaningful summer by giving back to communities across the West Coast.

ICE ISRAEL

(TJJ) is the most affordable Israel trip for public school teens. Teens tour Israel and develop an appreciation for its history.

JOLT

THE ANNE SAMSON TJJ AMBASSADORS

ICE Israel takes boys and girls on an inspirational and exhilarating journey through the land of Israel.

Jewish Overseas Leadership Training (JOLT) is for teens who want to become leaders. Past participants have described their JOLT experience in Poland, Austria and Israel as having a transformational impact on their Jewish identity.

KOLLEL

NCSY Kollel is an unforgettable summer experience for boys in Israel with interactive learning, intense sports and great trips.

MICHLELET

Michlelet is an extraordinary program for teenage girls looking to spend their summer in a productive way by learning Torah and touring Israel.

TJJ - THE ANNE SAMSON JERUSALEM JOURNEY

The Anne Samson Jerusalem Journey

The Anne Samson TJJ Ambassadors program combines the best of touring with social action, political advocacy and Torah study in Israel for public school teens.

THE ANNE SAMSON TJJ AMBASSADORS POLAND

On The Anne Samson TJJ Ambassadors Poland (TJJ AP), public school teens spend a week in Poland before traveling to Israel and touring the land through the lens of Jewish thought, history and leadership.

NCSY is the international youth movement of the Orthodox Union.

ROSH HASHANAH 2014

TABLE OF CONTENTS 10

Director’s Message Don’t judge judgment by its cover — a message from Rabbi Micah Greenland.

Faces in the Crowd Meet NCSY’s newest hire Rabbi Ari Rockoff and find out why Louis and Menette Mayberg support NCSY.

Chairman’s Message Mr. Avi Katz on how Torah and finance intersect.

Message From International Teen President 08 Ami Nadiv reflects on how tragedy can unite the Jewish people.

#BringBackOurBoys How NCSY came together after the tragic kidnapping of three Israeli teens.

Region by region: how ncsy began Get to know the founders of each region.

A Shabbaton for the Ages A true Shabbat queen: NCSY Shabbatons began with Anita Federman.

RememberING an NCSY Mother Reflections from one of Miriam Lowenbraun’s NCSY children.

From Ice to fire The flame of Yosef Tropper’s yiddishkeit was rekindled by NCSY.

Kindling a Flame in Phoenix Ariel Shemesh continues to shine without a Jewish day school.

Tied to Judaism How one NCSYer helped pay his way to NCSY Summer.

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Summer Snapshots Take a glimpse into NCSY Summer.

Spring Regional Sixty years later, NCSY conventions are still going strong.

Community Snapshots Community members show their support for NCSY.

60 days of NCSY The top hits and clicks from our anniversary site.

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Investing in the Jewish Future Adding NCSY to his portfolio: company founder, CEO & supporter.

CUSTOM-MADE JUDAISM For David Schottenstein, NCSY was always home.

a mother’s perspective through her daughter’s eyes How TJJ transformed one family.

City Spotlight: San diego NCSY’s most innovative city inspires.

brilliant mind, brilliant teacher Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan’s historic contribution to NCSY outreach.

Highlights Happenings from around the NCSY world.

TO INFINITY... AND BEYOND Rabbi Moshe Benovitz on the hidden greatness in success.

By: Rabbi Micah Greenland, International Director

Each year, the High Holidays provide us with the opportunity to reflect as we examine our actions in an effort to do teshuva (repentance) and work on ourselves. We focus on our shortcomings as they relate to our relationship with God, mitzvot bein adam laMakom, as well as on the deficiencies in our interpersonal interactions, mitzvot bein adam l’chaveiro. We stand before God in prayer on these holy days, beseeching Him for another chance at serving Him more successfully this coming year. The following mishna in Yoma 85b lends further depth to the reverence we feel at this time of year. “R’ Elazar ben Azarya expounded: ‘….from all your sins before God you shall be purified.’” On Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, one has the capacity to atone for their sins before God. However, sins between man are not forgiven unless man appeases his fellow man. Rav Elazar ben Azarya teaches us something extraordinary. For all of our rightful concerns about our relationship with God, which requires upgrading, those are actually mitzvot which can be most successfully addressed through the normal course of the High Holidays experience. A meaningful Rosh Hashanah or Yom Kippur davening can include all aspects of teshuva

necessary to truly put behind any of our misdeeds in the realm of bein adam laMakom. However, this is not true when it comes to interpersonal missed opportunities. Those require a great deal of preparation on our end, and generally also demand that we take actions beyond the walls of the synagogue if we expect to truly improve and successfully complete the teshuva process. It’s not easy to acknowledge our failings when it comes to other human beings. In some ways, it’s actually easier to talk openly with God and commit to doing better in the future than we’ve done in the past. But Rav Elazar ben Azarya’s message is don’t expect your sins bein adam l’chaveiro to take care of themselves, even if you pour out your heart to God on Yom Kippur. It takes a great deal of courage to own up to those mistakes and to do something about them. We live in an environment that is fraught with challenges in this realm. The Jewish people around us in North America are assimilating and intermarrying at the highest rates in American Jewish history. At the same time, many of our children — yeshiva day school and public school graduates — are not feeling inspired and connected to their Judaism. They are hardly prepared to leave home and take responsibility for their own relationships with God and their fellow man. What are we doing about these massive bein adam l’chaveiro problems happening all around us? Admittedly, these problems are not caused by our actions, but rather our inaction and passive indifference. Yet, as we’ve established, our failings on an interpersonal level cannot be adequately addressed just by resolving to change; we need to take action at appeasing our fellow man. In these cases, with many people affected by our lack of action being strangers that we’ve never met, I suggest that the resolution is to partner even more strongly with NCSY as we actively address this issue. At NCSY, we spend day and night addressing both aspects of this communal bein adam l’chaveiro challenge. We have an army of

We have an army of hundreds of talented staff members across the continent, augmented by hundreds of volunteer advisors, that serve as positive role models and act as purveyors of inspirational experiences to the populations that need them most. hundreds of talented staff members across the continent, augmented by hundreds of volunteer advisors, who serve as positive role models and act as purveyors of inspirational experiences to the populations that need them most. Both yeshiva day school students and public school students are inspired by and grow from those interactions. Moreover, we have just launched a division of professional development led by Rabbi Ari Rockoff with the task of further raising the caliber of our staff, who are our greatest asset in responding to the challenges the Jewish people most desperately need addressed. Undoubtedly, there is plenty for each of us to contemplate and work on this Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. But when it comes to our work in the realm of bein adam l’chaveiro, our response requires specific action. Please, partner with us as we aim to do even more to stem the tide of assimilation and Jewish apathy for the next generation. We’ll all feel a lot better this Judgment Day for having taken the first steps towards making a difference.

Rabbi Micah Greenland

ROSH HASHANAH 2014

Louis and MAnette Mayberg NCSY SUPPORTERS

Louis and Manette Mayberg live in Silver Spring, MD, and have four children. Louis is the co-founder and past president of ProFunds and ProShares and has served on the board of directors for multiple companies and non-profit organizations. Manette is the co-founder and current president of the Jewish Women’s Renaissance Project and founder of the Jewish Education Innovation Challenge.

How did your family first become involved with NCSY?

Our oldest son, David, was in a Jewish high school when he met the local NCSY director, Rabbi Nissim Levin. Over time, David began attending Shabbatons and other local events such as Latte & Learning. He really enjoyed meeting and interacting with other day school and public school teens. It was then that we realized that his ability to serve as a religious role model for public school teens was as beneficial for him in strengthening his Jewish foundation as it was to the teens who were just beginning their Jewish journeys. Six years later, our younger son now serves on both his chapter and regional NCSY boards. How do you find that your professional and philanthropic career adds meaning to your life?

One of the core tenets of NCSY is the belief that those with experience should help the next generation mature. With its new hire, NCSY will be expanding that approach from a focus on teens to its staff and advisors. Rabbi Ari Rockoff recently joined the NCSY staff as director of professional development. While advisors help teens navigate the complexities of high school, NCSY can be a learning experience for the college-age advisors as well. “Most of our advisors will eventually move on to other jobs,” Rockoff said from his office on his first day. “Our job at NCSY is to help them acquire skills that will empower them well into their future careers.” International Director of NCSY Rabbi Micah Greenland is thrilled to bring Rockoff on staff. “There is nothing more important we can do for our staff than help develop them into more valuable professionals,” he said. “That’s what Ari is here to do.” Rockoff graduated from Yeshiva University’s Sy Syms School of Business and received his rabbinical ordination from RIETS while earning an MA in education from the Azrieli Graduate School of Jewish Education and Administration. He later returned to school to complete an MBA from Baruch College, part of the City University of New York, with a focus on organizational behavior. Before joining the NCSY team, Rockoff served as the director for the department of community partnership for the Center for the Jewish Future at Yeshiva University. Originally from Boston, he now lives in West Hempstead with his wife and their five children. Rockoff is eager to travel across the country and familiarize himself with each NCSY region. “I believe much of the success of NCSY is owed to its incredible staff, and I am looking forward to helping them expand upon their record of success and professionalism,” said Rockoff. “Organizations like NCSY are smart to invest in their own people. A staff that knows their organization cares about them is a happy and productive staff.” 6

We made a decision to use the blessings God gave us to help the Jewish people. As we got more communally involved, we realized that there are hundreds of adults lacking a basic Jewish education and they are unable to pass down our Jewish tradition to the next generation. Therefore, in our philanthropy, we place a special emphasis on Jewish outreach and Jewish education to help fill that void, like the work that NCSY does. Another exciting recent project of our family foundation is the Jewish Education Innovation Challenge (JEIC) — which was developed to reform the way Judaic studies is taught. Jewish educators are challenged to submit ideas for new education models which are then considered for pilot funding. We expect that NCSY educators will be contributing many ground-breaking ideas to the challenge. Why is NCSY critical to the Jewish community?

NCSY provides a unique platform for Jewish engagement and inspiration for teens from all different backgrounds. NCSY also enables teens to experience leadership roles at a young age, empowering them to develop the talents and skills that will make them strong Jewish leaders in the future. Finally, JSU clubs provide public school teens with the unique opportunity to immerse themselves in a Jewish environment with Torah learning. Without NCSY and JSU, many of our best and brightest teens could fall off the Jewish map and it’s our responsibility to ensure that it doesn’t happen. NCSY plays an essential role in the future of the Jewish people by giving our teens access to Jewish life in a way that they can appreciate. What message do you have for NCSY supporters?

Stay informed! Continue to learn about what is going on in your local Jewish community and beyond. Once you realize the scary statistics out there — you will realize the importance of supporting NCSY and JSU. Even after your own children graduate from high school, you should continue supporting NCSY so that future generations can benefit from its impact as well.

By: Avi Katz, NCSY Youth Commission Chair

Following the onset of the financial crisis in 2008, extraordinary measures were undertaken to stabilize the global economy. Central banks across the globe flooded markets with trillions of dollars in an effort to calm widespread fear and to boost demand. One overwhelming consequence of these actions was the increase in asset prices in areas such as real estate, stocks and art. Indeed, a common refrain in the media is that asset bubbles are forming and values have risen too much. For example, the yields on most savings accounts and bond funds have fallen to generational lows, leaving many frustrated investors searching for new ways to earn investment returns. As I survey the landscape, I see one particularly valuable and unique asset that is almost entirely ignored. Indeed, I find myself frustrated that, for all the attention focused on the latest innovations in finance or social media, this one asset garners far less attention. This asset I refer to is our holy Torah. Some may say that calling the Torah an asset and comparing Torah mi’Sinai to temporal and ephemeral goods is a poor choice of metaphors, but I beg to differ. We are drawn to innovations, and we must recognize that the rate of introduction to these fleeting temptations is increasing by the day. The Torah, in contrast, steadily endures. To some, our Torah may seem like a static set of rules and guidelines from long ago, but that is a gross misconception of its very nature and one of the core problems of our generation, in particular, of our youth. How can we change this misperception and increase the value of Torah in the eyes of our community? I suggest that we use the tried and true economic principle of supply and demand. In order to increase the value of an asset, one could increase demand, reduce supply or use some combination of both. Similarly, we need to devise strategies that apply these principles to our Torah experience.

But how? After all, the supply of Torah is literally infinite! An answer may lie in a phrase included in our Shabbat prayers: “vtai’in chelkanu b’Toratecha,” — “And bestow upon me a portion of your Torah.”

Investment in our teens will pay dividends for generations to come.

Taken as a whole, the study of Torah is a daunting and intimidating endeavor. With effective content and programming, however, a robust learning experience can become attainable by reducing the supply of Torah available to a student at a given time. This reduction, manifested in tailored programming for each teen, is precisely the type of approach taken at NCSY, where the education department produces an amazingly broad array of classes, shiurim and experiences. This customized educational plan enables even the novice student to engage with the Torah. Given the competition for the attention of our teens, this type of approach is more important than ever. More energy and resources are being invested in continuing this mission, including necessary forays into social media. A number of pilot programs are expected in this area and we welcome

your support, both professionally and financially, to help further these projects. Critically, by sharpening the focus of programs to our teens, appreciation for the value of Torah grows as it comes to be viewed as a rare and precious asset. As for the demand for Torah, it goes without saying that we, as a community, have the responsibility to engage each and every Jewish teen in some form of Torah experience. This can be achieved in a number of ways: through formal Talmud Torah (studying Torah); over the summer at the Michlelet program; during winter break at Yarchei Kallah; weekly Latte & Learning; basic introduction to a holiday tradition or Shabbat; and everything in between. Each teen creates increased demand for Torah study and ultimately furthers the spread and appreciation of Torah across our communities. Here again, your support goes directly to funding NCSY’s ability to reach and engage as many teens as possible, each one full of his or her own potential. Unlike almost anything else in life, the Torah stands out in one remarkable way. The more Torah we learn, experience and live — the more we want. The demand actually grows with consumption! As such, NCSY has the ability to not only impact Torah demand today — but to also impact Torah demand exponentially into the future. Investment in our teens will pay dividends for generations to come. An investment in NCSY and its mission, therefore, is a remarkable opportunity in which each one of us can partake. In doing so, we will stimulate increasing levels of Torah appreciation. As we say at the end of Yom Kippur, when all is said and done, “Ein shiyur rak haTorah hazot,” “Nothing endures except for our Torah.”

Mr. 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.

ROSH HASHANAH 2014

By: Ami Nadiv Ami (far right) proudly holds a candle during NCSY’s 2013 Leadership Boot Camp.

As I write this article from 30,000 feet up in the air on my way to Yeshivat Har Etzion in Israel, the memories of Eyal, Gilad and Naftali weigh heavily on my mind. I find myself trapped within an inescapable void — one that should have been filled by the laughter and learning I would have shared with my three brothers. Instead, it is filled only by a paralyzing sense of loss. This tragedy changed the fractured nature of B’nei Yisrael. For far too long, the Jewish people have existed as fragmented entities, isolated by rifts and walls that surround the many sects. In the depths of our despair over the murders of our brothers and sons, we discovered a common language, a shared sense of loss that unites us. When tragedy strikes, we find comfort in the arms of each other. A rebbe once spoke to his students about the reason that the first page of the Talmud is always numbered as daf bet, page two. The rebbe explained that this is because the first page begins outside of the Talmud, and everything contained within the Talmud simply builds upon the abstract daf aleph, page one. Before one can begin to immerse himself in Torah and study daf bet, there are certain prerequisites that must be met — the greatest of which is community. Without the support and structure of a strong community, there can be no lasting Torah study. NCSYers thrive in their Judaism because of NCSY’s ability to 8

craft and shape a beautiful community of teens who relentlessly strive to strengthen their connection to Judaism. As NCSYers interlock their arms during a kumsitz, they come together to form transcendent, everlasting connections with the people around them. As I look back on all we’ve done this year, I’m especially proud of all the ways NCSY’s international board managed to strengthen our global sense of community. Below are some examples.

1) Wear Blue to Support French Jews Frequent riots by extremists in France called for the expulsion of French Jews. In response, more than 400 NCSYers across North America wore blue in a symbolic act to demonstrate the interconnectedness of Jews. With the continuous anti-Jewish activity taking place, the need for us to strengthen Jewish ties has never been greater.

2) Bigger and Better Learna-thon In an ambitious move, NCSY decided to make a siyum on Kol Hatorah Kulah, the entire Torah, this year. NCSYers, alumni, parents and supporters from all over the world signed up to learn different parts of Tanach, Mishnah and Gemara. The Learn-a-Thon is the purest example of NCSYers inspiring each other to grow.

3) Communal Tehillim Calls At different points over the year, NCSY’s national teen board organized conference calls of tehillim. When a fellow NCSYer was fighting for her life, NCSYers across the nation raised money, organized events and called in to say tehillim. When Eyal, Gilad and Naftali were kidnapped, NCSYers called in again. In a way, NCSY became the Torah outlet that enabled so many to connect to Hashem in the darkest of times, and to come together to bear their shared grief. As so many of today’s youth drift away from Torah, NCSY serves as the lighthouse that shows them the way home. NCSY is the Havdalah candle we dance around with on Saturday night; it is the unifying light that each of us reflects. NCSY is where every Jewish teen can experience a never-ending supply of support while they grow into the best person they can be. NCSY is a stronghold for the Jewish community. This past year, I was so fortunate to experience and contribute to NCSY’s spectacular community. I carry every conversation, every learning session and every kumsitz with me wherever I go. I am forever proud to call NCSY my family. Ami Nadiv graduated from Frankel Jewish Academy in Detroit, Michigan, and is currently spending the year studying in Yeshivat Har Etzion (Gush).

MAJOR EVENTS AROUND NCSY

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Summer Snapshots Take a glimpse into NCSY Summer. Spring Regional Sixty years later, NCSY conventions are still going strong. Community Snapshots Community members show their support for NCSY. 60 days of NCSY The top hits and clicks from our anniversary site. #BringBackOurBoys How NCSY came together after the tragic kidnapping of three Israeli teens.

ROSH HASHANAH 2014

Euro ICE was flying high after an exciting visit in Slovenia.

