From the Desk of the Director

Dear TT reader,
Shabbat Zachor is a day of remembrance. Its special maftir implores us to recall what Amalek did after we left Egypt: In an impetuous rage he swept out and attacked the wretched and weary stragglers in the wilderness... Amalek attacks out of pure loathing. He and his progeny represent anti-Semitism in all its ugly facets. To quote Max Nordau: “The Jews are not hated because they have evil qualities; evil qualities are sought in them because they are hated.” Indeed, for generations this repugnant phenomenon has attempted to purge us of our political standing, our soul and our self-respect. So how do we both remember and blot out the name of Amalek? Shall we follow Ramban and expunge misery from our hearts and declare our contempt from our mouths? Or should we dash the name enough times with our greggors till we shatter Amalek to pieces? We might be tempted to view anti-Semitism as an inevitable ingredient of the Jewish legacy. Rav Soloveitchik zt"l, however, explains that destiny is that which pulls us away from the violent vestiges of history towards the final destination, Ketz Hayamim - the End of Days, the glorious finale that will wipe out all the unwanted memories of the past.

Sincerely yours, Menachem Persoff,Director, Israel Center

NCSY b'Yisrael News
Our Makom Balev chapters are taking off all over the country!

February 25th saw the opening of a new bayit in Ramle, with the cooperation of Garin Ayelet Hashachar. David Katz is supervising activities there all week long: Torah studies, chugim in martial arts, and big brother /big sister programs.

February 26th launched the opening of a bayit in Nahariya for 7-9th grade girls. We wish them both lots of good luck and hatzlacha!

Our bayit in Netanya is having a shabbaton this week. The theme is: “What do I care?” Participants will discuss feelings of apathy vs. action. Speaking of action, we catch a glimpse of their chesed activities as they visited the victims of the bomb blast in Hadera last November.

In honor of Rosh Chodesh Adar, Nitzotz is MARBIM B'SIMCHA. Volunteers from the following schools visited these facilities: 

MMY went to Herzog Psychiatric Hospital
Midreshet Moriah went to Shaarei Tzedek
BMT visited Shalva
Yeshivat Hakotel visited Ein Karem
Thanks, guys, for all your good cheer.
Michi Yosefi’s lectures continue Monday nights at 7:00 in the ZULA (Teichman Youth Center). If you've ever heard Michi, you know not to miss this. If you've never heard him yet, you want to be there. Bring a friend, it’s free and unbelievable.

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 welcome all new volunteers able to tutor.

GESHARIM - NCSY’s new 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. x245.
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.
Rabbi Michael Fredman, Director • Daniella, Ilana, Sara, B'not Sherut 
22 Keren Ha'Yesod, POB 37015, Jerusalem • (02) 566-7787 ext. 242
fax: (02) 566-0156• ncsy_isr@netvision.net

NESTO•Native English-Speaking Teen Olim
This past week NESTOers participated in their first formal chesed program under the auspices of NESTO. Led by our assistant director, Daniel Stambler, the group of energetic kids went room by room visiting the infirmed children, and patients in other wards. We hope that this will be the first of several chesed projects that NESTOers will dedicate their time to participate in.A group of motivated kids met at Sbarro’s this week for the monthly D & D (Dinner and Discussion) with Daniel (D,D,&D?), to discuss issues of religious philosophy and commitment to goals. The D & D, a by-invitation-only program, focuses on areas of importance to teens and examines them over a focused dinner setting. If you would like to be invited to participate, please call our office and leave a message with Ilana.Parent involvement in a child’s decision-making process was the focus of discussion at the Fiddlin' & Food session on Tuesday night. After reviewing the scene from the movie where Motel and Tzeitel tell Tevye that they made a pledge to marry one another, the kids discussed the role of Tradition in their lives and the meaning of uphold their family’s customs. We then went on to discuss the role of parent’s in aiding kids when making major decisions in their lives. Next Tuesday join us for a guest speaker in the ZULA, as we address the significance of Purim as a teen holiday. If you would like to write an article for our soon-to-be-revealed website, please contact the office. Articles can be creative, informative, or just witty.
The Windmill Hotel Shabbaton is only two weeks away, March 16-17. If you do not receive a flyer in your mail box this week, please let the office know. The motzie Shabbat event is a talent show, so get your guitars tuned, your voices in shape and your humor rearin’. For more details, contact the NESTO office.

Shabbat Shalom, Rabbi Avi, Daniel and Ilana

This week we meet our fourth board member, who lives in Efrat.
Let's take... a Closer Look at Michal Stillman

Q. When did you make Aliya, from where & why?
A: I made Aliya in June of 1991 from Nashville Tennessee (yes there ARE SOME Jews there). We moved to Haifa in a hope for a more Jewish upbringing, haha how wrong!! We realized there was no in between and became modern Orthodox (lucky for me!) Anyways, my dad was always a Zionist and he managed to pass it on to me too.
Q: What was the hardest part of making Aliya?
A: Hmmmm well that's kind of tough because I was so young I didn't really miss my friends or family but I do remember being miserable and being laughed at every single day, coming home in tears. The language was also really hard for me even though i was only 6 and a half, it was another reason for the kids to laugh at the new "weird" girl too, I guess.
Q: What would you say is an important value to you?
A: Well I would tend to say happiness which is really important to me but I don't think that's enough. I think the most important thing to me is helping others and being kind, through that you learn to love, you get a fullfilment, you can reach happiness, and feel like you achieved something. An unselfish act of kindness, even just a smile to someone, could brighten up someone else's day as well as your own! I guess it's just a way to express your gratitude for all you've got, which is also really important.
Q: If you had to be a vegetable which one would you chose?
A: Hmmm I do believe we've had this discussion only about a couple million times... well I kinda changed my mind from last time, I guess I'd want to be a hot pepper cause they spice up people's life like me (and not always in a good way mind you!!) 

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