Ignite - Rosh Hashanah 2013 by NCSY

NCSY CITIES ATLANTIC SEABOARD

NCSY is the international youth movement of the OU

410.358.6279 atsoffice@ncsy.org atlanticseaboard. ncsy.org

Executive Leadership Rabbi Micah Greenland............Interim International Director, NCSY Rabbi Yaakov Glasser................International NCSY Keevy Fried...................................Associate International Director, NCSY Martin Nachimson.......................President, OU Allen Fagin.....................................National Youth Commission Chairman, OU Rabbi Steven Weil.......................Executive Vice President, OU Lenny Bessler...............................Chief Human Resources Officer, OU Sam Davidovics...........................Chief Information Officer, OU Mayer Fertig..................................Chief Communications Officer, OU Paul S. Glasser.............................Senior Director of Institutional Advancement, OU Shlomo Schwartz........................Chief Financial Officer, OU

International STAFF Rabbi Jack Abramowitz............OU Torah Content Editor Rabbi Dovid Bashevkin.............Director of Education 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 Samantha Freesman..................Summer Programs Associate Tova Flancbaum..........................Associate Director of Marketing Rebekah Friedman.....................Summer Programs Associate Frieda Gartenhaus......................Office Manager Jen Goldman................................Assistant Director of NCSY Summer Dan Hazony...................................Director of Information Systems Rabbi Yehoshua Marchuck......Director of Alumni Andres Moncayo.........................Graphic Designer Duvi Stahler...................................Director of Marketing Debbie Stone................................Associate Director of Education Elliot Tanzman..............................Director of NCSY Summer Recruitment Josh Weinberg.............................Digital Media Manager Avi Wollman...................................Systems Support Manager

Regional Leadership Atlantic Seaboard.......................Rabbi Jonah Lerner Argentina........................................Rabbi Marcelo Krawiec Canada............................................Rabbi Glenn Black Central East...................................Rabbi Tzali Freedman Chile.................................................Michael Bengio Georgia........................................ Rabbi Chaim Neiditch Germany.........................................Anna Segal Israel.................................................Rabbi Yisroel Goren Midwest..........................................Rabbi Moshe Isenberg and Rabbi Donny Schwartz New Jersey....................................Rabbi Yaakov Glasser New York........................................Rabbi Yehoshua Kohl Southern.........................................Todd Cohn Southwest......................................Rabbi Israel Lashak Upstate New York.......................Marc Fein West Coast....................................Rabbi Effie Goldberg and Solly Hess

Summer Leadership BILT...................................................Rabbi Akiva Naiman Euro ICE..........................................Rabbi Israel Lashak GIVE.................................................Erin Cooper Stiebel GIVE USA.......................................Amy Tropp 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 Plus...........................................Josh Gottesman

ON THE COVER: Malki Infield (left), an NCSYer from Teaneck, NJ, lights Shabbat candles with Teaneck NJ Director, Mrs. Aliza Blumenthal. Photo: Claudio papapietro

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 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 888.471.4514 ncsyce@ncsy.org centraleast.ncsy.org

Johns Creek, GA Marietta, GA Sandy Springs, GA

MIDWEST 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 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 201.862.0250 office@njncsy.com newjersey.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

011.54.11.4962.109 x123 kraweicm@ncsy.org

Buenos Aires

CHILE 011.56.99.186.5575 ncsychile@ncsy.org

Santiago

GERMANY 011.49.30.440.10160 a.segal@lauder.de

NEW YORK

404.486.8787 rcn@ncsy.org ncsyatlanta.com

516.569.6279 nyinfo@ncsy.org newyork.ncsy.org

WEST COAST

Atlanta, GA Alpharetta, GA Dunwoody, GA

Bronx, NY Brooklyn, NY Cedarhurst, NY

Associate Editors

ARGENTINA

972.934.9143 ncsysw@ncsy.org southwest.ncsy.org

GEORGIA

Dovid Bashevkin Rael and Aliza Blumenthal Rina Emerson Danielle Epstein Tamar Felman Seth Feuerstein-Rudin Deena Katzenstein Gary Magder Kenny Idan Rub

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 Portland, OR Eugene, OR El Paso, TX Seattle, WA

SOUTHWEST

Albany, NY Binghamton, NY Buffalo, NY Catskills District, NY Mount Kisco, NY Rochester, NY Schenectady, NY Syracuse, NY

Duvi Stahler

Andrés Moncayo

1-866-887-5788 Southern@ncsy.org southern.ncsy.org

Cherry Hill, NJ East Brunswick, NJ Englishtown, NJ Fair Lawn, NJ Freehold, NJ Freehold Boro, NJ Hackensack, NJ Highland Park, NJ Hightstown, NJ Livingston, NJ Malboro, NJ Manalapan, NJ Millburn, NJ Montclair, NJ Northern Highlands, NJ Randolph, NJ Teaneck, NJ Twin Rivers, NJ West Orange, NJ

SPECIAL THANKS TO

ART DIRECTOR

SOUTHERN

Windsor, CA 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

Editor

Tova Flancbaum Michael Orbach

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

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

UPSTATE NEW YORK 718.216.6445 feinm@ncsy.org upstate.ncsy.org

310.229.9000 ncsywc@ncsy.org westcoast.ncsy.org

Berlin Leipzeig

ISRAEL 02.560.9100 aberman@ouisrael.org ouisrael.org

Acco Ariel Bat Yam Beit Shemesh Gedera Jerusalem Kiryat Gat Kiryat Malachi Kiryat Shemona Ma’ale Adumim Masuot Yitzchak Nahariya Netanya Netivot Ofakim Ramat Hasharon Rechovot Sderot Tel Aviv Tiberias Yafo

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

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TABLE OF CONTENTS 10

16 NCSY’S WINNING YEAR Take a look at our award-winning team.

NCSY CELEBRATES ISRAEL There’s no one way to celebrate.

UP ALL NIGHT How NCSYers raised nearly $20,000 through Torah.

SWEET KOSHER HOME ALABAMA Struggling to keep kosher in a non-kosher home.

HUNGRY TO HELP A teen starts an organization to feed the homeless.

PASSION FOR FASHION One girl shows that passion and modesty go hand in hand.

WHERE PRINCIPALS FOUND THEIR PRINCIPLES Top educators reveal their NCSY roots.

THE ROGUE CHEERLEADER Kayla Mogil’s transition from cheerleader to Israeli soldier.

FACES IN THE CROWD Find out the secrets behind NCSY marketing.

CHAIRMAN’S MESSAGE Allen Fagin discusses how NCSY combats assimilation.

SUMMER SNAPSHOTS NCSY Summer through the lenses of photographers.

LEARNING TO LEAD Teens across North America reach out to make a difference.

COMMUNITY SNAPSHOTS Community members came out to support NCSY.

KIDS IN THE HALL NCSYers stand up for what matters most.

DIRECTOR’S MESSAGE What is so special about the Jewish New Year?

YEAR THE PRESIDENT DIDN’T GO TO THE WHITE HOUSE 08 THE Ariella Freedman reflects on a year filled with accomplishments.

32 33

THE LONE JEW The life of the only Jewish teen in Claremont, NY.

BROTHERLY LOVE Philadelphia NCSY gets its groove.

EYE ON ADVISORS Get to know two NCSY advisors making a difference.

RISKY BUSINESS Taking a break from two businesses to summer with NCSY.

PLUGGED IN Ask the rabbi goes digital.

COMING HOME Rabbi Yehoshua Kohl returns to make his mark on NCSY.

CITY HIGHLIGHTS Happenings around the NCSY world.

ALMOST PERFECT Rabbi Moshe Benovitz on confronting imperfection.

Rosh Hashanah — the Jewish New Year, our new year, the anniversary of the creation of man — stands in stark contrast with the New Year celebrations of other nations of the world. Look at the festivities that mark the dawn of a new year in virtually any nation or people, and the mood is unambiguously jovial. Parades in the streets, parties into the wee hours, music and revelry — these are the defining characteristics that herald the beginning of a new year in most cultures. Contrast Rosh Hashanah with those celebrations, and we get a more complex picture. To be sure, Rosh Hashanah is indeed a bona fide holiday, defined in part by its delicious foods and festive dress. But it’s also our Yom HaDin, Day of Judgment, and it is this aspect of the holiday that often carries the day in the hearts and minds of Jews everywhere. This is for good reason. The Talmud in Rosh Hashanah 32b records that the reason Rosh Hashanah does not include the recitation of Hallel, the usual song of celebration that is generally part and parcel of every Jewish holiday, is because it would be inappropriate given the intensity that should accompany a day during which “the books of life and death” are sitting open before our Judge. Moreover, the piyutim, poetic additions, that we include in our tefillah on Rosh

Hashanah are also consumed with a focus on that judgment, as we compare ourselves to sheep passing before a shepherd who holds a life and death decision in his hands. Pretty serious stuff.

THE GREAT VALUE OF ROSH HASHANAH AS A TIME FOR INTROSPECTION MEANS ACKNOWLEDGING THAT THERE IS MUCH MORE YET TO BE DONE. But that further begs the question: why? Why, of all days of the year, was Rosh Hashanah the day designated by God to be the Day of Judgment? Why would He not allow us a New Year celebration that is exclusively festive, and schedule the Day of Judgment — assuming that it is necessary at all — on a different day of the year? I’d like to suggest, building upon an idea first suggested in the 14th century by Rabbeinu Nissim of Gerona (Chidushei HaRan, Rosh Hashanah 16a), that by giving us a day of judgment at precisely this time of the year, God, in fact, did us all an incredible favor. The very first Rosh Hashanah 5774 years ago was not only the day on which Adam HaRishon was created (following the opinion of Rabbi Eliezer in Rosh Hashanah 11a), but it was also the day during which he committed the first sin, was judged and exonerated. As a result, the Chidushei HaRan suggests, the day of Rosh Hashanah is inherently inclined towards favorable judgment! If there’s to be a day each year that God judges His people, He is doing us a great kindness by choosing to judge us on a day that has been imbued, from the very first Rosh Hashanah and on, with a disposition of clemency. Secondly, Rosh Hashanah’s nature as Yom Hadin has another ramification. It is not only a day on which we are judged for our past actions, which has a negative connotation, but it also builds a critical annual opportunity for introspection and self-reflection

into our calendar. That chance for self-improvement is itself a real cause for celebration! Reviewing our deeds carefully, with an eye towards refining our actions and attitudes, as well as those of our communities, is a sacred duty to be joyously embraced. It is only through that thoughtful analysis and examination that we can truly change as individuals and as communities. We are enormously proud of what NCSY has managed to accomplish this past year. The innovative activities from our 12 North American regions have engaged many thousands of teens in Jewish life. Our NCSY Summer division reached a record 978 teens with lifechanging programs in Israel, Europe and North America. And hundreds of NCSYers who graduated high school this past June have chosen to spend this year studying Torah in Israel, deepening their connection to their land and their heritage in ways that would not have been possible without NCSY. But the great value of Rosh Hashanah as a time for introspection means acknowledging that there is much more to be done. We must further invest in our talented staff this coming year, with a focus on helping them develop further as professionals and as educators, and that will be a priority this year. We intend to redouble our efforts at even greater innovation in our programming, as we recognize that there are masses of Jewish teens with whom we have yet to connect with and who are sorely in need of inspiration. May this be a Rosh Hashanah, God willing, of successful personal and communal introspection, one which leads us to truly appreciate the greatness of this Yom HaDin. And as a result, may the year that follows be one of unprecedented spiritual heights for each of us and for the Jewish community. Shana Tova,

Rabbi Micah Greenland

What do you think is the biggest issue facing Jewish teens today and why? June 3 at 5:15 pm

Nevida Susman Being discriminated or bullied because of actions based on religious practices. It’s not fair for people to laugh at you or insult you when you’re trying to be religious, on any level. June 3 at 5:16 pm · Like 5 Esty Saklad The need for validation from everyone around them. It’s very difficult to do the right thing when you feel that everyone needs to agree with you and like what you’re doing.  June 4 at 12:48 am· Like 1 Josh Rosenbaum Too often, Jewish teenagers go through day school or Sunday school systems and emerge apathetic towards their Judaism… The greatest challenge facing Jewish teens today is finding a passion for Judaism and thriving off of it, ultimately leading to growth as loving, caring and faithful Jews. June 4 at 12:56 am· Like 3

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RINA EMERSON When you walk into the office and notice Duvi wearing the same shirt he wore the day before, it’s probably because he slept in the office. Since Duvi became the director of marketing three years ago, the organization has exploded. Every design, program and piece of writing in NCSY has benefited from Duvi’s impeccable eye for design and strategic approach to marketing. Whether it’s running and developing a conference for 500 people, revamping Ignite from a 16-page newsletter to a 52-page magazine or rebranding NCSY Summer, no project is too big for Duvi to tackle. Commenting on Duvi’s influence on the organization, a veteran NCSY staff member said, “I always thought marketing was about cool flyers. But Duvi has shown the organization how to integrate design and marketing principles to make our programs more exciting, our conferences more impactful and our fundraising efforts more effective.” Explaining his approach to marketing at NCSY, Duvi said, “Like everything NCSY does, it is about the relationships. I try to use marketing and branding to make the relationships that teens, parents and communities have with our organization more memorable and powerful.” Duvi has also transformed NCSY into a leader in the digital space, pioneering new websites, mobile apps and social media marketing initiatives. For Duvi, his work at NCSY is not just about the marketing department he manages — it’s about creating a culture of excellence and enthusiasm throughout the organization. In his free time, Duvi entered the world of stand-up comedy and won first place at The Jewish Week’s annual comedy competition in 2012. Duvi will begin his MBA at NYU’s Stern School of Business this coming fall. It can be exhausting listening to Duvi’s accomplishments, but considering his frantic pace of productivity, we suggest you take a nap — or you’ll miss what he does next. 6

From NCSYer to associate regional director of New York NCSY to director of NCSY Alumni and finally to associate director of development for the Orthodox Union, Rina Emerson has devoted the last 15 years of her life to serving the Jewish community through NCSY and the OU. This summer, she is relocating to Los Angeles, CA, with her family. Take a look as she reflects on her career with NCSY. Why have you stayed with NCSY and the OU for all these years?

For me, working for NCSY was not just a job, it was a lifestyle. Both my husband and I grew up in NCSY. My children looked forward to Shabbatons and having guests at our Shabbat table every week. Even after I switched to the OU, I still maintained my connection with my NCSYers and continued to have them over. That being said, whenever it came time to look for something new, I kept coming back to the NCSY/OU world. Working in a place that has meaning and purpose makes you want to come to work. Every morning when I walk through the doors of the OU, I know I’m helping the Jewish people. What most impresses you about NCSY?

There’s no question about it — the dedication of the staff and their willingness to give of themselves. Everyone involved, from advisors to directors, does it because they know the impact they can have on the lives of Jewish teens. What message do you have for NCSY supporters?

When you give to NCSY, you’re investing straight into a teen’s future. Although kids spend most of the year in school, the summer months are the most influential. I was on Michlelet as a teenager and spent three summers as the associate director of TJJ. To this day, I see friends from Michlelet and campers from TJJ and I see firsthand that the effects of these programs are endless. Investing in NCSY is an investment in Klal Yisroel.

