Southern - Chanukah Ignite 2011

SOUTHERN E D I T I O N

THE NCSY NEWSLETTER

CHANUKAH 2011

2 9

Last year we had 2 Latte & Learnings; this year we have 9

Southern NCSYers pose for a group shot before celebrating Shabbat with their peers and advisors at Fall Regional Convention.

180 Teens Attended Fall Regional Convention Over 180 teens united for Southern NCSY’s monumental Fall Regional Convention. The convention was held on November 11-13 at the Aloft Tapestry Park Hotel in Jacksonville, Florida, and focused on the topic of “Why Be Jewish.”

energetic and inspirational Shabbat exploring their Jewish roots. “Shabbat with NCSY is unlike any other Shabbat you may have,” said Simone Weisberg, regional vice president. “During ebbing, we were one – one family, one community, one region.”

Teens from Florida (South Florida and Jacksonville), Georgia (Savannah and Atlanta), North Carolina (Charlotte) and Alabama (Huntsville) enjoyed an

After a powerful ebbing and Havdalah, everyone enjoyed a Saturday night filled with ice skating, soccer and basketball.

32 47

Last year we had 32 Jewish culture clubs; this year we have 47

90 200+ Two years ago, 90 teens attended Winter Regional; this year we are expecting over 200

Freda Greenbaum Freda Greenbaum is our Steering Committee Chair.

She has served as the President of CAJE, President of the Alper Jewish Community Center, Founding Chairperson of AIPAC South Dade, GMJF Dade Campaign Vice-Chair, Founding Chair of the March of the Living Education and Development Committee and has held national positions with AIPAC, JESNA and the JCCA. What was your first impression of NCSY? When I attended the Leadership Training Seminar in Bal Harbour in 2010, I witnessed such a tremendous difference between teens who were active Continued on next page...

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- Todd Coh n Chanukah

... Donor Spotlight continued and engaged and others elsewhere who were lost and floundering, without any direction or focus.

I still see those NCSYers in breakout sessions, wrestling with real issues such as challenges facing their peers, vision of a youth group and what success looks like after a year of hard work. I had never seen teens like that before!

What’s the best thing that happened since you started working with NCSY? The best thing has to be getting to sit with other Jewish givers throughout South Florida and learning why they are motivated to make a difference.

I’m personally committed to helping our team raise the funds necessary to really take off. And the more I do that, the more I learn about Jewish leaders around us, their past and what inspired them to grow into who they are.

Nitzan Levy Recently, Boca Raton Synagogue (BRS) hosted the NCSY Scholar in Residence weekend with Rabbi Steven Burg, International Director of NCSY. As part of the program, three of our NCSYers formed a panel and reflected on their experiences with NCSY. Nitzan Levy, a senior at Spanish River and Chapter President of Boca Raton, shared the following thoughts about NCSY.

Regarding challenges…

Keeping the holidays all alone is hard for me. Because I don’t live in an observant home, I try as hard as I can to get to “the Circle” (a reference to BRS’ “Montoya Circle,” the epicenter for vibrant, Jewish life in Boca Raton) for Shabbat and Chagim. Nonetheless, I remember one Yom Kippur I couldn’t make it so I closed my door and hid in my room all chag. I prayed, I fasted, and at least for me, in my bedroom, it was Yom Kippur.

Kashrut is another challenge in my life.

I don’t pay for groceries at home and although I’m blessed with a mother who is supportive, I’m not in a position where I can live the life I want to lead when I am older. At school it’s hard too, because there are so many non-kosher snacks around and eating is such a big part of hanging out.

Regarding community…

I love how NCSY brings teens from public school together with Jewish day school teens. I learn so much from them and they never laugh at me or make fun of me for not knowing what to do. I feel like they have a sense of responsibility to reach out to kids like me – in fact, the first time I met Simita Barracos, Regional President of Southern NCSY, she insisted I join her for Shabbat!

Regarding leadership…

Since I’ve joined NCSY, I’ve developed greater self-confidence and a sense of responsibility for other Jews. I co-run Latte & Learning in Boca by finding a venue, recruiting attendees and securing presenters. I’m proud to share that since I’ve been involved, we’ve never cancelled a single Latte & Learning. We need a place where all teens can go and be accepted, to ask questions and to feel secure, and that is exactly what Latte & Learning is for me and my friends.

In Closing…

I want to thank all the staff, advisors and donors who make NCSY what it is for me. I know that without you, I wouldn’t be active in the Jewish community and certainly less observant. Thank you for all you do for me and my peers!

NCSY provides those critical lifelong connections with mentors that I just haven’t seen anywhere else.”

Why NCSY? Why do we get to benefit from your wisdom, experience and love?

Although there are many wonderful youth programs and talented leaders, I believe only NCSY has the professional staff and volunteer advisors who can answer teens’ most challenging questions about G-d and our religion. They are not only passionate and talented; they are educated and engaging. Our teens need role models who are not only present at meetings and events, but who are there to help kids grow as Jews and to take the next steps in their engagement. NCSY provides those critical lifelong connections with mentors that I just haven’t seen anywhere else.

What would you tell others who are considering donating to NCSY?

Since I’ve joined NCSY, I’ve developed greater self-confidence and a sense of responsibility for other Jews.

Come to a Shababton and meet some of these amazing teens yourself! Ride the bus to Cocoa Beach with them, like I did, and hear their stories.

Sit at their table and learn how NCSY has changed their lives. We are saving Jewish souls, one by one, and as we do so, the teens grow and inspire others to do the same.

Anything else you’d like to throw in?

We know the challenges our teens are facing on college campuses around the country. Many have no Jewish connection and are clueless about their rich heritage and our traditions. If we don’t prepare them before leaving home, we know the likelihood of losing them statistically is frightening. The organized Jewish community must respond by investing major resources to impact and educate our teens while they are still at home.

