From the Desk of the Director

In parshat Sh’mot we are told of a new king who arose in Egypt who did not know Yosef. Did not know or did not want to know? The Gemara (Sotah 11a) invites us to a debate on this matter between two Amoraim, Rav and Shmuel.

Either way you look at it, it is clear that after all the glory afforded to Ya’akov’s sons, there is finally no appreciation of what Yosef achieved on behalf of the Egyptian people. On the contrary. Yosef‘s contribution is ignored and Jewish economic know-how is for the first time in history to become one of the primary sources of anti-Semitism. 

Ya’akov’s sons had got used to the good life; even Ya’akov lived well (‘Vayehi’) in Eretz Mizrayim. But true to the “sorrowful” root of the country’s name (‘mezarim’), Ya’akov’s progeny soon discovered the true meaning of exile. 

For Pharaoh adopted a solution to his Jewish problem. It included a propaganda campaign against “parasites” who sponged on the state during the famine to forced labor camps and Jewish infanticide.
We know that Bnei Yisra’el left Egypt ‘Chamushim’ [lit. “armed”]. However, Chazal explain that the term means that only one in five [‘chamesh’] Jews actually left Egypt… It all sounds only too familiar.

Sincerely yours,
Menachem Persoff, Director, Israel Center

NCSY B'YISRAEL

Let'sZULA

Nowhere to go Saturday nights?

No place to “safely” hang out?

Tired of the street? Tired of spending money and not meeting anyone?
Come and ZULA at the new Teichman Youth Lounge, 22 Keren HaYesod.
Every Saturday night, after Shabbat, (and Monday and Thursday nights, starting from 16:00), the lounge will be open to all kids looking for a place to hang out.

This past Saturday night, some 60 kids showed up for stories, singing, shmoozing, and general hanging out. They talked ideas, beliefs and shared feelings. The refreshments are free, the music is free, and the avirah is tremendous. 

Come, everyone (under 20) and try it. It might just be what you’ve been looking for.

FINALLY... your chance to get on stage! MAKOM BALEV Jerusalem is opening a DRAMA CHUG for the creative-minded 
Call: Harel: 053-942365 

HOMEWORK HELPERS 
WE'RE DOING IT! 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 (whether you are a kid, parent, or potential volunteer) 

Rabbi Michael Fredman, Director 
Daniella Levine, Bat Sherut 
(02) 566-7787 ext. 242 • fax: (02) 566-0156 • ncsy_isr@netvision.net 

NESTO
“Jews and their drink” was the title of the discussion that took place this past Tuesday night at our Fiddlin' & Food program. After viewing the scene from the movie where Tevye and Lazar Wolf agree to Lazar and Tzeitel’s engagement over a cup of shnapps, the group dealt with the issue of parameters for alcoholic drinking in Judaism, and how they felt teens today were either honoring or abusing that tradition. Working in small groups, the NESTOers delved into a Midrash Tanchuma that deals with Noach and his response to planting a vineyard and getting drunk.

The NESTO board met this week to discuss programs for the second half of the year and to plan the next few months’ events. Programs include a music jam session Melave Malka, the formation of dinner discussion groups, small group chesed programs, and a March shabbaton. Read this column weekly to be updated.

A new feature of the NESTO column will be “A Closer Look,” a brief interview with members of the NESTO staff, student board, and members. 
Tuesday Jan. 23rd. will feature Mrs. Sherry Miller, a guidance counselor and Olah who will lead a discussion group on “The Uniqueness of being a Teen Oleh.” The youth lounge - our Zula, will open at 7:00pm and the program will begin at 7:45.

A Closer Look This week we will meet Rabbi Avi Silverman, Director of NESTO since April 2000. Rabbi Silverman made Aliya this summer with his wife and five children after being on a sabbatical at Bar Ilan University last year. The Silvermans live in Beit Shemesh. 

Q: Why did you decide to make Aliya if you were happy in Baltimore? 

A: It’s true that I really liked living in Baltimore and I found my job very fulfilling, but since I was in Israel learning in yeshiva when I was 19 I always felt that living outside of Israel was not the optimum life for a Jew. And I wanted the optimum life for my family and myself. 

Q: What has been the hardest part of your Aliya experience? 

A: Not being able to communicate as effectively as I want, and not being able to follow the news and radio 100%. It has been especially frustrating these past five months. 

Q: What are your ultimate goals for NESTO? 

A: To make it a youth group where kids are able to partake in a wide variety of programs that are not only fun oriented. I want there to be vibrant learning events as well as chesed programs. In order for all of that to happen, I have to work on increasing membership and teen leadership within the current group. 

Q: If you could be a vegetable which vegetable would you be, and why? 
A: A watermelon because it has many seeds inside, like a pomegranate whose seeds represent much Torah learning and prosperity. A watermelon can also be used for more than just food, and I like to think of myself as having many talents. Also, a watermelon appears one way on the outside, yet very different on the inside, and people sometimes peg me as being a certain way because of external appearances, and then are sometimes surprised to find out what I am like on the inside. I’ll keep you guessing on that one! 

Shabbat Shalom, Rabbi Avi, Daniel and Ilana

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, dir. • Ilana Milo, Bat Sherut