By Allen Fagin Chairman, NCSY

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. CHARLES DICKENS could well have been thinking of the state of Orthodox Judaism in the 21st century when he wrote those famous opening lines of A Tale of Two Cities. More Torah is being learned at this very moment in yeshivas, seminaries, day schools and kollelim than ever before. More resources are available for those who want to learn, be they novices or experts. There’s an undeniable, tangible energy pulsating through Orthodoxy. Moreover, our communal infrastructure is finally mature enough — and secure enough — to propel these advances. Things could not be better for Orthodox Jews in America. At the same time, we are watching as a large and increasing swath of American Jewry is being decimated. I saw it with my own family. My late father was the only one of his four siblings to remain religious. Many of my first cousins have intermarried; others are unaware of the basic tenets of their faith. This plight is not foreign to many Jewish families. From a statistical perspective, in the space of two generations, an entire segment of the Jewish population has vanished. Left to its own devices, this process of assimilation will continue to wreak havoc on the Jewish population both here and abroad. There are two ways to deal with this encroaching threat: retreat as far as possible behind walls that are as high as possible, or reach outside of ourselves to interact with and influence others. I think the beauty of NCSY is that it is built upon the latter approach. If you’re reading Ignite magazine, you are probably familiar with the

work NCSY does. NCSY is the flagship movement of the Orthodox Union. More resources are devoted to the mission of NCSY than all other programs in the OU combined. NCSY is international in scope, with regions in Canada, South America, Europe, and across the United States, impacting thousands of Jewish teenagers every year. As teens from Conservative or Reform households move further away from organized synagogue life, NCSY is ready to meet them where they are: in the public schools, and even at the local coffee shop for Latte & Learning, wherever and whenever. NCSY alumni are spread across every Jewish community and function as rabbis, educators and lay leaders in their synagogues and communal institutions. If you haven’t directly experienced what NCSY does, then someone you know has. NCSY works because it provides teens with spirituality and community, two enormously powerful elements in molding one’s faith. At New Jersey NCSY’s Spring Regional this past May, I saw 300 individuals — each with a unique personality and unique background — yearning for something more. I saw them coming together in a spirit of unity and solidarity in order to inspire one another. I came away with two indelible impressions. The first was a profound pride in the truly extraordinary accomplishments of

our NCSY professionals. They are a remarkably talented group, brimming with contagious enthusiasm and eager to share their knowledge of Torah and love for Yiddishkeit with the young people who are so inspired by them. The second is an abiding optimism. NCSY is working; young souls are being nurtured and inspired. If you care about the future of the Jewish people, then help support the organization that has the greatest track record in accomplishing that. I hope you will join me in supporting NCSY. With your help, NCSY can make this the best of times for Orthodox Judaism.

Allen Fagin is a partner of the Proskauer law firm and served as the firm’s chairman from 2005-2011. A recognized leader in the field of labor and employment law, Allen has appeared on CNN and been quoted in numerous publications, including The New York Times, Business Week, and US News and World Report. Despite the demands of his practice, Allen provides leadership in the community and has devoted a substantial portion of his spare time to numerous philanthropic organizations. Allen is the Chairman of NCSY, former Senior Vice President of the Orthodox Union and former member of the Board of Directors of Lawyers Alliance of New York.

PHOTO: RICHARD LOBELL

For many NCSY teen presidents, the highlight of the year is meeting the President of the United States at the Jewish American heritage event at the White House. This year, however, the event was canceled. To say the least, I was greatly disappointed. But, as it says in the Talmud, “Everything Hashem does, He does for the good.” As I reflect on this past year, I realize how blessed I am to have not visited the White House. Instead of it being the highlight of my year, it is now what highlights the truly meaningful moments that I was privileged to experience as the teen president of NCSY. Rather than looking back at this year as the year I went to the White House, it is the year that we in NCSY...

Launched the #NCSYStandsWithIsrael campaign. On November 20, over 850 NCSYers around the world showed their solidarity with Israel by wearing red. This international campaign taught me the strength that is possible when we unite as one. When we stand together, Am Yisrael Chai. 8

Shared in the largest national Yarchei Kallah in NCSY’s history! This past December, I had the wonderful privilege of learning Torah with more than 250 NCSYers from North America. Yarchei Kallah gave me the unparalleled opportunity to spend five days with world-renowned scholars, outstanding advisors, and the most incredible Jewish teens out there. I left Yarchei Kallah feeling inspired and empowered to further my growth as both a Jew and as an individual.

Initiated Call of Inspiration. Every Monday night from 9:00-9:15 pm EST, NCSYers dial into a nationwide conference call to learn Torah from some of the greatest role models, leaders and educators in the Jewish community. Since January, we have learned about holidays, Jewish values and other topics that are both relevant and interesting to today’s teens. With the help of Call of Inspiration, hundreds of NCSYers from over 20 states have been inspired on a weekly basis.

Created the Teen-2-Teen (T2T) chavruta program. T2T gives NCSYers the unique opportunity to learn Torah with a fellow NCSYer who may be from a different region or come from a different background. T2T helps NCSYers understand the universality of Torah, since every person sees Torah from a different perspective. This year, we had more than 60 teens learning together. There are no words to describe how incredibly life-changing this past year has been. I learned and gained far more than I could have ever imagined. I met people from all walks of life and experienced Judaism with an excitement and fervor like never before. I am proud to have been part of the NCSY family, and I am exceptionally proud to be part of the Jewish people. Thank you NCSY for teaching me to be a proud Jew and to never stop sharing my Jewish pride with the world. Turns out the year I didn’t go to the White House was my best year yet. Ariella Freedman graduated from Yeshiva University High School for Girls (Central) in June. She is currently studying at Michlelet Mevaseret Yerushalayim (MMY) in Israel.

MAJOR EVENTS AROUND NCSY

SUMMER SNAPSHOTS Take a look into NCSY Summer through the lenses of photographers.

LEARNING TO LEAD Teens across North America reach out to make a difference.

COMMUNITY SNAPSHOTS Community members across the nation came out to support NCSY.

KIDS IN THE HALL NCSYers stand up for what matters most.

NCSY’S WINNING YEAR Take a look at our award-winning team.

NCSY CELEBRATES ISRAEL There’s no one way to celebrate.

UP ALL NIGHT How NCSYers raised nearly $20,000 through Torah. 9

Photos (clockwise from top): Eli Stahler; Benji Cheirif; Benji Cheirif

This past summer, a record number of 978 teens across the world spent their summer with NCSY exploring their Jewish heritage and creating memories to last a lifetime. With three new programs, NCSY now runs 12 summer programs for teens in the US, Israel and Europe. Take a look at some of the moments that made their summer the best one yet.

TJJ Ambassador Noah Horowitz (left), along with the rest of the group, experienced what itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s like to be a member of the Knesset, the legislative branch of Israelâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s government. They also made time to see the land of Israel during a hike to the springs of Ein Prat (right).

Photos (clockwise from top): Adrienne Battistella; Daniel Feldman; DY Rubin; Chaya Ross; Rena Stahler

GIVE USA travelled to New Orleans to rebuild houses with Habitat for Humanity, among other volunteer activities.

Ninety-seven girls spent their summer on Michlelet learning Torah, doing chesed and touring Israel (and they have lots of pictures to prove it).

Boys in Camp Sports, located in Baltimore, MD, take a breather from a day full of sports, fun and learning.

Ellie Selevan attempts to make bread the way our ancestors did at Kfar Kedem on ICE Israel. No word yet on how it came out.

JOLT (Jewish Overseas Leadership Training) toured the Treblinka death camp in Poland before journeying to Denmark and Israel.

284 public school teens travelled the land of Israel learning about Judaism on TJJ (The Jerusalem Journey). From hiking Har Bental (left) to building rafts on the Kinneret (above), the summer was an experience theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll never forget.

TJJ Plus, a new program for TJJ alumni, spent a week in Poland guided by Holocaust survivor Anna Leiser from Miami, Florida. They then journeyed to Israel for three weeks.

Photos (clockwise from top): Grazia Fiore; Benji Cheirif; Lee Goodman; Benji Cheirif

Teens on Euro ICE took a gondola ride in Venice before Shabbat. After spending two weeks in Europe, they made their way to Israel (via airplane).

More than 150 teens enjoyed intense learning, world-class sports and great trips around Israel on NCSY Kollel.

Photos (clockwise from top left): Sam Neft; Sam Neft; Benji Cheirif; Benji Cheirif

BILT (Boys Israel Leadership Training) spent three days learning new skills in Gadna, an Israeli army training center.

Girls on GIVE (Girls Israel Volunteer Experience) had a blast while painting a school for disabled children in Beâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;er Sheva.

San Diego, CA On April 25, San Diego NCSY held its first-ever Philanthropy Shark Tank event at the Jewish Community Center. Teens spent the day learning about the Jewish perspective on philanthropy and meeting with local charities. The day culminated with teens pitching different organizations to their peers and awarding a grant of $1,000 from the San Diego Jewish Community Foundationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Youth Philanthropy Fund to the organization with the most votes. The winner was Friendship Circle, an organization that provides support for children with special needs.

New Jersey New Jersey NCSY launched LEAD (Leadership Education And Development), a program that combines leadership training with hands-on learning opportunities. Twelve selected teens participated in an array of leadership building activities, which included attending the AIPAC Policy Conference, developing educational programming, and participating in social action missions and public speaking workshops. In addition, the teens met with renowned Jewish leaders such as Richard Joel, president of Yeshiva University.

Earlier in the year, San Diego NCSY capped off an amazing weekend at the THX Shabbaton with a day of chesed at Mission Bay. More than 1,000 items were removed from the beach and surrounding shoreline, totaling 70 pounds of debris.

Teaneck, NJ In April, NCSY partnered with The Frisch School for their third annual chesed mission in Houston, Texas. The four-day mission included working with Habitat for Humanity and the Houston Food Bank in low-income areas. The teens provided 7,395 meals to underprivileged families and schools.

PHOTO: ADAM JUDKIEWICZ PHOTO: VALERIE LOPEZ

Portland, OR In response to a local anti-Israel ad campaign, the Portland NCSY JUMP team constructed a “Thank You Israel” campaign to demonstrate how important and influential Israel is to other countries. The campaign highlighted popular products and systems invented in Israel such as the cellphone, the Kindle reader and the drip irrigation system. After weeks of coordination and hard work, the advertisement ran on 25 Portland city buses for a span of five months. The Portland JUMP team tied for first place when they presented their work to the Project JUMP judges in NYC.

Dallas, TX Immediately following the tornado that struck Oklahoma in May, 38 Southwest NCSYers drove to the hardest-hit areas to help clean up debris and provide support to local families. Special thanks to the Chabad of Oklahoma City and the American Red Cross for coordinating this unforgettable day for the teens.

Atlanta, GA More than 300 teens made decorative pillowcases to brighten the spirits of children in long-term care at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta.

Other Initiatives: Philadelphia, PA Philadelphia NCSY spent a day in the Jewish Relief Agency warehouse packing boxes of non-perishable food items and delivering them to families in need. Savannah, GA Teens at Savannah Arts Academy’s Jewish Student Union decorated boxes to be used for food collection and placed them in synagogues and other strategic locations across Savannah. At the end of the campaign, all the food was distributed to families in need. St. Louis, MO Twenty-seven teen leaders from St. Louis NCSY spent the weekend in Camp Nageela Midwest developing leadership skills and building camaraderie with one another. Teens learned the power of taking initiative and the importance of reaching out to those around them. Greater Washington, MD In the midst of the busy prePassover rush, Greater Washington NCSY braved a chilly Sunday afternoon to “Fill A Truck With Food.” NCSY partnered with Jewish Social Service Agency and a local food bank. Community members shopping for the holiday were encouraged to buy something extra to donate to those less fortunate.

Vancouver, BC As a joint venture between Vancouver NCSY and Congregation Schara Tzedeck, Vancouver NCSY director Rabbi Samuel Ross, together with his family and 15 NCSYers, brought the magic of Shabbat to the Louis Brier Home and Hospital.

West Orange, NJ New Jersey NCSY hosted their first annual West Orange Scholarship Breakfast in the home of Roz and Steve Flatow in May. Rabbi Richard Kirsch was honored with a community leadership award. From left to right, Steve Flatow, Rabbi Richard Kirsch and Rabbi Ethan Katz, associate regional director of NJ NCSY.

Seattle, WA More than 300 people attended Seattle NCSY’s annual Basarfest on May 19. Not only did attendees partake in the best kosher BBQ on the West Coast, but Seattle NCSY partnered with two Star Wars fan tribute companies to raise money for Seattle’s Children’s Hospital. Pictured above, from left to right, Seattle NCSY’s regional board members Ruth Boldor, Sarah Boldor and Richelle Willner-Martin, who served the guests.

Monmouth County, NJ On April 14, Eric and Leslie Buckman hosted a wine and scotch event in support of Monmouth County NCSY. More than 60 community members thoroughly enjoyed spending time with friends while sipping scotch and enjoying elegant desserts.

Photos (clockwise from top left): Nile Kristol; Irwin Cohen; Yitzchok Tom; Yossi Essas; Sanford Riemer

Phoenix, AZ On May 22, more than 70 parents and community members came out to Congregation Beth Tefillah to attend the Jewish Student Unionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s (JSU) annual dinner. This yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s dinner focused on the Maimonides Scholars Program, a chavruta program between JSU high school students. At the dinner, attendees enjoyed hearing from movie and television producer Brian Ross. Pictured above: Solly Hess, regional director of West Coast NCSY, Brian Ross and Rabbi Effie Goldberg, executive director of West Coast NCSY.

Pittsburgh, PA Victor and Cheryl Stiebel joined more than 300 NCSY supporters at the annual Garden Sizzler hosted at the home of Nina and Dan Butler.

Detroit, MI Herschel & Debbie Wrotslavsky, proud parents of four NCSYers and founding committee members of the annual Garden BBQ fundraiser, came out to show their support.

Las Vegas, NV Dr. Adam and Dee Milman hosted their 2nd annual Wine & Tapas to benefit the Jewish Student Union (JSU). More than 100 supporters attended and nearly $10,000 was raised.

Napa Valley, CA NCSY supporters boarded a private jet for the annual men-only one-day escape to Napa Valley with Rabbi Effie Goldberg, executive director of West Coast NCSY. Supporters sampled kosher wines from HaGafen, Covenant, B.R. Cohn, Four Gates and Brobdingnagian wineries, followed by a gourmet dinner with local wine makers prepared by chef Yitzchak Bernstein in the caves of the Gloria Ferrer Winery.

Of Politicians and Plenaries: NCSYers Attend AIPAC Policy Conference

Forty-five NCSYers from Florida, Missouri, Maryland and New Jersey travelled to Washington, D.C., to attend the AIPAC Policy Conference in March. Together with 12,000 Israel advocates from across the nation, NCSYers learned about the US-Israel relationship and its impact on the safety and security of Israel’s future. Over the course of three days, teens had the opportunity to hear from leading experts and prominent politicians including Vice President Joe Biden, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Israeli Ambassador Michael Oren, and Senators John McCain (R-AZ) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY). Teens also had several exclusive meetings led by guest speakers such as Howard Tzvi Friedman, former president of AIPAC and emeritus chair of NCSY; Michael Shapiro, legislative assistant at the Office of Chief Deputy Whip Peter J. Roskam, and many others. On the final day, NCSYers lobbied their local senators and congressmen. After hearing directly from their representatives, NCSYers were able to respond and ask questions.

