May 16, 2003

An Immediate Success Announces Plans to Expand:

NCSY VOLUNTEERS FOR ISRAEL SUMMER PROGRAM TO SEND SECOND GROUP TO MILITARY BASE FOR ACTIVITY IN CIVILIAN ROLES

Given the immediate popularity of the OU’s National Conference of Synagogue Youth’s new Volunteers for Israel program, in which young American men 16-18 will spend three weeks on a military base in Israel this summer, a second section has just been opened to add an additional 14 participants after the original section was filled to capacity.

As a dramatic show of support for Israel, 20 young men quickly signed up for the Orthodox Union program, in which they will daily perform non-military tasks along with the soldiers, which will enable other soldiers from that base to spend more time with their families rather than being called up from the reserves.

Volunteers for Israel is the newest NCSY summer offering. “We are really excited about this program,” said Rabbi Daniel Schonbuch, NCSY’s Director of Education and Summer Programs. “This is a great way for the OU, NCSY, and our young people to support Israel in a time of tremendous crisis,” he declared, adding that the need to open a second section “is an indication of how Israel’s crisis resonates with our youth.”

Rabbi Schonbuch can be reached at 212-613-8202, or at schonbuchd@ou.org.

This unique program specifically designed for high school students which according to Rabbi Schonbuch has no counterpart in other Jewish organizations was created to appeal to young men who might not be interested in the more usual summer programs, he said. “This is not just a touring program, although there is touring, and this is not just a Jewish learning program, although there will be learning — this is a program where you can play a role in defending Israel.” Nevertheless, the young men are volunteering in a “strictly civilian capacity,” assured Rabbi Schonbuch. “They will not be involved in anything of a military nature, even as they work alongside the soldiers on the base.”

The Volunteers for Israel program “demonstrates why NCSY enjoys such a remarkable reputation for developing programs that satisfy the needs of their participants,” said Moishe Bane, NCSY National Chairman. “So many young people want to help Israel and are seeking substantive opportunities to do so participants on this program will be providing Israel with a critical service while expanding their own horizons as Jews, and they will have an enjoyable summer seeing the country as well.”

The program is run by veteran NCSY leader Rabbi Barry Goldfischer. Participants in Volunteers for Israel will be spending three weeks on an army base — which for security purposes cannot be identified — performing physical tasks otherwise handled by IDF reservists, and they will tour the country for a week after the army work is completed. Torah learning is a key program feature, as with all NCSY programs.

“We believe that these young men will not only contribute to Israeli society, but that they will be moved by their experience and will return home to share that experience with their friends,” Rabbi Schonbuch said.

The program will run from July 2-31. For more information about Volunteers for Israel and the ten other NCSY Summer Programs for young men and women, call Rabbi Schonbuch directly; or call 1-888-Tour-4-You, or email summer@ou.org.

The Orthodox Union, now in its second century of service to the Jewish community of North America and beyond, is a world leader in community and synagogue services, adult education, youth work through NCSY, political action through the IPA, and advocacy for persons with disabilities through Yachad and Our Way. Its kosher supervision label, the , is the world’s most recognized kosher symbol and can be found on over 250,000 products manufactured in 68 countries around the globe.

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