Photo: Benji Cheiif

Whether teens are on an NCSY Summer program in the United States, Israel or Europe — they are exploring their Jewish heritage, giving back to the community and showing their support for Israel. NCSY Summer is more than just a few weeks away from home; it can be one of the most meaningful and memorable experiences of a teenager’s life. NCSY runs 12 unique summer programs that cater to teens with different interests and backgrounds. Take a look at some of the moments that made NCSY Summer 2014 unforgettable.

Photo: Benji Cheiif

NCSY Kollel is the perfect combination of learning, intense sports and a full schedule of great trips around Israel.

BILT (Boys Israel Leadership Training) participants visited an Ethiopian absorption center where they played with the children and helped teach them about Israeli society.

Girls stop for a quick photo break while touring Europe on NCSY’s Euro ICE.

Photos: Benji Cheifif While touring the land of Israel, The Anne Samson TJJ Ambassadors visited the Israeli Knesset to sharpen their political advocacy skills.

The Anne Samson TJJ Ambassadors Poland participants leave Auschwitz-Birkenau united and prouder than ever to be part of the Jewish people.

Photo: Benji Cheifif

Girls on GIVE USA spent the day at the Kosher Palate Food Truck in Los Angeles preparing grilled veggie wraps for the needy.

After touring the concentration camps in Poland and running a camp for unaffiliated Jewish youth in Austria, JOLT teens chilled with one another in Jerusalem.

Despite a last minute switch from Israel to the West Coast, teens on The Anne Samson Jerusalem Journey (TJJ) had a great time learning about Judaism and couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t wait to welcome in their first Shabbat.

The Anne Samson TJJ Ambassadors explored their rich history while touring archaeological sites.

ROSH HASHANAH 2014

Photos: Benji Cheirif Michlelet girls traveled back in time as they rode donkeys, baked pita and dressed up like our ancestors at Kfar Kedem in Israel.

Michlelet NCSYers goofed around after an amazing day of learning and adventure.

A group of Camp Sports NCSYers take a break from a full day of sports and learning.

Photos: Benji Cheirif

A daring jump by a BILT (Boys Israel Leadership Training) teen into a tank at the Latrun Fortress site of IDFâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Armored Corps Museum and Memorial.

Photos: Benji Cheirif

GIVE (Girls Israel Volunteer Experience) girls created a carnival to distract Israeli families living in the South from the rocket fire.

ICE Israel participants had a jam-packed day hiking and rappelling in Northern Israel. ROSH HASHANAH 2014

Greater Atlanta: Atlantaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Spring Regional Convention culminates with an inspiring Havdalah in the mountains of North Carolina.

New England: New England NCSY seniors get ready for their final Spring Regional Banquet in Kutsherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Sports Academy camp.

West Coast: East Bay director Rabbi Akiva Naiman and NCSYer Daniel Shapiro having a blast at West Coast Spring Regional in the Costa Mesa Hilton.

New York: Adina Samel and Esther Robinson relaxing at New York’s Spring Regional.

New Jersey: Yehoshua Szafranski (center) receives a $1,000 scholarship towards his upcoming year at Yeshivat Kerem B’Yavneh in Israel.

ATlantic Seaboard: Girls smile and reflect during Havdalah after giving back to the local community.

Midwest: Longtime NCSYer Emma Bernstein smiles with Midwest regional director Rabbi Donny Schwartz after receiving the HaKarat Hatov award at Camp Chi.

Southwest: Southwest NCSYers wait to board the Galveston Ferry.

Canada: Girls take a quick pre-Shabbat photo on the Chicago Shabbaton Getaway.

Central East: Rabbi Tzali Freedman, regional director of Central East NCSY, presents (left to right) Chaim Strassman, Lindsey Horvitz and Sarah (Siegel) Silverberg with Advisor of the Year awards at Spring Regional’s awards ceremony.

Upstate New York: Upstate New York’s graduating seniors celebrate at Spring Regional’s senior banquet in Grand Island, NY.

ROSH HASHANAH 2014

Photo: Reuven Turk Chicago, IL Over 300 people attended the annual Midwest NCSY banquet honoring Rabbi Micah and Rivkie Greenland for their two decades of dedication to the region before Rabbi Greenland assumed the position of international director of NCSY. Left to right: Mr. Paul Pinkus, former Orthodox Union youth commission chair; Rabbi Moshe Isenberg, executive director of Midwest NCSY; Rabbi Donny Schwartz, regional director of Midwest NCSY; and Rabbi Micah and Rivkie Greenland.

Savannah, GA Savannah NCSY director Rabbi Eli Lob (right) and NCSYer Josh Goldstein collected pledges from NCSY supporters at the BBJâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Shalom New York Auction.

Las Vegas, NV Wine & Tapas host Dr. Adam Milman (left) welcomed Dr. David Silverberg to an evening of wines and tasty tapas in support of Las Vegas JSU clubs. More than 100 people attended this special event and nearly $10,000 was raised.

Seattle, WA NCSY alumna Emily Deutsch Alhadeff, together with her three children, enjoyed a delicious barbeque while attending Seattle NCSYâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Basarfest. More than 300 people dined on deliciously cooked kosher meat.

Phoenix, AZ NCSYers Rachel and Matthew Gold, along with their mother Susan Engelson, received the Keter Shem Tov award for their family’s commitment to Jewish growth and NCSY at JSU’s second annual dinner. The dinner was held on May 7 at the home of Sheila Schwartz with more than 90 supporters in attendance.

Potomac, MD Champions of teen empowerment and cornerstones of Greater Washington NCSY, Janet and Mark Zuckerman (center) received thanks from Dana Sicherman, Atlantic Seaboard director of institutional advancement, for hosting Greater Washington’s Cheryl Stern Memorial Scholarship Dinner on May 19. Cheryl a”h dedicated her life to engaging and inspiring the Jewish future.

St. Louis, MI Almost 250 people gathered to show their support for St. Louis JSU at the annual gala held at the Danforth Science and Plant Center. Pictured above (left to right) are JSU director Rabbi Mike Rovinsky with honorees Dr. Ariane May, Dr. Michael Rauchman, Mr. Howard Granok, Dr. Eldad Bialecki, Danielle Bialecki and JSU board chair Harvey Iken.

Photo: Leslie Parker

Photo: Yitzchok Tom

Teaneck, NJ (Left to right) Chavie Roth, Robyn Saltzman, Sherri Szafranski and Shira Grosser were joined by fellow NCSY supporters at the Bergen County Scholarship Breakfast. Hosted at the home of Alissa and Shimmie Horn, the breakfast honored Beth and David Berman; Rachel and Paul Glasser; Leah and Jacob Stromer; and Sherri and Chaim Szafranski.

Minneapolis, MN Minneapolis NCSY celebrated a year of phenomenal growth at the Semple Mansion with nearly 150 people in attendance. Pictured above (left to right) is Minneapolis city director Rabbi Tzvi Kupfer, Rabbi Yechezkel Greenberg of Congregation Bais Yisroel and Rabbi Moshe Isenberg, executive director of Midwest NCSY.

Pittsburgh, PA NCSY alumna Shayna Stiebel addressed a crowd of 300 at the Central East Pittsburgh NCSY Annual Garden Sizzler hosted by Dan and Nina Butler. ROSH HASHANAH 2014

As part of its 60th anniversary celebration, NCSY launched 60 Days of NCSY, a website filled with inspirational, nostalgic and cool posts about NCSY. Whether it was NCSY’s first national director recounting NCSY’s origin, showcasing NCSY t-shirts from the last 40 years or listing the top 10 things only NCSYers understand, there was something for everyone to enjoy. Throughout the 60 days, the site had 88,627 views. Take a look at some of your favorites and visit www.60.ncsy.org to see all the posts.

60 Faces As part of 60 Days, NCSY also featured 60 Faces. Often, a person has no idea of the impact he or she has made on someone else. 60 Faces was created to change that. Hundreds of people were nominated including current and past regional directors, fellow NCSYers, rebbeim and alumni. One story was viewed more than any other.

J.J. Greenberg z”l Former Advisor

Nominated and written by: Ari Schochet , NCSY Alumnus

I get choked up even writing this. To those who knew him, J.J. Greenberg was the face of Jewish pride throughout the country. He was a national advisor who traveled across the country every single weekend to spend Shabbat with NCSYers from all walks of life. When J.J. entered a room, you knew the event would be a success because he was a model of how you could be a Torahobservant Jew and be cool. When I was national president, I traveled with J.J. for many Shabbatons. He always found a group to inspire and we always left the weekend feeling like we had made a difference in bringing

Yiddishkeit to someone who hadn’t experienced it before. For J.J., the role of an advisor didn’t stop on Sunday night. Once a Shabbaton ended, he felt a true responsibility for those of us — hundreds, if not more — that he took under his wing. I remember the last time I saw him, when he showed up unannounced at my college dorm in Boston. It was a full year after I left NCSY, but his job wasn’t complete and he had to make sure that I was still staying true to the path. Had he not left us so young, I’m sure he would still be checking up on me 20 years later.

TO READ EACH PERSON’S STORY, VISIT 60.NCSY.ORG Day 1 - Rabbi Binyamin Blau Day 2 - Allie Belfer Day 3 - Ari Shabat Day 4 - Rabbi Chanan & Meira Spivak Day 5 - Rachel Glickman Day 6 - Chaim Strassman Day 7 - Rabbi Adam Simon Day 8 - Zahava Rothschild Day 9 - Nachi Sonnenblick Day 10 - Ayal Gul Day 11 - Carol Rhine Day 12 - Eric Portnoy Day 13 - Derek Gormin Day 14 - Rabbi Yaakov Frankiel Day 15 - Rabbi Elly Krimsky Day 16 - Rabbi Arieh & Elissa Friedner Day 17 - Orly Ohayon Day 18 - Rabbi Shmuel Miller Day 19 - Julia Siegel Day 20 - Erin Cooper Stiebel

Day 21 - Herbie and Renee Siegel Day 22 - Rabbi Rael Blumenthal Day 23 - Ari Hoffman Day 24 - Dr. Howard Goldfischer Day 25 - Jon Ackerman Day 26 - Sara Wolkenfeld Day 27 - Marilyn Cutler Day 28 - Rabbi Aaron Tirschwell Day 29 - Avi Warman Day 30 - Joey Pollak Day 31 - Aharon Halley z”l Day 32 - Tzvi Kupfer Day 33 - Emma Stein Day 34 - Rabbi Akiva Naiman Day 35 - Phaygi Chinn Day 36 - Rabbi Dovid Bashevkin Day 37 - Ari Kahn Day 38 - Eli Weinstein Day 39 - Rabbi Yitzchok “Itchie” Lowenbraun Day 40 - Nili Erlich

Day 41 - Rina Olivestone Day 42 - Elliot Tanzman Day 43 - Ari Clark Day 44 - Esther Tsvaygenbaum Day 45 - Julianne Subia Day 46 - Addey Dominguez Day 47 - Ora Shmidman Kermaier Day 48 - Rabbi Moshe Zucker Day 49 - Rabbi Nahum Zak Day 50 - Rabbi Avi Berman Day 51 - Rabbi Glenn Black Day 52 - Katie Ohrwall Day 53 - Rabbi Moshe Benovitz Day 54 - Daniel Eisenberg Day 55 - Noam and Yotam Yellen Day 56 - J.J. Greenberg z”l Day 57 - Shosh Grad Day 58 - Rabbi Israel Lashak Day 59 - Rabbi Yaakov Glasser Day 60 - Todd Cohn

A FEW NCSYERS YOU’LL MEET IN EVERY REGION Everyone knows “The Super NCSYer,” but have you met the others?

The Talmid Chacham

The Super NCSYer

To this person, NCSY is a lifestyle. He or she never misses a Shabbaton, Latte & Learning or any event for that matter. The super NCSYer eats, sleeps and breathes NCSY, and let’s be honest — probably dreams about it too.

The Talmid Chacham (or Talmidah Chachama) learns at every possible chance with their advisors, rabbis, fellow NCSYers or by themselves. They come to every Shabbaton equipped with a set of sefarim (Jewish books) and an endless list of questions.

The “Too Cool” Kid

This NCSYer acts as if he or she is too cool to participate in an NCSY event (as if there was such a thing) and refuses to show they are having fun. We can all see that they secretly love NCSY (why else would they keep coming to events?), but we play along with them anyway.

The Summer NCSYeR

The teen who goes on NCSY summer programs every single summer and recruits NCSYers for trips they’ve been on, and even for trips they’ve never been on.

The Schmoozer

This is the super social NCSYer. They somehow know every NCSYer on the planet. They have friends in every chapter — probably from all the socializing they do at Yom NCSY in Israel — thousands of friends on Facebook, and seem to always be meeting more people. The Schmoozer doesn’t play Jewish geography, they are Jewish geography!

Met Through NCSY

Who knew? Attending an NCSY event may lead you to your soulmate. Here are just a few — or 60 — of the hundreds of couples who met through NCSY. 1. Rabbi Zev Leff & Rivkah Minkoff, Oct. 1968 2. David Luchins & Vivian Osdoby, Jun. 1969 3. Hershel Gardin & Joy Lewis, Oct. 1972 4. Paul Pinkus & Kreindel (Karen) Lepp, Jun. 1973 5. Paul Glasser & Rachel Chernotsky, Sept. 1973 6. Harvey Gordon & Lynne Shapiro, Jun. 1974 7. Steven Schuss & Cathy Staiman, Jul. 1975 8. Zvi Gold & Debbie Schwartz, Jan. 1976 9. Louis Malcmacher & Chanie Posner, Dec. 1977 10. Avi Grant & Marsha Mogilensky, Jan. 1978 11. Mitchell Smith & Bella Porter, Jul. 1978 12. Howard Lichtenstein & Linda Wolf, Aug. 1978 13. Stan Frohlinger & Marla Corush, Sept. 1978 14. Ted Zablotsky & Vivian Weisel, Aug. 1981 15. Howard Zack & Linda Vlosky, Nov. 1983 16. Heshy Riesel & Rochelle Cohen, Oct. 1983 17. Louis Rudin & Susan Feuerstein, Sept. 1985 18. Tzvi Pill & Rachel Katz, Feb. 1986 19. Jack Abramowitz & Alana Ackler, Aug. 1987 20. Steven Weil & Yael Spiegler, Mar. 1989

21. Shawn Karp & Tsipora Schechter, Nov. 1990 22. David Felsenthal & Chani Goldsmith, Mar. 1991 23. Yehoshua Marchuck & Deborah Glick, Jun. 1993 24. BZ Dattelkramer & Nancy Zelickman, Aug. 1994 25. Edo Lavi & Atara Dickstein, May 1994 26. Howard Wax & Rebecca Christiansen, Aug. 1994 27. Eliyahu Gherman & Shulie Simon, Jun. 1994 28. Shimmy Trencher & Stacey Kepnes, Jun. 1996 29. Yaakov Glasser & Ruth Lowenstein, Jan. 1998 30. Micah Greenland & Rivkie Maryles, Apr. 1998 31. Ari Steiner & Annie Hollander, Dec. 1998 32. Reuven Boshnack & Shira Dubin, Oct. 1998 33. David Simon & Michelle Lavitt, Aug. 1999 34. Dov Emerson & Rina Friedman, Sept. 1999 35. Daniel Wunder & Debra Benet, Aug. 2003 36. Benjamin Gonsher & Aviva Krombach, Aug. 2003 37. Danny Wolfe & Sara Greenberg, Dec. 2006 38. Hinda Kashnow & Ari Moskovitz, Aug. 2007 39. Adam Simon & Chava Kelin, Jun. 2007 40. Moshe Prero & Rachel Berry, Nov. 2007

41. Reuven Glucksman & Shoshanah Joshua, Feb. 2008 42. Yehuda Polstein & Mashi Jones, Jun. 2008 43. Jon Ackerman & Nechama Grunseid, Jan. 2008 44. Gershie Meisel & Tzippy Kay, Sept. 2008 45. Jeremy Simons & Dahlia Cohen, Aug. 2008 46. Jeremy Bekritsky & Shayna Hoenig, Sept. 2008 47. Shuie Steinharter & Elise Chernin, Mar. 2009 48. Daniel Rosenthal & Hillary Simon, Jun. 2009 49. Shamshy Schlager & Hanna Sorkin, Sept. 2009 50. David Statman & Annie Wasserman, Aug. 2009 51. Adam Jerozolim & Rebecca Steinmetz, Jun. 2009 52. Dan Hazony & Lauren Wexler, Jun. 2010 53. Tzvi Yaakov Miretzky & Rifka Wieder, Aug. 2011 54. Mottie Widroff & Esther Clark, Jan. 2011 55. Ari Neuman & Shira Preil, Aug. 2011 56. Mordechai Gold & Malka Sonenshein, May 2012 57. Eli Schwartz & Daniella Bajtner, Aug. 2012 58. Natan Brownstein & Jessie Busch, Jun. 2012 59. Moshe Heideman & Shira Beleck, Aug. 2013 60. Dovid Bashevkin & Tova Flancbaum, Jun. 2014

Did you meet your spouse in NCSY? Let us know by visiting alumni.ncsy.org

TOP LESSONS LEARNED FROM NCSY

Teens and parents from around the country submitted the lessons they learned from NCSY. Read a few of them below. “NCSY taught me how to be happy — which is the best life lesson I could ever learn. The passion, devotion and happiness that all NCSY staff have for both NCSY and Judaism is undeniably contagious.”

“NCSY has taught me that even when you’re stuck in a hard place, there are always people behind you who will try to get you out. Although you may feel trapped at the moment, you will eventually break free!”

“Growing up in a small religious community in Richmond, Virginia, NCSY taught me to stand up for my beliefs and at the same time, to be respectful to those who were different than me.”

Ariel Cohen

Kalman Clement

Seena Eisenman

ROSH HASHANAH 2014

Africa negotiation specialist and consultant Lade Adeyemi (right) spoke out against terrorism targeting teens throughout the world, including the kidnapped Nigerian schoolgirls and the three teenage boys in Israel.