“This trip showed firsthand how to stand up for your principles and make yourself known on the national front. This was an incredible once-in-a-lifetime trip,” said Aaron Burstyn, a junior at Beth Tfiloh Dahan Community School.

A Senatorial Celebration: Senator Ben Cardin Jewish Scholars Program Celebrates Four Years

When Passion Meets Politics: East Bay NCSY Teen Advocacy Program (TAP) Takes Off

As a part of the Senator Ben Cardin Jewish Scholars Program, more than 70 teens from Baltimore and the Greater Washington area travelled to Washington, D.C., where they underwent extensive political activism training. After learning about the legislative process and strategizing on its impact on the Jewish community at home and abroad, the teens were equipped with knowledge and ready to speak out. The following day, confident and well-informed, the teens trekked to Capitol Hill where they met with local representatives and Jewish members of Congress from across the country. Teens lobbied for a number of pressing issues including sanctions on Iran and the USIsrael strategic partnership.

After six-weeks of political advocacy training, nine selected teen leaders visited Sacramento, CA, to voice their political concerns about gun control, anti-Semitism and school safety to public officials. The teens were guided by the morals and values rooted within Judaism. Many participants maintained their connection with their local representatives even after the program ended, facilitating an ongoing relationship between the legal system and the Jewish community. TAP, led by East Bay NCSY director Rabbi Akiva Naiman, set the stage for East Bay NCSYers to be heard loud and clear.

I realized that I can have an impact; I have the ability to influence the opinion of one congressman or senator, which, in turn, helps dictate American foreign policy as a whole. Yossi Katz

Clayton High School, St. Louis, MO

Co-founder of Hotels.com and AIPAC national board member Robert Diener addresses NCSYers in one of the many exclusive meetings set up for them.

Ignite magazine won two first place awards at the 32nd Annual Simon Rockower Awards for Excellence in Jewish Journalism. Ignite Passover 2012 won for Excellence in Organizational Newsletters. Ignite Rosh Hashanah 2012 won for Excellence in Graphic Design: Cover.

Rabbi Donny Schwartz, interim regional director of Midwest NCSY, was selected as one of America’s Most Inspiring Rabbis by The Jewish Daily Forward newspaper. He attributes his success to a piece of advice one of his rabbis shared with him: “You cannot be giving if you are not growing. In order to be inspiring, you have to be inspired.”

NCSY GIVE alumna Rivka Abbe

was named to The Jewish Week’s “36 Under 36” list, despite only being 18. The list singles out 36 young leaders under the age of 36 who are dedicated to reshaping the Jewish community.

Rabbi Chaim Neiditch, director

of Atlanta NCSY and JSU, was awarded first place at the Shark Tank competition (based on the ABC hit show, Shark Tank), earning more than $15,000 for JSU programming. Rabbi Neiditch pitched JSU to an audience of 300+ and to judges Bernie Marcus, co-founder of Home Depot; Laurie Ann Goldman, CEO of Spanx; and Michael Kogon, founder and CEO of Definition 6.

Detroit NCSY will now receive

funding from the Stephen H. Schulman Millennium Fund for Jewish Youth to expand and enhance the Jewish Scholars Program.

San Diego NCSY was awarded nearly $20,000 in funding from the Jewish Federation of San Diego County’s Community Innovation Fund. Last year, San Diego NCSY was awarded $25,000 from the same fund. San Diego NCSY was included in Slingshot San Diego Journal of Innovative Jewish Projects.

Aryeh Smith, director of Mid-Long Island NCSY, was inducted into the Jewish Education Project Young Pioneers Circle after

being recognized for his outstanding efforts in helping victims of Hurricane Sandy and for setting up numerous Latte & Learning programs throughout Long Island, NY.

Torah High accepted a major multi-year grant from the UJA Federation of Greater Toronto’s WOW Innovation Initiative facilitated through UJA’s Centre for Jewish Education. Torah High was recognized for its leadership in delivering effective and inspiring Jewish courses for credit to Jewish teens in public high schools. Torah High will now be hosting several of their courses online and in the evenings, as well as offering summer incentives to qualifying participants. 19

NCSYers Rap for Israel More than 55 teens participated in San Diego NCSY’s Israel Raps program as part of the Jewish Federation of San Diego County’s Celebrates Israel Festival. Teens formed rap groups and recorded their own songs about Israel based on Jewish sources that they studied as part of the program.

Celebrating Israel in Israel Atlanta teen leaders spent Yom Hazikaron and Yom Ha’atzmaut in Israel this year. Teens attended a memorial ceremony where Israeli teens spoke about their relatives who had died defending Israel.

NCSY partners with Baltimore Israel Coalition to Celebrate Israel @ 65 NCSYers met Matisyahu in an exclusive meet-and-greet shortly before a live concert at Israel65, a celebration organized by the Baltimore Israel Coalition. The Baltimore Israel Coalition is a consortium of organizations in the greater Baltimore area working to support Israel through education, advocacy and community building. The group recently chose Atlantic Seaboard NCSY as its youth partner.

Minneapolis NCSY Helps Teens Discover Their Hebrew Birthdays Rabbi Tzvi Kupfer, city director of Minneapolis NCSY, and his NCSYers helped local teens discover their Hebrew birthdays at the Jewish Federation of Minneapolis’s Israel Celebration. After visiting the NCSY booth, each teen received a certificate with his or her Hebrew birthday on it.

NCSY Walks for Israel Seattle NCSY along with several other organizations, including Northwest Yeshiva High School (NYHS) and Stand With Us, walked across Mercer Island for the annual Walk for Israel on Yom Ha’atzmaut.

Other initiatives: Senator Danforth Israel Scholars Learn About Israel As part of the Senator John Danforth Israel Scholars Program, a select group of St. Louis NCSY teens spent the year learning about Israeli current events, media bias and the history of the State of Israel. Chicago NCSY and Yachad Walk With Israel Chicago NCSY and Yachad joined more than 8,000 members of the Jewish community at the Jewish United Fund’s 2013 Israel Solidarity Day (ISD) in honor of Israel’s 65th birthday.

ne night, in a six-hour span between 11:00 pm and 5:00 am, 42 teens raised nearly $20,000 for NCSY Summer. As part of NCSY’s Shavuot Learn-a-Thon, teens spent all Shavuot night learning Torah for scholarships. In the weeks leading up to the holiday, teens found donors who were willing to sponsor their Shavuot night learning. All the money raised provided scholarships for the NCSY Summer program that the teen planned to attend during the summer. It was a win-win for donors and recipients. Donors were sponsoring teens to learn Torah and the money was being used for teens to explore their Jewish heritage on an NCSY summer program. Rabbi Akiva Naiman, city director of East Bay NCSY and director of NCSY BILT, and Marc Fein, regional director of Upstate New York NCSY, were instrumental in organizing the Learna-Thon. “Teens who needed scholarship money jumped at the opportunity to fundraise,” Fein explained. “Even teens that were not attending an NCSY summer program participated to help raise funds for their friends. The response from teens and communities across North America was incredible.” Elisha Breton, a junior from Anaheim, CA, was one of 978 teens counting down the days until NCSY Summer. “My friend went on BILT last year. I can honestly say that he came back

changed,” he said. Like many others, Elisha applied for a summer program unsure of how he was going to afford it. His father had been chronically ill and his family’s income had been greatly reduced. Even with a generous scholarship from NCSY, the program was still a large sum of money. “I signed up hoping for the best,” he said. “Then I learned about the Learn-a-Thon. I immediately went to work trying to get sponsored. To my surprise, I got sponsored again and again. I raised more than 3,000 dollars.” Elisha’s parents, Rabbi Mordechai and Tamar, decided to chip in for the rest. “Elisha spent Shavuot with friends in Irvine, CA, where he learned through the night,” Rabbi Breton said. “We decided that we would find the money to cover the balance, because he showed us how important this trip is to him. We believe this is the trip of a lifetime and he will get so much out of it, mostly because he put such effort into getting himself there.” The success of the Learn-a-Thon surprised even its creators. “We decided that if the program raised $4,000, it would have been successful,” Rabbi Akiva Naiman said. “It’s hard to believe that 42 teens raised practically $20,000 learning Torah through the night! Thanks to the Learna-Thon, many teens were able to attend NCSY Summer this year. I can’t wait to see how much money we can raise next year.”

PROFILES OF THE PEOPLE AND PLACES THAT MATTER

24 26 28 30 32 33

SWEET KOSHER HOME ALABAMA Struggling to keep kosher in a non-kosher home.

BROTHERLY LOVE How Philadelphia NCSY became one of the greatest NCSY chapters.

EYE ON ADVISORS Meet two NCSY advisors and find out how they got started.

36 37 38

RISKY BUSINESS Despite running two businesses, Nathan Rafaelov spends his summers with NCSY.

HUNGRY TO HELP A high school teen starts an organization to feed the homeless. PASSION FOR FASHION Passion and modesty can go hand in hand. WHERE PRINCIPALS FOUND THEIR PRINCIPLES Top educators reveal their NCSY roots. THE ROGUE CHEERLEADER From star cheerleader to Israeli soldier. THE LONE JEW The life of the only Jewish teen in Claremont, NY.

PLUGGED IN Ask the rabbi goes digital. COMING HOME Rabbi Yehoshua Kohl returns to the organization that inspired him to become observant.

before she became completely kosher and stopped eating in non-kosher restaurants. “There’s no kosher restaurants where I live,” she said. Now she maintains her own kosher kitchen

complete with separate meat and dairy sponges. But for Farber, a native of Huntsville, Alabama, that was only part of the struggle of keeping kosher. She’s still in high school and lives with her

PHOTO: DAVID PHILLIPS

The hardest thing for 18-year-old Jackie Farber was giving up shrimp, her favorite food. Once she did, she was able to move on to other levels of kosher observance, such as splitting up meat and dairy dishes. It was a while

parents, who, while supportive of her personal decision, do not keep kosher. In a way, she faces a predicament similar to many other NCSY teens: how to live a more observant life while living in their parents’ home. While many facets of religious life are personal commitments, keeping kosher typically requires the participation of the entire family in some way and can be a source of friction. Farber spoke about her struggle of keeping kosher on Charlie Harary’s radio program, “The Book of Life,” on NachumSegal.net. “I went on NCSY’s The Jerusalem Journey (TJJ) in 2011,” Farber told the audience. “Afterwards I started keeping kosher, little by little.” “What do you eat?” Host Harary asked her in astonishment. “You’d be surprised by how many packaged foods are kosher,” Farber answered. To get fresh kosher meat, Farber travels two-and-a-half hours by car to Nashville, Tennessee. Religious Jews are not common in Huntsville and when Farber tried to pick up challah, the attendants didn’t know what she was talking about until she described it. “Jew Bread?” Farber recalled them asking. Asked how she managed to maintain her commitment to keeping kosher, Farber was frank. “I felt obligated as a Jew,” she said. “It gives me my Jewish identity and I believe there is a righteous and loving God and this is what He wants.” For Farber’s parents, Alan and Marcia, the process has been a learning experience. “We read a lot more labels,” Alan said with a laugh. “To find things around here is not the easiest thing. We support Jackie keeping kosher. It’s something I admire her for doing, especially in this environment where there aren’t so many Jewish people living here. It’s not something that I’ve ever done or thought I could do.” “We’re very proud of her,” Marcia added. “NCSY helped her do it.” Sabrina Sandler, of Oyster Bay, New York, was so inspired by her journey on TJJ that she called her mother from Israel to ask to go kosher. Her advisors could hear her mother laughing through the phone. “My parents respect me and help out a little but it’s kinda up to me,” Sandler said. The end of the last school year was particularly difficult for her as her friends left to college. “I had a few rough patches,” she said. Her commitment was reinforced during the next summer that she spent on NCSY’s TJJ Ambassadors. “It reminded me of why I keep kosher. I’m doing it for myself and this is a constant reminder of my Judaism that I find meaning in.” One NCSYer who is in an engineering program in his high school

To get fresh kosher meat, Farber travels two-anda-half hours by car to Nashville, Tennessee.

blowtorched his parents’ kitchen to make it kosher. He re-cleans it every week to ensure that the kitchen stays kosher since his parents bring in outside food. Rabbi Micah Greenland, interim international director of NCSY, advised that teens who want to keep kosher should be open with their parents about it. “There is no hard and fast rule of what teens might expect to experience or what the challenges might be for teens,” Rabbi Greenland said. “The only common denominator is the primacy and importance of really good communication between teens and parents.” He also added that keeping kosher can be a positive experience for both teens and their family members. “I’ve seen so many examples where teens who communicate openly with their parents and vice versa can come to an understanding that the whole family can live with,” he said. “It strengthens the Jewish ideals in the home, not just for the teen, but for the entire family.” For many teens, keeping kosher becomes an imperative along their religious journey. Toronto NCSY regional board member Yaakov Samuels decided to take on the commitment after reading an article from Rav Moshe Feinstein. “One of the first things Rav Feinstein says for ba’alei teshuva, returnees to the faith, is to keep kosher,” Samuels said. He also has difficulty keeping kosher in a house that isn’t kosher. “I guess the biggest challenge is making sure I don’t offend my parents, which can happen and is something I avoid,” he said. Rabbi Greenland said that typically teens make the choice to keep kosher based on two factors. “It’s a desire to

connect to their heritage in a way that they know their ancestors did,” he stated. “Kosher is something that can connect them to their roots. It’s also a way to recognize that to grow as a person, some measure of self-sacrifice is often required. Cutting out nonkosher food from their diet speaks to kids as a way to say that, ‘I want to be a growth-oriented person.’” Some teens found that keeping kosher helped their relationship with their parents. “Hashem has blessed me with amazing parents,” said Jacob Epstein, 18, from Boca Raton, Florida, whose parents don’t keep kosher but support him. “We respect and admire Jacob’s dedication to Judaism,” his parents wrote. Epstein also formed a connection with Rabbi Moshe Gordon, a rabbi he met on NCSY Kollel, who grew up in a similar situation. He was excited to find out that knives that have been used for both meat and milk do not automatically render a food traif if they touch. “Before that I was worried about getting that answer,” Epstein said. NCSY encourages teens to speak to their rabbis when they decide to start keeping kosher, according to Rabbi Yaakov Glasser, rabbi of Young Israel of Clifton-Passaic and New Jersey NCSY regional director. “Very often, the aspects of keeping kosher that teens think are incompatible with their non-kosher environment can be resolved with halachic flexibility and expertise,” he said. Rabbi Glasser’s favorite story is about a teen who was so inspired by her NCSY experience she decided to cook her family a kosher Thanksgiving dinner. However, she realized too late that the pots needed to be made kosher as well. Frantic, she called her NCSY advisor who redirected her to Rabbi Zvi Sobolofsky, a rosh yeshiva at Yeshiva University and the NCSY posek. He discussed all the pots individually with her and found a leniency for each one and the family had their first kosher Thanksgiving dinner. “Your parents are the source of your values and ideals — the decision to layer that with Torah observance is not in any way a rejection of the commitment you have to them,” Rabbi Glasser said. At the tail-end of the radio program, Harary told Farber that she would be receiving a set of tapes about keeping kosher by the Orthodox Union as well as a shipment of kosher food. Farber had her own surprise. Keeping kosher soon won’t be too difficult for her. She plans to spend next year in seminary in Israel. u 25

PHOTOS: LISA MANDEL

I saw men, women and children of all ages who didn’t know where their next meal was coming from.

