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From the desk of NCSY Alumni Director - Rabbi Dave Felsenthal
Last Shabbas there were over 1,000 NCSY'ers in Shabbatons including several winter regionals, JSU trips to New York featuring 500 public school students in a concert Motzei Shabbat and 270 people attending the 2nd Alumni Reunion Shabbaton. I was discussing with Dr. David Luchins (Ben Zakkai Guru and frequent guest for our sponsor Touro College at Shabbatonim) a few weeks ago where he was going to go for Shabbas: Long Island NCSY winter regional or the Alumni Shabbaton. Although his wife Vivian seemed torn, his answer was very quick and clear, although I'd love to be at the Alumni Shabbaton when given the choice,I want to be with the kids.
I've been thinking about those words ever since and I want to go on record that I think Dr. Luchins had the right idea, but underestimated a different group of kids.
Read The Rest
Have an Awesome Shabbat,
Rabbi Dave Felsenthal
Director NCSY Alumni
D'VAR TORAH BY AN ALUMNUS
"Is G-d Beyond Us Or Within Us?" By Rabbi David Aaron
The Torah recounts that G-d instructed the Israelites to build a sanctuary, telling Moses, “Let them build a sanctuary and I will dwell in them.” Note that G-d did not say, “I will dwell in the sanctuary.” G-d said, “in them.”
Is G-d beyond us or within us?
One day my son Ananiel and my two daughters, Leyadya and Ne’ema, burst into my study. They had obviously been fighting over something and were very upset. I could see that I was chosen to be the lucky arbitrator to resolve another case of sibling rivalry. They shouted at each other, “You go, you ask Daddy.” “No, no! You go, you go.” Finally Ananiel, who was age five at that time, took the challenge and said, “O.K., O.K. Daddy, isn’t it true that G-d is a boy?” Ne’ema and Leyadya, ages eight and nine, had tears in their eyes. I could hear them silently pleading with me, “Please no, please no. Tell us it’s not true. It’s bad enough our brother is a boy. Surely, G-d is really a girl.”
Read The Rest...
NCSY Alumni Reunion #2 - A Breath Of Fresh A.I.R.
NCSY Alumni sponsored an Adult Inspiration Retreat in the Sheraton Parsippany, NJ over President’s Day Weekend. Over 270 alumni and those seeking an inspiring Shabbat gathered from as far as Los Angeles and Israel.
There were many NCSY families comprised of grandparents, kids and grandkids as well as 30 singles and even several Belz Chasidim all turning to NCSY for an uplifting and unforgettable time.
"It was a Shabbaton of reawakening, inspiration and resolution," declared Isabelle Novak, Chairperson of Ben Zakkai, the NCSY Alumni honor society. "We were reawakened to a way to help the Jewish people once again; people who never attended a NCSY Shabbaton before were inspired by the NCSY magic; and everyone resolved to make a difference," she explained.
Current NCSY National Director Rabbi Steve Burg and Founding national Director Rabbi Pinchas Stolper started off with a plenary session for the entire Shabbaton ith passionate addresses about "The three M's of NCSY today (Find ‘Em, Inspire ‘Em and Empower ‘Em)" by Rabbi Burg and "How NCSY began and does NCSY today fill the original vision" by Rabbi Stolper - an awesome way to start off with a bang!
What Else Exploded?
Picture This: A.I.R.
Wish you coulde have been there? Well at least share in the celebrations through some pictures. Only a few are up so far so keep checking back for more.
If you have pictures for our alumni gallery send them in to share!
See the Pictures
NCSY Alum Site Undergoing major updates!
Check out www.ncsyalum.org as we have gone and continue to go under major improvements!
NCSY in the News:
Teens Get Their Turn
Jewish students in Chicago-area public high schools have a new friend. Four of them, to be exact. They're the employees of a new Chicago organization, Jewish Student Union, that's trying to make big waves in the lives of Jewish teens. In its first year in the area, it is succeeding at 10 city and suburban high schools, according to its director, Brad Sugar.
To see teens turn
ALUMNI ANNOUNCEMENTS
Engagements
- Shoshana Michelson (Southern) and Simcha Feldman
- Aviva Kravitz (JOLT 1) and Yitz Novak (Long Island, Midwest, JOLT 1)
- Michaella Goldberg (Southern) and Yaakov Lyons
- Ezra Drissman (Central East) and Bracha Cohen
- Leslie Frankel (West Coast) and Eli Hartman
- Shoshie Edelstein (NJ, BRI) and Yissie Steinhart
- Shira Rosenfeld (Seaboard) and Andy Gryll
- Rivka Slursberg (Seaboard) and Matityahu Pomerantz
- Rena Leskowitz (NJ) and Oren Levy (NJ)
Weddings
- David Zelingher (NJ) and Shifra Bermish
- Bobby Faigen and Ariella Fessel
Births
- The birth of Zehava Leah Piltz, born to Bev (Selesnick) Piltz (Canada) and Ira Piltz (Chicago and Canada), now residing in Ramat Bet Shemesh
Other
- Joey (West Coast) and Julie (Weiner - Midwest) Greene of Seattle, WA, announce the Bas Mitzvah of their daughter, Rena Eliana, on February 25, 2007
Please send us your announcements |