Senator Charles Schumer passionately addressed the crowd with words of hope and encouragement during the rally. Other politicians including City Councilman David Greenfield spoke and showed their support.

n June 12, Naftali Frenkel a”h (16), Gilad Shaar a”h (16), and Eyal Yifrach a”h (19) were kidnapped as they were returning home from yeshiva for Shabbat. When the news of their disappearance broke, Jews around the world joined forces to fight for their safe return. Together, Jewish communities participated in rallies, signed petitions, gave tzedakah, prayed and much more. Although the boys were later discovered to have been murdered, we believe that our prayers and tears were not in vain. The responses to the kidnapping strengthened the unity of the Jewish people in powerful ways. Despite not personally knowing these boys, many of us considered them our brothers and part of the NCSY family. As the situation in Israel escalated, the NCSY 20

family continued to come together to stand up for Israel, our homeland, and to pray for our soldiers. Here are some of the initiatives that took place during the search.

Virtual Vigil

Within 24 hours of hearing about the kidnapping, New York NCSY launched a virtual vigil, which encouraged Jews worldwide to commit to half-hour slots of learning, davening and performing acts of kindness in an effort to ensure the return of the kidnapped boys. The virtual vigil drew in more than 1,000 participants from across the globe — from as far as Thailand, South Korea and Brazil.

Tehillim

NCSY chapters across the country organized tehillim groups in their communities as they prayed for the safe

return of the three kidnapped boys and all our soldiers.

Stand Up 4 Teens

On June 22, NCSYers from the tri-state area organized a rally outside the Israeli Consulate in Manhattan. Using the hashtag #StandUp4Teens, the rally called attention to the plight of the three kidnapped Israeli teens and the 200 kidnapped Nigerian girls in the broader context of teens around the world who are victims of terror. In this grassroots effort by teens on behalf of teens, NCSY partnered with a variety of other youth organizations, including BBYO, Birthright Alumni Community NY, Bnei Akiva, MEOR, NFTY, Israel Free Spirit, Jewish Learning Initiative on Campus, Roots NY, Touro Colleges, Young Judea and Yeshiva University.

PROFILES OF THE PEOPLE AND PLACES THAT MATTER

22 26 27 28 30 32 34 35 36 37 38

region by region: how ncsy began Get to know the founders of each region. A Shabbaton for the Ages A true Shabbat queen: NCSY Shabbatons began with Anita Federman. RememberING an NCSY Mother Reflections from one of Miriam Lowenbraun’s NCSY children. From Ice TO FIRE For Yosef Tropper, the flame of Yiddishkeit was rekindled by NCSY. Kindling a Flame in Phoenix Ariel Shemesh continues to shine without a Jewish day school. Tied to Judaism How one NCSYer helped pay his way to NCSY Summer. Investing in the Jewish Future Adding NCSY to his portfolio: company founder, CEO & supporter. CUSTOM-MADE JUDAISM For David Schottenstein, NCSY was always home. a mother’s perspective through her daughter’s eyes How TJJ transformed one family. City Spotlight: San diego NCSY’s most innovative city continues to inspire. brilliant mind, brilliant teacher. Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan’s historic contribution to NCSY outreach.

Please note that the names below do not include all the people who were instrumental in the founding of each region. The history was written to the best of our knowledge with tight space constraints. We apologize for any omissions. For a more inclusive list, please visit www.ncsy.org. Beginning in the late 1940s, Orthodox synagogues across America created Jewish youth groups. In the Midwest, South, and Upstate NY, the groups began to cooperate with each other regionally. In 1954, Harold Boxer a”h convinced the Orthodox Union to create NCSY. Mr. Boxer’s hiring of Rabbi Pinchas Stolper in 1959 led to an intensified effort to create a national youth movement. Orthodox Union presidents Moses Feuerstein and Rabbi Joseph Karasick, and youth commission members Dr. Bernard Lander, Rabbi Ralph Pelcovitz and Rabbi Israel Wohlgelertner were among the member leaders who helped create the contemporary NCSY. Below are some of the key figures in the founding of each region.

Midwest - Synagogue Youth Organization 1951

Founders: Harry a”h and Helen Ostreicher Harry and Helen Ostreicher, Holocaust survivors, moved to Peoria, Illinois, in 1954 through a YU program that brought teachers to areas without strong youth leadership. In Peoria, Harry taught in Sunday school and became the youth director for the local Orthodox shul, Agudas Achim. He revitalized the Synagogue Youth Organization (SYO) that merged with NCSY in 1958. In the late 1960s, the Ostreichers returned to New York. Harry died in 2013 at the age of 91. Cities participating in the region included Denver, CO; Peoria, IL; Des Moines, IA; Minneapolis, MN; St. Paul, MN; Kansas City, MO; St. Louis, MO; and Omaha, NE. First Part-Time Director: Hyman Flacks a”h Hyman Flacks worked with the Vaad Hoeir in St. Louis before joining SYO in 1959 as its first regional director. 22

Following NCSY, he eventually became the executive director of Vaad Hoeir. First Regional and National President: Cantor Dan Ziff

Southern June 1952

Founder: Abe Rabhan a”h Abe Rabhan was born in New York and moved to Savannah, GA, after the stock market crashed in 1929. When Rabhan’s younger brother Maier returned from the army after WW2, he convinced Abe to start a Jewish youth group. Rabhan, together with Rabbi Abraham I. Rosenberg, started Youth Orthodox Union (Y.O.U.), which later merged with NCSY. It was Rabhan who helped Harold Boxer create National NCSY.

Upper New York State Har Sinai March 1960

First Director: Rabbi Louis Ginsburg a”h Rabbi Louis Ginsburg was the rabbi at the House of Jacob shul in Utica, NY. He ran a Hebrew school and provided counseling to the community. To combat assimilation, Ginsburg founded NCSY’s Upstate New York Har Sinai region in 1960. In 1967, Rabbi Ginsburg moved to Staten Island, NY, to form Greater New York NCSY. He was also involved with New Jersey NCSY in its early years. The upcoming Ben Zakkai dinner on February 8, 2015, will be dedicated to his legacy. First Youth Commission: George Kussack

First President: Judy Rosenberg

First President: Teddy Zamore

First Part-Time Director: Peggy Gopin Weiss Peggy Gopin Weiss was a New England NCSYer. She married at 19 and moved to Memphis, TN, to become the first director of the Southern region and first female director in NCSY. Two years later, Weiss returned to Boston as the city director of Brockton, MA. Later, she became New England’s regional director. She resides in Teaneck, NJ, with her husband Rabbi Saul Weiss. They have four children, 23 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Greater New York

First Director: Rabbi Baruch Taub Rabbi Baruch Taub was the first full-time Southern regional director and associate national director. He succeeded Rabbi Stolper as the national director of NCSY. After leaving NCSY, Taub founded The BAYT of Toronto, one of the largest shuls in North America, where he currently serves as the rabbi emeritus. He lives with his wife Malkah in Netanya, Israel, where he teaches, lectures and writes. They have eight children and many grandchildren.

First full-time director: Rabbi Louis Ginsburg a”h Rabbi Louis Ginsburg, former director of Upstate New York, developed the Greater New York NCSY region. For more information, see Upper New York State.

First Youth Commission Chair: Rabbi Jacobson

May 1960

Founder: Rabbi Ralph Pelcovitz Rabbi Pelcovitz was a board member of the OU when NCSY began. Pelkovitz was appointed to NCSY’s youth commission and hosted NCSY Shabbatons at Congregation Kneseth Israel in Far Rockaway, NY, where he was the rabbi. Pelcovitz helped develop NCSY into the organization it is today. He is the rabbi emeritus of Kneseth Israel.

First Part-Time Director: Rabbi Chaim Wasserman Rabbi Chaim Wasserman was hired as associate national director of NCSY in 1963. He was also the part-time director of New York NCSY until Rabbi Ginsburg arrived. Wasserman was invaluable in NY NCSY’s early years. First President: Bonnie Gerzog

Virginia

March 1961

Founder: Rabbi Nachum Bulman a”h Rabbi Nachum Bulman moved to Newport News, VA, where he served as the rabbi of the Orthodox shul and, together with his wife Shaindel a”h, founded an NCSY chapter. Afterwards, they founded an English-speaking community in Israel, Kiryat Nachlie. Bulman is survived by five children and numerous grandchildren and greatgrandchildren. First Part-Time Director: Rabbi Israel Grama a”h In 1958, Rabbi Israel “Izzy” a”h and his wife Susan moved to Newport News, Virginia. In 1964, he helped create an NCSY chapter. The Gramas then moved to Englewood, NJ, where Izzy became the first principal of the Moriah day school and founded the NCSY Englewood chapter. He and Susan dedicated their lives to educating Jewish people about their faith. They had four children and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. First President: Carol Feibush

Greater Chicago T.S.Y.

(Traditional Synagogue Youth) 1961 First Part-Time Director: Eric Rothner Upon returning from a year of study in Israel, Eric Rothner, then 20, was hired by Sy Okner a”h as the first regional director of TSY and ran the region for two years. Today, at age 70, he is active in the leadership of the Chicago Jewish community and serves as a board member for many organizations, including the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago, Hebrew Theological College and NCSY. As owner and CEO at Hunter Management, Rothner remains a dedicated financial supporter and advocate for NCSY. He and his wife Gale have seven children and 26 grandchildren. First Youth Commission Chairs: Anne and Sy Okner a”h Marce Glass a”h and Lenny Glass ybl”ch In the early 1960s, there were a number of large traditional congregations with Orthodox rabbis, yet with little framework for youth involvement. The Okner and the Glass families stepped up to the challenge and created the first Traditional Synagogue Youth (TSY) chapter at Congregation Ezras Israel. TSY then expanded to many synagogues around Chicago. Later, with the encouragement of Rabbi Stolper, TSY merged with NCSY. Together, the Okner and Glass families gave endless amounts of time and energy to ensure

that Jewish teens stayed connected to Judaism. Today, the Midwest region still carries the legacy of the Okner and Glass families. The Midwest NCSY Winter Conclave was permanently named the Sy Okner Winter Conclave following the death of the Okners in 2008. First President: Myron Glassenberg

Seaboard March 1961

Seaboard region was renamed Atlantic Seaboard in 1967. First Part-Time Director: Rabbi Dr. Zalman Kossowsky Rabbi Dr. Zalman Kossowsky became the first Seaboard NCSY director in 1962. He received his Ph.D. and became the rabbi of the Young Israel of Greater Miami and a chaplain for the United States Naval Reserve. He eventually led the largest synagogue in South Africa, and then became the Chief Rabbi of Switzerland. He and his wife Danna have seven children. First Youth Commission Chair, Washington, DC: Dr. Noah Cohen a”h While working for the CIA, Dr. Noah Cohen a”h served as the chairman of the Washington Youth Commission. He was heavily involved in Shabbatons. He is survived by his wife Dina and their three children. First Youth Commission Chair, Baltimore, MD: Gilbert Cummins a”h Gilbert Cummins was a member of Beth Jacob Congregation in Baltimore, MD, and was passionate about bringing youth into the synagogue. As the NCSY Seaboard region grew in the 1960s, Cummins became its first youth commission chairman. Cummins drew upon the resources of two other shul presidents in Baltimore for the youth commission — Manny Reich a”h of Greenspring and Chester Silberman a”h of LJC. Both of whom eventually led the commission. First President: Hank Cummins

New Jersey

May 1961

First Part-Time Director: Cantor Aaron Lieber a”h Aaron Lieber a”h joined Congregation Sons of Israel in Lakewood, NJ, in the late 1950s as the cantor and youth director. In 1958, he created MCOY, the Metro Commission of Orthodox Youth. After a meeting with Rabbi Stolper,

Lieber merged MCOY with NCSY in 1961. He expanded NCSY to include Lakewood, Passaic, Linden and Fair Lawn. Lieber remained involved in NCSY until his death in the early 1990s. First President: Dr. Alan Weinstock Despite growing up in a non-observant home in Long Branch, NJ, the Weinstock family attended the local Orthodox shul, Congregation Brothers of Israel. When the shul launched an NCSY chapter in the 1960s, Alan Weinstock became involved as a 10-year-old. Five years later, Weinstock became fully observant and served as the region’s first president. He resides in New Haven, CT, with his wife, Joan. They have four children, all of who were involved in NCSY. Influential Pioneer: Rabbi Rafael G. Grossman A friend of Lieber, Rabbi Rafael G. Grossman was the rabbi of Congregation Brothers of Israel. Dynamic and passionate, Grossman founded the Long Branch chapter in the early 1960s. Later, he served as the longstanding rabbi of the Baron Hirsch Synagogue in Memphis, TN. He and his wife Shirley live in the Northeast.

Sullivan Ulster 1961

Founder: Rabbi Irving Goodman While living in Woodridge, NY, in the 1950s, Rabbi Goodman and his wife Lea became involved with NCSY. He was instrumental in mobilizing local rabbis to create an NCSY region. Goodman is now the dean of the Hebrew day school in Sullivan and Ulster County and the rabbi emeritus of Congregation Ohave Shalom. First Part-Time Director: Rabbi Nahum Solnica a”h Rabbi Nahum Solnica a”h was the rabbi in Woodbourne. First Youth Commission Chair: Rabbi Shalom Morrow Rabbi Shalom Morrow was a rabbi in Liberty, NY. First President: Phyllis (Gibber) Victor As an Orthodox Jew in public school, NCSY was a vital Jewish outlet for Phyllis Victor. At 16, she became the first regional president of Sullivan Ulster. After high school, Victor attended Cornell University and earned a masters’ degree in Speech Therapy. She and her husband David have nine children and many grandchildren. Influential Pioneer: Vivian (Osdoby) Luchins ROSH HASHANAH 2014

A national officer in 9th grade, Luchins became regional president of Sullivan Ulster in 10th grade. She served two terms as a national officer before volunteering as regional director and chair of the North American Jewish Youth Council Conference. Luchins was a charter member of Ben Zakkai, the chair of NCSY Summer and a member of the national board of the OU.

New England March 1962

First Director: Joel H. Paul Joel Paul founded the New England region in 1962. In two years, Paul organized 28 synagogue chapters in five New England states. Afterwards, he moved to New York and worked for Yeshiva University. In 1971, Paul became the Hillel director at the University of Pennsylvania and served as the regional Hillel director of the Greater Philadelphia area. In 1987, he founded the Joel Paul Group, a national recruiting firm specializing in executives for non-profit organizations. Paul Klaver and Peggy Gopin served with Paul as assistant directors. First Youth Commission Chair: Dr. Marvin Antelman a”h First National Advisor for the Region: Rabbi Menachim Gopin Menachem Gopin was a 10th grader when New England NCSY began. While attending YU, Gopin returned to the region as the first national advisor. In 1972, he was hired as the third regional director. Under his leadership, the region expanded to 20 chapters. He lives in Har Nof, Israel, with his wife Rachel. They have six children and many grandchildren. First President: Sheldon “Shelly” Darack Regional Benefactors: Joe and Julia a”h Macy After surviving several concentration camps during the Holocaust, Macy moved to Fairfield, CT, where he maintained his commitment to Jewish tradition. When NCSY approached the local shul, Ahavath Achim, for support, Macy and his wife Julia a”h immediately got involved and became pillars of the region.

Central East March 1965

Before Central East NCSY, teens across the Midwest organized informal youth groups. As costs rose, teens asked synagogues for support. Many rabbis were supportive of the idea; Rabbi David Stavsky a”h of Congregation Beth Jacob in Columbus, OH, realized how important the youth groups could 24

be. In 1969, he reached out to Rabbi Stolper, national director of NCSY, to hire a director for the region. In 1970, Rabbi Stavsky met with Ivan and Arleeta Lerner. The meeting included many rabbis from nearby cities who were vital to the NCSY effort. First Director: Ivan H. Lerner In 1970, Ivan became Central East’s first regional director. In two years, the region expanded to include Kentucky, West Virginia, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Indiana. In 1972, Daniel Butler became the region’s associate director, and then director. Lerner became a rabbi and psychologist. Butler became a judge and is still involved with NCSY. First Youth Commission Chair: Donald Butler, a”h Donald Butler a”h served as the first Central East youth commission chair. He also served as the region’s vice president from the 1950s-60s. In 1964, Butler became the vice president of the Orthodox Union and then senior vice president in the 1970s. He died in 2013. He is survived by his wife Chantze, four children, 20 grandchildren and 45 greatgrandchildren. First President: Marc Shar Marc Shar grew up in Ohio and served as Central East’s first president. After high school, he attended Ohio State University, and then University of Maryland School of Law. Shar was a trial lawyer for 32 years before being appointed as a judge to the Circuit Court of Maryland. He is on the faculty of University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law and the University of Maryland School of Medicine. In 1972, Shar married fellow NCSY advisor, Gwen Abrams, and they have four children and 9 grandchildren. Influential Pioneer: Cantor Paul Reiss a”h Reiss was a youth director in Charleston, West Virginia, where he started a small NCSY chapter in the early 1960s.

Eastern Canada June 1965

First Part Time Director: David Blank David Blank heard of NCSY while studying in New York. When he returned to his hometown of Montreal, he founded the Eastern Canada region in 1964. He started 15 chapters in various synagogues across Canada. After two years volunteering as the regional director, Blank left to pursue a business career. He served as chairman of the youth commission and then later on the

Presidium of the newly created Eastern Canada Region of the UOJCA. Blank and his wife Gladys live in Jerusalem and have three children and four grandchildren. First Youth Commission Chair: Hyman Baum First President: Anne (Weinrauch) Merzel Anne Merzel grew up in Montreal and was the founding regional president of Eastern Canada. During her second year as president, she became NCSY’s national vice president of programming. Merzel was the first national advisor for Central Canada and worked for national NCSY as a coordinator of regional events and as the director of national projects. Anne and her husband David live in Rochester, NY, and have one daughter and two grandchildren. Influential Pioneers: Max and Terry a”h Richler As Max Richler traveled across America for his manufacturing business, he noticed an absence of young Jewish life. Seeing an ad for NCSY, he contacted Rabbi Stolper and helped found the region. Richler dedicated an enormous amount of resources to Eastern Canada, served as an OU national officer and regional vice president for Eastern Canada.

