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Set in a beautiful resort hotel with a breathtaking view of the beach in Carolina Beach, NC, the 2010 NCSY and JSU WinterRegional Convention, turned out to be one of the best and most memorable conventions. Teens enjoyed the delicious catering of Mr. Steve Gilmer and Kosher Gourmet, strolling on the picture-perfect beach, and an authentic luau! Saturday night teens went to Jungle Rapids, the largest entertainment pavilion in eastern North Carolina. The trip included motor cross speedway go-carts, a rock climbing wall, amusement park rides, and laser tag. As well, teens were captivated by the cutting edge educational program, which combined multi-media videos with lectures from esteemed Rabbi's around the South, on the topic of hidden miracles and the lessons of Purim. The highlight of the convention was the emotional and inspirational havdalah service that included a moving story and powerful message by Rabbi Chaim Neiditch. For many of the teens this was their first Shabbat experience.
One of the highlights of the year, the Fifth Annual NCSY & JSU Purim Masquerade Bash, saw over 100 teens representing 18 high schools in the Greater Atlanta area pack the NCSY Community Teen Center to celebrate Purim. This FREE event kicked off with a traditional megillah reading led by Rabbi Chaim Glazer, as teens followed the story with a special multi-media presentation. Then, the participants enjoyed a catered Purim seudah that included Starbucks, a pasta bar, a salad bar, baked ziti, a variety of ice cream, and a fondue station with an assortment of fresh fruits, marshmallows, and biscotti. The evening festivities also included a live DJ, simcha dancing, and a costume contest. For many of the participants it was their first time celebrating Purim.
Twenty-two Atlanta JSU club presidents and vice-presidents, representing the city's 13 JSU public school clubs, attended the JSU Teen Leadership Summit hosted at the NCSY Teen Center. Led by Rabbi Chaim Neiditch, teen leaders used the summit to discuss the roles and challenges of club presidents, explore best practices for managing clubs, and present their most successful club meetings. The summit was concluded with a forum for teen leaders to network and collaborate with each other on inter-club activities and major city-wide events.
NCSY and JSU in the Atlanta Jewish Times
including interviews with Teens
One of the highlights of the year, the Fourth Annual NCSY & JSU Festival of Lights Ball, saw over 130 teens representing 21 high schools in the Greater Atlanta area pack the NCSY Community Teen Center to celebrate Chanukah. This "black and white" party included an organic sushi bar manned by a professional sushi chef, an array of hot hors d'oeuvres, flowing chocolate fountains with skewers of fresh fruit for dipping, sparkling cider in champagne glasses, and a live music. As well, Rabbi Chaim Neiditch, Director, inspired teens speaking about the essence of Chanukah.
Teens from the Greater Atlanta area enjoyed a day of fun in the sun at the first ever JSU picnic. This exciting event brought together teen participants from JSU clubs throughout the city. This free event had something for everyone including an array of outdoor activities and sports competitions, an abundance of delicious foods and snacks, and culminated with Jewish singing and dancing.
Local teens from Atlanta NCSY and JSU moved into action this past Sunday after witnessing the effects of the recent flood in our community. Under supervision and instruction; we partnered with NECHAMA, a Jewish disaster relief organization; to actively participate in the rebuilding process. As part of the relief efforts, teens sanitized a house ravished by over 4 feet of flood waters. They removed all walls, cabinetry, and flooring, and stripped the house down to the studs.
NCSY and JSU Director, Rabbi Chaim Neiditch, linked the kids' Jewish roles and responsibilities to the event with a discussion about Jewish participation in Tikkun Olam and the corresponding overview of the flood in this week's Torah portion, Parshas Noach.
While tens of teens were interested in participating in this difficult but critical and urgent project, for safety reasons a maximum of only 20 teens were allowed on the damaged housing work site. The event was very successful and we thank NECHAMA for enabling us to participate in this meaningful project.
Projects like this exemplify NCSY and JSU's unique hands-on approach to education by bringing Jewish teens together to experience the Jewish approach to real world situations.
60 ninth graders from the Greater Atlanta packed the Brunswick Zone Bowling in Norcross, GA, for an exclusive event designed just for them. Teens had a blast as they socialized and reconnected with old middle school friends, as well as started relationships with their new high school classmates. The participants attending public high schools were excited to learn about and enthusiastic to join JSU clubs in their schools. Everyone left with the event with same feeling, that they cannot wait until the next one!
Twenty teens from the Greater Atlanta area returning from NCSY's Israel Summer Program, The Jerusalem Journey (TJJ), had a reunion ShabbatDinner hosted at Congregation Beth Jacob. Teens lit shabbat candles, participated in a special "Welcoming the Shabbos" service, enjoyed a delicious catered dinner sponsored by Kosher Gourmet, sang shabbat songs, and discussed divrei Torah that they learned on their trip. As well, teens enjoyed inspiring words of torah from Rabbi Ilan Feldman, Rabbi of Beth Jacob, and Mr. Kivi Bernhard, keynote speaker of the Atlanta Jewish Experience. The meal ended with a kumzitz, where each participant shared their personal stories of growth over the summer and their goals for continued growth this year. For many of these teens it was their first traditional Shabbat experience in the U.S.
