Toronto Mini Ignite – Chanukah
Transcription
Toronto Mini Ignite – Chanukah
GTA NCSY SPECIAL LOCAL EDITION CHANUKAH 2014 AN NCSY NEWSLETTER 700 Teens attend Jewish Student Union (JSU) clubs in the Greater Toronto Area Shyndee Kestenbaum (left) and Tanya Zbili leading an NCSY education program at Camp Northland Bnai Brith. RIDING ON AN EXHILARATING EXPERIENCE When I arrived home after spending two years in Israel, I had two things: a BA in psychology and a desire to do something meaningful. I walked into the Toronto NCSY office and asked the first person I saw if there were any job openings. Fortunately for me, the head of Junior NCSY had just gotten married and they needed a replacement. And so, eight years ago I took the first step on what has become an incredible journey. Today, I am excited to take on the challenge of becoming Toronto NCSY’s city director. Together with my team, we will work each and every day to help ensure Toronto’s strong Jewish future. This past summer, NCSY and Torah High created a partnership with Camp Northland Bnai Brith, a Jewish overnight camp with over 500 campers. Together with a fellow Torah High teacher, we ran a comprehensive series of Jewish programs and created meaningful experiences for the entire camp. The summer was a huge success, and as a result we have been able to follow up with the campers and staff through year-round programs and Shabbatons. AN INTERVIEW WITH NCSY SUPPORTER CHAIM LEVY Q: How did you get involved with NCSY? The first time I heard about NCSY was when I was ten years old. My brother got involved with NCSY and he started to become more observant. During the process he brought my whole family along and we all became closer to our heritage. Back then, I understood how powerful NCSY was. Just over five years ago, I was invited by a friend to a meeting with Rabbi Avi Levinson, the Thornhill city director. Rabbi Levinson explained Continued on next page... 300 Torah High teens studying in educational and leadership programs 125 Active teens in a weekly learning and chesed programs 120 Teens have pre-registered for summer 2015 NOTE FROM THE DIRECTOR We live in a time when an alarming number of our young people are alienated and totally disconnected from Jewish life. Numerous statistical reports describe the massive hemorrhaging of our people to intermarriage and assimilation. If our youth are distant and disconnected from their past, then we must be concerned about their futures. NCSY was created to stop this rapid decline. Today, because of NCSY, a young person can link to their heritage, to Jewish values, to Israel and the Jewish people in ways that were never before thought possible. Thank you to all our donors and supporters who believe in our cause and without whom we could not achieve so much. Rabbi Glenn Black CEO, NCSY Canada ... Chaim Levy continued to the people around the table what NCSY did and how much more the organization could achieve with greater support from the community. At that point I decided to become more heavily involved with NCSY as a board member, supporter and emcee at one of the events. TEEN SPOTLIGHT ON ABY VOLCOVICH Q: How did you get involved with NCSY? Q: How has NCSY impacted your family? I got involved in grade 10 when I joined Torah High. My mother wanted me to continue my Jewish education because I was in public school and my friends were going to Torah High, so I figured I’d go along. I signed up for the New York trip that year, and then Chicago and then basically everything after that! My family has really strong Jewish values but we never considered ourselves religious. It had all been purely traditional. Being involved in NCSY was eye-opening. It showed us that Judaism is a way of life and can be a part of our everyday living. My mother, after being invited out to so many Shabbat meals thanks to NCSY, decided that she wanted to be able to contribute and made the decision that it was time to kasher our house. We now have a fully kosher house. It’s incredible! NCSY showed us that Judaism isn’t restrictive, but enabling. The summer that I joined Torah High, I was supposed to go to Fiji for the summer for credit in biology. In the middle of the year I realized that I didn’t really care about biology and I heard about The Anne Samson Jerusalem Journey (TJJ) and decided I should go to Israel instead. It turned out to be the best summer of my life. I loved it so much that the next year I went on Euro ICE. Q: How have NCSY programs influenced your life? TJJ and the other NCSY programs helped me explore my Jewish values and beliefs in a fun and exciting way. The advisors and staff are so friendly and open to any questions or concerns that I might have. NCSY brought Judaism to my life in a way so different than day school did. I now enjoy my Judaism. It’s a search for what I am and who I can become. NCSY has also given me a good sense of community, both nationally and regionally. It has given me great leadership skills, connections and friendships, and it has provided me with amazing experiences. NCSY will help me keep my Judaism wherever I go. It has given me roots that I know will last forever. Q: What are your plans for the future? I plan on going on a gap year program in Israel after I graduate high school, and I would like to be an advisor when I come back and go to university. NCSY will help me keep my Judaism wherever I go. It has given me roots that I know will last forever. Q: How has your own family benefitted from your involvement with NCSY? I am a product of NCSY. The obvious benefit is the fact that I have a family today that is deeply connected to Jewish life and the Jewish community. As a board member of NCSY Canada, my children have learned that it is important to not just care about our community, but to also care about