Central Canada May 1968

First National Advisor: Anne Merzel See Eastern Canada. First Youth Commission Chair: David Woolf David Woolf was introduced to NCSY in the 1970s when he took some of his students to an NCSY Shabbaton in Cleveland, OH. Years later, he and Zale Newman built NCSY in Toronto. The Canada region created Torah High and on-campus Jewish clubs. Woolf was the first youth commission chair and retired after 40 years. Woolf and his wife Fran have five children and 13 grandchildren. He is being honored at this year’s Ben Zakkai dinner. First President: Marc Frankel

West Coast March 1970

Founder and First Director: Lee C. Samson Lee Samson joined NCSY in 1967. Three years later, Rabbi Stolper recruited him to be NCSY’s first full-time West

Coast director. Beginning in Beverly Hills, Samson created NCSY’s West Coast region and launched NCSY’s first summer program: Camp NCSY West. While working and raising her family, Samson’s wife, Anne a”h, was involved in NCSY and touched many individuals with her hospitality and positive counsel. In her memory, a perpetual endowment was established — The Anne Samson Jerusalem Journey. Today, Lee is chairman and CEO of S&F Management/Windsor Healthcare, a company that operates nursing facilities in California and Arizona. Lee and his wife, Anne a”h, have three children and 14 grandchildren. First Youth Commission Chair: Manny Rohatiner When Manny Rohatiner’s sons became involved in the NCSY chapter at Beth Jacob Congregation in Beverly Hills, CA, he sold their home to move within walking distance of the shul. Rohatiner became the region’s first youth commission chair. He passed away in 2007; his six grandchildren continue his legacy in NCSY. First President: Allan Kandel In the late 1960s, Beth Jacob Congregation created a program to help public schools teenagers stay involved in the Jewish community. Allan Kandel, a high school junior, was elected as chapter president. When NCSY opened a branch on the West Coast, Beth Jacob’s youth group became the founding chapter and Kandel became the first regional president. Kandel and his wife Judy have three children. Influential Pioneers: Isabelle (Lipin) Novak Isabelle was a founding member of the San Jose chapter and the West Coast region. Isabelle chairs the Ben Zakkai Honor Society and is a valued member of the national youth commission and the OU national executive committee.

Long Island February 1973

First Director: Rabbi Joseph “Yussie” Lieber After spending time in the New Jersey and Southern Regions, Rabbi Joseph “Yussie” Lieber founded Long Island NCSY in 1973 and became the first regional director. Lieber is a rabbi at the Hebrew Academy of Long Beach and a kiruv lecturer. He has five children and 15 grandchildren. First President: Aimee Kintzer Influential Pioneer: Perry Fish After hosting a couple of staff members on a New Jersey NCSY Shabbaton in

the early 1970s, Perry Fish was hooked and immediately got involved. He was eventually hired to serve as the third regional director and remains involved with NCSY today. Fish currently lives in Far Rockaway, NY, and has 3 children and 23 foster children.

Denver 1989

With many shuls but only one youth group, Denver wanted more Jewish programs for children. Simultaneously, the OU wanted to enhance Jewish culture in shuls across the United States. The two were a perfect match and Denver NCSY was born. First Directors: Rabbi Avraham Arieh and Rachel Trugman Rabbi Avraham Arieh and Rachel Trugman were one of the founding families of Moshav Meor Modiim in 1976. Rabbi Trugman was the director of the Center of Jewish Education and part of the SHAL program, which trained educators. In 1988, the Trugmans became the directors of the new Denver NCSY region. They built a strong foundation before returning to Israel in 1995. Today, they run Ohr Chadash, a dynamic Jewish education program.

Southwest 1996

Southwest was originally part of the Southern region. Founder: Oscar Rosenberg Oscar Rosenberg founded Yavneh high school and NCSY. First Director: Rabbi Israel Lashak Originally from Mexico, Rabbi Israel Lashak attended Ner Israel and became involved in NCSY’s Camp Sports. Rosenberg recruited Lashak to Dallas to join the kollel and help run NCSY. While there, Lashak helped Rosenberg found Yavneh. Lashak and his wife Bella have two daughters and one son. Lashak is also the director of NCSY Summer’s EURO ICE program. First Teen President: Eric Axel First Youth Commission Chair: Moshe Rafaelov

Northwest 2004

The Northwest region was originally founded in 1967 and became part of the West Coast region three years later. In 2004, it was reorganized as a separate region, with a regional office in Vancouver and included Seattle,

Portland, Edmonton and Calgary. Today, the US cities are reincorporated into West Coast NCSY, and the Canadian cities into Canada NCSY. First Director: Rabbi Avi Berman Originally from Israel, Rabbi Avi Berman and his family moved to Vancouver. He was the director of Congregation Schara Tzedeck’s youth department and a founder of Vancouver NCSY. He returned to Israel to run the OU Israel Center.

Greater Atlanta 2013

First Director: Rabbi Chaim Neiditch Rabbi Emanuel Feldman helped found the Atlanta chapter in 1952 which continued to be an active chapter in the Southern region for nearly 60 years. This past year, Atlanta became a separate region under the leadership of Rabbi Chaim Neiditch. The region serves more than 2,000 teens in Atlanta and 30 nearby towns. Neiditch began his career with NY NCSY in 1993 and was formerly director of Southern NCSY.

NCSY’s First Ben Zakkai Members

The Ben Zakkai Honor Society was founded in June of 1965 to recognize those who have demonstrated personal Torah growth and a promising future of meaningful service to the Jewish people. Atlantic Seaboard · Barbara Billauer, 1965 Central Canada · Jack Copelovici, 1973 Central East · Marc Shar, 1969 Denver · Julie Geller, 1993 Eastern Canada · Anne S. Weinrauch, 1967 Greater Chicago · Larry Friedman, 1965 Greater New York · Alex Gross, 1965 Long Island · Aimee Kintzer, 1976 Midwest · Linda Ulevitch, 1969 New England · Nathan Berman, 1965 · Dorri Frank, 1965 New Jersey · Jeff Feinstein, 1968 Southern Region · Elaine Goldstein, David Luchins and Shalom Strajcher, 1965 Sullivan Ulster · Vivian Osdoby and Lea Weiner, 1965 Upper New York State Har Sinai · Dvora Abrams, Jerry Cheplowitz and Toni Feltscher, 1967 Virginia · Debbie Klaff and Ellen Kurzer, 1968 West Coast · Harvey Tannenbaum, 1971

ROSH HASHANAH 2014

Anita and Arthur Federman in their home in Cedarhurst, NY.

Photo: Ira Thomas

A Shabbaton for the Ages How one committed woman helped shape the NCSY experience

othing says NCSY like a Shabbaton. From the moment teens arrive to the moment they leave, an NCSY Shabbaton is a world of its own, full of spiritual inspiration and high school hijinks; a place where teens are free to be themselves in a warm, welcoming and safe environment. But Shabbatons weren’t always part of the NCSY experience. In fact, if not for one determined woman and her obliging family, the famous NCSY Shabbaton as thousands of teens know it might never have existed. When speaking to the 92-year-old Anita Federman, one can still hear the unbending determination in her Liverpool-accented English. Born in 1922, Anita met her husband Arthur when he was stationed as an infantry soldier in England during WW2. The two married in 1944 and moved to New Hyde Park, NY, followed by what was then the quiet suburb of Lawrence, NY, to enable their three children to attend HILI day school. In the late 1950s, Anita, who was then a member of the Orthodox Union’s Woman’s Federation, realized that there was a vacuum of positive social outlets for Jewish teenagers. There were few religious schools around and even fewer social events. And while Harry Boxer had launched NCSY at the 1954 Orthodox Union National Convention, the idea hadn’t fully taken off. The rationale for a Shabbaton was simple to Anita: gather local 26

unaffiliated Jewish teenagers from around Long Island at an Orthodox shul to show them the beauty of a Shabbat experience. “Why no one did it I can’t imagine,” recalled Anita in her living room with her husband. “We saw there were few Jewish social outlets for Jewish teens.” Anita began calling the rabbis of local Orthodox, Conservative and Reform shuls in Long Island to tell them her idea for a Shabbaton. While similar ideas existed in other areas, word had not spread to the tri-state area. The rabbis were enthusiastic, but said it would take some time to plan and organize. On her own, and without any help aside from her immediate family, Anita began planning the prototypical NCSY Shabbaton. She called the only kosher caterer in the business in Long Island and scrounged up what she remembers as “a billion sleeping bags.” As the rabbis made their calls, the number of teens who wanted to attend kept increasing; first from a modest 50-75 teens and then to an incredible 150 teens the month before the Shabbaton. In need of someone to keep the teens entertained, Arthur reached out to a fledgling young Jewish music star whose debut album, “Haneshama Lach” came out that year — Shlomo Carlebach. The musician, a scion of the great rabbinic dynasties of Germany, had merged the folk melodies of his ancestors with the guitar thrumming of Greenwich Village musicians Bob Dylan and Pete Seegar. His career changed

the lives of thousands of Jews, but that pinnacle was still far away. When Arthur offered to pay Carlebach to play at the Shabbaton, he refused to take any money for it, recognizing that the spiritual rewards for such an endeavor were worth far more. “When Arthur first proposed the idea, I couldn’t help thinking, ‘How in the world are these kids going to relate to Carlebach?’” Anita recalled in wonder. “But he was like the Pied Piper of Hamlin.” After the Saturday night concert the boys and girls left feeling deeply inspired. The Federmans continued their involvement in the Orthodox Union and the Orthodox community at large. In 1963, Arthur helped found the Young Israel of Lawrence Cedarhurst, one of the largest Young Israel synagogues in the country today. That first singular Shabbaton, like a seed in fertile soil, grew to become an essential part of the canon of NCSY. “NCSY has many remarkable, sometimes unsung heroes to thank for their roles in our founding,” explained NCSY’s international director Rabbi Micah Greenland. “Mrs. Federman is one such hero, who saw a need to engage and inspire the next generation of Jewish youth and went to extraordinary lengths to ensure that need was met.” The Federman’s grandson and daughter-in-law continue in the Federman family footsteps and have devoted their lives to Kiruv work. What better tribute could any grandparents ask for?

By: Rabbi David Felsenthal

Rabbi Yitzchok and Miriam Lowenbraun

When Mrs. Miriam (Twerski) Lowenbraun passed away on June 1, it was as if hundreds of NCSY alumni had lost a second mother. I know I felt that way. Miriam and her husband Rabbi Yitzchok “Itchie” Lowenbraun (my lifelong rebbe and mentor), were the regional directors of Atlantic Seaboard NCSY for 18 years. Though she generally preferred to stay behind the scenes at Shabbatons, when she spoke publicly she did so with tremendous power that never failed to imbue the audience with a deep sense of inspiration. Those who were lucky enough to know her more personally were blessed with a wonderful Jewish role model. For the two weeks before Miriam’s passing, I was unable to reach her or Rabbi Lowenbraun. I usually spoke with them several times a week, and I had been hoping they would surprise me with their attendance at my oldest son’s upcoming wedding. On June 1, just one hour before the wedding began, I heard the news that Miriam had passed away. In shock, I phoned Rabbi Lowenbraun, though I have no recollection of the emotional voicemail I left him that he later described to me. What I do vividly remember is feeling Miriam’s presence as I stood under the chuppah with my son Levi. It was as if she was there helping me walk him down the aisle and joyfully dance with his kallah. One of my best friends, former NCSY regional president Sarah Beth Solomont, lives in Israel and married off her eldest daughter at the same time. She had also been close with Miriam and

told me she felt Miriam’s presence at her daughter’s wedding as well. We reflected, bittersweetly, that this was the only way Miriam could dance at both weddings. Growing up, I visited the Lowenbraun home in Baltimore countless times, and I was usually in the company of more than a dozen other guests. People slept wherever they could find space in the house and walked miles for meals, just to partake in the warm hospitality. Rabbi Lowenbraun sat at the head of the table and Miriam, his queen, sat at his side. The two joyously argued every point he made in his divrei Torah with deep passion and astute commentary. When Miriam agreed to marry Rabbi Lowenbraun, she made one stipulation: they would have to run an open home just like her father’s in Denver. Miriam’s father, Rabbi B.C. Shloime Twerski, ran a household that was famous for its openness and warm atmosphere. Rabbi Lowenbraun hadn’t fully anticipated what this meant, but he grew to love it and couldn’t imagine it any other way.

None of us knew until much later that Miriam was diagnosed with cancer in her leg when she was 17-years-old. Remarkably, she turned her prognosis of just a few months into 50 beautiful years. She never let her constant pain stop or slow her down from raising a beautiful family, being active in NCSY, performing untold acts of chesed, earning two masters’ degrees and creating alternative forms of education and after-school programming to help teens who weren’t benefiting from the traditional Jewish day school setting. Her achievements, both personal and professional, are testaments to her will and determination to lead a meaningful and fulfilling life. Before she passed away, Miriam asked Dr. Nosson Westreich, a former NCSYer, to speak at her funeral and to represent all the early NCSYers who were close to the Lowenbrauns. Dr. Westreich discussed how Rabbi Yitzchok and Miriam had become like second parents to all of us. Yosi, the eldest Lowenbraun child, spoke at the levaya and said he once asked his mother how she could love so many children so deeply. At the time, he was expecting his second child. She explained to him that just as Hashem’s love for us, his children, is infinite, Yosi’s love would similarly expand to include his newborn. During my most recent trip to visit Rabbi Lowenbraun weeks after his wife’s passing, I walked into the kitchen expecting to see Miriam there. It was painful to realize that I will never see her again, at least not in this world. But I remain eternally grateful that her legacy of keeping an open home to all of k’lal yisrael lives on in the homes of hundreds of NCSY families — including my own. u

She turned her prognosis of just a few months into 50 beautiful years. She never let her constant pain stop or slow her down. The Lowenbrauns march out with their family at Spring Regional in 1988.

ROSH HASHANAH 2014

Photo: Ira Thomas

By: Batya Rosner

Yosef Tropper returned from ICE Israel on fire, and his flame grew to inspire West Coast and Valley NCSY.

Photo: Benji Cheirif

Yosef grew up in an Orthodox home in Los Angeles where observing Shabbat and kashrut were central parts of his upbringing. However, Yosef struggled with forging a deeper connection to Judaism, and by high school he found himself estranged from his religion. Unhappy both socially and with the material he was learning in his Jewish high school, Yosef took the California High School Proficiency Examination and left school after his sophomore year to begin working with his father. Yosef (left) and his friends from NCSY’s JOLT overlooking the holy city of Jerusalem.

Worried for her son both spiritually and socially, Yosef’s mother Shonney urged him to attend NCSY’s Camp Sports that summer. Yosef agreed, and after the summer, his mother convinced him to attend a Dinner & Learning program at the home of Sara Leah and Derek Gormin, city directors of Valley NCSY. “He wore a kippah to the event to please his parents, but took it off when they left,” recalled Sara Leah Gormin. “He would sit at the table, but that was it. He was very shy. He ran into friends from Camp Sports who encouraged him to come back next week.” He did return, though he was just as quiet. Yosef remembers his first program at the Gormin’s house with a different perspective. “I thought I’d know no one, and the second I stepped into their house the Gormins introduced themselves and made me feel welcomed, not judged,” said Yosef. “The people of NCSY — the staff and the advisors — they all genuinely care so much.” With extra time and no homework

In the past, every time I started something, like guitar lessons, I would stop. I wanted to finish this and say, ‘Wow, I did that!’

to do, Yosef began attending Latte & Learning, in addition to Dinner & Learning. After a few weeks, he started going to Shabbat dinners at the Gormin’s house and then to Shabbatons. He reconnected with friends from junior high and Camp Sports, and made new friends as well. Slowly, he started coming out of his shell and began speaking up at events. Yosef soon became a regular at Valley NCSY programs and at the Gormin home. Shonney periodically called the Gormin’s house, exclaiming, “I don’t know what is happening, but my son is so much happier — thank you!” By the end of the year, Yosef had even signed up to participate in NCSY’s ICE Israel summer program. The summer in Israel with NCSY crystallized the new person Yosef was becoming. He returned from ICE Israel newly inspired. He joined the student leadership board of Valley NCSY, attended monthly board meetings, came early for Shabbatons and events, made posters and hung signs. “He was always the first person at an event, willing to help and excited,” Sara Leah noted. Yosef also started wearing his tzitzit and kippah again. Yosef discovered a passion for Judaism and decided to start a special project with Derek Gormin, who had become a close friend and mentor. Yosef had never managed to finish a Jewish book before, but he set a goal to learn the entire Tractate of Berachot. As motivation to finish, Yosef requested permission to make a siyum celebrating the sefer’s completion at the NCSY Spring Regional. The plan was approved. “Derek and

I learned together every single week, without fail — it was huge,” Yosef said. “In the past, every time I started something, like guitar lessons, I would stop. I wanted to finish this and say ‘Wow, I did that!’” In front of 300 participants from across the West Coast NCSY region, his immediate family and his grandparents, Yosef made his siyum at the closing of Spring Regional. Yosef’s father, Mendel Tropper, spoke as well. He discussed how people struggle with their Judaism, but finding the right friends and mentors can change everything for a person and allow them to experience Judaism as beautifully as Yosef did. Mendel then surprised everyone by announcing a scholarship created in Yosef’s honor to be awarded every year to a high school senior to study in Israel after high school. “Half of the participants were public school students who didn’t understand what was going on, but Yosef was so into the moment, so emotional, that everyone around him was moved by his dedication to learning,” Sara Leah shared. “You think teens don’t understand what’s happening, but they see. They realized they witnessed a great thing.” Yosef went on NCSY JOLT last summer and stayed in Israel to study for the year at Yeshivat Torat Shraga in Bayit VeGan. He plans to attend Yeshiva University when he returns. Before he left for Israel, fellow Valley NCSY board members weren’t ready to say goodbye to Yosef and insisted that they drive him to the airport as a group. “You’ll have to take that up with his parents,” Sara Leah informed them. With members of his fan club cheering him on at the airport, Yosef boarded the plane for the next chapter of his journey. u ROSH HASHANAH 2014

Photo: Michelle Mousel

Just because her Jewish high school closed its doors didn’t mean Ariel Shemesh was going to leave her spiritual education behind. And in transferring to a secular private high school, she discovered a fortitude she didn’t know she possessed. Ariel and her sister Rebecca grew up in a home that placed a strong emphasis on Jewish tradition. Her background helped her go through the difficult transition of switching to a non-Jewish school. “When I started attending Tesseract School [her new school], I realized that I actually liked being a little different from all my peers,” explained Ariel. “Having the courage to say ‘no’ to certain hangouts and missing some school events because of Shabbat only strengthened my resolve, though it was difficult at times.” The experience might have taken a toll on her had she not met Shmuli Josephson, director of Arizona NCSY. “At NCSY, there are a lot of other students who are Jewish but who operate in mostly secular environments,” Ariel stated. “Having felt pretty isolated in my new school, NCSY kept my Jewish spark consistently lit and gave me the opportunity to make deep connections with other teens who were just like me.” Through NCSY, Ariel discovered JSU — a weekly Jewish culture club for Jewish students on public school campuses — and she was determined to bring it to Tesseract. “Many other students from my old Jewish school came to Tesseract and I didn’t want to see them simply disperse into the crowd and forget their Judaism,” she said. To Ariel’s dismay, she found the Tesseract administration was unresponsive to the idea of a JSU. While she was disheartened by the school’s refusal, Ariel increased her own NCSY involvement. She attended Latte & Learning sessions, in addition to regular local and regional events.