When you talk to Nate Noss, the first thing he asks you to do is look at a map of his hometown, St. Louis, Missouri. “It’s a very divided place,” he explained by phone. “We have a highway called Route 40 that cuts through the city. On one side there are a lot of poor communities with folks who didn’t have the opportunities that other people have had.” Nate found these lines very disturbing. Two years ago, Nate launched St. Louis Food Rescue, a non-profit organization dedicated to eliminating hunger throughout the St. Louis area. Each week, his organization provides more than 5,000 pounds of food to local shelters. When I spoke to him on a Tuesday evening, he was driving down one of St. Louis’s busy highways dropping off one last delivery before he left for a youth leadership seminar in Washington, D.C., the next day. “I was pretty upset that there were hungry people and food was going to waste,” he said. Nate’s journey to CEO of his own non-profit began when he was 10-years-old and started volunteering at a local Jewish food pantry. He was a dedicated volunteer, working 100 hours every summer. When Nate turned 15, a new manager decided that the pantry would no longer be accepting any bread donations. This seemed especially shocking to Nate, since the full effects of the financial crisis were being felt. “All these pastries and baked goods were being thrown out and there was a record number of people visiting shelters,” he said. “That was stunning to me and I told myself that it wasn’t right.” After that, Nate had one of his parents drive their “gas-guzzling” SUV to local bakeries to ask for their day-old bread. Some bakeries laughed him off, but others took the earnest 15-year-old seriously. Whole Foods immediately agreed and offered him not only bread and pastries, but good produce that the supermarket did not want to sell. “We filled the entire SUV — with all the seats down,” he said. Nate began looking for other organizations. He discovered New Life Evangelistic Center, a homeless shelter in the heart of downtown run by Pastor Larry Price. Nate’s first trip was eye-opening. “I saw men, women and children of all

ages who didn’t know where their next meal was coming from,” he said. Nate began working with the shelter, picking up food donations on weekends. Gradually, word spread about Nate’s work. As a result, he expanded his donor base, picking up Costco’s leftover bakery items and produce as well as other goods from local bakeries. Two years ago, after attending the Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership seminar, he officially established his own non-profit organization. The organization also started food deliveries to another hard-hit area, St. Charles. Last year, Nate transferred to public school. There, he met Rabbi Gershon Meisel, associate city director of St. Louis NCSY and JSU, who helped him find volunteers for the organization since St. Louis Food Rescue is fully staffed by volunteers. “It’s tough finding volunteers,” Nate said. “Sometimes it seems like all teens want to do is have fun.” JSU provides Nate with a steady source of eager teens that want to help. “We may run on ‘Jewish time’ which isn’t a very good thing since stores tend to close on time, but you get a lot of good people in there who really have their priorities straight,” Nate said. Nate’s close friends Lee Goodman and Sarah Casteel, fellow JSUers and NCSYers, will take over the organization while Nate spends the year learning in Israel. Afterwards, he plans to attend Technion - Israel Institute of Technology and then make aliya. In total, Nate estimates that St. Louis Food Rescue has provided more than 350,000 pounds of food to those in need. Behind it all, he said, was a basic idea: “In America there shouldn’t be a single hungry person.” u

nterning for a celebrity stylist, 18-year-old Sarra Paige Laskin had a realization. Everything the stylist was doing, she could do on her own. Having seen the ins and outs of the business, Laskin launched her own personal shopping service. “Dressing smart and appropriately earns the respect of others and gives you an inner confidence,” she said. “Dressing well can also change your whole attitude.”

Sarra proves that you can be the most stylish Jew in the world and still have an incredible amount of love and dedication for spiritual growth.

It also helps that Laskin, a member of New Jersey NCSY, has a solid business instinct. As a child, she wandered through the condominium complex her family lived in selling her old toys.

Rabbi Ethan Katz,

“I sold them all,” she said. “That’s why we don’t have any of my baby toys anymore.”

associate regional director of New Jersey NCSY

PHOTOS: LIZ LIGON

As dedicated as she is to her business, Laskin is equally dedicated to NCSY. She attended her first NCSY Shabbaton as a sixth grader and has been a regular until this year, when she graduated from The Frisch School. “Sarra proves that you can be the most

Top Tips From a Fashionista An inside look into sarra’s success 1) Quality vs. Quantity

Don’t buy clothing for just one time use. Everything that you add to your wardrobe should be versatile. 2) Accessorize

Accessorizing can make any dull outfit come to life. 3) Always have a signature piece of jewelry

Every woman should have that one necklace, bracelet, or ring that they are known for. That piece sets the tone for your entire wardrobe. 4) Find your color

One of my favorite quotes is by Coco Chanel: “The best color in the whole world is the one that looks good on you.” 5) Wear what flatters you

Just because something is trendy doesn’t mean it’s going to look great on everyone. Wear clothing that works for you. 6) Simple is better

Simplicity is the key to every great outfit.

stylish Jew in the world and still have an incredible amount of love and dedication for spiritual growth,” said Rabbi Ethan Katz, associate regional director of New Jersey NCSY. As she transitioned from elementary school to high school, NCSY was there for Sarra.“I came to NCSY very immature and I grew up with NCSY,” she related. “Advisors taught me what keeping kosher meant and how to handle difficult situations. They always have something important to say about your life. Its really hard for me not to look forward to another Shabbaton next year.” As a personal shopper and stylist, Laskin who is known by the nickname of her initials, SPL, meets with clients for consultations, goes through their wardrobe and then takes them on shopping expeditions to find the clothing that best suits them. The business was a natural outgrowth of Laskin’s interest in fashion. “I love to shop,” Laskin said. “When I was old enough to go to the mall by myself I started buying clothing for my mother and she hasn’t been to the mall since. My sister and friends always asked me to go shopping with them and it evolved. Since everyone was asking

me for my fashion sense, why don’t I try to get paid for it?” As a result of her NCSY experience and her Jewish clientele, Laskin tends to buy clothing that is modest. “NCSY talks about dressing tznius, modestly, and I always like to think that tznius is dressing classy,” Laskin explained. “I dress people in a modest way. I don’t think you need to show a lot of skin to look good or to look attractive.” At the NCSY Spring Regional banquet, Sarra received an award for Torah growth along with a check to help pay for her studies at Bar Ilan University this year. She’ll be studying there for the year where she hopes to build up an Israeli clientele. Afterwards, she plans on studying at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City. While personal shopping seems like a luxury, Laskin believes in finding the best prices for her clients. She strives to make her service affordable to any Jewish family she feels could benefit from it. “I have never paid for anything that wasn’t at least 60 percent off and I shop on a budget,” said Laskin. “I’ve gotten a skirt for a penny. I have the receipt in my room.” u 29

Elysee Wolf

hen Rabbi Yisroel Kaminetsky, the founding principal of the Davis Renov Stahler Yeshiva High School for Boys (DRS) in Woodmere, NY, had his first interview with the school’s board of directors, he was very clear about his intentions as a principal. “High standards in achievement are important,” he recalled while traveling on a bus with his students to a white water rafting trip on the Lehigh River. “But if you want kids to be positive about religion, I’m going to take the NCSY experience and bring it into the formal school.” And he did just that. He began organizing yeshiva Shabbatons, tishes on Friday nights, school trips and encouraged close relationships between educators and their students, all of which yielded astonishing results. Sixteen years later, the school is a success with teens graduating with strong religious identities and spending a year studying in Israel to further their commitment to Judaism. With NCSY celebrating its 59th year, the organization has transformed the everyday fabric of Jewish life. Many educators are not only using techniques of spiritual development pioneered by NCSY, but are products of NCSY themselves. Even though he grew up in an Orthodox family in Passaic, NJ, Rabbi Kaminetsky, the son of a rabbi, found NCSY inspirational. “I was seeing a lot of kids who had made such incredible strides and commitments in their own growth. It made me appreciate my observant background even more,” he said.

NCSY was a family affair for Rabbi Kaminetsky. His wife, Elisheva, serves as the director of religious guidance at the Stella K. Abraham School for Girls (SKA), the sister school of DRS Yeshiva High School for Boys. The two of them met while they were both advisors for NCSY. She credits NCSY with teaching her about interpersonal relationships with teens. “I learned the way they think, what inspires them and the common questions and issues adolescents experience,” she said. “The most important things I learned was showing teens you care and seeing how much they appreciate you caring about them. It allows them to open up to you and respect you.” Given that NCSY runs programs in more than 200 cities, the reach of NCSY’s educators is not limited to the Tri-state area. Elysee Wolf grew up in a Conservative home in Virginia Beach, VA, and attended public school. After a teacher in her after-school Talmud Torah class recommended she attend one Shabbaton, she and a group of friends continued going. “It sparked Jewish pride in us,” she said. Wolf became regional president in tenth grade and then transferred to the Bais Yaakov of Baltimore, where, coming full-circle, she is now the dean of English Studies. “It definitely helped me to realize

Rabbi Emerson Rabbi DovDov Emerson

Rabbi Yisroel Kaminetsky

Rabbi Perry Tirschwell

the impact an individual could have and the power of igniting the love of learning and the love of growth,” she said about her NCSY experience. “It just gave me an appreciation of what there was to do for the klal and what could be done.” Rabbi Dov Emerson, the current head of Yeshiva University High School of Los Angeles (YULA), was an avid NCSYer growing up in the small Jewish community of Memphis, TN. “Growing up Orthodox, there’s always a danger of doing things by rote,” he said. “NCSY helps stop that because when you’re with other NCSYers, you’re constantly being challenged and being forced to have meaningful reasons

for what you are doing. Often, those less religious will give you meaning you never thought of. I’ve taken that with me in terms of my own role as an educator.” Rabbi Perry Tirschwell began his NCSY career in the late 1970s as a teenager in New Jersey. “Shabbatons were really magical,” he said. “I never experienced a Shabbat like that before. We traveled all over the state and slept on synagogue floors and people’s homes.” Rabbi Tirschwell was so moved by his experiences in NCSY that he returned as an advisor, bringing along his then-roommate, Rabbi Kenneth Brander, who is now the vice president of Yeshiva University. Rabbi Tirschwell stayed involved in NCSY until he retired as regional director of New Jersey NCSY at the age of 32 to launch a school in the Jewish community of Boca Raton, Florida. “Weinbaum Yeshiva High School was the first Jewish high school between Miami and Atlanta,” he explained. He ran the school for 15 years and is now the national director of the National Council of Young Israel. He credits his experiences in NCSY to be extremely influential to who he is. “NCSY gave me not only a religious direction, but a career direction,” he said. “And even before a career direction, it gave me leadership opportunities and helped develop aspects of my personality which had not come out before.” Rabbi Benjy Owen, dean of Torah studies and head of school at Northwest Yeshiva High School, recalled his experience as a member of the Seattle NCSY chapter as a formative time for him. “I think being part of the chapter and being reachable in the chapter helped me practice being responsible

[NCSY] gave me leadership opportunities and helped develop aspects of my personality which had not come out before. Rabbi Perry Tirschwell

for the future of my community,” he said. Even educators who were only advisors describe their experience as formative. Ari Segall of Los Angeles was an advisor in NCSY. “I learned a lot in terms of building employees,” he said. “If you empower talented people you’re going to get a lot of good work from them. The right people working together in a team-like atmosphere produces great results.” Occasionally, the links between a career in NCSY and a career in education are more direct. Rabbi Dov Emerson applied for his first teaching position at DRS Yeshiva High School for Boys. He got along well with his interviewer, Rabbi Kaminetsky. Rabbi Kaminetsky was delighted that his former NCSYer had become an educator. u

Kayla Mogil, with her brother Noah, is a poster child for what an NCSYer can accomplish.

PHOTOS: LISI WOLF

In her own words, Kayla Mogil is a cheerleader gone wrong. This year Kayla, 18, will be exchanging her bright cheerleading uniform for the olive green garb of the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF). The recent high school graduate from Mercer Island, Seattle, said her journey from star cheerleader to member of the IDF occurred with the help of NCSY. Raised in Southern California, Kayla moved with her family to Mercer Island when she was ten. “The only rough thing about the move was the weather,” she said. “I’m used to sunny, 80-degree days and it snows and rains here, but I actually like it up here. The people are nicer and we even have a yeshiva.” Kayla had always known that she wanted to join the armed forces. Her grandfather had been a decorated US marine during World War II, and her uncle had served during the Vietnam 32

War. Her fifth grade career project was a book about her desire to follow in her grandfather’s footsteps. When she was in ninth grade, a friend took a Hebrew class in Seattle’s Torah High to get out of a Spanish language requirement. Kayla joined her one day. “The next thing I know, I’m enrolled in Hebrew and I meet Ari Hoffman, city director of Seattle NCSY,” she explained. Looking for a way to spend time in Israel, Hoffman recommended her to The Jerusalem Journey Ambassadors (TJJA) program. The program is an outgrowth of NCSY’s summer flagship program TJJ and is intended for public school teens who are interested in Israel advocacy. It was Kayla’s first time in Israel and the entire visit was fraught with emotion. “When I got off the plane I started bawling,” she said. “I went there and I felt so safe. Everyone in Israel is looking out for each other.” She especially felt this way when she spent a Shabbat meal with a family that lost their son in a terrorist attack. “His name was Gavriel,” she said. When Kayla returned from Israel, she came back a changed person. She began keeping kosher and learning more. “I’ve been addicted to NCSY,” she said. “I would’ve died without NCSY.” Ari Hoffman recalled Kayla’s

incredible dedication. “Nothing ever stops her from attaining her goal,” he stated. “Anything she sets her mind to she accomplishes. She is a poster child for what an NCSYer can accomplish.” As a freshman and sophomore she joined the lacrosse team and then as a junior, partially as a joke, she tried out for the drill team. To her surprise, she made the squad. The training was intense, with practice an hour before school and evening practices several times a week. The drill team also practiced over the summer, which Kayla missed so she could go on NCSY’s Jewish Overseas Leadership Training (JOLT) program. With graduation approaching, Kayla made a decision. Instead of serving in the American forces, she would join the Israeli army. “I thought I’d help represent my family in Israel because I feel more passionate about it,” she said. She remembered the family she spent Shabbat with as a ninth-grader on TJJA. “I was joining the Israeli army for this kid and the people who have suffered,” she explained. “I want to pay my dues.” At one of the school’s last assemblies, Kayla was honored by a fellow student who said that she was exchanging her skirt for a gun. “I guess I like uniforms,” she said with a laugh.