the broader and less affiliated community. My children understand the importance of unity amongst the Jewish people and showing others the beauty of living an inspired Jewish life. Q: Can you describe your other community involvement? My passion is strengthening the Jewish community from different angles. Besides for sitting on the board of NCSY, I sat on the board of my shul, Beth Avraham Yosef of Toronto, for six years. I was involved in many different aspects of the shul and was also the co-chair of the youth committee. I have also served on the board of Eitz Chaim Schools for the past three years as chair of house and maintenance, which entailed a major renovation at the Patricia campus and a newly added middle school wing at the Spring Farm campus. Q: Why do you make supporting NCSY a priority? As a direct result of my brother’s involvement with NCSY, more than 21 people are living a Torah observant lifestyle. NCSY is an organization that has the ability to reach so many more people than just the teens it works with. The teens then go home and start bringing their parents and siblings to programs such as the community Friday night dinners at our shul. The impact that NCSY has on just one teen can go much further. I am living proof of that. SPECIAL LOCAL EDITION WESTMOUNT JSU SPONSORS AN IN-SCHOOL FIELD TRIP WITH IDF COMMANDER An NCSY and Tannenbaum CHAT Kimel alumnus, Noam E., was on leave from the IDF and came to speak to students at Westmount Collegiate. Noam is a commander in Sayeret Givati and is completing his officer training. Noam discussed his experiences in the IDF and shared what it was like being in Gaza this past summer. He gave a firsthand account of what really happened; an account that most people do not get to hear. He spoke extensively about the threat of the tunnels to Israeli civilians and the dangers involved as his unit cleared them. He also discussed what it means to be a soldier in the IDF and why he enlisted an extra two years to become an officer. The students were very moved by his passion and his dedication to protecting the Jewish people. ALUMNI WINE TASTING On Motzei Shabbat, November 29, NCSY alumni attended a wine tasting event. It was a wonderful evening spent reconnecting with old friends and enjoying excellent wine and hors d’oeuvres with the experts at Simcha Wine and The Harvest Room. Thanks to everyone who attended, NCSY raised money for our Alumni Scholarship Fund, which goes towards benefiting today’s NCSYers. TORAH HIGH STUDENTS VISIT U OF T On November 23, Torah High students and their parents visited the Wolfond Center at the University of Toronto. Participants enjoyed a delicious lunch, met with NCSY and Torah High alumni on campus and learned about Jewish opportunities awaiting them at universities across Ontario. Teens listened attentively as IDF commander Noam E. shared his experiences serving in the army. For security purposes, his face has been blurred. GROWING NUMBERS AT JEWISH STUDENT UNION CLUBS Over 700 Jewish public school students attend JSU (Jewish Student Union) on a weekly basis. The clubs consist of discussions on Jewish ethics and different Jewish cultural activities. JSU gives Jewish teens an opportunity to meet other Jews and explore their religion. Campers show off their nails as part of Shabbat preparation programming. OVER 50 NORTHLAND CAMPERS PARTICIPATE IN NCSY FOLLOW UP PROGRAMS After a great summer at Northland Bnai Brith summer camp with NCSY educators, many Northland campers attend year-round NCSY programs. This follow-up ensures that there will be continued spiritual growth for the campers. A NEW PARTNERSHIP WITH MARCH OF THE LIVING Torah High’s March of the Living credit started the week of November 17 with two classes. The students will attend weekly classes on Israel Advocacy before and after the March of the Living trip. Students will gain knowledge about Israel and the struggles the country faces, which will make the overall experience of the trip more meaningful. UPCOMING EVENTS Shwekey concert Regional Shabbaton December 14 March 16-22 Washington Advisors Chanukah event DVR Shabbaton December 21 Live 2 Give Shabbaton January 30-31 JPA Shabbaton February 20-21 March 27-28 11th annual golf tournament June 17, 2015 4th bass fishing trip July 2015 Learn ‘n Earn April 24-25 Torah High Shabbaton May NYC JSU Shabbaton February 27-28 Want more info on these events? Contact Aliza English at [email protected] or call 905.761.6279 ext.233 Don’t forget to LIKE US on Facebook! ncsycanada NCSY Canada 4600 Bathurst St. Toronto, ON REGIONAL LEADERSHIP Rabbi Glenn Black Chief Executive officer Yoni Colman Managing Director Sonya Budd Director of Development Einat Enbar Director of Marketing & Communications Marc Fein Director of Experiential Education Rabbi Leib Irons Director of Education Rabbi Avi Levinson City Director, Thornhill Shyndee Kestenbaum Co-City Director, Toronto Efron Sturmwind Co-City Director, Toronto CANADA.NCSY.CA Esther Rutledge Principal, Torah High 11TH ANNUAL GOLF TOURNAMENT Golf to support the Jewish future June 17, 2015 4TH BASS FISHING TRIP A life time experience July 2015 NCSY/TORAH HIGH GALA DINNER Support teens learning and growing in Torah November 29, 2015 For more information, contact Sonya Budd at [email protected] or call 905.761.6279 ext.226 NCSY runs 12 unique programs in the US, Israel and Europe. Discover the best program for you today. PROGRAMS INCLUDE: BILT Camp Sports Euro ICE GIVE GIVE WEST ICE Israel JOLT Kollel Michlelet The Anne Samson: TJJ TJJ Ambassadors TJJ Ambassadors Poland For more information, contact Rabbi Leib Irons at 905.761.6279 ext.229 or email [email protected] REGISTER TODAY AT summer.ncsy.org NCSY is the international youth movement of the OU.
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