Summer 2013

Tomorrow we will have the opportunity to make a carnival for the children of Sderot.

Earlier today, we planned our booths and bought all the supplies needed to ensure a successful carnival. After dinner, we heard from Noam Badin, a photojournalist who lives in Sderot. Unfortunately, many people are not aware of the terrible situation there. We learned about the constant fear they live in, and how they have been forced to adjust their lives to survive. We then prepared all of the posters and props for the carnival.

We can’t wait to have the privilege to bring extra simcha to the live’s of the children of Sderor tomorrow!

NCSY GIVE FLashmob is finally here!!!

I’ve experienced Tisha B’av at home, where I listened to Aicha, woke up late the next morning, took a nap, and counted the hours till the end. I’ve experienced Tisha B’av at my sleepaway camp, where I listened to Aicha and personal stories from fellow campers, woke up a bit earlier than usual the next morning, attended programming all over the campus, then came back to take a nap and count the hours till the end. This year, however, I experienced Tisha B’av in Eretz Yisrael, where I sang kinot with all new girls and advisors who have now become best friends to me and poured my heart out at the Kotel, surrounded by thousands of fellow Jews praying for the same thing.

I never thought just being in Israel for this Tish B’Av could make it all the more meaningful. Particularly seeing the Kotel, the only remaining part of the Beit Hamikdash that we have, that we so badly want to be rebuild, really made all the more difference because I could see that beautiful surviving fraction of what exactly I was praying for. I could connect so much more, as opposed to when I sit in my house on the cold tile floor or sit in camp in the middle of nowhere, Pennsylvania, trying to recall the destruction of something I can’t envision. I realized that when it comes down to it, this is our home, and you can feel that so much more when you are here. If our actions once led to its destruction, I truly believe our actions can bring about its rebuilding.

-Leah Scher, West Hempstead, NY

The girls of NCSY GIVE have a blast playing with the children at the absorption center!

Right now we are sitting at Alon Moreh, at an unbelievable spot overlooking Shechem. We are spending this erev Tishah B’Av touring the Shomron. We began by going to Givat Molam where the majority of the organic eggs in Israel are produced.  We saw how an empty mountaintop can turn into the source of an industry when someone has a dream and acts on it.

Our next stop was Itamar. We had the opportunity to go to the yeshiva building that was built in memory of the Fogel family. Part of the Fogel family was murdered on a Friday night in 2011.  We watched a movie that taught us about how special the Fogel family was. The building is simply beautiful, with an Aron Kodesh that is indescribable.

After a windy drive, we made if to the top of Alon Moreh. We are sitting here listening to the history of this spot while looking at the breathtaking views of Shechem.

We will make one more stop at Har Grizim to see Shechem from a different angle before going back to Mevasseret, for what we hope to be a meaningful and inspiring Tishah B’Av.

Visiting an absorption center for the first time for many girls was an incredible experience.

An absorption center is a small community catered towards the Ethiopian community that made Aliyah to Israel in the recent years.

The girls highly enjoyed hanging out and getting to know all the various ages of the children in the center. The children there had so much fun playing all different types of games and activities with the GIVErs.

From painting their faces, playing sports, and just giggling together while getting to know each other, the GIVE girls made a huge difference in the center today as well as learning important things about different sects in our Jewish communities. By the time it was time to leave, both the Ethiopian children and the GIVE girls had such a hard time saying goodbye to their new friends! Each girl walked out of the center so excited about the experience they just had. It was an incredible day that everyone is sure to take back home with them!

We met for candle lighting and all of GIVE walked through the streets of Yerucham into the desert. We davened mincha, followed by a beautiful Kabbalat Shabbat with dancing as the sun set. It was so special to be all alone in the desert, with just our GIVE family.

We moved into the light of the nearby yeshiva for maariv, then walked back to our hotel for a delicious dinner. After singing, dancing, and Divrei Torah, some went to bed, while others stayed for an amazing and inspiring tisch.

Shabbos morning we woke up, davened, had kiddush, and divided into our chaburas to discuss the lifelong question: “Why are we Jewish?,” had lunch, followed by menucha time filled with friends, sleep, and learning. We met again for mincha and hilarious icebreakers. Then we had Beit Midrash-learning in groups, with friends, or with advisors. After shaleshudis we extended shabbos by 50 minutes for ebbing (as Shabbos ebbs away)- hearing our amazing advisor Aviyah tell us a story, followed by slow singing. Then our GIVE tatte, David Steible, made Havdallah, and we continued to dance and sing.

We met again 15 minutes later, and walked back into the desert for one of the most meaningful experiences so far this summer. Surrounded by only sand and the starry sky, our advisors Erika and Chen shared personal experiences, then we walked off into the desert alone to think and talk to Hashem in our own words, not the ones that we say from our siddurim every day.

Even though Hitbodedut is a personal, solitary, experience, it started many conversations on the way back to the hostel, where we were met with amazing pizza for dinner. Many boxes of pizza, conversations, pictures, and ping-pong games later, we were sent to bed to rest for an exciting day tomorrow!

After a long trip down south and sorting clothing in a local charity organization we are ready to begin our Shabbos in Yeruchum. There’s something special about being in a community that is in the middle of the dessert. We will have the opportunity to connect to both the land and to each other in ways we haven’t done before.

We had a phenomenal week of chessed and we can’t wait for another amazing week on GIVE!

Have a great Shabbos!

For the 85 girls on NCSY GIVE (Girls Israel Volunteer Experience), this summer is an opportunity to give back some of the good that they received in their lives. Over the next few weeks, the girls will contribute to the many needs of Jews living in Israel. But this week, they focused primarily on giving to the children of Israel.