In his 18 years, William Espana has lived in the Netherlands, Chicago, California, Texas and New York. His father worked for an international software company and William, accompanied by his mother and sister, journeyed all around the world. But he never thought he’d spend the majority of his high school career as the only Jew in the small town of Claremont, NY, alongside the shore of the Hudson River. Claremont doesn’t even have a post office, much less a synagogue. Most of the parents of his peers were farmers or unemployed. “Growing up here opened up my eyes,” William said. “Had I lived in a larger town or a more civilized location, I probably wouldn’t have gone through what I did.” The move to Claremont was especially difficult since it coincided with the revelation of the Bernie Madoff financial scheme. What was worse about the anti-Semitism was whom it came from. “Most of the anti-Semitism wasn’t from the students, it came from the administration,” William explained. Once, he said, he was suspended for wearing a Superman t-shirt that had a Jewish insignia on it. Another time, the vice principal tried to prevent him from rescheduling his finals that fell out on a Jewish holiday. Ironically, she also accused him of promoting bullying. “She told me I was promoting bullying because Jews were a perfect target,” he said. Naturally, all of it took a toll on his faith. His mother, who had been an NCSY advisor herself, called NCSY. “My mother started noticing I was stepping away and acting less Jewish by hiding it more,” he said. “I stopped wearing a yarmulke and she got in contact with Jon Ackerman [associate regional director of NY NCSY] and he brought me to a winter Shabbaton.” That was the start of William’s career with NCSY. His next step was attending a second Shabbaton in Albany, closer to his home in Claremont, with Upstate New York NCSY, the Har Sinai region. Part of the lure of NCSY for William was the sense of kinship he felt among other Jewish teens. “I’m an athlete, but I’m not really good friends with other people,” he said. “I’ve traveled more than my classmates and I’m more culturally aware, so it kind of sets me aside from my classmates. With NCSY, and especially the Har Sinai region, I’ve found a family outside of my own family.” “We are so happy to create a spiritual home for Will,” said Marc Fein, regional director of Upstate NY NCSY. “Like a Jewish family, the warmth and closeness of our region transcends geography.” With Shabbatons and a new circle of friends, William was able to reach his full potential. As an Eagle Scout, he received a special badge, the Etz Chaim, for the service he rendered for a shul an hour from his house. The badge was presented to him by Ari Smith, an NCSY advisor. “Everyone was passing away at the shul,” he said. “So I had to be the chazan and do hagbah for about a month.” William was very busy throughout high school. Aside from his school duties, he interned for a local judge and his congressman Christopher Gibson. He was the recipient of the ROTC National Army Scholarship as well as the Tuskegee Airmen College Fund Award. Will currently attends a preparatory school for the Merchant Marine Academy in New Mexico and hopes to have a career in the maritime industry. “NCSY helped me become a better person through the tough times when I didn’t want to face the reality that I was the only Jew here,” he said. “It helped me when I was in a down and dark place.” u 33

hiladelphia is one of the nation’s oldest surviving Jewish communities — with its first synagogue dating back to the 1700s — but for a long while, despite a large Jewish population, Philadelphia had no love for NCSY. “Philadelphia was a bit of a trouble area for us,” admitted Rabbi Jonah Lerner, regional director of Atlantic Seaboard NCSY. “Everything that could make a chapter a power-house was there. A strong Jewish identity, strong communal infrastructure and hundreds of Jewish teens, but something just didn’t work.” Four years ago, Rabbi Yitz Levi, a student at a kollel in Israel, was offered the job as Philadelphia’s city director. Rabbi Levi, who had studied in a yeshiva in Scranton, PA, said the job landed in his lap. “It was hashgacha pratis, divine providence,” he said. “I was looking for something in the kiruv world,” but, he said, “I didn’t know much about NCSY.” He took a crash course in NCSY with Rabbi Lerner and other NCSY staff, but when he and his wife moved to Philadelphia, alone in a different part of the world, he was more than nervous. “It was really scary,” he explained. While Philadelphia wasn’t a thriving NCSY community, there was still some NCSY activity. The region only ran two sparsely-attended Latte & Learning programs and numbers at the Shabbatons were low. Rabbi Levi 34

These days, almost every weeknight Rabbi Levi has another Latte & Learning and maintains a database of more than 240 teens and five JSU Clubs.

began with the existing programs and slowly started to expand. At first, Rabbi Levi still needed to learn how to control a room and take what he had been learning and make it his own. “Any good baseball player will tell you that if you can hit a curveball you can hit it out of the park,” he stated. “I learned on the ground and I am constantly learning how to do things better.” It was slow going, but teens began to trickle in. Rabbi Levi formed a dedicated coterie of students who encouraged one another to attend NCSY events. Teens began talking about NCSY on Facebook and Twitter. One successful Latte & Learning led to another, and students in other nearby schools began demanding Jewish Student Union (JSU) clubs of their own.

“I believe one of the reasons that teens like me is that I respect them,” he explained. “You might need to spend an hour and a half with them because they feel wronged or they want to ask you a question. But the more you give them, the more they give back.” Rabbi Levi and his wife also opened their homes to the legions of NCSYers flocking to the chapter. “I almost live at their house,” said Ez Weisser, a senior at Kohelet Yeshiva High School in Philadelphia, who has been involved in NCSY since he was a freshman. Or as Ofir Afenzar, the chapter president who spends many weekends with the Levi family, put it, “People are always coming to Rabbi Levi’s house for Seudat Shlishit, the final meal of Shabbat,” he said. “It’s always a miniShabbaton. It’s a really relaxing way to end the week.” These days, almost every weeknight Rabbi Levi has another Latte & Learning and maintains a database of more than 240 teens and five JSU Clubs. This year marks the fifth year that Rabbi Levi has been involved in NCSY. The NCSYers who were freshmen when he first started now graduated; many of them going off to Israel for the year. “I’ve been able to watch them grow,” he said. “Now they’re going to Israel and making life decisions. I’ve been able to be a part of their lives.”

Andrew Israeli

After spending a week helping rebuild New Orleans in his senior year at the Rae Kushner Yeshiva High School, Andrew Israeli came to a realization about NCSY. “NCSY is an organization that has the power to shape the Jewish future and to instill a love of Torah values in our teenagers,” he explained. After returning from learning in Yeshivat Torat Shraga in Israel for the year, Andrew joined the New Jersey NCSY region and dedicated his summers to NCSY Kollel, where he now is the co-head madrich. When Andrew is not spending time learning or studying in Yeshiva University where he graduated from in May, he spends many hours recruiting NCSYers for the various NCSY summer programs. For Andrew, “NCSY summer programs are the most fun and productive way a teenager can spend his or her summer. The growth opportunities on the various programs are limitless and perspectives and outlooks on life can be changed within a few weeks.” In conversations with NCSYers, Andrew tries to emphasize that it is our job to strengthen our link in a chain of mesorah, tradition, that goes back hundreds of years. He stresses that we have an obligation to continue what our ancestors started and to pass our experiences and connection to Judaism on to our children and grandchildren. Over the last three summers on NCSY Kollel, Andrew has had the privilege to learn together with hundreds of teens from around the world. “The most inspiring thing is to see 150 fifteen and sixteen-year-old boys passionately engaged in Torah study for hours a day and who act with the most utmost middos on the sports courts and on tiyulim throughout the land of Israel,” Andrew says. Andrew is looking forward to the opportunity to inspire many more Jewish teenagers and being involved in NCSY for many years to come.

Sarah Alt

Growing up in the small Jewish community of Buffalo, NY, Sarah Alt joined NCSY in 5th grade to make more Jewish friends. Her older brother was already involved in NCSY, so it seemed natural for her to join as well. For the first few years, Sarah took each event as a social opportunity and was always happy to attend. However, when she switched to public school in ninth grade, NCSY became more than just a social opportunity, it was her spiritual lifeline. Ever since, she’s been hooked. After studying abroad, Sarah attended Stern College where she immediately joined the Upstate New York NCSY region as an advisor. “I came to New York City with no family and very few friends, but after my first Shabbaton, I felt like I was part of a community and larger family,” explained Sarah. “Three years later, I still look forward to every NCSY event. Knowing that I’m helping teens grow in their Judaism and overcome their personal and religious struggles makes the hours I spend traveling to Upstate New York worth it.” Being an advisor challenges Sarah to give back what she gained. As a teen, she was inspired by her advisors. Now, it is her job to inspire. Despite a three-hour commute from her college campus to Upstate NY, Sarah maintains close ties with her NCSYers through Shabbatons, late-night discussions and weekly Torah learning sessions. Sarah spent the last two summers as an advisor on The Jerusalem Journey Ambassadors program. She said this compliments her work as an advisor. “Spending four weeks with teens learning Torah and participating in chesed as they see Israel for the first time is priceless,” she explained. “You’re with teens when they not only realize who they are, but who they can become. And you are right there guiding them along.” 35

Nathan Rafaelov, owner of custom suit company Stitch, checks the measurements for a client.

t the tender age of 28, Nathan Rafaelov successfully runs two very different businesses. By day, he’s the vice president of his father’s construction company, MR Builders. By night, he’s the stylish founder and owner of Stitch, a company that makes elegant custom suits. However, come summer time — when most people are planning weekend getaways and trips to the beach — Nathan heads to Europe to be the spiritual heart of NCSY’s summer program Euro ICE. For the past four years, Nathan has served as the director of education and assistant director of Euro ICE. Euro ICE is a co-ed program that travels to Europe and Israel exploring Jewish history while touring popular cities. Throughout the year, Nathan spends a good portion of his limited free time planning educational programming and building a special curriculum for the teens to ensure they get the most inspiring experience possible. The weeks leading up to the summer aren’t easy for Nathan. “It’s non-stop work. You’d think I’m working for 10 different people with the hours I put in,” he explains. Nathan maps out the calendar for the four weeks he’s away, including setting up meetings, closing deals and wrapping up current projects. When asked why he does it, he said the reason is simple. “It’s hakarat haTov, gratitude, for NCSY,” Nathan explained. 36

“There are no words to describe what NCSY has done for me and my family. And more than that, it’s an opportunity to spend a month teaching, learning and growing with teens from all walks of life. It’s a chance to be a role model and make a difference in the lives of Jewish teens. I get to show them that Judaism can be fun.” When Nathan was eight-years-old Rabbi Israel Lashak, regional director of Southwest NCSY, moved to Dallas, Texas, and Nathan’s family immediately got involved in the organization. It was the first time there was an organized Orthodox youth group in town and they wanted to be supportive. His father staffed NCSY trips and always brought him along. Despite being on the sidelines, Nathan enjoyed being with Jewish teens. Once Nathan was old enough to sign up for Jr. NCSY, he became an active member and continued in NCSY throughout high school. “Learning Torah, spending time with other Jewish teens, there’s no other way,” he said. “Since I grew up in a smaller Jewish community, NCSY was critical for my Jewish identity. It opened up a new world of Jewish life.” During college, Nathan worked as many as three side jobs while helping out in his father’s construction company. Despite having a busy schedule, Nathan continued to dedicate his free time to NCSY and very quickly became the head advisor. Before his junior year, Nathan transferred to St. Edward’s University in Austin, TX — but living in a different city didn’t stop him from staying involved in NCSY. Nathan continued

brainstorming and executing events remotely with Rabbi Lashak. “Nathan adds a flavor to the beautiful Torah and pearls of wisdom he teaches each and every NCSYer,” Rabbi Lashak explained. “NCSYers are inspired by him and mesmerized by his quiet and humble ways. They can always count on Nathan for entertainment with his great sense of humor.” When he returned to Dallas, Nathan employed his creativity, eye for style and attention to detail to open a custom suit company. It’s easy to identify Nathan when he walks around town. Each piece of clothing is carefully selected and tailored, from the fabric, buttons and cut, to the splash of color in the stitching and lining. “When you walk into a room looking classy and feeling confident, everyone around you knows,” he said. “I love giving other people that feeling.” He also continued working fulltime for his father’s business and takes special pride in doing chesed for the Jewish community. “We do a ton of work for the Jewish community at an incredibly low-rate,” he said. “In fact, we just took on a project of renovating a Jewish school. It’s not just a business, it’s about doing chesed and helping the Jewish people.” Despite his busy schedule, Nathan has no regrets about spending his summers with NCSY. “Rabbi Lashak always spoke about choosing your one mitzvah and I found my mitzvah as a little kid,” he said. “For me, it’s kiruv, Jewish outreach.”

Rabbi Akiva Naiman, director of East Bay NCSY, attributed the success of the group to the culture of NCSY in California. “We have a culture of learning here,” he explained. “We’ve run programming that stresses the importance of learning and it worked.” He also cited the relationship many NCSYers have with their advisors, who actively participate in the forum. “We fly out the same advisors every month,” Rabbi Naiman said. “Many of them have been with us for two years. We wouldn’t be the same chapter without them.” Some questions though can’t be answered over Facebook. When NCSYer Sam Orbach asked why good things happen to bad people — especially in light of the tragedy in Boston — Rabbi Naiman advised him to attend a Latte & Learning to hear the answer. The group has its steady followers. “This is where I go when I have a question that’s Jewish and there’s nothing on Google,” wrote Molly Werthan. “So it’s basically Jewgle.” Rabbi Naiman concluded with a welcome message for parents. “I see people on the Facebook group that I never would have imagined joining,” he explained. “It surprises me. Last week, I walked into a pluralistic, nondenominational high school and a bunch of girls were listening to NCSY’s Call of Inspiration. You never know what kids are doing in their free time.” u

PHOTO: JOSH WEINBERG

When NorCal NCSYer Rebeccah Simon came back from NCSY’s The Jerusalem Journey (TJJ) summer program, she was inspired. But she still had so many questions. To help herself and her fellow NCSYers, Rebeccah launched a Facebook group called NorCal Q & A, an open forum where NCSYers pose questions to be answered by advisors and other staff members of NCSY. Since the group started at the end of March, more than 100 Facebook users from the region have joined. “This is an opportunity for anybody who has questions to ask Rabbi Akiva [Naiman] and Rabbi Mike [Donovan] absolutely anything!” Rebeccah wrote in the first post.” It can be a private message, public post, but it would be awesome if it would be public so other people can learn when you ask questions!” The site is a lively conversation with teens asking whether they can work in a non-kosher bakery even if they can’t eat there or even whether someone can throw out a cheeseburger in a kosher kitchen. One advisor, Moshe Lehhman, explained a complicated prohibition of benefiting from a dish made with milk and meat while another regional director chimed in with a question of his own. Other posts center on the prohibition of kol isha, hearing a woman sing.

