Dear Parents,

Another week has flown by, and once again there is much to review and appreciate.  There was nary a quiet moment, as we rode a wave of momentum through Yom NCSY, thrilling intercamp competitions, an incredible tiyul and ever increasing learning.

Anyone who is conversant with teenagers is familiar with the approbation of “awesome.”   It can apply to amusement park rides, blockbuster movies, game winning shots, a well-cooked meal, or even a pair of socks.  Although its often-indiscriminate colloquial usage renders it an ordinary synonym for “pretty good,” awesome can have a more significant connotation and implication.  When we inspire awe in our NCSYers, we’re providing them with an encounter with something larger and greater than themselves.  Of course, the ultimate application of this awe is in a spiritual or metaphysical sense, and it can directly motivate an entire range of religious experiences.   But there are stepping stones in that process, and more mundane “awesome” episodes that can provide a phenomenal impetus towards growth.

A few such instances stand out from this awesome week.

Without a doubt, the most obvious and extreme example was our annual Yom NCSY celebration.  Over the past few years, Yom NCSY has evolved into the ultimate testament to the power of NCSY and our youth in general.   The incredible pageantry and nightlong festivities provide extraordinary fun and an unparalleled boost of energy to the roughly 1000 NCSYers proudly representing all of NCSY’s international summer programs.  The great food, the backdrop of Mini-Israel, and the uplifting musical performances by Shlomo Katz and others provide more than enough entertainment.  But it is simply the gathering itself that propels us to a feeling of awe.  The potent combination of youthful exuberance and optimism, as well as exceedingly rare diversity and unity, offer great hope for the future.  The entire evening was marked by a palpable sense of community and belonging.  In fact, it would be hard to imagine a more clear manifestation of the literal implication of the “Orthodox Union.”  And this event was all about magnitude.  The sheer numbers of participants was overwhelming.  Whether it was a wide-angle view of the packed amphitheater or a bird’s eye perspective of the throngs of young men dancing and singing with each other, it was hard not to be impressed with what we can accomplish together, and how significant a place in that mosaic we each can occupy.

It is a bit of challenge to find any unifying theme to our great Tiyul day this past Wednesday.  The three options were each so different and so intensely focused that it’s hard to believe that they were all servicing the same program.  Yet, they each did relate to one common point, and it is entirely consistent with the theme of this update.  The first common reaction heard from many of the NCSYers was “unforgettable.”  These were highly memorable and uncommon experiences, and it was gratifying to hear how many of the NCSYers picked up on that.  But it was not just memorable - these trips were literally awesome.

It has now become an annual (and much anticipated) NCSY Kollel tradition for Rabbi Gordon to lead a tiyul to Yerushalayim for a first hand glimpse of the past, present, and future of Torah in Yerushalayim.  On this particular trip, we forego the standard water hikes and and mountain tops, and delve into the rich history of Jewish life and learning in Israel.  The NCSYers heard from Rav Benji Levine share his recollections of his grandfather, the great Rav Aryeh Levine.  They toured the halls of Mir and Belz, and were captivated by stories of the founding and building of these illustrious dynasties and Torah landmarks.  They also were privileged to meet with Rav Scheiner and Rav Finkel, as well as enjoy a private audience with Rav Yaakov Hillel.  Each of these encounters contributed to an overall sense of confronting greatness and the power of our Torah tradition.  This was certainly a prime example of being awed.

In a very different way, Nachal Darja can also overwhelm and inspire.  Both with its extraordinary physical beauty and exceptionally challenging trails, Darja provides more than a few moments of captivation and awe.  In this case, the awe is directed towards the topography and history of the land itself, and ultimately to man’s place amongst God’s created world.  The meditative thoughts and natural conversations between madrichim and NCSYers in such a setting are fundamentally different than what one can conjure up on Main Street, USA or in the comfort of a bedroom in suburbia.  This hike was expansive in every way, and it stretched and challenged our NCSYers in healthy and profound ways.

Our third option on Wednesday was well off the beaten track (not only metaphorically), but will likely take its place on the roster of perennial NCSY Kollel favorites.  This tiyul has been in formation for over three years, as we have tried to actualize a specific vision that combines experiential fun with something meaningful and transformative.   The result was a whirlwind from-earth-to mouth food experience.  The NCSYers saw a real organic farm in action, helped herd goats, witnessed and aided in multiple shechitas and prepared their own sumptuous dinner.  Each stop along the way was designed to provide something hands on and provide a new perspective on the food we eat.  We were able to focus on various halachic elements of the food production process, and teach valuable lessons about appreciating the land and the items it produces.  This form of awe was related to a feeling of surprise and revelation, and, once again, a connection to something bigger.

In truth, these experiences and reactions are not reserved for special trips or sensational one-time events.  They are the goal of much of our daily educational programming as well.

For Torah educators of contemporary high school students, there is a near constant emphasis on making learning fun and enjoyable.  For better or worse, success is often measured in these terms, with mastery of content or technical skills somewhere in the background.  It is our strong contention that there is an additional dimension that needs to be included in the discussion.  Successful learning initiatives must be awesome.  They must engender a deep and genuine appreciation for the depth and majesty of Torah sources.  They must cultivate recognition of how much more there is to learn, and create a thirst for that further study.

This is where we invest the greatest amount of our energy and resources.  We want our NCSYers to not only love their shiurim and chaburas, but to also be awed by them.

Needless to say, it is easier said than done, and our level of achievement varies from day to day and from NCSYer to NCSYer.  But we are proud that it is not only our trips and sports that are truly awesome.

Please check out blog regularly for reports on all of the weeks other news and notes.  We crowned a 3 on 3 champion in the advanced bracket, after a scintillating back and forth final contest.  We enjoyed visits from various NCSY and OU dignitaries, including National Director Rabbi Micah Greenland and OU Youth Commission Chairman, Mr. Alan Fagin.  There were multiple mini-tiyulim and well-attended optional shiurim.  We greatly enjoyed an afternoon of learning and fun with the guys from Camp Morasha’s Sulam program, even if they handed us some unprecedented defeats in basketball and hockey.  Friday saw a big Flag Football tournament in the heart of Yerushalayim, and we are currently making final preparations for our annual Shabbat in the Old City.  It promises to be an amazing weekend.

It’s hard to believe, but next week is our final full week together.  We have plenty in store to complement our regular schedule, and we look forward to a very strong finish.

If any parents are in need of special arrangements at the program’s end, please be in touch with our Camp Mother, Shoshie Elllman at kollelmom@gmail.com.

As always, I can be reached at benovitzm@ncsy.org.  I look forward to hearing from you.

Lastly, be sure to check out our “Week in Review” video below.

Have a great Shabbos,

Moshe Benovitz

Click here for our "Week in Review" video.

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