School's In For Summer?
NCSY Summer Kollel & Michlelet, Not Your Usual Summer Programs

As the final bell of the school year sounds, it would seem that the least likely thing to be heard in the hallways is, "School's out!  Now I can spend my vacation learning!"  Last summer, however, that is exactly how 430 high school aged boys and girls celebrated their respite from the educational challenges of the school year.  Year after year, high school students from around the world flock to Israel to participate in the National Conference of Synagogue Youth (NCSY) summer programs - Kollel for boys and Michlelet for girls.  What is it about this intense educational summer camp that continues to draw increasing numbers of teenagers during their summer vacation?

Zachary Grauer, a junior at Manhattan Torah Academy (MTA) high school in New York, spent two summers in Kollel.  He said, "I went to regular sleep-away camps for many years, but my summers in Kollel helped me to develop my love for learning.  The incredible rabbis and advisors instilled in me a love for Torah, and before I knew it, the learning became fun."  Esti Vishniavsky, a junior at Maimonides High School in Boston and a current NCSY chapter president said, "Michlelet provided an incredible atmosphere.  The amazing girls that the program attracts, the dynamic madrichot (counselors) and the opportunity to grow in my commitment to Judaism without the usual pressures of school convinced me that this was the place where I wanted to spend my summers."  Zevi Reinitz, a recent graduate of Akiva Academy in Detroit said, "Kollel builds a sense of self esteem.  Imagine the feeling of pride you get at the end of each day when you realize how much you have accomplished.  We are taught how to integrate our Judaism into every day life without becoming fanatics.  The learning we do all day then manifests itself in our behavior and attitudes on the basketball court and in our relationships with our friends."

Kollel and Michlelet are intensive six-week programs for high school boys and girls.  The daily schedule includes classes in Jewish law, Talmud, Bible, and Jewish philosophy combined with free time, organized sports and weekly hikes and trips.  The students are offered seminars delivered by world-renowned Torah scholars such as Rav Aaron Soloveitchik, Mrs. Tova Lichtenstein, the Bostoner Rebbe, Rav Aaron Lichtenstein, Rav Herschel Schachter, the chief rabbi of Israel Rabbi Yisroel Meir Lau and the Belzer Rebbe.

In summer 2000, there were 252 boys enrolled in Kollel and 180 girls enrolled in Michlelet.   The director of Kollel, Rabbi Moshe Benovitz said, "This is an inclusive program. The common denominator we look for is boys who are serious about learning.  No matter what the level, if the dedication is there, the program will have a terrific impact." Rabbi Ari Winter, director of Michlelet, explained, "The program is thriving.  When we started nine years ago, there were only 35 girls. Last summer, we had 180."  Rabbi David Kaminetsky, national director of NCSY, summed it up best, "At first glance, it may seem that spending a summer learning is not the most exciting activity a high school teenager can choose. But I would bet that percentage-wise, more kids have fun on Kollel and Michlelet than on any other summer program." 

For more information, or to apply for the NCSY Kollel or Michlelet programs, please call Sarri Singer at 212.613.8168 or email sarris@ou.org. 

Since it was founded in 1954, NCSY has pioneered the Jewish outreach movement and today is the world's largest Jewish youth program.  With chapters in 39 states, 215 communities across the nation and 3 Canadian provinces, NCSY reaches tens of thousands of boys and girls annually by offering 750 major educational events and programs and 10 summer camps - in the U.S., Israel and the Ukraine.