When Rabbi Yehoshua Kohl accepted the position of regional director for New York NCSY, it was more than just a job for him. For Rabbi Kohl — a veteran kiruv educator — working for NCSY was a dream fulfilled. Growing up as a child in Santa Barbara, CA, Rabbi Kohl didn’t have much to do with his Jewish heritage. “We lit the Chanuka candles, that was about it,” he explained. Even a brief foray into a religious Jewish school did little for him. That all changed in his senior year of high school. A promising athlete and a dedicated student, Rabbi Kohl had his life planned out. “I pretty much could’ve written my ticket to any school I wanted to go to,” he explained. Then, by chance, he met Rabbi Benji Jacoby of West Coast NCSY. “He had a very magical touch,” Rabbi Kohl recalled. “He asked me to put together a camping trip for kids from L.A. and San Diego and for some crazy reason I agreed.” Soon after, Rabbi Kohl decided to put together an NCSY chapter in Santa Barbara. “Next thing I knew, I started wearing my kippah to school and keeping kosher,” he said. “Halfway through the year I started keeping Shabbat.” At graduation, he put his college plans on hold and went to Israel for the year. At the time, 1988, there weren’t many yeshivas for a dedicated ba’al teshuva who had virtually no learning skills. He ended up at a small yeshiva for post-college ba’alei teshuva and fell in love with the learning. After 10 years, he returned back to America to launch an outreach kollel on the West Coast. Afterwards he worked for Gateways and Aish HaTorah, but NCSY was always in his sight. “I had NCSY in my blood,” he said. “I had a vision of wanting to give back to NCSY and that’s what remained in the back of my mind through all these years.” His enthusiasm for the position was evident from his first interview. 38

“After spending five minutes with Rabbi Kohl, it was obvious to us that he was a perfect fit,” said Kenneth Sicklick, chairman of the board for New York NCSY. “His background in education and kiruv, as well as his enthusiasm and innovative spirit for this type of work, will help continue the tradition that has made NCSY so successful around the world.” Rabbi Kohl takes over a thriving region that serves hundreds of teenagers in the greater New York area. Among NY NCSY’s most recent activities was a basketball tournament fundraiser that raised $80,000 towards scholarships for teens to study in Israel. New York NCSY also launched The Jerusalem Journeys Ambassadors program that takes public school teens to Israel for the summer and the nation-wide JUMP competition, where teens gain hands-on leadership training by competing in developing chesed, Israel and Jewish learning initiatives in their communities. Rabbi Kohl has many plans for the region, including broadening New York NCSY’s online learning programs, but he says his focus is mainly twofold. “I hope to expand not only what we’re doing in many different geographic areas, but also to deepen what we’re doing,” he said. “I want to make sure we’re not just going through a process of putting teens through Jewish culture clubs, but really engaging them in Jewish learning.” To this day, he still wonders exactly what it was that the regional director offered him that pulled him out of his spiritual slumber, but he hopes it’s something that NY NCSY, under his guidance, can provide. “I think the most significant thing that made a difference for me was that personal relationship with Rabbi Jacoby and the care I received from him,” Rabbi Kohl said. “To this day, we’re still in touch. Ultimately, teaching people Torah is an extension of that care. The more we care for an individual the more of an impact we’ll have on his or her life.”

HAPPENINGS FROM AROUND THE NCSY UNIVERSE

MONTREAL NCSY CREATES SMILES FOR SICK CHILDREN NCSYers participate in Chai Lifeline’s toy drive.

NCSY RAISES MONEY FOR VICTIMS OF OKLAHOMA TORNADOES South Bend NCSY raises money at community bake sales.

ASSEMBLYMAN VISITS JSU New York Assemblyman Dov Hikind visited Brooklyn Tech High School’s JSU club.

JAX TEENS LEAD HOLOCAUST SEDER Teens spend months preparing and organizing a seder for survivors and their family members.

SILENCE YOUR EGO San Diego NCSYers launch an online photo campaign.

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

Teens learn the meaning behind their name

PHOTO: CHAIM NEIDITCH

350 teens at 16 JSU clubs across Atlanta made Jewish name bracelets, necklaces and keychains. Each of the participants learned how Judaism attaches a special importance to one’s Hebrew name and of the Divine inspiration behind many of their names. They also learned the translation of their Hebrew names and how their names related to their personal characteristics. Interestingly, participants found that the traits tied in quite well with many of their family histories.

400 Teens Learn about Challah More than 400 teens at 14 JSU clubs across Atlanta learned about the significance and origins of challah. Not only did they leave the sessions with a sweet taste in their mouths, but everyone had a blast making their own challahs from dough. Teens rolled, matted, shaped, and finally braided the dough before placing them into ovens to bake. While the delicious aromas swept through the room, teens learned the biblical origins of challah.

ATLANTA, GA JSU teens at Johns Creek High School proudly show off their Hebrew names on their bracelets.

Baltimore

Greater Washington

Moshe Heideman — mosheh@ncsy.org

Rabbi Yudi Riesel — yudi@ncsy.org

ATLANTIC SEABOARD

CELEBRATING SHAVUOT AND PURIM IN STYLE

FUN-FILLED YEAR BUILDS ENTHUSIASM FOR THE YEAR AHEAD

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

Baltimore NCSY partnered with Ner Tamid Congregation to celebrate Shavuot in true NCSY style — lots of learning, lots of inspiration and, of course, lots of food! This truly spiritual all-nighter concluded with delicious pancakes. Earlier in the year, a similar pairing of culinary indulgence and spiritual nourishment took place as the teens celebrated Purim with megillah reading, a costume party and all-youcan-eat Dougies.

Teens from all over the Greater Washington area enjoyed an exciting and inspirational year. Events ranged from outdoor BBQs and paintball matches to learning at the Senator Ben Cardin Jewish Scholars Program, which doubled in size this year. A special Latte & Learning event was held in May to give teens and parents the opportunity to meet incoming city director Rabbi Yudi Riesel. Rabbi Riesel will be moving with his family to Potomac in August to help bring the chapter to new heights.

10@10 TORAH CONFERENCE CALL UNITES ATLANTIC SEABOARD Every Thursday night, teens dial in for a 10-minute conference call at 10 pm hosted by associate regional director Rabbi Yitzchok Dinovitzer. The call gives teens an opportunity to get an extra dose of NCSY Torah and often evolves into an animated discussion with questions and answers.

UNDERSTANDING TEENAGERS FROM THE EXPERTS

n May 30, Ottawa NCSY hosted a group of experts for a panel entitled, “Youth & Their Family Growth & Development.” The panel included Dr. Simon Davidson, chief of psychiatry at the local children’s hospital, Dr. Jacob Kaiserman, an adolescent psychologist, and Bram Bregman, executive director of Ottawa NCSY. The panelists each spoke briefly and then engaged in a lively discussion, followed by a dessert reception. Parents have eagerly requested NCSY to run similar programs in the upcoming school year. Dr. Simon Davidson, Dr. Jacob Kaiserman and Bram Bregman spoke at the “Youth & Their Family Growth & Development” panel on May 30.

mentors from the community. Canada NCSY executive committee member Dr. Alan Seidenfeld, a supporter of NCSY learning programs for many years, spoke to all the participants and mentors about the value of regular Torah learning at the banquet.

CLEVELAND JEWISH SCHOLARS PROGRAM ENDS STRONG

leveland NCSY’s Jewish Scholars Program (JSP) broke the mold with more than 95 teen participants and 20 parents and community volunteers. Teens learned about Judaism, made

new friends and even earned some cash! JSP is scheduled to kick off the next year with 15 jam-packed nights, beginning September 30 at the Mandel JCC’s Stonehill Auditorium.

Toronto, Ontario Rabbi Shmuel and Elana Soroka — elana@ncsy.ca

ENTIRE PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOL ATTENDS JSU HOLOCAUST PROGRAM The entire student body at Forest Hill Collegiate Institute came together to listen to Holocaust survivor Elly Gotz as he spoke about his experiences during the Holocaust and the need for remembrance and tolerance. This is the third year that Forest Hill JSU organized a school-wide event. With the help of several student organizers, attendance exceeded more than 900 students and staff.

Vancouver, British Columbia PHOTO: JANET CENTURY PHOTOGRAPHY

Rabbi Samuel Ross — samuelross@ncsy.ca

The Jewish Scholars Program graduating class shows off their certificates at the closing banquet.

Philadelphia, PA & Cherry Hill, NJ See City Spotlight on page 34.

blankets for Israeli victims of terror.

Ottawa, Ontario Bram Bregman — bram@ncsy.ca

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

Montreal, Quebec Devora Tanny — devora@ncsy.ca

MONTREAL NCSY CREATES SMILES FOR SICK CHILDREN Live2Give, NCSY’s recently launched volunteering program in Montreal, attracted a great deal of participation during the “Operation Toy Drive” for Chai Lifeline. The project, spanning three weeks, had teens driving out to a toy warehouse, loading hundreds of boxes of toys into their cars and delivering them to the Chai Lifeline center where the toys were distributed to children with serious illnesses. Other innovative volunteer opportunities offered by Live2Give include delivering Shabbat food to needy families, challah baking for a local kosher soup kitchen and making

See mini story on page 40.

Thornhill, Ontario

VANCOUVER IS OFF THE CHARTS Under the leadership of Rabbi Samuel and Gila Ross, Vancouver NCSY is experiencing tremendous growth. Programs and trips are being offered to accommodate all types and interests, including paintballing, social action opportunities, dinner and Torah discussions, weekly teen leadership meetings and inspirational Shabbatons. This year, a record number of teens attended Yarchei Kallah during their winter break, and more than 16 teens attended an NCSY summer program in Israel.

Shalom Zocher Shabbat Shabang When the Ross baby unexpectedly came three weeks early, a Vancouver Shabbat Shabang got re-marketed as a Shalom Zocher Shabbat Shabang! Meira Spivak, city director of Portland NCSY and JSU, decided to join the simcha and brought a van full of teens from Portland to the Shabbaton. It was a unique opportunity to teach them about the Jewish life cycle and teens enjoyed a lively Friday night oneg. Just four days after the baby’s arrival, 35 people squashed into the Ross’s dining room for a delicious and fun Shabbat lunch.

Rabbi Avi Levinson — avi@ncsy.ca

CENTRAL EAST

JEWISH BUSINESS NETWORK HOSTS LEADING INVESTMENT BANKER

Rabbi Tzali Freedman, Regional Director 888.471.4514 // ncsyce@ncsy.org centraleast.ncsy.org

The Jewish Business Network hosted several events focusing on business and community leadership for aspiring business high school students. The final event featured guest speaker Steve Mayer, managing director of the investment banking division at Goldman Sachs Canada. Mayer, a community leader of the UJA Federation of Greater Toronto, spoke to more than 30 teens about the importance of taking responsibility for the Jewish future and the Jewish community.

60+ PARTICIPANTS ATTEND DVR LEARNING PROGRAM BANQUET The Daniel and Vera Rubinstein (DVR) learning program attracted 60-70 teens per session. Participants devoted one night a week to learning with

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

CLEVELAND NCSY WELCOMES TWO NEW STAFF members Cleveland is honored to welcome two extraordinary individuals to the team. Devorah Leah (DL) Lavin of Hamilton, ON, joined the crew as the new assistant director. DL has been a top NCSY volunteer for the past few years and has been very active in NCSY’s summer program TJJ. Additionally, Yiskah Fantl of Cleveland, OH, joined the team as the chapter’s first administrative assistant.

fun-filled interactive study sessions, compelling classes and a cook-your-own pancake and omelet breakfast. The program took place at the centrally located Young Israel of Oak Park. After receiving positive feedback from the synagogue, teens and parents sought to make the program an annual event.

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

PITTSBURGH NCSY CELEBRATES PURIM PHOTO: NOACH KLEIN

More than 40 teens joined Pittsburgh NCSY on a party bus, spreading Purim joy throughout the community. The bus visited senior living centers and the homes of Yachad members, donors and NCSYers.

SHAVUOT IN PITTSBURGH Detroit, MI Detroit NCSY accepts Central East NCSY’s Chapter of the Year award at the 2013 Regional Convention.

Columbus, OH

Detroit, MI

Rabbi Yaakov Frankiel — frankiely@ncsy.org

Rabbi Dovid Lichtig — lichtigd@ncsy.org

COLUMBUS JR. NCSY ROCKING THE CHARTS

DETROIT NCSY WINS CENTRAL EAST CHAPTER OF THE YEAR

Shabbat came to life with more than 100 teens from grades 6-8 at the Columbus Jr. NCSY Shabbaton. Attendees travelled from Cincinnati, Cleveland, Pittsburgh and Detroit for a weekend filled with spirituality, inspiration and song.

After a transformational year complete with innovative new programs, revitalized old programs and record attendee numbers, Detroit NCSY was awarded Central East NCSY’s Chapter of the Year award at the 2013 Spring Regional Convention. Some of the new programs introduced this year included a Chanukah casino night, an all-night Shavuot learning program and a JUMP team at the Frankel Jewish Academy. Detroit also hosted the regional fall Shabbaton, which attracted an unprecedented 89 Detroit teens. Lastly, Detroit tripled their attendance at its Detroit Jewish Scholars Program.

FORMER NFL RUNNING BACK ADDRESSES PUBLIC SCHOOL TEENS Calvin Murray, a former Philadelphia Eagles football player, spoke to two JSU clubs in Bexley High School about the importance of strength and leadership. Murray inspired more than 30 teens to take pride in their heritage and take on leadership roles within their community. Eager to follow Murray’s path, teens immediately began volunteering in community service opportunities.

DETROIT NCSY INTRODUCES BRAND NEW ALL-NIGHT SHAVUOT LEARNING PROGRAM Thirty-three teenagers partook in a brand-new learning initiative over Shavuot, which included

Eight dedicated NCSY advisors joined teens for a remarkable Shavuot learning program. Fifty-six people attended a delicious dinner at the Goldberg’s home where they were addressed by community leaders. Teens also enjoyed a late night kumzits bonfire and a make-your-own-pancake breakfast. Shavuot was brought to a close with an ice cream sundae party and a lively singing session.

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

MIDWEST NCSY RESTRUCTURES With regional director Rabbi Micah Greenland appointed as the interim international director of NCSY, Midwest is proud to announce two new leadership roles within the region. Rabbi Moshe Isenberg, former chief communications officer, is now serving as the interim executive director. Additionally, Rabbi Donny Schwartz, former associate regional director, now serves as the interim regional director. Midwest NCSY wishes them much hatzlacha in their new interim positions and is confident that much success lies ahead!

Pittsburgh, PA More than 40 teens joined Pittsburgh NCSY on a party bus to spread the Purim joy around the community.

Buffalo Grove, IL

Memphis, TN

Jenny Serle — serlej@ncsy.org

Marc Lennon — lennonm@ncsy.org

BUFFALO GROVE NCSY TAKES OVER STARBUCKS

MEMPHIS HOSTS MINI SHABBATON

Natasha Zucker, a senior at Hopkins High School, won vice president of Jr. NCSY because of her dedication to growth in Judaism. Jason Graf was elected vice president of education of NCSY. Jason demonstrated the importance of Torah learning when he made the difficult transition from public school in Minnesota to Cooper Yeshiva High School in Memphis. NCSY couldn’t be prouder of these two growth-oriented teens.

The weekly Frappatorah learning program has grown tremendously over the year. The very last Frappatorah of the year was a smashing success! Every chair, both inside and outside of Starbucks, was occupied with Frappatorah participants engaging in Q & A discussions. NCSYers come every week eager to learn and excited to meet new people.

