Number of teens who attended Fall Senior NCSY Convention in Memphis, TN this past November

THE NCSY NEWSLETTER CHANUKAH 2011

As the calendar turns to 2012, a new program is about to be launched in the Chicago area. The Senator Mark Kirk Israel Scholars Program engages students by pairing them with local lay-leaders for a series of 12 learning sessions related to Israel, its ethics and values and the practical implications of those concepts for them as Jewish decision-makers. Participants will also have an opportunity to meet with a variety of experts including the Illinois U.S. Senator Mark Kirk.

The Israel Scholars will earn a continuing education stipend of $150 or a $500 scholarship towards The Jerusalem Journey (TJJ) - NCSYs 4 week summer trip in Israel. Sessions meet Tuesday nights from 7:30-9:00 pm beginning in February at the Wilmette Community Recreation Center.The Senator Mark Kirk Israel Scholars Program was created in partnership with MIE Torah High, a joint program of the ATT and NCSY. Contact: polsteiny@ncsy.org. | www.IsraelScholars.com

Senator Mark Kirk, a leading voice for American-Israel issues and namesake of NCSY’s new Senator Mark Israel Scholars Program.

David and Miri RosenwasserDavid and Miri Rosenwasser have been involved with NCSY for the past decade, frequently opening their home to host NCSYers and NCSY programs. They contribute to NCSY with their time, effort, and financial resources and together with their six children, have enjoyed developing relationships with NCSY teenagers that extend beyond the boundaries of NCSY programs. Thanks so much for your time, David and Miri. Can you tell us how you first became involved in NCSY and why you support it?Our involvement really began with the first NCSY Shabbaton we attended: Winter Conclave in 2004. For me (David), NCSY has provided an opportunity

The New Teen Scene for Scholars

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MIDWEST

Dear Friends and Family,

We are excited to share with you so many

of the outstanding things that are going

on in our region. Even though it has only

been a few months since the year began,

we have already seen tremendous growth.

Take a look inside and enjoy! Wishing you

and your family a happy Chanukah!

– Rabbi Micha Greenland

E D I T I O N

Number of Jewish teens affected by Midwest NCSY each year

Number of public school clubs that meet each week around the region faciliated by Midwest NCSY

NCSY is the largest Jewish teen organization in the Midwest

to experience something I never had when I was growing up in Chicago’s north suburbs. Shabbatons, Friday night onegs and informal and fun learning programs were all things I would have enjoyed and benefited from immensely. Our involvement today gives us the chance to benefit teenagers in the way I would have appreciated back in my own teenage years. And if that’s true for me, we know it’s the case for countless kids that NCSY is working with right now.What do you wish other people knew about NCSY’s teen outreach?The impact that community members can have through NCSY on each teenager is immeasurable. In our view, each child that you are able to help is a world in their own, with generations of future Jewish children affected just by influencing one Jewish teenager! It’s so fulfilling to us to play even a small part in an NCSYer’s spiritual growth. It re-energizes us in our own lives and we’d love it if others reading this would want to give of themselves and join NCSY in reaching out to teens who lack a deep and meaningful connection with their Judaism.How has your NCSY involvement benefited your own family?NCSY has given our children the opportunity to relate to Jews of diverse backgrounds. It also has helped them truly appreciate their own upbringing in a Torah observant world as well as develop a genuine love and respect for other Jews. By hosting NCSY kids at our home, our children are in the position to help others in their Jewish growth and that in turn has enhanced our children’s Jewish identities. Because of this, our oldest daughters were inspired to spend their summers with NCSY on GIVE and Michlelet. There, they grew tremendously by coming together in Israel with other Jewish girls from a variety of backgrounds and engaging in life changing chesed activities and uplifting learning. Their perspective on the Jewish community and making it a priority to reach out to others are forever part of them because of their NCSY involvement.

... Donor Spotlight continued

In Chicago, New York, Los Angeles or any other “big” city, it may not be a big deal for a boy to choose to go to NCSY Kollel for the summer. But in a town where there is only one small community day school that goes up to sixth grade, producing a boy who has both the capability and the desire to attend an intensive learning summer program—the Harvard of Jewish summer programs—was indeed a great accomplishment for the Omaha Jewish community.

