Sukkot is an opportunity for seven days straight of happiness. When else do you get such an opportunity? Rabbi David Markowitz, the COO of Aish HaTorah New York, shares the insight from Rabbi Noach Weinberg z“l that if you can focus on what you have AND if you don’t take any pain in what you don’t,
What are you bringing to synagogue on Yom Kippur? Rabbi Dovid Cohen, who has gone from an advisor for Long Island NCSY to Rabbi at Young Israel of the Upper West Side in Manhattan, leads us on a journey into the Unetanneh Tokef prayer, specifically the line “וּתְשׁוּבָה וּתְפִלָּה וּצְדָקָה מַעֲבִירִין אֶת רעַ הַגְּזֵרָה”, that
Even though it’s a short week, it spans two years! Rabbi Jon Green, director of NCSY Camp Sports, has a short drasha for Rosh Hashanah about how it commemorates not just the creation of Mankind, but the day that we are each spiritually recreated as Jews, as people, for the coming year. Stick around for
Shanah Tovah from NCSY Alumni! This Rosh Hashanah, Rabbi Tzali Freedman, director of Central East NCSY, has some realistic advice on how to make it meaningful without being overwhelmed. There are some practical things you can do between now and Yom Kippur to bring you closer to the Creator during these Days of Awe. If
There is one verse written in the first Torah portion, Parsha Va’Yelech, that lends itself to a fascinating topic: “The hidden are for the Lord our God, but the revealed are for us and our children until forever.” The simple meaning of the verse is that hidden sins are the province of God alone; for these sins, God holds no one responsible but the sinner himself. However, the community at large is responsible and therefore culpable for openly committed sins.
This week’s parsha says that the Torah is no longer in the heavens. Instead, it is for us on Earth. Rabbi Glenn Black of NCSY Canada points out that this same line appears in the Gemara, where it describes an argument between Rabbi Eliezar and the sages and three surprising miracles unfold to prove his
Whether you graduated last year, or 55 years ago, alumni of NCSY and the OU NextGen’s programs like Israel Free Spirit-Birthright and JLIC (The Heshe and Harriet Seif Jewish Learning Initiative on Campus), can enjoy Reunion‘s eye-opening features, memorabilia, and spotlights on alumni. And there’s a section where everyone can share their current personal news! To submit
The Torah is one weighty scroll, and not just when it comes time to lift it. Rabbi Yisroel Kaminetsky, the founding Menahel of The Davis Renov Stahler Yeshiva High School for Boys in Long Island, New York, shares the favorite piece of Torah of his grandfather, Rabbi Dr. Joseph Kaminetsky. In Parshat Ki Tavo, not
The month of Elul is here and Rosh Hashanah is nearly upon us. Rabbi Arieh Friedner, City Director of NCSY Cleveland, is reminded by this time of year that we must constantly strive towards perfection: undertaking to build ourselves is like planning to build a house. Find out why we don’t need to be perfect,
This year we are launching a new initiative to support NCSY Alumni and their Jewish peers on on college campuses. We’re looking for emerging and established leaders who are looking to make a difference in their community and be a part of this exciting cohort. Fellows will be provided with training and resources, guidance from fellows and mentors, and funding from OU NextGen. Find out more about our partner organization, Heart to Heart, at kahal.theheart2heartproject.org, and let’s work together to build the future of the Jewish community!