In April, Memphis and Chicago NCSYers and advisors came together for a mini-Shabbaton at the Baron Hirsch Synagogue. Teens enjoyed hanging out with friends and advisors, eating delicious food and discussing the meaning of fear and fear of heaven. The weekend culminated with an epic Saturday night Fear Factor that included messy activities and eating gross food combinations.

Chicago, IL

MEMPHIS WINS MIDWEST CHAPTER OF THE YEAR

MONDAYS AT MIZRAHI: AN ANTICIPATED WEEKLY EVENT

Memphis NCSY had an incredible year. From starting its first JSU club to expanding NCSY Summer attendance and hosting more local events, this was the strongest year yet for Memphis NCSY. Midwest NCSY recognized all of their accomplishments by awarding them with the 2013 Chapter of the Year award at the Camp Chi Spring Regional Shabbaton.

Teens from across North Shore look forward to attending Dinner and Learning at Mizrahi Grill. While enjoying a free dinner, teens engage in Torah discussions with friends from different schools. Participants eagerly wait for Mondays at Mizrahi to return in the fall.

Mashi Polstein — polsteinm@ncsy.org

THE JEWISH FAMILY EXPERIENCE CONTINUES The Jewish Family Experience — a joint program of NCSY and the Associated Talmud Torahs of Chicago — began its second year this fall. In addition to its classes for grades 1-8, JFE added several new programs to its roster. A Mom and Tots group meets every Sunday for an hour and a half, allowing parents and young children to participate in structured playtime alongside ageappropriate Jewish learning. Additionally, post bar and bat mitzvah students are able to join the Impact program, which focuses on developing teens into future Jewish leaders.

Indianapolis, IN

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

MINNEAPOLIS CLAIMS TWO SPOTS ON MIDWEST NCSY’S REGIONAL BOARD For the first time in Midwest NCSY history, Minneapolis NCSYers won two positions on regional board.

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

Skokie, IL Shosh Friedman — friedmans@ncsy.org Levi Zeffren — levizeffren@gmail.com

TEENS ATTEND CELEBRATORY END OF YEAR EVENT To end off a successful year of weekly Dinner and Learn programs, more than 50 Skokie teens came together for a “Burn and Learn.” Teens feasted on a

Sam Zitin — zitins@ncsy.org

TEENS LEARN LATE ON SHAVUOT

SOUTH BEND RAISES MONEY FOR VICTIMS OF OKLAHOMA

Teens from all over Indianapolis gathered at the Zitin residence for some late night learning. The topic discussed was preparation, with a focus on Sefirat Ha’Omer. Teens were treated to two hours of learning, refreshments and games before heading over to Congregation B’nai Torah to continue learning Torah independently.

Kansas City, KS Hillel Goldstein — goldsteinh@ncsy.org

KANSAS CITY COMPLETES SECOND SEMESTER OF SCHOLARS PROGRAM Kansas City JSU completed their second semester of JSU Scholars Program. Fifteen teens met weekly to study relevant topics through the lens of Judaism. Following small group sessions led by mentors from the community, the students heard from local experts from the fields discussed. At the conclusion of the program, students received a stipend from the Jewish enrichment program, which many used to travel to Israel over the summer!

KANSAS CITY NCSY LEARNS TORAH EVERY NIGHT With the help of advisors, Kansas City NCSY offers different programs to learn Torah every night during the week. On Mondays, teens meet with community lay leaders to learn various topics related to Judaism at JSU Scholars. On Tuesdays, teens attend NCSY DEAL (Dinner Earn And Learn). On Wednesdays, NCSYers participate in LOL (Latte On Line), where teens sign into Google+ for an online video shiur with one of their advisors. Lastly, on Thursdays, teens enjoy NCSY’s classic Latte & Learning at a local Starbucks. Torah is everywhere in Kansas City NCSY!

outh Bend NCSY and the Jewish Federation united to raise money for the victims of the Oklahoma tornadoes. Families and NCSYers volunteered to bake for bake sales in different

communities. All proceeds went directly to the Jewish Federation of Oklahoma City. One of the most beautiful aspects of the program was having the entire community come together for this worthy cause.

delicious barbecue while roasting marshmallows on a bonfire they built. After a year filled with learning and growth, teens were reminded to take what they gained from Torah learning and apply it to their summers and their futures.

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

NCSY’S GOT TALENT South Bend NCSY hosted its first NCSY’s Got Talent competition. More than 40 NCSYers attended the event, hosted at the Midwest Torah Center. Eight performers showed off their talents. Ethan Soloveychik took home first place for his rendition of Go the Distance, a song from a Disney movie, and received a $25 gift card to the store of his choice.

St. Louis, MO

SHORESHET TAKES OFF

his past year, St. Louis NCSY launched Shoreshet, an all girls program led by cochapter advisor Tzippy Meisel and student president Chaviva Kay. Averaging 20 girls per event, the teens had lots of fun and shared many memories together. Highlights included a bike trip, dance party, night-light zoo scavenger hunt and weekly Tuesday Pizza & Parsha program.

Rabbi Mike Rovinsky — RovinskyM@ncsy.org Rabbi Gershie Meisel — meiselg@ncsy.org

See mini story on top right.

NEW ENGLAND 617.332.6279 // nencsy@ncsy.org newengland.ncsy.org

Newton, MA

Providence, RI

Sammy Aronson — sammy.aronson@gmail.com

60+ teens attend roadshow weekend With just two Shabbatons, Newton NCSY doubled its attendance at the Roadshow Shabbatons. Over the course of a month and a half, attendance went from 30 teens to 60+ teens. The inspiration is growing and NCSYers are developing a stronger connection to their Jewish identity.

SMALLEST STATE IN THE COUNTRY BOASTS BIG CHAPTER PROGRAMMING Providence has been one of New England’s most prosperous chapters this year. They held their first annual Pesach oneg at the home of advisor Esty Saklad. With more than 20 teens in attendance, the event was a huge success. Teens and advisors discussed the idea of physical freedom versus mental freedom. Nearly 20 teens participated in an all-night

MEMPHIS, TN Memphis and Chicago NCSY joined together for a mini-Shabbaton that ended with an epic Saturday Night Fear Factor.

learning program on Shavuot led by NCSY advisors at Congregation Beth Shalom. Rhode Island may be the smallest state, but NCSY is going strong!

STAMFORD, CT

Shabbat was spent at the Young Israel of Houston, giving students an opportunity to experience the wonderful hospitality of an “out-of-town” community. The students returned with a reinvigorated sense of communal responsibility and a desire to get more involved in chesed.

Brooklyn, Staten Island NY

Twin Rivers / Hightstown / East Windsor, NJ

The JSU students of Brooklyn Tech High School were excited and honored to welcome New York State Assembly Member Dov Hikind to their Jewish culture club. Hikind spoke about the history of Jewish life in New York, specifically in Brooklyn, and offered students an opportunity to intern at his office over the summer. Students also had an opportunity to ask Hikind questions about the challenges he faces as an Orthodox Jew in politics.

Isaiah Rothstein — yistamfordyouth@gmail.com

ENGAGING STUDENTS IN JEWISH PRIDE AND DIVERSITY Stamford NCSY is working to expand its reach to the greater Fairfield County. Engaging more than 50 teens at Stamford’s monthly programming, Stamford advisors bring tremendous enthusiasm and charisma to the table. At the bonfire banquet honoring graduates, teens enjoyed a musical havdallah and s’mores. This is one of many programs that shows Stamford’s smooth groove within the region.

NEW JERSEY Rabbi Yaakov Glasser, Regional Director 201.862.0250 // office@njncsy.com newjersey.ncsy.org

Highland Park, NJ Ari and Shira Neuman —Yaneuman58@gmail.com

Menachem Chinn — rabbichinn@gmail.com

JSU MAKES AN IMPACT When attending a JSU session, Hightstown High students enjoy either pizza, homemade cookies or ice cream. While some students initially come for the food, they return to the program time and time again because of the content. “This is my son’s moral compass,” said one parent. “I am so glad you run this,” explained a local teacher. “You can use my room any time the regular room is unavailable.” Several of the students stop in just to say hello even if they are unable to stay for the program.

NEW YORK

Nechama Kamelhar — Kamelharn@ncsy.org Rabbi Moishe Zucker — zuckerm@ncsy.org

NY STATE ASSEMBLY MEMBER VISITS BROOKLYN TECH HIGH SCHOOL

MAKING CONNECTIONS THROUGH VOLUNTEERING Brooklyn, Queens and Staten Island teens have participated in numerous Shabbatons and Friday Night Lights this year. During each Shabbaton, teens spend a few hours visiting a local nursing home where they build relationships with the residents and bring the Shabbat spirit to them. NCSYers look forward to continuing their visits with their newfound friends.

Rabbi Yehoshua Kohl, Regional Director 516.569.6279 // nyinfo@ncsy.org newyork.ncsy.org

A FIRESIDE EXPLOSION: HIGHLAND PARK STYLE The smell of roasted marshmallows and grilled hot dogs filled the air as Shira Neuman, city director of Highland Park, shared inspiring lessons from Rabbi Akiva. For the first time, nearly 50 NCSYers and advisors sat around a bonfire on Lag Ba’Omer. While the fire was safely maintained, everyone burst into song singing the kumzits classics such as bilvavi, acheinu and tov le’hodot.

Monmouth County, NJ Ariel and Yardena Bannett — bannetta@ncsy.org

TEENS COMPETE IN COMPETITION HOSTED BY EMMY AWARD WINNING TV PRODUCER On Purim, 60 teens from Monmouth County celebrated a star-studded Purim with NCSY. Teens from all backgrounds listened to the megillah, ate delicious Chinese food and participated in the annual “Red Carpet” costume competition. This year’s competition was hosted by Emmy award-winning TV producer Seth Feldman. The prize for best costume, a brand new iPad Mini, went to Jacob Rifkin for his outstanding homemade oompa loompa costume.

Teaneck, NJ Rael Blumenthal — rael@ncsy.org

PHOTO: CHAIM NEIDITCH

MISSION TO TEXAS This past April, NCSY partnered with The Frisch School for its third annual chesed mission. The four-day mission, led by Rabbi Rael Blumenthal and Zahava Rothschild from NCSY and Rabbi Josh Schulman from Frisch, included working with Habitat for Humanity and the Houston Food Bank. The students provided 7,395 meals to underprivileged families and schools.

ATLANTA, GA Teens in JSU at Chamblee Charter High School learn about the mitzvah of mezuzah while making mezuzah cases.

Long Island, NY Rabbi Yossi Schwartz — schwartzy@ncsy.org Jon Ackerman — ackermanj@ncsy.org

FORMER IDF PARAMEDIC INSPIRES NY NCSY TEENS

than 80 public school and yeshiva day school teens at their monthly Shabbat dinners. The momentum and excitement surrounding this event has propelled more Manhattan teens than ever before to attend NY NCSY’s Spring Regional Shabbaton and to join NY NCSY’s regional board. This year, Manhattan NCSY is thrilled to announce that there are four Manhattan teens on regional board.

Mandell. Teens also ran pre-Purim festivities and chesed projects at local nursing homes and hospitals.

NCSY RAFFLES Off AN IPAD MINI To help raise scholarship funds, Southern NCSY raffled off an iPad Mini. Teens sold tickets to friends and community members. Thanks to everyone’s generosity, more than 20 NCSYers were able to attend Southern NCSY’s Spring Regional Shabbaton.

Long Island resident Meir Shubowitz recently returned from Israel where he served in the IDF as a paramedic. Shubowitz spoke to teens at Long Island JSU clubs about his experiences in the Israeli army and discussed the importance of living life to the fullest. He explained that the IDF values life over all things.

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

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

GIVING BACK…ONE BAGEL AT A TIME

SHABBAT, KASHRUt, & TEFILLIN: QUEENs STUDENTS COMMIT

When it comes to raising money, NCSYer Jonny Irom gets the job done. He’ll sum it up in one word: bagels. Irom, president of his Oceanside JSU club, explained, “I wanted to give back to my community.” He decided to sell bagels for breakfast at his public school. Every morning, Irom picked up bagels at 6:30 am and set up a bagel stand one hour before class began. “At two bucks a pop with some shmear, they sold out every day,” said Irom. Irom ended the year with close to $1,500. The money raised was distributed to Israeli children living in Sderot and to children being served by Chai Lifeline.

After several months of learning about Jewish customs pertaining to Shabbat, Kashrut and Tefillin, determined Queens public school teens committed to doing all three. The teens were further inspired when a Holocaust survivor visited their school and spoke about the dangers he faced while practicing Jewish traditions in the concentration camps. Afterwards, the public school teens felt fortunate to be able to practice these rituals as free individuals.

LONG ISLAND NCSY OFFERS FOOD FOR THOUGHT

SOUTHERN

Long Island NCSY recently launched Food for Thought. This enlightening initiative provides teens throughout the Five Towns with an hour of in-depth Torah learning every Monday night. In the words of Sam Cohen, NY NCSY’s newest regional board member and one of the pioneers of Food for Thought, “It’s the highlight of my week.”

Manhattan, NY Efron Sturmwind — efron@ncsy.org

TEEN SHABBAT DINNERS DRAW LARGE MANHATTAN CROWD Manhattan NCSY has experienced amazing growth this year. Partnering with a number of Upper West Side synagogues and organizations, NCSY hosted more

More than 70 South Florida teens kicked off Purim with a Persian-themed Shabbat, followed by a Saturday night megillah reading at the Boca Raton Synagogue. On Sunday morning, local teens dressed up in costume and filled the Regents Park Health Care Center. Singing and dancing, the teens spread their energy and joyful Purim spirit throughout the town. After making their way through the Boca Raton community in a party bus and raising over $2,500 for tzedakah in two hours, teens concluded the day with a traditional festive and spirited Purim seudah, meal, at the home of Rabbi Eli and Batsheva Zians. For many, this was their first Purim experience!

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

Broward County, FL

RASG JUMP TEAM GOES TO THE BOARDROOM

BROWARD COUNTY NCSY LAUNCHES TEEN LLC

Students at RASG Hebrew Academy in Miami Beach were proud of their school’s JUMP team for representing South Florida as finalists in the competition. The team executed three impressive events over the course of four months including hosting a basketball tournament that raised over $3,500 in December. They also gathered more than 350 people to participate in a community-wide Israel Awareness Day at school. The day included the bar mitzvah celebration of Osher Twito, an Israeli child who was injured by a Kassam rocket, and keynote speakers Sergeant Benjamin Anthony and Rabbi Seth

Twenty Broward County teens participated in Southern NCSY’s new leadership program Teen LLC, a bi-weekly program that blends leadership with learning and chesed. The teens spent two hours a week learning Torah and meeting with representatives from local organizations whose expertise correlated with the particular week’s chesed theme. Organizations included Chai Lifeline, Wedding Gemach, Yachad, The Free Loan Society and the Jewish National Fund.

JAX TEENS LEAD HOLOCAUST SEDER

Jacksonville, FL NCSYers Doug Nabert and Sarita Weltman with survivors and their family members.

PURIM IN PERSIA: A WEEKEND OF INSPIRATION

n March 10, Jewish Family & Community Services and NCSY Jax teamed up to bring a memorable Holocaust seder to the Jacksonville community. The event was held at River Garden Hebrew Home and hosted close to 100 participants, including survivors and their families. A special haggadah was published just for the occasion, which included excerpts from interviews with the Holocaust survivors in attendance. Jax teens prepared the food and led the seder. Participants in the Garden chapel were touched, inspired and shaken that day.

