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 aliza@ncsy.ca 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 sonya@ncsy.ca 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 leib@ncsy.ca
REGISTER TODAY AT summer.ncsy.org
NCSY is the international
youth movement of the OU.