NCSY made me realize that I can help other Jewish teens — in my school, in my neighborhood, and across the world — connect to their Judaism.

The annual weekend takes chapter and regional board members through a training program designed to give them the strength to inspire other teens. Over Shabbat, Ariel casually shared her story of spiritual growth with one of the staff members. Little did she know that the staff member she confided in was Rabbi Micah Greenland, international director of NCSY. As the keyboard lightly played in the background during Havdalah, Rabbi Greenland began to tell the story of a girl who constantly fought for what she believed in and always put her Judaism first. Tears began to fill Ariel’s eyes as she realized Rabbi Greenland was dedicating Havdalah to her. Ariel returned from LBC with more determination than ever to bring JSU to her school.“I felt empowered with the tools to motivate others to ignite their own Jewish flames,” she said. This time, Ariel approached the idea of a JSU club differently. Speaking with some new employees in the school’s marketing department, Ariel told them about the large number of

Jewish students looking for a school. And what better way to let them know that Tesseract was a great place for Jewish students than a JSU club? The idea worked, and in Ariel’s senior year, Tesseract launched its first JSU club. Ariel credits NCSY with helping her withstand the hardships that come with being a devoted Jew in a secular environment. “If it weren’t for NCSY, I might have been absorbed into my secular school and given little thought to my Jewish identity and involvement,” she said. “Ariel is a wonderful young woman with a passion for Judaism and initiative like I’ve never seen before,” Arizona NCSY director Shmuli Josephson noted. “Her resourcefulness enables other young Jewish men and women to have opportunities to learn about their Judaism, in addition to her own remarkable journey.” Ariel was honored for her leadership by JSU at a dinner in May. While many of her NCSY friends are planning to spend a year in Israel before heading to college, Ariel decided to attend Arizona State University (ASU) in the fall, where she will be a student in the Barrett Honors College. “I find I really thrive religiously in secular environments,” said Ariel, “and I really love helping others find connections to their Judaism.” True to form, Ariel has already scheduled weekly learning sessions with the ASU Chabad rabbi, Shmuel Tiechtel, and his wife. She has also been recruited to serve on the Chabad student board and is ready for any new Jewish leadership positions that come her way. “NCSY made me realize that I can help other Jewish teens — in my school, in my neighborhood and across the world — connect to their Judaism,” she said. u

Her connection with NCSY and the new friendships she forged helped her through several challenges that school year, including a long-anticipated class trip to China. After many unsuccessful attempts to change the date of the trip — as it was scheduled to leave during Shavuot — Ariel made the difficult decision to skip it. At the end of the summer leading into her senior year, Ariel represented Phoenix NCSY as its chapter president at NCSY’s Leadership Boot Camp (LBC).

Ariel proudly holds the Havdalah candle as Rabbi Micah Greenland recites Havdalah at Leadership Boot Camp in 2013.

ROSH HASHANAH 2014

HOW ONE TEEN HELPED PAY HIS WAY TO NCSY SUMMER

Need a tie? No problem. Just call Edon Freiner. Edon’s parents agreed to send him on NCSY’s Jewish Overseas Leadership Trip (JOLT) but there was a catch: he had to raise the money himself.

Since he woke for school at 7 a.m. and didn’t return home until nearly 6 p.m., Edon knew he wouldn’t be able to hold down a regular job. He began to think of creative ways to raise the money. He needed something that would raise thousands of dollars, but would not require a large amount of time. This may have seemed like a difficult endeavor, but for Edon, especially in light of how much NCSY meant to him, it was a crucial one. Growing up in Lakewood, NJ, Edon was surrounded by people who were fully observant. His family was traditional. Every Friday night they went to his grandmother’s home for Shabbat dinner, and on Shabbat day they ate lunch together at home. They made Kiddush, but practiced few other rituals. His parents, both Israeli, also grew up traditional in non-observant homes. However, living in the diaspora, they wanted their children attend Jewish day schools. During his freshman year of high school, Edon begrudgingly attended his first NCSY event, Englishtown NCSY’s annual Sukkah party, with his sister, who had become involved in NCSY a few years earlier. To his surprise, he

It was at that moment that Edon realized that if he wanted to continue growing in his Judaism and become more observant, there were people around him who were willing to help.

Photos: Ira Thomas

The previous summer, Edon’s parents sent him on NCSY’s Boys Israel Leadership Training (BILT) program, but when Edon got off the plane, he knew he wanted to go on JOLT the following summer. It was at that point his parents told him that they fully supported the idea, but he would need to raise the money himself.

saw some of his closest friends from elementary school there, many of whom he hadn’t seen in over a year. Immediately, he felt like he belonged. From then on, when the final bell rang on Tuesday afternoons, Edon dashed out of school to get to Baskin-Robbins in time for NCSY’s weekly Latte & Learning session. Coming from a long day of classes, Edon often walked over to the non-kosher Dunkin Donuts side of the store and picked up a bagel for dinner, which he’d eat during the program. One night, Rabbi Ariel Bannett, director of Englishtown NCSY, approached him and asked about the bagel, realizing that there was no kosher bagel store nearby. Edon responded with an honest, simple answer, “because I’m hungry.” Without hesitation, Rabbi Bannett said, “From now on, my wife will cook you dinner and I’ll bring it to you.” It was at that moment Edon realized that if he wanted to continue growing in his Judaism and become more observant, there were people around him who were not only willing, but eager to help. His journey continued as he became steadily more religious. After attending NCSY’s BILT in 2013, he took on the BILT-worthy challenge of raising the money himself to go on JOLT. That’s where the ties came in. Being a fan of wearing a variety of fashionable ties himself, Edon immediately thought of selling them. He frequently bought some of his ties on eBay, so he was already familiar with the tie business. Living in America, ties are a frequent part of a Jewish man’s outfit. Selling ties seemed like a surefire recipe for success. Edon started selling ties for $5 apiece.

The first batch of ties he sold were silk and in different patterns that he ordered from Alibaba, an online Chinese wholesale store. After selling out, Edon ordered another 400 ties — 40 designs of 10 ties each from eBay. In the beginning, Edon went to local shuls during mincha and maariv and walked door to door around the neighborhood. However, that took up too much time — time that he didn’t have. He decided to take a chance. “It’s Lakewood,” he said to himself. “No one is going to steal my ties if I set up a booth and leave them at shul.” The following day, Edon set up a table of ties in each shul, with a box for money and a sign explaining why he was selling the ties. Every night, he would find more than just the day’s profits in there. “As I’d count the money, people would stick in notes of encouragement that read ‘Keep it going!’ or ‘So proud of you!’ which was really nice to see,” he recalled fondly. Between selling 698 ties, working odd jobs around town, pooling all his birthday and Chanukah money and generous scholarships from NCSY, Edon spent the summer on JOLT and is now studying in Israel for the year. In total, Edon raised more than $4,000 from his tie-selling business and he even used a portion of that money to help pay for his year in yeshiva. “At first, it was hard because I was choosing a different path than my parents, and that’s not easy for anyone,” Edon said about his journey. “But, my parents wanted me to be happy and to be the best person I can be, so they do their best to support me. I also realized that I can do anything I put my mind to. Looks like I may have a career in business after all.” u ROSH HASHANAH 2014

Along with the company he founded in 1988, Lichtenstein supports a number of worthy causes like the Special Olympics and Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. He has invested in cures for degenerative diseases like Parkinson’s, ALS and multiple sclerosis. In 2005, he offered 50 Memphis apartments rent-free for half a year to those made homeless by Hurricane Katrina. Lichtenstein serves on the boards of Touro College and New York Medical College. Within the Jewish community, he and his wife Shiffy help kollel members who choose to enter the workforce build job skills and find employment. His latest project is providing housing for the families of hospital patients.

As an Orthodox Jew growing up in the bustling and thriving Jewish community of Flatbush, Brooklyn, David Lichtenstein wasn’t too familiar with NCSY or its outreach work. “I grew up what you would call an FFB [frum from birth] and I wasn’t really NCSY’s target audience of unaffiliated and disengaged Jewish youth,” said Lichtenstein, who now lives in Monsey. “NCSY was never on my radar.”

In a world where intermarriage rates have soared and people have grown increasingly unaffiliated, we all have an imperative to do our utmost and inspire as many Jewish people as possible to become engaged in their communities.

That changed two summers ago when Lichtenstein was introduced to Rabbi Steven Weil, the senior managing director of the Orthodox Union. Rabbi Weil told him about the great reach and impact of NCSY, and the transformative role it plays in the lives of so many Jewish teens across the world. Rabbi Weil, who grew up as an unaffiliated Jew on a cattle farm in Upstate New York, was a prime example of NCSY’s success. However, Rabbi Weil continued, “NCSY also works with teens from Orthodox backgrounds — like Lichtenstein — as it recognizes the challenge of remaining spiritually connected in a materialistic world.” “Rabbi Weil made a very compelling case for why I should contribute to NCSY,” Lichtenstein recalled. “He was very passionate about the work NCSY does and how critical it is to the continuation of the Jewish people. I knew immediately I would support its work.” As the chairman and CEO of The Lightstone Group, one of the largest privately held real estate firms in the United States, Lichtenstein is no stranger to philanthropy.

So when Rabbi Weil asked Lichtenstein last summer to underwrite a busload of teens participating on The Jerusalem Journey (TJJ), an affordable trip to Israel for public school teens and a popular NCSY summer program — at $150,000 for a 40-person bus—he couldn’t say no. “The work NCSY does is critical for the success of the Jewish people and the Jewish community,” Lichtenstein stated. “In a world where intermarriage rates have soared and people have grown increasingly unaffiliated, we all have an imperative to do our utmost and inspire as many Jewish people as possible to become engaged in their communities. Otherwise, NCSY’s work will all be moot in just a few generations.” In addition to his professional success, Lichtenstein is a well-regarded talmid chacham who runs a popular chaburah on contemporary halacha each Shabbat in his neighborhood. Rabbi Weil often invites him to be a guest lecturer at the regular shiur he gives for those who work in real estate and hedge funds. Lichtenstein’s book, Headlines: Halachic Debates of Current Events, will be published by OU Press this fall. Lichtenstein would have been happy to make a similar contribution to TJJ this summer had the trip not been reorganized due to the war in Israel. “David is one of the most thoughtful and analytical people I know,” said Rabbi Weil. “The hundreds of people who learn from him and his Torah lessons engage on a profound level with the Torah and see its relevance in all aspects of their daily lives. Moreover, David has a tremendous interest in the welfare and growth of all Jews, and not just those who live within the Orthodox community.”

Photo: Rachel Fellig Photography

David, together with his wife Eda, and their children.

As a delinquent high school student, David Schottenstein toured the globe — jumping from one Jewish high school to the next. “My cousin used to say that I was escorted from the finest yeshivas in the world,” he laughed, recalling the various adventures he had as he crisscrossed the United States and Europe, traveling from different yeshivas in Ohio, Las Angeles, Miami, Montreal and even Venice. Though David clarifies that he wasn’t actually ever thrown out of a yeshiva, just politely asked to find a new one every September. It isn’t hard to imagine that David wasn’t cut out for school. A born entrepreneur from a family of successful businessmen (his uncle helped finance the Artscroll English Talmud), by the time he started high school, David had already launched several businesses. During his junior year, he amassed a small fortune in the stock market and even got into trouble for selling cigars to high school seniors at an NCSY Shabbaton. However, unlike his high schools, NCSY never thought about kicking him out. Instead, they welcomed him in every region, no matter his level of observance. “Even when I wasn’t interested in being religious, I kept on going to NCSY programs since they were so much fun,” said David who was initially part of the Columbus, Ohio, NCSY chapter. “I wasn’t interested in keeping Shabbat, but I looked forward to the Shabbatons. I never missed a Shabbaton and the friends I made in NCSY are still my friends today.” Eventually, he landed at an understanding Chabad yeshiva in Brooklyn where he settled down and married his high school sweetheart Eda. He put his boundless energy to work launching his first official company, Astor & Black, which sold affordable

When it comes time to marry a Jew or not, or live a Jewish lifestyle, the NCSY experience kicks in.

high-end custom clothing. After he and Eda married, they moved to Ohio where they promptly helped out the local NCSY chapter that stewarded him through his tumultuous years. “We hosted the fundraiser and we ran benefits for Central East NCSY,” he said, adding that NCSY helped fill the local shuls with “vibrancy.” “We’ve always had a strong kesher to NCSY,” he said. Rabbi Tzali Freedman, regional director of Central East, said that when he dealt with David he recalled a lesson his father taught him. “My father, of blessed memory, was an educator, and he told me to be very careful with the students that are sent to the office because one day you will have to go see them in their office” Freedman said. “This was very true with David. He was rambunctious, but full of charm and character. Not too many years after his NCSY days, I knocked on his door for NCSY. Not only did he remember NCSY, but was grateful that we never threw him out! Very often the kid with the energy, smarts, creativity and ambition is not the one who flourishes in the regular yeshiva structure. NCSY must be there for every type of kid.”

Astor & Black prospered with clients like the Jonas Brothers and Malcom Jenkins, the all-pro cornerback for the New Orleans Saints. Sales exceeded more than $20 million a year and in 2011, the company was acquired by a private equity firm for $42 million. After a disagreement about the direction of the company, David left. (His suspicions were right; the company declared bankruptcy in 2013). Since leaving Astor & Black, David launched a new business, View-a-Bill, a company that enables corporations to view their legal bills in real-time instead of waiting until the statement arrives. Since launching in 2013, the company already counts clients like NBC and Disney. One of the partners is none other than Alan Dershowitz, the most famous Jewish lawyer in America. David said he starts his companies to fill a need that is unmet in the market. “When I started Astor & Black, the question was: where do you get highend clothing without being fleeced?” explained David. “I didn’t see it, so I started the company. With View-a-Bill, it was a matter of legal costs accruing over time. I wondered: why can’t I see this in real-time? There was no program that allowed us to do it, so we created it.” These days, David and his wife live in Bal Harbour, Florida, with their three children. They proudly count NCSY among their many philanthropic investments — all of which, like his businesses, fills an unmet need. “NCSY is a kosher form of Yiddishkeit for American teens that wouldn’t have it otherwise,” he said. “It keeps them close to what’s important. When it comes time to marry a Jew or not, or live a Jewish lifestyle, the NCSY experience kicks in.” u

ROSH HASHANAH 2014

Susan Engleson with her daughter Rachel.

My daughter’s most profound experience on NCSY’s The Anne Samson Jerusalem Journey (TJJ) was the moment she placed her fingertips on the Kotel, the Western Wall, for the first time. An exhilarating, almost eerie sensation overcame her; electricity ran through her when she touched the ancient stones and came as close to the presence of God as she ever had. Although our family had always connected spiritually to our faith and traditions, I was initially skeptical about sending my daughter Rachel halfway around the world on TJJ. Her Judaic knowledge was limited and I was not sure if she would be able to really understand what her advisors were going teach her. I should not have worried. NCSY accepted her with open arms and TJJ was a profound experience for her educationally, religiously and personally. I was raised in a Reform family and I made sure to raise my own children with a strong Jewish identity. But our religious connection consisted of little more than attending services on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, and, of course, picking up the Maxwell House Haggadah at the local grocery store each year before Passover. We had no understanding of what it meant to be an observant Jew and to live an active Jewish lifestyle. That all changed one day when my children and I casually walked into a Baskin-Robbins and spotted a group of Jewish teens — the boys wearing yarmulkes and the girls in long skirts — engaged in what seemed to be a very meaningful discussion with a religious man. We stared at them 36

Prior to TJJ, being Jewish was just a religion to our family. Now it is a way of life.

for a few minutes before the rabbi approached us and introduced himself as Shmuli Josephson, Arizona NCSY and Jewish Student Union (JSU) director. He immediately invited my children to join JSU and we exchanged contact information. From that day on, we’ve been close with Shmuli and his family. Rachel’s decision to attend TJJ in 2013 was a source of consternation in our family — no one in our family had ever been to Israel — but eventually I relented and allowed her to go. It was a decision, like a pebble skipping on a lake, that had a ripple effect on the spiritual lives of the rest of our family. Rachel’s first impression of Israel happened quite naturally as she disembarked from the airplane at Ben Gurion Airport. By the luggage carousel, as she and her fellow TJJ participants waited to pick up their belongings, Rachel saw a man wrapping himself in a tallit and tefillin to say the morning prayers. She was immediately struck by the sacred and spiritual act that was happening in the midst of everyday life. More importantly, Rachel saw that this man was not ridiculed or mocked for publicly practicing what he believed in.

Rachel spent her first Shabbat in Jerusalem and as soon as the Shabbat siren sounded, the bustling city fell quiet and the busy streets emptied. For the first time, Rachel felt like she was part of something much greater than herself. Her peers on the trip aided in this as well. After the first week, she already knew she was part of an extended Jewish family. Since Rachel’s trip, she has become an advocate for Israel, NCSY and JSU, and she was the recipient of three prestigious awards for her dedication to these causes. This coming summer, Rachel hopes to attend NCSY’s Girls Israel Volunteer Experience (GIVE), where she will further develop her love of mitzvot, especially the mitzvah of chesed, kindness, that resonates so deeply with all of us. Prior to TJJ, being Jewish was just a religion to our family. Now it is a way of life. Every week, our family welcomes in the Shabbat by lighting candles and reciting Kiddush and Hamotzi before we eat. Rachel taught us many prayers and brought us to a newfound appreciation of the beauty of Torah observance. NCSY is an amazing organization and I am sincerely grateful to all of the sponsors who give so generously of their time and money, and to the employees who dedicate so much energy to ensuring that the time our sons and daughters spend with NCSY is unforgettable. They all deserve many accolades for their ability to inspire. In the span of a single summer, NCSY has transformed our family.

