Without a question, this was a BIG, BIG week on NCSY Kollel.
It was big, in the sense of important. We marked and passed the midpoint of the summer, and in many ways the week was pivotal and a time of transition. These changes were most outwardly evident in the switching of our night shiur options. Each NCSYer spends half the summer in the night shiur of his choice before choosing anew for the second half. As always, the night shiurim have presented a great opportunity for exploring topics of interest at a pace on level that fits each particular participant. They also allow the NCSYers to create new relationships with some of the great Rabbinic personalities who teach on the program, and when we present the new options the NCSYers can decide whether to continue with a rebbe with whom they have already established a bond, or to develop something new.
Even more striking was the move from days of Tisha B’Av and mourning to the days that introduce consolation and more joy. The shift in tone from Shabbos and Sunday to Monday and the rest of the week was palpable and appropriate. The meaningful days we spent last week and last weekend were not in any way forgotten or ignored, but rather served as a catalyst for the energy and enthusiasm that accompanied everything we did over the subsequent days.
But the importance of the week was likely even more related to some of the less obvious currents and rhythms of the middle period of the program. More opportunities are being identified and pursued, and the discussions are shifting from acclimation and incorporation to real growth and implications beyond the six weeks we spend together here. This is always an exciting time and creates an incomparable buzz and exhilarating sense of purpose around the campus.
But the theme of “big” had more basic and straightforward application too. In at least four highly prominent ways this was a week of monumental events and major ideas. These happenings contributed to an environment of ambitious thinking and great self-esteem. It also inspired us to consider big issues and the broader community in ways that can sometimes be closed off. To borrow a phrase, it was a week of “Rosh Gadol” or thinking big.
First, “Big” would be an apt description of our Tisha B’Av “Kumsitz of the World.” Of all the truly remarkable and elevating aspects of this event, it was the sheer scope and size that might have been the most impactful. At no point is the reach and influence of NCSY Kollel more apparent to our boys than at the Kotel kumsitz. This sensitivity is a direct result of both the ever-growing numbers of participants at the kumsitz itself, and the global audience that participates through the live stream. The kumsitz is a too rare example of an event that draws a crowd without prejudice or barriers for entry. Our circle, which began at 7 PM with an already impressive mass of 250 people involved with NCSY Kollel, quickly ballooned to more than double that number. We were joined by 8-10 other NCSY programs, other summer tours from North America and Europe, OU and Yerushalayim officers and dignitaries, many visiting parents and friends of the program, and- most notably- hordes of complete strangers who could not tear themselves away from the spectacle of the singing. This last group included Jews from every demographic imaginable. It spanned the spectrums of religious commitment and affiliation, points of geographic origin, age, and gender. Significantly, the kumsitz does not ever include a single spoken word or even announcement. It remains focused purely on the simple and powerful messages of Jewish unity, pride, and hope. These are expressed in song, and in the gathering itself. And in a very big way.
Yom NCSY on Monday loomed large as well. In some ways the size and messaging were quite similar to the previous night’s. In other ways, the two evenings could not have been more different. Yom NCSY was epic, and from beginning to end it was done on a large scale befitting the greatness of the groups it brought together. The evenings strongest highlights included a stirring keynote address from Mrs. Racheli Frenkel, mother of Naftali, ob”m. Mrs. Frenkel will always have a deep and moving connection with the youth of our community, and that connection was evident and most inspiring during her talk at Yom NCSY. The concert featuring Shlomo Katz was as uplifting as ever and provided the healthiest of outlets to the seemingly limitless energy that was emanating from every corner of the amphitheater. From the food to the fireworks and from the multitudes to the big screens, sounds and lights, it was a first class and very big time production. And once again, our NCSYers were not spectators at a show, but the starring performers in the production. For the second consecutive night it was easy to imagine NCSY summer as the very epicenter of the Jewish world. This was presented to the NCSYers as a reason for taking responsibility and reconnecting, not- God forbid- as an excuse for hubris or self centeredness. It was a great event for a great group.
So on a week like this, it was certainly expected that the tiyul would match and maintain the awesomeness of the earlier events. It did. Our trek down south was supersized and over the top, literally and figuratively. It is our most elaborate and longest tiyul day of the summer, and it was an action packed affair. From the challenging hikes, deep connections to the land and history, outdoor training activiites, and incredible fun in the sea of Eilat, there were thrills and meaning at every turn. Already in this description it would be fair to classify the tiyul as plenty “big.” But the overwhelming size of the tiyul was likely best represented by the twin peaks of the tiyul options- Har Shlomo and Masada. We have previously described the multiple objectives of our tiyul program. Each tiyul is designed to introduce love for the land of Israel, while also offering a break from more formal learning and a providing a full summer experience of outdoor fun and excitement. To this list we can add the goal of filling the NCSYers with a sense of awe for the world around them. There may be no better to place to accomplish this than the summits of these mighty mountains. A friend who is an accomplished Jewish educator and also an avid outdoorsman once commented to me that any thoughtful process or conversation a teenager can have in a classroom, living room, or chatroom will automatically be more meaningful and effective on a hike or in nature. I can only imagine what he would say about such exchanges on the peak of Har Shlomo at sunrise. The views from these lookouts are not just aesthetically pleasing, although they are surely that as well. It is not mere convenience or technicalities that lead us to include morning prayers on the itineraries of these hikes. These experiences are big, vast, and inspire awe and respect for the majesty and potential of the world we live in. Big mountains humble and inspire, and when they are climbed and scaled, the feeling of accomplishment and fulfillment is intense and glorious.
What else contributed to our big week? Perhaps most importantly, it was a period of intense and profound connection with our leaders and heroes. Our tradition refers to our great scholars and visionaries as “Gedolim”, or great ones. It is not only towering mountaintops that humble and inspire, but also human beings of character and scholarship so special that their influence is outsized and hard to calculate. This week Rav Twersky and Rav Schachter had their respective stays with NCSY Kollel overlap by just under a day. For an almost indescribable afternoon and evening of learning we enjoyed the power of having them, along with Rav Sobolofsky, join together in our Beis Medrash. In truth, it would be sufficiently impactful if all the three Roshei Yeshiva offered was an example and role modeling that our NCSYers could gain from at a distance. But each of them is involved directly with scores of NCSYers and fully engaged in the program on many levels. While some are very consciously aware of the role the Rabbis play on the program, and extremely appreciative of the opportunities they present, other NCSYers may be less sensitive to their presence and impact. Yet, each group still benefits from what Rav Schachter, Rav Sobolofsky, and Rav Twersky bring to NCSY Kollel. If we try to inspire the NCSYers to dream big and if we try to raise the ceiling of what can be accomplished, there is no better way to do this than to expose them to true greatness in our leaders. These interactions can proudly take their place among the aforementioned events as incidents that will likely be recalled fondly by our teens for decades to come. It is important to note that through these relationships we are helping to foster a communal environment of dereference and respect to rabbonim and leadership that is critical for the growth and advancement of the Jewish world.
So what happens at the end of such an incredible week? How about an even more incredible opportunity of a full Shabbat Nachamu in the Old City of Yerushalayim? Both Nachamu and the Old City Shabbat are each one of the most highly anticipated events of the summer, and this year’s calendar throws them together in the most spectacular of ways. We cannot wait.
Beyond that, we hope to build on all of this and continue to soar and achieve for the rest of the summer. There is so much to take pride in, and so much more to accomplish, together.
We wish you a great big Shabbos, and extend the warmest of greetings and blessings from the ancient and modern city of Jerusalem
Moshe Benovitz