PHOTO: SARAH RABINOWITZ

SOUTHERN (L to R) Yasmine Avrahami, Sarah Rabinowitz and Keren Yunger wait for Shabbat to begin at Southern NCSY’s Spring Regional Convention at the Ramada Marco Polo Beach Resort.

Jacksonville, FL Rabbi Shaya Hauptman — info@ncsyjax.com

See mini story on page 46.

region. Shabbatons are experiencing more attendees than ever. South Miami NCSY has also made it a priority to get out in the community, volunteering at various community events. In light of this, South Miami was awarded Chapter of the Year.

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

SAVANNAH BREAKS RECORD WITH LARGEST EVENT Once again, Savannah NCSY set the record for the largest local Jewish youth group event with over 35 NCSYers in attendance. NCSYers had a blast as they challenged each other to bowling tournaments, laser tag shoot-outs and wild arcade action.

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

SOUTH MIAMI NCSY REINVENTS THE WHEEL Youth director Jason Segelbaum joined the NCSY team last year and is striving to bring the local teens and students closer to Torah. Weekly events are primarily social but have an educational component. Through events such as Lox Box, Purim Carnival and the South Miami Charity Marathon Run, South Miami NCSY has been able to raise funds to help more teens attend Shabbatons and to help teens go on NCSY Israel programs.

SOUTH MIAMI NCSY wins CHAPTER OF THE YEAR South Miami NCSY has not only engaged members locally, but has become more involved throughout the

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

DALLAS NCSY ENDS YEAR IN ARKANSAS Dallas NCSY travelled to Arkansas for its end-of-theyear trip. The teens stayed in lake-front cabins and spent two days having fun with non-stop activities including horseback riding across the mountains of Arkansas and boating and tubing in Lake Catherine. It was also a time for teens to reflect and connect spiritually. “It was an amazing opportunity to connect with myself, to connect with nature and to connect with God,” said Maya Ivensky, a Dallas NCSYer.

WHO WON THE COW? For the second year in a row, Dallas NCSY raffled off an entire cow’s worth of meat for its annual fundraiser. Ticket sales tripled this year. Congratulations to Aaron Leeder from Staten Island, New York, for winning all that beef!

Albany, NY ALBANY NCSY WINS CHAPTER EXCELLENCE AWARD Albany capped off a year of exceptional growth and programming with the Chapter Excellence Award given at Spring Convention’s reception. The award highlighted the NCSYers contributions and educational, fun-filled efforts towards the community. A special example of this was when more than 20 teens attended the shul’s all-night Shavuot learning program. The energy was palpable and exemplified the incredible vitality of the chapter.

Buffalo, NY BUFFALO NCSY SENDS OUT SENIORS IN STYLE The year started off with a bonfire and day of fun at the park where teens played soccer, capture the flag, kickball and board games. During the winter, they beat the frost by ice-skating, laser tagging and cybersporting! In the early spring, NCSYers had a great time bouncing off the walls at Sky Zone Indoor Trampoline Park. Seniors were sent out with a final taste of Buffalo hospitality with a closing end-of-the-year barbecue.

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

SEATTLE, WA Seattle NCSY and JSU teens spent the week leading up to Memorial Day placing flags on the graves of Jewish veterans throughout the Jewish cemeteries

of Seattle.

Rochester, NY ROCHESTER WINS CHAPTER OF THE YEAR & SENDS TEENS TO ISRAEL Rochester NCSY won Chapter of the Year at Spring Convention 2013. On top of that, Rochester’s chapter president Zoe Baruch won NCSYer of the Year. Eight NCSYers attended NCSY summer programs and five graduates are in Israel either studying in a seminary or part of the IDF.

WEST COAST

NorCal East, CA

Phoenix, AZ

Rabbi Akiva Naiman — naimana@ncsy.org

Shmuli Josephson — shmuli@ncsy.org

TEENS PARTICIPATE IN ILEARN

ANOTHER INCREDIBLE YEAR FOR PHOENIX NCSY

iLearn is a program that enables NCSYers to receive points for anything Torah-related, including writing a weekly Dvar Torah, going to Shul, attending Latte & Learning or learning with an NCSY advisor over Skype. Based on the amount of points acquired, NCSYers collect prizes ranging from $200 off an NCSY summer program to a free iPad mini. A huge mazal tov to our top three winners this year: Ariel Cohen, Hannah Feiner and Sophia Gluck.

The Maimonides Scholars Program was a great success! Many of its participants were able to experience their very first Shabbat at West Coast Spring Regional while others were given the opportunity to spend their summer in Israel on NCSY’s TJJ summer program. Coffee shops across town are filled on a weekly basis with teens getting their dose of Torah and iced lattes. Arizona JSU clubs are generating more buzz throughout their respective schools as teen leaders are constantly engaging more of their Jewish peers.

Las Vegas, NV Yehuda Maryles — marylesy@ncsy.org

A NEW MEANING TO “SHABANG” Close to 100 Las Vegas Jewish teens experienced the national Shabbat Shabang initiative. A series of four Shabbatons provided the Jewish community with authentic Shabbat dinners, zmirot and Torah discussions with friends and families. After experiencing all four Shabbatons, a public high school teen reflected: “I’m very proud to say that after just one year, I now keep Shabbat and made the big decision to study at a yeshiva in Israel next year!”

CHILE Teens enjoy a nice dinner with NCSY Chile director Michael Bengio.

Portland, OR Meira Spivak — spivakm@ncsy.org

Portland Jump takes the title After working diligently over the course of five months, the Portland NCSY team tied for first place in the national JUMP competition. With their innovative Shabbat Boxes and pro-Israel bus ad, the judges were more than impressed. As icing on the cake, the Portland NCSY JUMP team was featured on the cover of Oregon Jewish Life, Oregon’s only Jewish publication.

SILENCE YOUR EGO

his year for Pesach, San Diego NCSYers established and launched an innovative online photo project titled, “Silence Your Ego.” People were asked “Why do you #SilenceYourEgo?” and were

then instructed to submit a photo of themselves with a sign replying to the question. The project was aimed at getting people to consider the idea of humility and what it means to them.

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

FEMALE LEADERS EMPOWERED BY CONGRESSWOMAN A group of female NCSYers were given the opportunity, through San Diego’s NCSY Teen Leadership Initiative, to meet with San Diego Congresswoman Susan Davis. The congresswoman discussed the implications of being a female Jewish leader within the community. She stressed the importance of work, education, leadership and community engagement.

San Francisco, CA Mike Donovan — donovanm@ncsy.org

NCSY AND JSU END OF YEAR BBQ NCSYers from the local Jewish day school and public school got together for an end-of-the-year BBQ event. The event was co-sponsored by the JCC of San Francisco and was open to all current students and prospective students from around the city. Teens enjoyed the warm weather while playing football, frisbee and participating in relay races at the scenic Sterngrove Park.

Seattle, WA

The West Valley, CA

Ari & Jessica Hoffman — hoffmanj@ncsy.org

Yisrael Katz — ykatz@ncsy.org

REGIONAL IN THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST

WEST VALLEY NCSY GOES FROM 0 to 30 IN FIVE MONTHS

Teens from Seattle, Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton and Portland spent three days canoing, rock climbing and mountain biking at an amazing Shabbaton on Keats Island off the coast of British Columbia this past year.

The Valley, CA

NCSY Valley is proud to announce its expansion into West Valley! West Valley went from five NCSYers at its first Latte & Learning to consistently having 30+ attendees. Additionally, El Camino High School, Sherman Oaks Center for Enriched Studies and Granada Charter High School have grown from a mere 15-20 JSU students to 35-40 attendees.

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

WEST COAST JSU LAUNCHES NEW “JSU TOOLBOX” CURRICULUM West Coast JSU launched a new curriculum combining the fun and excitement of the JSU atmosphere with the rich and comprehensive educational platform that our heritage offers. Each month, students are given a tool that must be applied to life. The tool is based on Jewish sources that help adapt the depth of our Jewish culture to the modern, fast-paced world.

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

gets the opportunity to be involved with the entire challah baking process, allowing girls to understand the meaning of the spiritual rituals that take place while having a great time. Not only does each student leave the class with their homemade challah to enjoy at their Shabbat table, but they also take desserts that they made in class with them.

WORLD CUP COMING UP There is no doubt that there is one thing that every Chilean NCSYer enjoys with a heartfelt passion: soccer! There will be an entire round of elimination games in preparation for the World Cup and our students won’t miss a single game in which Chile plays. Every game that Chile plays includes an invitation from NCSY to watch the game, eat pizza and snacks, enjoy some words of Torah during halftime and a class at the end of the game.

NEW TWIST TO BAKING CHALLAH NCSY Chile has implemented various activities to ensure that NCSYers are not only having a great time, but gaining Torah knowledge. By far, the most popular activity has been women’s challah classes. Each teen

BY RABBI MOSHE BENOVITZ It was arguably the biggest officiating gaffe in the history of sports. The magnitude of the implications of the blown call and the blatancy of the blunder combined to create a moment of infamy that would long be remembered. In June 2010, an unremarkable pitcher named Armando Galarraga found himself performing rather remarkably. Through 8 2/3 innings there was nary a blemish on his scorecard; he had allowed no hits, no walks, and, to that point at least, there were no errors. Neither his arm nor his teammates in the field betrayed him. A routine groundball seemed to provide the last out in his masterpiece. Galarraga would have this night as a memory forever. He had achieved baseball immortality by pitching a perfect game. But it was not to be. Umpire Jim Joyce (a respected veteran with a far more accomplished career than Galarraga) inexplicably blew the call at first base. Although replays definitively showed that the runner was out and Galarraga a hero, there would be no perfect game that night. Galarraga would have to settle for being oh-soclose. The reactions were moving. Joyce was emphatic in both his contrition and his taking responsibility for his mistake. He offered no excuses and was emotionally remorseful. Galarraga was even more impressive. He was magnanimous and understanding, demonstrating a rare sensitivity and perspective. He expressed no ill will towards Joyce and demanded neither sympathy nor retribution. It was a paradigm of sportsmanship, and rightfully held up as a model of how competitors can transcend the limiting confines of their athletic pursuits and touch on values and ideals that are greater than championships or displays of physical prowess. And maybe it was something more as well. In an inspiring essay penned shortly after the game, sports writer Joe Posnanski suggested that our eyes may have deceived us. In fact, Galarraga had pitched perfectly, more so than any other player before him. 50

Posnanski wrote, “Galarraga pitched a perfect game on Wednesday night in Detroit. I’ll always believe that. I think most baseball fans will always believe that. But, more than anything it seems that Galarraga will always believe it. The way he handled himself after the game, well, that was something better than perfection... Armando’s Galarraga’s perfect game was a lesson in grace.” He provided further insight and food for thought when he explained that perfect games are mostly an illusion. The label of perfection is a misnomer. Surely there were more than a few poorly thrown pitches, surely there were more than a few mistakes. But Galarraga was as almost perfect as possible. In his case there was no illusion, only a confrontation with imperfection. And in his noble battle with error and fallibility he was more perfect than ever. Posnanski poignantly concludes, “[a]nd when my young daughters ask, ‘Why didn’t he get mad and scream about how he was robbed,’ I think I will tell them this: I don’t know for sure, but I think it’s because Armando Galarraga understands something that is very hard to understand, something we all struggle with, something I hope you learn as you grow older: In the end, nobody’s perfect. We just do the best we can.” Our long season of High Holiday confessionals can sometimes seem to drag on and become redundant. There is a pitfall of our standardized mea culpas devolving into unhealthy contrivance. Perhaps one way of approaching this and avoiding any debilitating malaise is to simplify our approach and refocus our words. Again and again, our mantra is: “We are not perfect. We see beyond our own illusions.” Too much of our personal and professional lives are spent working on the illusion of perfection. We interview for jobs, enter new social situations and cultivate our images for public consumption. We practice a firm handshake, assume an upright posture, and (often appropriately) hide all of our faults and foibles. But all of this bravado comes at a cost. We invest far too little

of our time and energy into grappling with our imperfections. We buy into the myth of perfection and this serves as a significant impediment in our quest for growth. The healthiest of marriages are built on admissions of vulnerability. Vibrant and dynamic organizations flourish from an appreciation of their own areas of weakness and a willingness to improve. Our relationship with God is structured similarly and we gain greatly from the most basic of confessions. The most successful educational institutions will incorporate this message into two fundamental facets of their basic methodology. First, internally, we should be careful not to pay too much attention to our finely tuned PR and press releases. The practical need for organizations to broadcast and celebrate our successes can never obfuscate an acute awareness of our failures. We can’t believe that we are perfect, or even that we are perfect enough. At the same time, acknowledging these failures need not depress us or demoralize us. Imperfection is not as rare or unnatural as it may seem, and does not define us as hopelessly unsuccessful. Perhaps more importantly, this lesson can inform the way we construct our learning environment. We should not be trying to raise or develop perfect students. We should not be demanding from them, explicitly or even more tacitly, impossible levels of perfection. Rather, we should be working to inspire our youth to a confidence that will allow them to face their failures with resolute ambition to overcome and improve. We are not perfect. No one is. We must acknowledge that simple truth and use it to propel us to real greatness.

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

ITâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S NOT TOO EARLY TO SIGN UP FOR ONE OF NCSYâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S INCREDIBLE SUMMER PROGRAMS REGISTER STARTING AUG. 26 ncsysummer.com or call 1-888-TOUR-4-YOU

BILT

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

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

EURO ICE

JOLT

Jewish Overseas Leadership Training (JOLT) is an intense leadership program. Past participants have described their JOLT experience in Poland, Denmark and Israel as having a transformational impact on their Jewish identity.

KOLLEL

Spend an unforgettable summer in Israel filled with intense learning, world-class sports and great trips.

Euro ICE brings Jewish history to life by exploring Italy, Slovenia, Czech Republic, Austria and more. The trip culminates in Israel by visiting all the popular sites on this co-ed trip.

MICHLELET

GIVE

TJJ

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

GIVE USA

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

The Jerusalem Journey (TJJ) is the most affordable Israel trip for public school teens. Teens tour Israel from top to bottom and develop an appreciation of historical and modern sites.

GIVE USA gives a select group of girls a meaningful and fun summer by providing them with opportunities to experience hands-on Judaism by giving back to communities across the USA.

TJJ Ambassadors

ICE ISRAEL

TJJ Plus

Travel the land of Israel on this co-ed program. The expedition begins in Tel Aviv and continues through Safed, Jerusalem, Eilat and more.

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

TJJ Plus is a leadership program for public school teens that already went on TJJ. The program begins in Poland and culminates with a unique Israel experience.

NCSY is the international youth movement of the Orthodox Union.

A JOURNEYOF ATHOUSAND

MILES

BEGINS WITH A SINGLELAO STEP TZU Chinese philosopher

Take your first step today. Register for NCSY Summer starting August 26, 2013 Visit www.ncsysummer.com *See inside back cover for program descriptions