From the Desk of the Director

Dear TT reader,

Parshat Ki Tissah raises some interesting questions about leadership - for example, the unthinkable scenario of Aharon Hacohen acquiescing to the demands of a confused people “to make gods that will rise before us,” behavior that resulted in the creation of the Golden Calf.

Aharon’s relationship with the people was particularly intriguing. For, in contrast to Moshe, Aharon was very close to them; he was an arbiter of peace. But could it be that Aharon was so enamored with this relationship that he would do anything to maintain the people’s favor? In this light, Moshe’s retribution is very apt: “What did this people do to you?”

The commentators try to find an explanation: The Ohr Hachaim recognizes that the idol was a gesture but cannot fathom how Aharon would so sin. Sforno contends that Aharon should not have let the people rejoice once the calf was fashioned. Rashi argues that the mob forced compliance on Aharon, while Ramban suggests that his behavior was, in fact, a hateful retaliation to some wayward misdeed of the people.

Others are more lenient. Aharon, we are told, understood the people’s need for a new leader in Moshe’s absence. He tried to go along with them and use delaying tactics until Moshe’s return. For his part, Aharon reminded Moshe that (having just left Egypt) the people were naturally “disposed to sin”.

Leadership, it seems, is a fine balancing act between taking an ideological stand and conceding to the need for gratification expressed by the masses. Today, not much has changed. There is still a great deal we can learn from the strengths and weaknesses displayed by Aharon Hacohen. 

Sincerely yours, Menachem Persoff, Director, Israel Center

NCSY B'YISRAEL NEWS
If you were on the Midrachov on Shushan Purim and thought you saw someone familiar but weren’t quite sure… well, maybe it was our Kharkov madrichim masquerading. Beit Kharkov set out to find their disguised madrichim among the many hidden faces that circulated downtown Jerusalem last Sunday. After all were identified, they returned to our Teichman Youth Center for games and competitions. About 50 kids celebrated and enjoyed seudat Purim together.

Thanks to the admirable efforts of bat sherut Sarah Pinsky, Beit Kharkov just released the third edition of their new newsletter. Together with her newsletter committee, Sarah compiles articles on what’s happening in Israel, divrei Torah, halachic questions, updates on what’s going on back at “home” (Kharkov), personal interviews, jokes, and puzzles. The newsletter is written in Hebrew and Russian and is read by 150 Kharkov olim and madrichim.

HOMEWORK HELPERS: Tutoring and homework help available for all 4th-7th graders, on Mondays and Wednesdays, from 4:00- 6:00, at the Center. Call Sarah for more info: 5667787. Kids are coming. We need more volunteers 

NCSY’s Gesharim program is up and running. We invite anyone who knows Russian olim in need of bar/bat mitzva preparation to contact us. The program organizes fun-filled activities for youth and their families to introduce them to basic concepts in Judaism. For more information, please contact Sarah, 5667787. ext. 245. 

Hey, you in Raanana! How old are you? What are you doing Wednesday evenings? If you are 13-14 years old, Makom BaLev Raanana is waiting for you at Beit Knesset Shivtei Yisrael, at 6:00pm for lots of fun and interesting activities. Questions? Call Shlomit at 054-578-937 

Special Pesach Tiyul: Exciting hikes Great evening at the seashore. Your chance to see old friends and meet new ones! Who? All 6-11th graders •Where? To the Carmel •When? April 2,3 •How much? 160NIS Last date for registration: Mar. 18 For more info, please call Daniella at 02-5667787, x246, or 058-650240

Rabbi Michael Fredman, Director; Daniella, Ilana, Sara, B'not Sherut; (02) 566-7787 ext. 242 • fax: (02) 566-0156; ncsy_isr@netvision.net 

NESTO•Native English-Speaking Teen Olim
Being raised in a tainted society, as ours can sometimes be, we do not readily see the miracles in our lives. A group of enthused teen-agers, however, tried to do precisely that this week during our Fiddlin' & Food program, after viewing Motel singing to Tzeitel when he finally has Tevye’s approval to marry her. We ranked the miracles mentioned in the song for their long-term effect on our lives as Jews, and wrestled with the question of why we are so hesitant to accept spectacular events in the world today as being either a nes negilah (revealed miracle) or nes nistar (hidden miracle).
The kids excitement mounted as we discussed last minute details for the Shabbaton that is taking place this Shabbat at the Windmill Hotel. Be sure to read next week about the great program that we had. Our next Shabbaton will take place, BE"H April 27-28 in Chashmonaim- SAVE THE DATE!

This Tuesday we organizing a drama workshop. The workshop will begin at 
7:45pm after refreshments, which begin at 7:00pm.

Motzie Shabbat, March 24th is the NESTO Parents’ Malave Malkah at the home of Chavi and Gabe Saltan in Beit Shemesh. Please call the office for details and reservations. If there are enough requests, transportation will be arranged from Yerushalyaim. A speaker, and interactive program is planned, with a bagel buffet. There is no charge for this event.

Flyers for the Golan trip will be mailed next week. Save April 1st & 2nd.
The first ever NESTO Family BBQ. April 15 - Isru Chag. Kids bring your parents - parents bring your kids - this is the first and last family program of the year! More information in the weeks to come.

Let's take... a Closer Look at Leah Fredman who lives in Ramot, is a long-standing member of NESTO and will be graduating this June. NESTO wishes her a mazal tov on her new appointment as bat sherut of Tehilla. 

Q. When did you make aliyah, from where, and for what reasons?
A. In Aug. of 1984, due to my parents zionistic ideoligies, I made aliya from NYC. Some quick math will show that at the time I was just over a year old, and it's possible that due to my age, my parents did not ask me if I wanted to be dragged half way across the world to Israel. I, believe, however, that even had I been a lot older they would have moved regardless of what I would have said. But you never know...
Q. What is one of the difficulties that you have encounter as an olah?
A. Since I've been here from the age of one I've never encountered any kind of 'fitting in' difficulties. The one thing that has always bothered me though is that although my English is very good, it's not as good as an American's, and although my Hebrew is excellent, I always feel it's not as good as my Israeli friends'... I guess I just feel sort of stuck in the middle... 
Q. If you had to decide now whether or not to make aliyah, would you? 
A. YES. I really like Israel, and most of all I like the Israeli people. Although it's true that politeness is not one of the Israelis stronger traits I feel that the people here are alot more genuine than the people in the States. The Israeli people have gone through so much that their whole view of life is completely different than any other nation. That view brings them to care about the right things, to be united, and to bond with their land. 
Q If you could be a vegetable, which vegetable would you be?
A. I don't do vegetables, but I'd love to be a Zebra...
NESTO is the Israel Center's youth program for Anglo-Israelis 
tel. 566-7787 ext. 245 • fax: 561-7432 
silvera@mail.biu.ac.il • www.zyworld.com/nesto 
Rabbi Avi Silverman, director; Daniel Stambler, asst. dir.; Ilana Milo, Bat Sherut