It’s the only chance we have – and NCSY is doing just that.

Bringing to Light Local News You Need to Know

Leadership HELD Training Seminar in Bal Harbour Southern NCSY’s regional board and chapter presidents gathered in Bal Harbour for a weekend dedicated to leadership training and empowerment at this year’s Leadership Training Seminar (LTS). The weekend’s leadership training emphasized public speaking. During the Dr. Shmuel and Evelyn Katz Afternoon of Chizuk (strength and encouragement), NCSYers shared personal NCSY experiences that had a strong and positive impact on their Jewish identity. “It was honestly the best weekend of my life. Being with everyone and being able to connect was truly amazing. The Bal Harbour community is so welcoming and warm,” said Sarita Weltman, an NCSYer whose mother drove six hours from Jacksonville so she could be part of the LTS.

Southern NCSYers celebrating sukkot Sefardi style!

15 New JEwish culture clubs opened this year

Since the school year began, Southern NCSY created 15 new Jewish culture clubs in public schools and charter schools throughout the region, including Miami Arts Charter School, Ben Gamla Charter South Plantation, Nova High School, McFatter Technical High School and more. Club participation has skyrocketed with over 400 teens attending Jewish culture clubs a week.

Aventura NCSY, under the new leadership of Aventura Directors Rabbi Joe & Miriam Goldglantz, has quickly made its mark within the Southern region. The chapter kicked off with a well attended Movie Night on the Beach in October and has been going strong ever since. Over 30 teens a week attending Iced Latte and Learning at Tutti Fruitti’s.

Latte & Learning/Iced Latte & Learning This year, Latte & Learning in Southern NCSY got off to an amazing start with over 100 teens gathering weekly in seven locations throughout South Florida and Jacksonville for some Torah learning, coffee and fun with friends. When several locations relocated to ice cream shops, “Iced” Latte & Learning was born.

New Chapter opens in Coral Springs/Parkland Teens from Coral Springs and Parkland recently banded together to form the newest chapter in Southern NCSY. They have a well-attended weekly Iced Latte and Learning on Wednesday nights at Yo-Le’s and enjoyed a pre Thanksgiving bon fire at Quiet Waters Park with Rabbi Nahum Zak.

AAventura now under new City Directors

New City Director in Kendal NCSY Rabbi Yossi Klugman recently joined the Southern NCSY team as director of Kendal NCSY. In addition to running Jewish culture clubs at Miami Killian Sr. HS, Coral Reef Sr. HS and Palmetto Sr. HS, Kendal teens have enjoyed holiday programming including Burgers at the Berger’s Succah and Simchat Torah at Young Israel. Coming soon, the Latkah Cookoff. In addition, Rabbi Klugman, has set up bi-weekly Latte & Learnings at the local Starbucks for teens to come and talk about contemporary Jewish issues in a relaxed atmosphere.

New City Director in Hollywood Southern Region welcomes Mrs. Bari Girnun as city director of Hollywood NCSY. A past, beloved teacher at BMA, RASG and Hillel Day Schools, Bari brings her experiences and talents to the team, to engage even greater number of teens in Broward County. Her popular “D’liteful Learning at D’Lites” currently attracts over 30 teens weekly and her NCSY clubs in Posnack, Ben Gamla, Nova and McFatter Tech High Schools are gaining momentum.

Rabbi Steven Burg (left), International Director of NCSY, together with Joseph “JB” Bensmihen at Euro Fusion.

Sukkah Sefardi Party South Florida celebrated sukkot Sefardi style on Sunday October 16 (during chol hamoed) at the Skylake Synagogue in North Miami. Nearly 50 teens, some dressed Sefardic style, braved the unrelenting rain to enjoy authentic Sefardic food, dancing and creating hennah designs.

Rabbi Burg, Intl. Director of NCSY, Scholar in Residence Weekend at BRS Boca Raton Synagogue welcomed Rabbi Steven Burg, International Director of NCSY, on November 18th as part of its NCSY Scholar in Residence weekend. On Friday night, Rabbi Burg inspired over 100 teens at an oneg hosted by Rabbi Efrem Goldberg. Shabbat Morning, Rabbi Burg delivered a sermon to the congregation and later that afternoon moderated a question and answer panel with three Southern region NCSYers. Attendees were invited to ask the teens questions and to hear their perspectives on challenges and opportunities facing American Jewish teens today.

Community Wide Melave Malkeh Sponsored by the David Bensmihen Foundation NCSY partners, donors and friends gathered Saturday evening, November 19, at the grand opening Euro Fusion for NCSY’s first community wide melaveh malkeh. Generously sponsored by the David Bensmihen Foundation, the evening was designed to raise NCSY’s profile and to introduce parents, grandparents, community partners and others to our outreach efforts. Aside from a short presentation from NCSY’s International Director Rabbi Steven Burg and Host Committee Chair Gila Stern, the evening was spent mingling amongst friends, meeting some of Southern NCSY’s regional board members and learning about the current programs offered for teenagers in our region.

Rabbi Yossi Klugman jamming with Coral Reef’s Jewish culture club.

1100 NE 163rd Street, Suite 404 North Miami Beach, FL 33162

Regional Leadership Todd Cohn Executive Director

Rabbi Ben Gonsher Director of Advancement

Karen Steinberg Associate Director of Programming

Rabbi Eli Capser Director of OperationsÂ

Chaim Neiditch Atlanta

Joe Goldglantz Aventura

Jason Daniels Charleston

Shaya Hauptman Jacksonville

Bari Girnun Hollywood

Yossi Klugman Kendall

Nahum Zak Miami Beach & Palm Beach

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