San Diego NCSYers spent their Sunday packing and distributing lunches with Project Rescue Party.

There are no elections for the chapter board of San Diego NCSY. Popularity won’t get you very far in this West Coast NCSY chapter. Instead, teens know the drill. They want to be on the chapter board, they better be willing to work for it. “If you take the initiative and offer to help, you’ll end up on chapter board,” explained San Diego NCSY director Rabbi Adam Simon. “There’s a line I tell my teens: If you want to be something, do something. It’s not about the title. It’s all about empowerment.” This means coming up with an interesting idea for a chapter program, like a fundraising opportunity for a local charity, or simply a willingness to put in time for one of the several dozen events San Diego NCSY runs throughout the year. Simon, who came to San Diego NCSY six years ago, leads his NCSYers like a venture capitalist investing in Jewish teens across San Diego — a partner with the future leaders of the Jewish community. This attitude is part of what makes San Diego NCSY one of the most innovative NCSY chapters. Need proof? Take a look at some of the programs Simon and his team ran in the last two years.

#SilenceYourEgo: A viral

online photograph campaign in line with the spirit of Passover where teens across the world were asked to integrate the message of abstaining from bread and enjoying the humble matzah into their daily lives.

Passover Jewtorial: A Passover tutorial website written by teens for teens that launched the week before Passover and had close to 10,000 views.

Israel Raps: In this joint project

with Matt Bar of Bible Raps, hundreds of Jewish teens rapped about Israel as a part of the San Diego Celebrate Israel program.

Weekly divrei Torah: San

Diego teens write weekly divrei Torah, share them at events and publish them online. At the end of each year, the divrei Torah are compiled into a book and distributed to the NCSYers and their families. But don’t take our word for it. In the last two years, San Diego NCSY has received more than $50,000 in funding from several Jewish foundations in the San Diego area, particularly San Diego’s Jewish Federation. As Steve Shulman, board member of the Jewish Federation, tells it: “We received more than 2,500 applications for our innovation fund grants. Simon submitted three proposals with the goal of getting Jewish teens involved in more Jewish programming, and he received funding for all of them.” “The stuff coming out of NCSY really made us think that this is an innovative way to engage Jewish youth.” But Jewish organizations aren’t the only ones affected by San Diego NCSY. After a successful Shabbaton, Simon and his teen team decided they wanted to help raise awareness among Jewish teens about the plight of the homeless in San Diego. Teens spent their Sunday packing and distributing lunches with Project Rescue Party, an organization dedicated to helping the homeless population of San Diego. “NCSY youth demonstrates compassion in action in a way that I have not seen from young people in my 15 plus years of community service,” said Project Rescue Party founder Brett Bird Matson. “It is organizations and

youth like NCSY that remind me that our mission is possible.” Simon attributes much of his success to the relationship he has with the local Jewish community, which takes pride in its NCSY chapter. “Our success is their success and their’s is ours.” Simon was recently asked to be on the Jewish Federation’s teen engagement steering committee. “The success of San Diego NCSY is no surprise,” said West Coast regional director Solly Hess, “Adam, together with assistant director Josh Cohen, continuously empower their teens to be leaders and infuse their passion for Judaism in their community.” Another reason for his success is the faith that Simon puts in his teens. He knows that given the chance and the right information at their fingertips, teens will make the right choices. At a recent communitywide Israel education summit, not only was San Diego NCSY the largest youth contingent present, but nearly all of them came wearing San Diego NCSY sweatshirts. When other youth organizations asked how Simon managed to get them to wear NCSY “uniforms” at the event, Simon had a simple answer. He didn’t. “It’s not a uniform and I didn’t get them to do anything,” Simon recalled telling the other organizers. “NCSY doesn’t ‘get’ teens to do anything. I gave them an opportunity, they took it and ran with it. They designed and produced the sweatshirts, I just showed them how. It gave them something to be proud about.” This ties into Simon’s guiding principle. “Being Shomrei Torah (Torah observant) is not something we’re embarrassed about here,” he concluded. “It is a vital part of who we are. And we’re always proud to express it.” u ROSH HASHANAH 2014

Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan (left) at an NCSY convention in the 1970s.

By: Rabbi Ari Kahn, lecturer and author In a sense, Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan — the eminent American Orthodox rabbi and author who wrote widely on Jewish mysticism and philosophy — was a dazzling light that illuminated the darkened skies of post-Holocaust Torah learning, though his famously unassuming demeanor would likely have him deflect such praise. Few other figures have had such an expansive impact on the Jewish spiritual awakening, often referred to as the teshuva movement. Although other religious leaders sent out emissaries and opened yeshivot across the world, Rabbi Kaplan impacted countless numbers of Jews through both his prolific writing and NCSY. To Rabbi Kaplan, the teshuva phenomenon was a natural, even inevitable, return of Jews to their rich and illustrious heritage. Rabbi Kaplan attended many NCSY events, often as the keynote speaker, but he was always approachable and available to speak personally with participants and staff. In a recent conversation I had with a former NCSYer, she recalled that Rabbi Kaplan was a friendly man who would patiently answer her questions and discuss whatever was on her mind— from the simplest to the most complex issues. He would also answer the questions NCSYers had that were too difficult or complex for the college-aged advisors to answer. As a young adult, Rabbi Kaplan pondered, questioned and studied. Those who knew him in his teenage years recall a brilliant scholar and “hevreman” with a perpetual twinkle in 38

his eye. Despite his late start in Jewish learning — he discovered and began to explore Orthodox Judaism as a teenager — he quickly closed the gap between his better-educated peers and soon outpaced most of them. Eventually, he traveled to Israel where he studied and was ordained by leading rabbis. They all agreed that he was destined for Torah greatness. However, he always thought of himself as an outsider, which became a defining element of his greatest achievements. Since Rabbi Kaplan was raised in a non-observant home, he knew how to speak to young people who were searching for something. He had once been in their position, and this allowed him to identify and connect with those teens and adults who were where he once was. Rather than seek a rabbinic post in a larger, more well-established Jewish community, Rabbi Kaplan deliberately sought a smaller community so that he could have a more personal connection with his congregants. One position in Louisville, Kentucky, allowed him to pursue several of his passions simultaneously. In addition to his tireless work with the community’s youth, he earned both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in physics. During his time in Louisville, he conducted an important exchange of correspondence with the venerable sage Rav Moshe Feinstein regarding the parameters of Jewish outreach, which is recorded in the Igros Moshe. Rabbi Kaplan eventually coupled his profound understanding of Torah

with his scientific background in order to answer the questions that haunted others. Where some saw difficult, contradictory trees in the forest of Jewish philosophy, Kaplan saw the underlying principles that brought clarity and revelation. In clear, contemporary language, his writings have helped to restore our view of the forest by illustrating how the trees complement one another; how each tree is planted and sustained by the same God. He used his scientific tools and analytical skills to organize and categorize overwhelmingly vast Jewish sources, creating an invaluable two-volume Torah encyclopedia, The Handbook of Jewish Thought. His works range from The Living Torah, a stunningly original nonliteral translation of the Five Books of Moshe with explanatory notes and illustrations, to translations of obscure Kabbalistic texts. In between these two poles are a staggering number of books that offer English-speakers access to a wide breadth of Jewish sources, as well as papers that ask and answer the most basic questions of Jewish thought. Even after his untimely death at the age of 48 in 1983, his writings have continued to guide many through the maze of Jewish learning and to educate all those who seek a deeper and more meaningful understanding of Judaism. Similarly, we may say that Rabbi Kaplan continues to attend every NCSY event where his values and teachings are continually embodied.

HAPPENINGS FROM AROUND THE NCSY UNIVERSE

Hundreds of Teens Feed the Homeless Twelve JSU clubs prepared thousands of sandwiches for needy children.

Skokie Teens Meet Jewish Basketball Star NCAA basketball star Aaron Liberman joined NCSY for a Dinner & Learn.

44 47

Random Acts of Kindness Day in NYC NCSYers spent a day full of chesed in The Big Apple.

Dallas NCSY Spreads Torah and Chilli Dallas NCSY got cooking with their outreach this year. Big Start for NCSY Argentina NCSY is expanding its borders all the way to Argentina.

ROSH HASHANAH 2014

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

Baltimore, MD Moshe Heideman — mosheh@ncsy.org

See mini-story below.

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

Chesed Training Workshop This past May, Greater Washington NCSY partnered with Bikur Cholim of Greater Washington to enable NCSY teens to assist the sick and elderly. The teens made blankets for patients at the National Institute of Health and learned the art of medical clowning, complete with face painting and balloon making. The event culminated in a trip to a local senior home where the teens put their training into practice. It was hard to tell who was smiling more: the residents of the senior home or the teens themselves.

THORNHILL, ONTARIO Over 250 teens and parents gather to honor this year’s Torah High participants.

Potomac Hosts Public Speaking Shabbaton

Philadelphia, PA & Cherry Hill, NJ

Philadelphia NCSY Learns about the Holocaust

Greater Washington NCSY is proud and excited about the launch of JTED (Jewish Teen Educational Development), a revolutionary new program designed for teens to learn the art of public speaking by delivering inspiring words of Torah to their peers. To kick off the program, Rabbi Dovid Bashevkin, director of education for NCSY, joined over two dozen Greater Washington teens for an unforgettable Shabbaton in Potomac, MD. Rabbi Bashevkin ran interactive and entertaining sessions on public speaking with handson activities for the teens to develop their skills.

Rabbi Yitz Levi — Rabbiyitz@ncsy.org

On March 8, NCSY hosted Holocaust survivor Mr. Morris Sheinberger, who shared his story of survival with the audience. Mr. Sheinberger thoughtfully answered the teens’ questions and reflected movingly about his experiences.

KYHS NCSY JUMP Team Makes it to the Finals After five months of hard work and competition against 20 teams from across the country, the KYHS JUMP team made it to the boardroom finals and finished among the top five teams. After the team’s presentation, judges Allen Fagin, Rabbi Steven Weil, Rebecca Sugar and Phillip Rosen highlighted the team’s strengths and praised their teamwork.

BALTIMORE NCSY RUNS PURIM PROJECT FOR YACHAD MEMBERS

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

Thornhill, Ontario Rabbi Avi Levinson — avi@ncsy.ca

60 Participants Complete Fellowship

altimore NCSY ran an innovative social action campaign for Purim designed to promote engagement among teens from all backgrounds. NCSYers participated in the program by designing the Purim cards; planning delivery routes, job assignments and shopping lists; shopping for food and decor items for the packages; assembling the Mishloach Manot; and delivering the packages. By allowing the teens to choose which parts of the program they wanted to help with, they discovered which areas of chesed they related to the most.

CANADA

60 participants completed the Daniel and Vera Rubinstein Fellowship program. Each of these students signed up at the beginning of the year and dedicated one hour every Wednesday to learn with an advisor. Many of these students went on TJJ this past summer and assumed leadership roles at their respective JSU clubs this year.

Toronto, Ontario Aliza English — aliza@ncsy.ca

NCSY & Torah High Banquet 2014 Over 250 teens and parents were in attendance for a night of awards and delicious desserts in celebration of a successful year in NCSY and Torah High. At the banquet, NCSY acknowledged each teen who dedicated time to the organization, and Torah High acknowledged students that had participated in the program for at least three years.

Vancouver, British Columbia Mielli Levian, Bassie Fuld and Aura Teles help assemble Mishloach Manot with Shira Heideman for YACHAD members.

Rabbi Samuel and Gila Ross — samuelross@ncsy.ca

PITTSBURGH, PA Pittsburgh NCSY teens enjoy a Saturday Night activity of indoor trampolining at SkyZone.

Vancouver Launches Impact In November, Vancouver NCSY launched Impact, a leadership program that meets weekly for indepth Torah study. Thirty-two teens have already participated in the program and have collectively accumulated more than 230 hours of Torah learning.

Canadian Teens Help Advisor’s Dad When the news spread that the father of a Canada NCSY advisor had suffered a heart attack, teens from seven cities across the country came together to participate in learning programs to help merit a complete recovery for him.

CENTRAL EAST Rabbi Tzali Freedman - freedmant@ncsy.org 888.471.4514 // ncsyce@ncsy.org centraleast.ncsy.org

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

Cleveland NCSY Continues to Expand Cleveland NCSY continues to expand its staff to meet the community’s needs. Directors Rabbi Arieh and Elissa Friedner and assistant director DL Lavin welcome new administrative director Ayala MenkinIsrael, as well as three new educational associates — Chana and Yudi Levine and Jasmine Hoff. Look for lots of new clubs in school and around town, Latte & Learning at Starbucks and the expansion of the Jewish Scholars Program.

the award for its growth in activities, membership and participation in regional and summer programs. The local teens were recognized for their hard work and consistent leadership. The teens’ work in expanding clubs, community service and integration with BBYO and local synagogues was also recognized. Columbus NCSY is also pleased to have sent 25 teens to Israel this past year.

Detroit, MI

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

Atlanta, GA

Detroit Teens Run Model Seder

Rabbi Chaim Neiditch — rcn@ncsy.org

A week before Pesach, 35 teens from across Detroit ran a meaningful model seder. Many of the participants said it was the most positive Passover experience that they had ever had. Participants presented their own divrei Torah on the Haggadah, followed by eating traditional seder food and singing. A week later, the teens were able to share what they learned with their families at their own seders on Pesach.

400 Public School Teens Get a Taste of Shabbat

Detroit Jewish Scholars Program Doubles Attendance Again For 10 weeks between October and March, teens participated in the Detroit Jewish Scholars Program, which paired them with community lay leaders and professionals to learn Jewish subjects together. The program began in 2012 with only 12 participants, but has since grown to almost 50 teens as a result of outstanding reviews from parents, teens and the greater Jewish community.

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

Chapter Shabbaton

Rabbi Yaakov Frankiel — frankiely@ncsy.org

Nearly 50 teens participated in an incredible chapter Shabbaton featuring spirited meals, incredible advisors, learning, ruach and an awesome Saturday night event at Sky Zone.

In a fierce competition for the coveted title of Chapter of the Year for the Central East Region, Columbus teens took home the honor in front of a crowd of 360 attendees at Fort Wayne, Indiana. Columbus received

GREATER ATLANTA

Rabbi Dovid Lichtig — lichtigd@ncsy.org

Columbus, OH Columbus NCSY Wins 2014 Chapter of the Year Award

board. Congratulations to the outgoing board for all they accomplished and welcome to the chapter board of 2015.

Passing the Torch

Rabbi Chaim Neiditch, regional director of Greater Atlanta, visited over a dozen Jewish clubs at public high schools around Atlanta to teach students about the significance and origins of challah. To ensure that the sessions literally left a sweet taste in their mouths, everyone made their own challahs to taste and take home.

Alpharetta, GA Rabbi Chaim Neiditch — rcn@ncsy.org

Hundreds of Teens Feed the Homeless Recently, Rabbi Chaim Neiditch led 12 public school Jewish clubs across Greater Atlanta in preparing food for the homeless. Inspired by the idea of tikkun olam (fixing the world), Rabbi Neiditch spoke about Judaism’s central tenet of giving one’s time to help others. Along with packing the food into lunch bags, the teens also decorated the bags with positive messages of encouragement and hope. Thousands of sandwiches were then brought to a children’s shelter in downtown Atlanta for distribution.

Dunwoody, GA Rabbi Chaim Neiditch — rcn@ncsy.org

Pittsburgh NCSY ended the year with an amazing BBQ, bonfire and passing of the torch ceremony where new teen leaders were officially welcomed into chapter ROSH HASHANAH 2014

into office. The event was held at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Danny Hechtman, parents of Joey, the newly elected Buffalo Grove chapter vice president. Alyssa Wexler, the incoming chapter president, spoke about how excited she was to hold such an important position within the chapter. Even though the year has only just ended, both Joey and Alyssa are already enthusiastically planning and recruiting for the upcoming year!

abbi Chaim Neiditch and NCSY were honored at Atlanta’s citywide Yom HaShoah Holocaust Memorial Service for their efforts in bringing over 2,000 local unaffiliated teens and their families back into the Jewish community this year. Hundreds of local community members attended the program, which was sponsored by the Breman Jewish

500 Teens Celebrate Pesach in JSU Leading up to the Passover holiday, Rabbi Chaim Neiditch taught more than 500 teens from JSU public high school clubs around Atlanta the importance of the Exodus. From the rituals to the order of the Haggadah’s events, Rabbi Neiditch explained the entire seder experience. Afterward, teens decorated their very own seder plates to take home and use at their seders, and enjoyed an “Iron Chef” matzah pizza competition. Teens left excited to celebrate the joyous holiday.

Sandy Springs, GA Rabbi Chaim Neiditch — rcn@ncsy.org

Teens Brighten Spirits of Children in the Hospital

PHOTO: CHAIM NEIDITCH

NCSY HONORED AT CITYWIDE HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL

Heritage Museum, the Weinberg Holocaust Center and the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta. In addition, for the fourth year in a row, a select group of 25 teen leaders from NCSY’s JSU clubs staffed the event. For many teens, it was the first time they had met Holocaust survivors, which made for a more meaningful event.

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

Buffalo Grove, IL

Chicago, IL Yehuda Polstein — yehuda@ncsy.org

JFE Celebrates 2nd Year The Jewish Family Experience — Midwest NCSY’s dynamic Hebrew school — honored students, families and teachers at its second annual Awards Ceremony and Brunch this past June. The event marked two amazing years of innovative education and community building and was attended by many local dignitaries including Rabbi Mordechai Raizman of the Associated Talmud Torah of Chicago (ATT). Rabbi Raizman shared his pride in the success of the program — which is a joint venture of Midwest NCSY and Chicago Torah Network and founded and supported by the ATT.