We have all heard the stories of the great sages that grew up in small rural communities in pre-war Poland: when they saw great potential in a young boy, they did whatever it took to raise enough money to send him to a high-level Torah learning center like Volozin. When the day finally came to send the boy off to study, the entire community came together in celebration, knowing that the boy was embarking on a journey that would bring them all great pride.

That sense of pride and anticipation was the same feeling the Omaha community felt when they sent Aaron Kurtzman on NCSY Kollel. Aaron has been attending Beth Israel Synagogue since he was a little boy. They’ve watched him grow up and listened to him read the Torah at his bar mitzvah. To this day, they are privileged to watch him daven, learn and give divrei Torah to other people in the synagogue on a regular basis.

This past summer, Rabbi Jonathan Gross, rabbi of Beth Israel, approached Aaron about attending one of two NCSY Summer programs. The first was The Jerusalem Journey (TJJ), an Israel-based touring program designed specifically for public school students. The second,

NCSY Kollel, is another Israel program but is geared mostly towards yeshiva day school students and focuses on Torah learning and intensive sports. Without hesitation, Aaron immediately chose to attend Kollel, despite lacking a strong Jewish education.

Aaron had the best summer of his life! He made friends from all over the world. In a short six weeks, his level of learning had broken into new stratospheres that he did not even know existed. He was introduced to gemara learning and developed an appreciation for learning Torah for its own sake. He encountered great rabbis from Yeshiva University and says that they are “mamash awesome!” Aaron continues to maintain ongoing relationships with his madrichim and Kollel rabbis.

Aaron came back to Omaha passionate about learning and is even inspiring others, including Rabbi Gross himself, with whom Aaron has a weekly chavrusa. Rabbi Gross’s next dream for Aaron: “I hope that he chooses to go to learn in Yeshiva for a year after high school.” Thanks to NCSY Kollel, Aaron will not be limited to the few yeshivot that cater to public school kids with limited backgrounds. He can have his pick of all of the top yeshivot in Israel.

Aaron plans on returning to NCSY Kollel this coming summer and Rabbi Gross hopes this is only the beginning of a wave of boys and girls choosing NCSY Summer Programs. Thanks to what NCSY offers and provides for all youth, Jewish teens all over have a bright Jewish future ahead.

AARON KURTZMAN

The impact that community members can have through NCSY on each teenager is immeasurable. In our view, each child that you are able to help is a world in their own, with generations of future Jewish children affected just by influencing one Jewish teenager!

Aaron Kurtzman (left) and a friend get ready to depart for a life changing summer at NCSY Summer Kollel in Israel.

SkokieDINNER AND LEARN AT SANDWICH CLUBSkokie NCSY, in partnership with ATT, has been running an amazingly successful Dinner & Learn program. Every Thursday night at Sandwich Club, teenagers from varying Jewish backgrounds come together to eat dinner and learn Torah in an open and welcoming environment. A wide variety of Rabbis and professionals in the community have attended and spoken to the teens about topics ranging from the weekly parsha to the Jewish view on business ethics. The discussions that develop open the door for teens to ask questions and hear the opinions of others. We look forward to many more Jewish teens from the Chicagoland area participating in the future!  

South BendNCSY LOUNGE NIGHT On the first Wednesday of every month, the NCSY Lounge is open. It’s the one night a month that South Bend NCSYers have time to chill and jam as they will. With two floors of electronic excitement and a pool and a ping-pong table, it’s a night to remember. If that wasn’t enough to sell you, there is also pizza, pop and all sorts of snacks. Of course, there is a dvar Torah, the centerpiece of the evening, as well as a magic trick performed by our very own illusionist, Yehuda Lindow. As we like to say in South Bend, “This night is for you!”

MemphisIT ALL HAPPENED OVER SUKKOT…Over Sukkot, Memphis hosted several exciting events for their teens, including an Edible sukkah building contest, a movie in the sukkah and a very heated Gilad Shalit release debate in which 17 kids participated and had their voices heard.

