To see a video recapping the day, click here.

Hi, my name is Netanel Muskat. Yesterday I went to Sderot with a group of NCSYers from Kollel for Yom Chesed. Some of the things we did there were visiting a police station where we saw actual missiles that were fired from gaze to Sderot. Then we were brought to a room where we saw a multi-media presentation about Sderot. After that, we climbed a small hill that gave as a view of Gaza.
We helped out in Sderot by cleaning up and painting a hangout lounge for local teenagers.

What really hit me was when we went to the local park. Like any other park there were swings and slides. However, in addition to the normal things you would find at a park there was also a giant cement caterpillar that seemed to be a tunnel that kids can run through. The tour guide explained that it was actually a bomb shelter.
At that point I thought to myself how crazy it is that they have to live with this reality on a daily basis. Even the smallest things, like going to the park with your kids, can become a nightmare.
Another thing that hit home was when I asked the tour guide, “Why, out of the thousands of missiles that were fired, did only a few hit their target?” He responded that I was mistaken and many streets throughout Sderot had been hit. However, he pointed out, there have been zero casualties. The reason for this is because the Israeli government has spent over half a billion dollars to create a missile warning system to keep the residents of Israel safe. The tour guide continued that the media chooses not to report on the challenges facing the residents of Sderot and that is why our coming to Sderot and learning about it is so important.
The lesson that I took out of the day was not to take anything for granted, especially the little things like going to the park with friends.
-Netanel Muskat

To see a video recapping the day, click here.

This past Wednesday, I along with several peers and madrichim spent the day visiting the Lamed Hey Army Base in the Gush, as well as taking a tour around Yad Vashem and/or Har Hertzel. At the base, we took a tour around the facilities and thanks to generous donations from many parents of NCSYers who visited, we did not come empty-handed. We gave the soldiers over eighty camel-back water backpacks, which provides easy water access to soldiers on a long, hot summer day. It was inspiring to see what a difference this made to the chayalim as their hakarat hatov was evident throughout the day, and reaffirmed by the base commander who took time out of his demanding schedule to speak to us.

Some of us visited Yad Vashem, while others went to Har Herzel. This could not have been a better ending to the day as we heard stories of people who made the ultimate sacrifice for the Jewish land and the Jewish people. Everyone came out of the day awe-struck and it was truly an experience that the NCSYers will never forget.
-Zvi Kaminetzky

To see a video recapping the day, click here.

Two days ago, our Madrich, Eliezer Feder, told us that we were the single chabura selected to go medical clowning in Shaare Zedek Hospital. (Editors note: Eliezer Feder has been a Medical Clown for over five years and has led many groups.) We were not enthusiastic about this, especially when he told us that we would have to sing and dance. He promised that it would be a lifetime experience to behold, and he was right.
In the hospital, it was truly wonderful making people laugh when they most desperately needed it. It was incredible to enter a room full of frowns, and leave it with fresh, huge smiles etched upon the patient’s faces.
What was most remarkable was the message I took out of the entire experience: no matter how upset you are in life, there are many worse things that you can go through; don’t take anything for granted, and be Misameach Bichelko.

My chabura and I were walking down the hospital hall after clowning for an hour when a visitor of a patient came out of a room and urged us in. We entered finding an unhappy looking patient, and we managed to put a smile on his face. He even decided to sing a song for us.
Soon after this, we left the hospital to eat, and afterwards walked to a bus stop where a free transportation service was scheduled to take us to Yad Vashem. A mini bus pulled up, and we asked the driver if it was the Yad Vashem bus. He answered no, but took us anyways for free. And who was this driver? It was the visitor of the patient who urged us into his room.
He told us something amazing that will stay in my mind forever. The man who we visited has had cancer for years and has been in tremendous pain and constant treatment. The previous day, he announced he was going to commit suicide. He was detained by the police, handcuffed, and brought to the hospital. An officer stood guard outside his room until five minutes before we came. We were able to bring the joy into the room which he so desperately needed, and perhaps helped him with his severe despair. Clearly, the apprehension my chabura and I had prior to the trip was incorrect. It was a meaningful, fun, and inspiring day which may have made my summer.
-Meir Avracen

To see a video recapping the day, click here.

Today in NCSY Kollel we had Yom Chesed and Israel Identification day. This day was dedicated to going to different places, and doing various acts of chesed while creating a connection with Israel. My group started the day with the unique experience of going to both the Gush Katif Museum and Yad Eliezer where we packed food.

As we started going to the Museum, I started thinking about the “disengagement.” I had been young at the time and was not really aware of what was going on. This visit changed everything; I became immersed within a world in which 9,000+ Jews were being evicted from their homes. We were shown a short video, documenting the situation at the time, and how the residents bravely resisted until the very end. This visit really created a strong connection for me with the residents of Gush Katif. It also renewed a strong conviction to do as much chesed and to help as many people as possible.
Our second stop was to the Yad Eliezar warehouse, to assist with the packing of food packages for the needy residents of Yerushalayim. We each had a few boxes in front of us, and began putting in simple necessities that we take for granted; olive oil and shampoo among many other items. This experience really put into perspective how much we have to be grateful for.
We ended our trip with a bit of time walking around the streets of Yerushalayim, reflecting on the events of the day.
-Yehuda Femen

A video recapping our trip to an Army Base. Aryeh Burg recaps the day.

A video recapping our trip to Shaare Zedek to bring joy to the patients there. Meir Avracen recaps the day.

A video recapping our trip to Yad Eliezer to help packing food. Yehuda Femen recaps the day.

A video recapping our trip to Sderot for Yom Chesed. Netanel Muskat recaps the day.

A video recapping our trip to Itamar for Yom Chesed. River Teles recaps the day.

To see a video recapping the day, click here.

After a great start to the first week of NCSY Kollel, Yom Chesed was upon us. Five chaburas, all consisting of post 11th graders, headed to Itamar for a day of learning and chesed. After an early morning shacharit, we were on our way up to the Shomron. We were accompanied by Rabbi Mordechai Kaplan, a professional tour guide, who gave us insights into many places mentioned in Tanach that we passed on our way up north.
After about an hour and a half we were in Itamar and were greeted by our other tour guide Amir. Amir briefed us on the community of Itamar and brought us to our first stop. We went to a local vineyard to help plant grape vines. We also heard from the manager of the vineyard, who explained the growing process of these vines. We then headed down the block to a goat farm where we ate lunch and were led on a fascinating tour of an ancient water tunnel and wine cellar that dates back to the time of Yehosua Bin Nun. This was a very remarkable thing for us to see, as it gave us a physical connection to our history.

We then went to the Itamar yeshiva, Ohel Ahud, named after Rav Udi Fogel, who was a Rav in the Yeshiva. We had the pleasure of hearing from Rav Feingold, one of the rabbeim in the yeshiva, who spoke about the importance of living in the land of Israel and making a difference in the land. After davening Mincha in the Yeshiva, we watched a video about the Fogel family who were unfortunately murdered by Palestinian terrorists. The inspiration and messages left by the Fogel family was felt by everyone in the crowd.
After a quick stop at a local grocery store to get some snacks, we headed to Har Greizim, and learnt about the history of the brachot said in that spot. Rabbi Kaplan also showed us where the kever of Yosef is located in Shechem. For our last stop, we went back to Itamar and helped out in a community park by clearing paths and trimming trees. We then headed back to Beit Meir after a long, but meaningful day in Itamar.
-Akiva Hochbaum