MIE Torah High Annual Most Dedicated Teen Awards Over a dozen teens were awarded for their commitment and dedication to NCSY and MIE Torah High over this past year. MIE Torah High is a joint program of NCSY and the ATT. Each teen received a personal commendation from NCSY director Rabbi Yehuda Polstein, along with a unique Jewish book to continue their learning. Graduating seniors were each given a beautiful set of Shabbat candles and candle holders to use during their time at college.

Kansas City, KS Rachel Prero — preror@ncsy.org

Nili Erlich — erlichn@ncsy.org

Buffalo Grove NCSY

Kansas City Finishes the Year with a BBQ

Buffalo Grove NCSY, JSU and Torah High celebrated together with a spectacular end-of-the-year event. Goodbyes were said to the graduating seniors and the new chapter board of 2014-2015 was welcomed

Kansas City NCSY closed out the school year with one final hurrah: an awesome BBQ hosted by KC NCSY alumnus Daniel Rosenthal. NCSYers participated

Over 300 teens at a dozen JSU public school clubs took part in the important mitzvah of bikur cholim (visiting the sick). The teens made decorative pillowcases for children requiring long-term care at the Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Hospital. As the teens decorated the pillowcases, Rabbi Neiditch led a discussion about why bad things happen to good people. Many of the participants shared personal stories of what it had been like for them to deal with sick family members.

Roswell, GA Rabbi Chaim Neiditch — rcn@ncsy.org

See mini-story on page 43.

Johns Creek, GA Rabbi Chaim Neiditch — rcn@ncsy.org

See mini-story above.

Buffalo Grove, IL Buffalo Grove welcomes their new chapter board and celebrates the end of an amazing year.

in a watermelon-eating contest hosted by Yeshiva University interns and watched an awesome video put together by Leorah Addadi that showcased the year’s highlights. Teens expressed their appreciation for interim city director Gevura Davis and chapter president Shaina Stasi for all of their hard work and dedication. Finally, they gave a warm welcome to Rachel Prero, Kansas City’s new city director.

Memphis, TN Marc Lennon — lennonm@ncsy.org

End of the Year BBQ and Farewell to Marc and Emily Lennon Thirty junior and senior NCSYers gathered together for an end-of-the-year farewell BBQ with music and delicious food. At the end of the event, the teens said thank you to Marc and Emily Lennon and recounted the wonderful work they had done for Memphis NCSY over the past six years.

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

Minneapolis NCSY Teams up with BBYO to Create Israel Carnival NCSY and BBYO teens ran a carnival at the Minneapolis Jewish Federation Israel Celebration. The teens created fun and interactive Israel-themed booths and attendees were very impressed by the creative initiative. Additionally, NCSY ran an information table that provided brochures and details regarding NCSY local events and summer programs.

do the same.”

South Bend, IN Akiva Gutnicki — akivagutnicki@gmail.com

South Bend NCSY Skates for Israel at The Ice Box With the help of the Jewish Federation, South Bend NCSY held a Skate-a-Thon at The Ice Box Skating Rink in March that raised over $600 for the Iron Dome soldiers of the IDF. Many people in the community bonded together to support the cause. The money raised helped the soldiers at the Iron Dome as they guard Israel from harm on a daily basis.

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

Rafting Trip Closes Out Amazing Year for St. Louis Ohr Chadash NCSY A relaxing rafting trip down the scenic Meramec River, complete with jumping fish and grazing cows, was the perfect way to end another fantastic and growthoriented year for St. Louis Ohr Chadash NCSY.

Hundreds of Teens and Adults St. Louis NCSY enjoyed an inspirational Kabbalat HaTorah complete with all-night learning, a 2 a.m. BBQ, Yom Tov meals, Game Day afternoon programming and a variety of fascinating and unique shiurim throughout Yom Tov and the following Shabbat. Special shout-out to advisors Amanda Esraelian, Jeremy Schaechter and Sarah Immerman who enhanced the Shavuot experience for everyone.

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

Public School Teen Commits to WEar Tefillin At a Connecticut NCSY Shabbaton, a very special public school NCSYer shared with everyone in attendance that he had started to gradually keep Shabbat over the past year. He then announced that it was time for him to even further his Jewish growth and he pledged to take on the mitzvah of tefillin. Thanks to a generous donor, NCSY is securing his first pair of tefillin for him.

St. Louis Shavuoton Inspires RABBI IS GUEST SPEAKER AT PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION

North Shore, IL Avigayil Strulowitz — strulowitza@ncsy.org

Members of Glenbrook North High School’s JSU club, the Jewish Learning Club, joined together with North Shore NCSY for an end-of-the year hurrah in June. North Shore Chapter Board member Aviva Abrams hosted the event as teens recapped the year, ate delicious food and participated in important advocacy. They learned about the three kidnapped Israeli teens and assembled a #BringBackOurBoys photo to share on social media. The teens also went home with yellow ribbons to tie around trees to spread awareness in their neighborhoods about the situation in Israel. It was an amazing evening of camaraderie, social action and a wonderful culmination of a productive year.

Skokie, IL Shosh Friedman — friedmans@ncsy.org Levi Zeffren — zeffrenl@ncsy.org

Skokie teens meet Jewish basketball star At the last Dinner & Learn program of the year, Skokie teens had the incredible opportunity to meet NCAA basketball star Aaron Liberman. Aaron spoke to the teens about how he balances his life as an Orthodox Jew with the responsibilities of being a basketball player for the Northwestern Wildcats. Teens were able to ask questions about living a Jewish life on a secular college campus, and Aaron’s answers were a great inspiration to all of the teens in attendance. One NCSYer said: “I have so much respect for how he stays true to his religious beliefs while still following his dream. When I go to college, I hope to be able to

PHOTO: CHAIM NEIDITCH

North Shore Teens Celebrate Amazing, Productive Year

Teens graduating Chattahoochee High School don yarmulkes to display their Jewish pride.

abbi Chaim Neiditch, regional director of Greater Atlanta, was the keynote speaker at the baccalaureate graduation ceremonies of two Atlanta-area public schools, Chattahoochee High School and Centennial High School. In his address to the graduating classes, parents and faculty members, Rabbi Neiditch spoke about the importance of family, setting life goals and believing in oneself. Parents in the audience were delighted to see the prominence given to NCSY and to hear from the rabbi who meant so much to their children. However, no one was as

exuberant as the teens themselves, who had received Jewish pride and a deep sense of belonging along with their high school diplomas. At the Centennial High School graduation, seniors who were active in JSU’s public school club donned yarmulkes — for many, for the first time in public — as a way to display their pride and to honor Rabbi Chaim Neiditch. “You inspired us,” student Bryan Koblitz told Rabbi Neiditch at the event. “We were just so proud that you were representing us up there and wanted people to know that Judaism has been a big part of our high school experience and that is all thanks to you and JSU.”

ROSH HASHANAH 2014

BOSTON ROADSHOWS ARE A COMMUNITY-WIDE PROJECT

Boston teens getting ready to play glow-in-the-dark dodgeball.

Boston, MA Devora Weinstock —weinstockd@ncsy.org

seniors’ graduation and the incredible “Build a Beard” activity, where one kid even glued a beard of cotton balls to his face.

— holding doors open to allow people in and out of buildings. Some simply took the time to smile and wish a good day to as many people as they could. Teens got a firsthand view of how small acts of kindness can make a big difference in people’s lives.

NEW JERSEY

Teaneck, NJ

See mini-story above.

Longmeadow, MA Rabbi Uri Grosberg — grosbergu@ncsy.org

Impressive JSU Start This year, Longmeadow High began its first JSU club. Aviva Muhlman and Hana Chick, both new NCSY members, were instrumental in the club’s formation. Both students attended Yarchei Kallah last December and are off to Israel this fall.

Providence, RI Devora Weinstock —weinstockd@ncsy.org

First NCSY Shabbat in Providence a Huge Success NCSY and Beth Sholom in Providence, RI, teamed up for the first-ever Roadshow in the area. Four advisors joined the community for Shabbat that included a teen dinner, lunch with community hosts, seudat shlishit and Havdalah ceremony, and a Saturday night trip to Sky Zone!

Stamford, CT

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

Highland Park/ Elizabeth NJ Hadassah & Jeffrey Smulevitz — hadassah.smulevitz@gmail. com

Highland Park NCSY & Yachad Lag Ba’Omer Event Highland Park NCSY and Yachad had an incredible Lag Ba’Omer event hosted by Rikki Rosen and her family. The event kicked off with chocolate fondue and graham crackers, marshmallows and strawberries, and a nighttime bonfire. The ambiance was unbelievable, filled with teens singing arm-and-arm and reciting divrei Torah. The event was so inspiring that families from the neighboring homes came to join. A great time was had by all.

Monmouth County, NJ Rabbi Ariel Bannett — Bannetta@ncsy.org

Isaiah Rothstein — ncsyofstamford@gmail.com

See mini-story right.

West Hartford, CT Moshe Waren — warenm@ncsy.org

Hall High School JSU Celebrates Eight Years Hall High School JSU celebrated its eighth year on June 10. The club’s final meeting of the year was attended by over 30 students. Students enjoyed celebrating the 44

here has been a tremendous growth for Boston NCSY’s Roadshows since the program began nearly two years ago. The latest one, which took place on May 2, included meals hosted at shuls and homes from around the community. On Saturday night, NCSYers participated in a glow-in-the-dark dodgeball tournament hosted by Maimonides Day School. The Boston Roadshows have been so enjoyable that teens come from as far as Springfield and Stamford to join in on the fun! Boston NCSY is incredibly excited to work with more of the Boston Jewish community to create bigger and better teen programming in the area.

Random Acts of Kindness Day in NYC Teens from Monmouth County once again demonstrated a commitment to chesed in their groundbreaking program — Random Acts of Kindness Day — in NYC. The idea was created by chapter board members Brian Berko, Craig Chikis and Justin Stein. The 35 teens in attendance were split into separate groups and given a list of suggested kind acts to perform. Some teens brought clothes to hand out to those in need on the city streets, others provided food for the hungry and some volunteered as doormen

Leora and Spence Weitzen

Teaneck NCSY heads to NYC In February, a group of Teaneck NCSYers went ice skating in Bryant Park in Manhattan. After skating together, participants enjoyed a delicious lunch from the famous kosher Bravo’s Pizza. Participants had a day full of fun and bonding with their NCSY friends in the Big Apple.

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

Twin Rivers JSU Pesach Prep For some Jewish teens at Hightstown High, the JSU Pesach prep was their first exposure to the holiday of Pesach. “What kind of slavery?” “Why Matzah?” “What kind of freedom?” “Why four cups?” “Why bitter herbs?” These were just a few of the questions the teens asked. The program was brought to life with a model seder that included some of the special seder food and each participant received a beautifully translated Haggadah to use at home.

Twin Rivers Teen Shabbaton The Twin Rivers teens planned and ran their own Shabbaton. They invited their out-of-town friends for an enjoyable and inspirational weekend that included a meal with Rabbi Aaron Gruman and a very entertaining Saturday night activity. Over the course of the Shabbaton, the teens learned leadership skills and made some new friends. The Shabbaton was such a success that even before it ended, everyone was asking for the date of the next one.

West Orange, NJ Eric Israeli — israelie@ncsy.org

Celebrating Shavuot in Style On the day before Shavuot, West Orange chapter members delivered holiday packages to dozens of older community members, hoping to ensure everyone felt cared for and included. Torah learning ensued throughout the entire first night of Shavuot, with a structured program designed to keep NCSYers engaged and interested. Finally, NCSYers danced and sang Yom Tov tunes with residents of Daughters of Israel to an extremely happy and smiling crowd.

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

Hands on Kosher Brooklyn JSU clubs were given the unique opportunity to hear from Rabbi Chaim Goldberg, a former NCSYer and current staff member of the Orthodox Union’s kashrut division. Rabbi Goldberg led a special handson kashrut program for the public school teens, described what kosher is and what the kosher symbols mean, and then gave out packages to the teens to analyze. “It was a real eye-opener to me,” one teen commented. “I never realized how un-kosher some of the foods I’ve been eating are.”

Educating Teens on Israel JSU Clubs in Brooklyn were visited throughout the year by Jasmine Pathihi, an educator from StandWithUs, an organization dedicated to the education and support of Israel around the world. Jasmine spoke about the significance of the US-Israel relationship, and highlighted the important role teens can play as Jewish Americans. JSU members also learned about Israeli environmental, medical and humanitarian innovations, as well as Israel’s diverse religious and ethnic demographics.

FIRST EVER STAMFORD-WESTPORT EVENT

n Saturday night, March 29, the first ever joint WestportStamford NCSY event took place. The Stamford chapter hosted an awesome Roadshow with advisor-led meals and discussions with teens over Shabbat. On motzei Shabbat, 25 teens and advisors from both communities enjoyed a night out at Skyzone Trampoline Park. Teens got to meet each other and discuss future joint events. The two chapters are looking forward to big things in the future.

Westport and Stamford NCSYers prepare to join forces.

Manhattan, NY

Long Island, NY

Efron Sturmwind — efron@ncsy.org

Rabbi Aryeh Smith - smitha@ncsy.org

NCSY Takes Manhattan

Long Island NCSY Delivers!

It has been an inspiring year of growth at Manhattan NCSY. The chapter’s presence at Regional Shabbatons skyrocketed from three attendees to 15 and weekly program attendance has been steadily increasing. But perhaps the greatest area of growth has been in the NCSYers themselves. High-level learning programs led by the incredibly talented Ayelet Roller and Avi Feder left the teens inspired all year long. The teens took on extra learning projects outside of school and NCSY programming. Whether it be the Talmud, Bible or Jewish Law, these Manhattan teens have made great strides to further understand and identify with their heritage.

Long Island NCSY teamed up with Dr. Nicholas Raimer, who donated 100 boxes of food to help Holocaust survivors prepare for Pesach. The mission was led by Aryeh Smith and his amazing advisors and NCSYers. While it is difficult to truly understand what it means to leave Egypt, for a few hours the teens were able to help those who know what it is like to go from slavery to a place of freedom.

Staten Island, NY Nechama Kamelhar and Moish Zucker — kamelharn@ncsy.org

Staten Island Goes to Latte The Staten Island weekly Latte & Learning means more to the teens than just a free drink or an hour spent with a friend. The program helps bring together teens from the neighborhood, as they sit down to learn some Torah with their teacher, Simcha Silverman. He is always ready to lead thought-provoking discussions and to answer whatever questions the NCSYers might have.

Queens, NY Rabbi Avrohom Walkin — walkina@ncsy.org

Teens Busy in Queens This year, Queens NCSY boasted 10 weekly JSU clubs with over 300 teens in attendance. Every Monday night, Shimon’s Pizza on Main Street was filled with 30-40 teens who came together for Pizza & Parsha, where they spoke Divrei Torah, enjoyed delicious pizza and shared their passion for Yiddishkeit. There was never a shortage of programming for Queens teens, with highlights including: motzei Shabbat kumsitzes, sukkah hopping, Chanukah parties, trips to Six Flags Great Adventure, paintball and fishing.

TEANECK, NJ Teaneck NCSY enjoys food and fun on their trip to Bryant Park in NYC.

ROSH HASHANAH 2014

PHOTO: CHAIM NEIDITCH

DUNWOODY, GA NCSYers display the seder plates they decorated to take home and use at their seders.

Westchester, NY Jon Ackerman — ackermanj@ncsy.org

Latte & Learning Brings Westchester Together Latte & Learning has really enjoyed a year of success in Westchester NCSY. Since last September, the program has been offered twice a week on both Wednesday nights and Sunday mornings. Since the teens come from all over the Westchester area, they join together in other locales for fun events like latke making for Chanukah and hamantashen baking for Purim. More than eighty percent of the Latte group came on Regional Shabbatons this year and Westchester NCSY is incredibly pumped for the year ahead!

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

Boca Raton, FL Rabbi Eli Zians — zianse@ncsy.org

Purim in The U.S.A The Jewish story of Purim came alive for 100 teens who joined Boca Raton NCSY for a festive Friday night oneg that kicked off a weekend-long Purim event. Led by Rabbi Eli Zians, the Boca teen leaders brought smiles to all as they sang and danced with the residents at a local nursing home. To continue spreading the joy, 25 teen leaders from the Boca Raton chapter went around the community in a luxurious Party Bus and raised thousands of dollars to help send kids to Israel for the year. The day was topped off with an Americanthemed Purim banquet for all the teens.

Boca Teens learn Boca Raton NCSY is proud to have offered unique separate gender programming this past year. The girls had a deliciously good time learning to bake challah

from scratch and the boys began what is now known as The Chabura — a relaxed learning group that meets every Shabbat at the home of R’ Eli and Batsheva Zians. Both the boys and the girls feel that their Shabbat and their Judaism have been greatly enhanced by these programs.

Broward County, FL Eli Albert — alberte@ncsy.org

One dedicated Teen Helps Build Unique JSU Club The JSU club at Ben Gamla Hebrew Charter became the first of its kind when it brought in Jewish teens to the JUMP building to learn after school. The president, Avi Snyder, helped build the club to 30 active members, many of whom participated in the twicea-week programming. The teens’ dedication paid off

when the club won the Southern Region JSU Club of the Year Award. Ten of the club members went on NCSY Summer Israel programs.

Three passionate Teens Build Regional Award-Winning L&L Three teenagers — Talia Korn, Shanee Markovitz and Talia Dressler — helped catapult the Greater Miami/ Broward County Latte & Learning to its award-winning status. They spent numerous hours each week organizing and recruiting for the weekly event, which eventually garnered steady members and consistent attendance. Talia K. and Shanee went on NCSY Israel Summer programs and will both serve on regional board this upcoming year. All three teens are looking forward to helping their chapter and region reach even greater heights.

MIAMI BEACH JEWISH STUDENT UNION’S MITZVAH GARDEN

ver the course of the year, more than 80 participants of NCSY’s largest JSU club, Hi Tides at Miami Beach Senior High School, volunteered to identify an abandoned lot on campus and beautify it as a mitzvah garden in honor of Mr. Jonathan Nelson, a history teacher at the school and the club’s sponsor. A dedication ceremony was held where the plaque was installed and a very surprised and touched Mr. Nelson was in tears from the students’ display of appreciation.