FALL CONVENTION LEAVES A LASTING IMPRESSION IN MEMPHISOver 185 NCSYers, along with dozens of advisors and staff, converged in Baron Hirsch Congregation in Memphis for an inspiration-packed weekend in November. From the moment the buses pulled in on Friday morning until the band played its last note on Sunday, energy and excitement filled the air.

Buffalo GroveA DOSE OF FRAPPATORAH GIVES BG NCSYERS ENERGY LONG INTO THE NIGHTFrappatorah go-ers stay after hours to chat, hang out, sip their warm Starbucks drinks and continue the Torah-inspired discussion long after the guest speaker leaves. For these public school teens, Frappatorah is an extra weekly dose of friendship and inspiration that is not part of their daily curriculum. Sponsored in partnership with the ATT.

MilwaukeeSATURDAY NIGHT KUMzITSMilwaukee chapter had an amazing teen-led kumzits with free pizza and a performance by the NCSY teen band at the Karan’s sukkah in Glendale.   Coincidentally, they were also “the band” at the Fall Convention in Memphis.   The NCSYers had a blast eating home made pizza while listening to live music.  

Kansas CityJUMP – JEWISH UNITY MENTORING PROGRAM We have successfully started another year of the JUMP challenge in collaboration with NCSY and HBHA. JUMP offers yeshiva day school students leadership opportunities while broadening their understanding of global issues facing the Jewish community. The challenge began with a kickoff seminar in NYC on October 30-31 which was attended by two of NCSY JUMP team members and the Kansas City NCSY director, Hillel Goldstein. The teens spent time learning leadership skills and participating in team building exercises.

IndianapolisCHALLAHWEENNCSYers gathered together at the end of October for a learning and nosh filled evening.  All NCSYers participated in the preparation, mixing, kneading and ultimately baking of a pumpkin flavored challah.  A large enough quantity of dough was prepared to allow for the mitzvah of hafrashat challah (separation of challah) to be done and there was a discussion of the mitzvah as well as the importance of bread in Jewish daily life.

Jake Frankovitz, Sammy Katz and Aaron Welcher from Indianapolis NCSY showing off their entry in the edible sukkah competition.

Some of the Frappatorah attendees enjoying a Latte & Learning with their Buffalo Grove chapter.

December 22-26Okner Winter ConclaveEaglewood ResortGrades 9-12

January 13-15Junior NCSY Winter ShabbatonMilwaukeeGrades 5-8

February 17-20NCSY Yarchei KallahIllinoisGrades 9-12

Mondays @ 7:30-8:30pmDinner and LearnMizrahi Grill

Mondays @ 7:30-8:30pmFrappatorahStarbucks in Buffalo Grove

Wednesdays @ 7:30-8:30pmLatte and LearningStarbucks in Lakeview

Thursdays @ 7:45-8:45pmDinner and LearnSandwich Club

Want more info on these events?Call 847-677-6279

Chicago Area Weekly Happenings

Bringing to Lightthe Innovative Programs That

Connect Teens to Their Judaism

3200 W Touhy Ave Chicago, IL 60645

Midwest NCSY

Rabbi Micah GreenlandRegional Director/CEO greenlandm@ncsy.org

Rabbi Moshe IsenbergChief Communications Officerisenbergm@ncsy.org

Rabbi Donny SchwartzAssociate Regional Directorrabbidonny@ncsy.org

Executive LeadershipRabbi Steven BurgInternational Director, NCSY

Mr. Keevy FriedAssoc. International Director, NCSY

Mr. Joseph StechlerYouth Commission Chairman, OU

Rabbi Dr. Simcha KatzPresident, OU

MIDWEST MESORAH3200 W Touhy Ave Chicago, IL 60645847-677-NCSYwww.midwestncsy.org

www.ncsy.org

NCSY is the international youth movement of the OU.

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WINTERCONCLAVE

December 22-26

Eaglewood Resort, Itasca, Il

BEST

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