The Nelson Mitzvah Garden plaque in Miami Beach, FL.

SOUTHWEST

JAX END-OF-YEAR BANQUET

CSY Jax celebrated its fourth annual End-of-Year Banquet on Sunday, June 8, and said goodbye to its 11 graduates. Some are making their way to yeshivos and seminaries in Israel, while others are heading off to college. The graduating seniors spoke about their experiences and personal growth in NCSY and exchanged messages of inspiration. Next year’s

co-presidents — Manya Goldstein and Sarit Sandler — were introduced by outgoing president Sarita Weltman. Parents and friends were in attendance to witness the touching speeches and relive the inspiration of the past year. The memories of a wonderful year live on in a recap video posted on Vimeo entitled “NCSY Jax Memorable Moments 5774.”

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

Dallas, TX Michel Lomner — michellomner@ncsy.org

Dallas NCSY Spreads Torah and Chili Dallas NCSY participated in the world’s largest kosher chili cookoff. As one of over 50 competing teams, Dallas NCSY managed to make a great impression on hundreds of taste-testers. It was a great opportunity for NCSYers to reach out to their fellow Jewish teens from the area and introduce them to NCSY.

Southwest Goes Southeast Dallas NCSYers ended the year with The Texas Journey, an amazing trip with Southwest regional director Rabbi Israel Lashak. The three-day journey to Houston, Galveston and the Gulf of Mexico left every teen inspired. The trip included everything from a safari and visit to NASA, to dolphin-watching and body surfing in the Gulf. The Texas Journey proved to be a smashing success and brought another amazing season to a close.

UPSTATE NEW YORK Jacksonville, FL

Savannah, GA

Rabbi Shaya Hauptman — info@ncsyjax.com

Rabbi Eli Lob — lobe@ncsy.org

See mini-story above.

Once Again Savannah NCSY Breaks all Records

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

See mini-story left.

MIAMI BEACH WINS NATIONAL COMPETITION After several months of hard work, the Hebrew Academy of Miami Beach (RASG) JUMP team won the National NCSY JUMP Competition. Each team in the competition was charged with successfully creating and executing four events relating to Israel advocacy, Jewish values, Holocaust remembrance and bullying, as well as a fundraising event for their school and community. The JUMP Challenge is designed to develop and build critical aspects of leadership that can be applied throughout life and, more specifically, in service to the Jewish community.

Nashville, TN Karen Steinberg — steinbergk@ncsy.org

Nashville hosts Greater South West District FNL In May, Congregation Sherith Israel in Nashville, TN, hosted the first ever multi-city Friday Night Lights. The weekend kicked off with advisors Avi Warman and Yasmine Avrahami at a Latte & Learn on Thursday night in Nashville. On Friday, Avi drove two hours to run a Latte & Learn for teens in Huntsville, AL, while some of the girls enjoyed baking and cooking in preparation for Shabbat with Yasmine. Nashville teens were joined by friends from Huntsville, Al, and Chattanooga, TN, for a memorable Shabbat and Saturday night.

Savannah NCSY has recognized the tremendous impact and inspiration that Shabbatons have had on both Savannah NCSYers and the entire community. Therefore, they decided to host a record-breaking five Shabbatons this year — in addition to participating in all three regionals.

South Miami, FL Jason Segelbaum — segelbaumj@ncsy.org

South Miami NCSY Helps Feed Homeless With its numerous chesed events, South Miami NCSY showed once again that NCSY programming is more than kickball or a Saturday night activity. During the year, the teens volunteered at Camillus House, a homeless shelter in downtown Miami, to make over 400 PB&J sandwiches. Every participant felt a sense of satisfaction for having been able to help those in need in a small way.

South Miami NCSY Wins Chapter Programming Award South Miami NCSY has shown over the last two years that programming is the cornerstone of the chapter. Whether it be at a high school, middle school, JSU club, Bar Mitzvah Club, or FroYo & Learn, every South Miami NCSY program centers around one of five themes: camaraderie, religious education, Israeli interest, chesed or leadership. The different combinations of venues and themes led incredibly to over 125 programs for South Miami NCSY this past year.

Marc Fein, Regional Director 718.216.6445 // feinm@ncsy.org upstate.ncsy.org

Albany, NY Albany is the Capital of Upstate NCSY Albany NCSY kicked off this past year with a local Shabbaton and motzei Shabbat bowling trip, and the fun continued the rest of the year. NCSYers participated in Thursday night Mishmars, which included Torah, fun, delicious food and monthly Shabbatons featuring a Shabbat day hangout. After years of enjoying regional Shabbatons hosted by other neighboring chapters, Albany finally had the opportunity to host Winter Regional. Fifty teens spent an enjoyable Shabbat at Congregation Beth Abraham-Jacob, and on motzei Shabbat they were given a tour of the city via a scavenger hunt. NCSY Albany celebrated many Jewish holidays together, including Chanukah and Purim. On Shavuot, the teens participated in an amazing all-night learning with shiurim written and given by the NCSYers themselves.

Buffalo, NY The Year of the Buffalo This past year, the Buffalo chapter ran more events than ever before. With Simchat Torah celebrations, Yo Betty ice cream outings, bowling, rock climbing, Lazertron, ice skating and other exciting events, the chapter was active all year long. Additionally, over the year, three advisors from NYC traveled to Buffalo to spend Shabbatot with 15 young men and women and Buffalo also held its first-ever night-learning program on Shavuot. The chapter’s growth and improvement was recognized by the region and it received the Har Sinai Chapter-of-the-Year award. Thanks to the guidance of Rivke Berkowitz, chapter president Mariah Stein and an excellent chapter board, 2013-2014 was an unforgettable year! ROSH HASHANAH 2014

Rochester, NY A Tremendous Year of Programming for Rochester This past year, Rochester NCSY kicked off with Fall Convention with close to 65 Jewish teens from Albany, Binghamton, Buffalo and Syracuse in attendance. As the year progressed, Rochester held weekly Juniors events for over 20 NCSYers, monthly chesed programs including food drives and visiting residents at the Jewish Home, and many JSU meetings with Rabbi Avi Kilimnick. In April, NCSYers traveled to NYC for the annual Reverse Visitation where they spent Shabbat in Washington Heights with advisors and toured The Jewish Heritage Museum, Sony Wonder Technology Lab and Times Square. At Spring Convention, the highlight for Rochester was seeing the chapter’s very own Hannah Newman win NCSYer of the Year. Shortly after, on Shavuot, 30 NCSYers stayed up the whole night learning with advisors and peers. As a mark of the chapter’s tremendous success, five teens attended NCSY summer programs.

WEST COAST Rabbi Effie Goldberg, Executive Director Solly Hess, Regional Director 310.229.9000 westcoastncsy@ncsy.org westcoast.ncsy.org

East Bay/ NorCal East, CA Rabbi Akiva Naiman — naimana@ncsy.org

Norcal NCSY Continues to Grow This past year, NorCal NCSY has grown in both strength and in numbers. Attendance at weekly Latte & Learning sessions has increased tremendously along with the teens’ dedication to learning. NorCal NCSY is most proud of its growing numbers in its summer and gap-year program recruitment. Ten NorCal NCSYers have traveled to Israel for a gap-year program and 40 have participated in NCSY summer programs.

Los Angeles, CA Yosef Miller — millertime@ncsy.org

CITY WINS CHAPTER OF THE YEAR It’s been a while, but after an awesome, successful year the City chapter is back on top! It was truly emotional to see the graduating seniors, who had been involved since their freshman year and have now evolved into chapter leaders, receive the award. A major congratulations goes to all the City chapter NCSYers and leaders who put their hearts and souls into the year’s work! #chapteroftheyear

Project Rescue Party, an organization dedicated to ending hunger in San Diego. The NCSYers packed more than 400 lunches and spent the afternoon distributing them to the homeless in San Diego. “The chesed event we partook in, after an eventful Shabbat, was one that incorporated the unity of both NCSYers and the San Diego community,” said Ariel Shemesh. “We implemented our learning of helping others in need that NCSY emphasizes and gave back to the underprivileged in San Diego.”

Las Vegas, NV

Portland, OR

Yehuda Maryles — marylesy@ncsy.org

Doovie Jacoby — Doovie@ncsy.org

Las Vegas Expansion

Oregon Chapter ‘Beauty’ Skibaton

Las Vegas NCSY continues to expand with daily innovations and outreach into one of the fastestgrowing Jewish communities in America. There are now two thriving chapters in Summerlin and Las Vegas, with a third chapter making headway into the new Jewish community of Henderson, NV. Las Vegas NCSY currently runs three weekly NCSY programs, six JSU clubs, monthly chesed events, weekly Shabbatons and FNLs, along with many other unique opportunities that serve over 200 public high school teens.

In March, teens from across Oregon gathered in a huge vacation home on Mt. Hood for a weekend of fun and inspiration. Through interactive learning sessions and hands-on activities, the teens gained a Torah understanding of what it truly means to be beautiful. On Saturday night, they built igloos and concluded the weekend on Sunday with skiing and snow tubing on the mountain.

Orange County, CA Mike Donovan — donovanm@ncsy.org

Orange County NCSY Starts New JSU clubs This past year, Orange County NCSY created a real presence with two new, thriving JSU clubs at Woodbridge High School and University High in Irvine, CA. Student participation has been stellar and the teens are getting more involved in Judaism day by day. In the upcoming year, Orange County is hoping to once again expand and open two new clubs.

Phoenix, AZ Shmuli Josephson — shmuli@ncsy.org

Phoenix NCSY Brings Hope to the Homeless

In a special Shabbaton entitled The #Torah Shabbaton, the Phoenix and San Diego chapters joined forces for a weekend of learning Torah and community service. Together, the teens learned for over 250 hours and then put their studies into practice by partnering with

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

San Diego NCSY Hosts Shavuoton San Diego NCSY had over 50 teens and alumni learning together for not only the first but also the second night of Shavuot. The nights of learning and inspiration included one-on-one chavrutas, small advisor and alumni-led sessions and larger classes for the entire group.

Seattle, WA Ari Hoffman — thehoffather@gmail.com

Seattle NCSY Wins New Category in Jump Championship Seattle NCSY participated for the first time in the JUMP Championship and the chapter impressed the judges so much that they created a new category just for Seattle: The Small City Champion. Seattle NCSY’s JUMP projects included a Chinese dinner and movie

SUPERBOWL CHAMPION SEAHAWKS VISIT BASARFEST

n Sunday, June 1, Seattle NCSY hosted its annual Basarfest BBQ and meat cook-off fundraiser. Joining over 300 community attendees and NCSYers was Blitz, the mascot of the Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks, who took pictures, signed autographs, handed out awards and even played football with the children. For the most fun of all, Blitz dunked a few NCSY employees in the dunk tank.

Seattle Seahawks mascot Blitz attends the Seattle NCSY Basarfest.

ARGENTINA Different events from this past year of Argentina NCSY.

night to raise money for Orly Ohayon, a Hunger Games movie night and food drive, Insecuri-tees anti-bullying campaign, an Israel awareness event at Northwest Yeshiva High School with Israel activist David Olesker and creating a Holocaust video that integrated student voices with survivors.

students and community members who came to show their support. The year culminated with an emotional end-of-year ceremony at one of the board member’s homes that celebrated the rise of this incredible chapter.

The Valley, CA

CHILE

Derek Gormin — gormind@ncsy.org Sarah Leah Gormin — sarahleahgormin@gmail.com

JSU’s new ‘Project Legacy’ strengthens families and commitment to heritage Project Legacy encourages personal growth through strengthening family connections. The program works with students to explore what Jewish heritage says about relationships and issues weekly challenges derived from the Jewish tradition. Each challenge is paired with a group reflection and text-based learning session. Project Legacy emphasizes the importance of mitzvot between people, recognizing that fostering a good family life is a divine commandment. Project Legacy launched this year with 55 students and is looking forward to growing more next year.

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

The Rise of West Valley NCSY West Valley NCSY has grown tremendously over the last year and is now a thriving and energetic chapter destined for even further greatness! At last year’s Spring Regional, 12 achievement awards were handed out to NCSYers for Torah Growth, Torah Achievement and Outstanding Leadership, among others. For West Coast’s first annual JSU Pizza Run, each of West Valley’s six JSU clubs was proudly represented by both

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

Challah Baking with Sara Briman, Best Challah in the world It was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for our Chile NCSYers. Mexico’s Sara Briman, who was awarded the “5-Star Diamond Award,” visited Chile and gave a challah-making class to all NCSY girls. With over 60 attendees, NCSYers learned how to prepare delicious challah and of the importance and spiritual meaning of the mitzvah of Hafrashat Challah. NCSYers left with their challot, the best recipe in the world and tons of inspiration to share with their families and friends.

Weekly Torah Classes This first semester of NCSY Chile saw over 100 students enjoy weekly Torah classes. With over 10 different groups each week, everyone had the chance to attend NCSY classes for some coffee and pizza, and to enjoy entertaining Torah topics and amazing programs with their NCSY staff.

End of the Semester BBQ

invited the students for some spicy hot dogs and inspiration from the director.

ARGENTINA Martin Leibovich - martin@ncsy.org

New Chapter in South America Martin Leibovich was a typical basketball star and student-athlete when he attended Yeshiva University. It was during this formative time that he experienced NCSY’s life-changing “ruach” as an advisor. He decided to abandon the material comforts of life in the US and he moved back to his hometown of Buenos Aires so that he could use the skills he learned to inspire others. He is now the director of NCSY Argentina, which is home to the largest Jewish community in South America of 200,000 Jews.

Big Start for NCSY Argentina Using his childhood contacts to build connections in ORT School, the main secular high school in Buenos Aires, in which 60 percent of the 5,000 students are Jewish, Martin Leibovich and Rabbi Marcelo Krawiec have reached out to more than 500 students in just the first six months of NCSY Argentina! An increasing number of teens are now attending Latte & Learning sessions on a weekly basis, with major events being held every other weekend. Coming off of this incredible launch, NCSY Argentina received a lead gift to build a center for the teens to relax, connect and have fun while building a solid Jewish identity with their Jewish peers.

To send this beautiful semester off with a proper farewell, NCSY Chile organized a classic End-ofSemester BBQ. On the last day of school, NCSY Chile

ROSH HASHANAH 2014

BY: RABBI MOSHE BENOVITZ It’s not hard to explain how “Flappy Bird” got its name. Let’s be honest — neither in graphics nor strategy is there much more going on in the game beyond that single unsteady bird with flapping wings. But this year’s other handheld gaming sensation is a much more intriguing study. Why did the creators of “2048” label the game with that particular number? Before anyone grew too proficient and before university math departments around the world got involved in calculating the highest potential score, many believed that 2048 was simply the highest tile one could achieve. Of course, it isn’t. My personal theory? 2048 combines a score of nice accomplishment with the numbers 2, 4, and 8, which make up the rhythm of the addictive game.

Sixty years have shown us that we are capable of greatness. It is up to us to ascertain the form that greatness will take as we move forward. Another suggestion leads us to a fascinating area of human psychology. 2048 was chosen as a number that marked a significant but attainable achievement. A higher number would be too daunting, a lower goal not challenging enough. So 2048 becomes not just the name, but also the game itself, and 2048 also becomes the standard of excellence. It looms large on the top of the screen, even though there are many levels of accomplishment beyond it. And here is the great secret: When we are not vigilant, the goal and target can morph into a barrier or ceiling, in place of a catapult or inspiration. It is important to nurture our capacity to imagine and aspire, because 50

all too often we place artificial limits on ourselves. It’s one thing to fail due to lack of talent or even effort; it is entirely another to fail because we are blind to possibility. One summer, a group of NCSYers were engaged in a challenging desert hike in Israel. The trail was marked by numerous gorges and cliffs that needed to be carefully traversed. At each of these there was a potential bottleneck as the entire group needed to wait their turn before descending. There was a particularly steep waterfall with a long line of NCSYers planning to rappel down. As their wait grew, many explored the surrounding terrain looking for an alternative path. In one spot, there was a smooth rock formation that at first glance seemed to give some degree of access, but it was quickly dismissed. A few minutes later, a different group of hikers arrived. They, too, made an assessment of all the possible routes and immediately focused on the rocks. Without hesitation, they slid down and landed safely in the cool water. What was inconceivable a minute before quickly became the primary option. Impossible became possible, and a new natural water slide became one of the highlights of the entire adventure. It is important to sometimes think of how many 2048 barriers exist in our lives. How many paths to success in any one area of our lives are unnecessarily and arbitrarily blocked? How much do we deny ourselves simply because we don’t acknowledge what could be? In certain instances, the irony is even more pronounced. It is not only stated goals that hold us back, but our very proudest accomplishments that can be reinforced as the sole template for future growth. There are times when these models are accurate and healthy benchmarks for our ambitions. However, at other crossroads, our own successful history can blind us to even greater future potential. True, our sages have assured us that accomplishment breeds more accomplishment, and that one good

deed will surely lead to another. There is a momentum and rhythm to religious observance and tomorrow’s possible growth is often predicated on today’s decisions and behaviors. Moreover, it is axiomatic that the biggest of leaps forward are preceded by the smallest of steps. It’s also true, though, that we can sometimes be stuck on success and that one achievement can stifle, instead of inspire, the next victory. When we do something well, we have a hard time believing we can do it better. The more we enjoy and appreciate what we know, the harder it becomes to commit ourselves to a less familiar path. Teshuva is not always corrective in its commonly-understood sense. One need not be on a wrong path to choose a better way. It can be a process of identifying opportunity and opening doors heretofore tightly closed. We need to be careful to respond properly to our triumphs, not only to our failures. In NCSY, we set our sights on a new 60 that will build on the old, without attempting to repeat it, and to address the needs of a new community with new realities, not to allow our mission to be defined by what we have done in the past. There is so much to be proud of, both on a communal and personal level. We are right to feel good about what is in the preceding pages and to recognize our vast potential. But we must also recognize that it is a starting point and not our destination. Sixty years have shown us that we are capable of greatness. It is up to us to ascertain the form that greatness will take as we move forward.

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

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