From the Desk of the Director
In this week’s parshah, the ailing Ya’akov calls to his sons after he has already blessed Yosef’s children Efraim and Menashe and indicated that they were to him “as Reuven and Shimon.” Ya’akov also requests that future generations of Israel be blessed “like Efraim and Menashe.”
So, what then could the other sons look forward to as they stood around their father’s bed? More blessings? Rebukes for past misdeeds? Prophecies regarding their progeny? Insights as to their share in Eretz Yisra’el? From an examination of Ya’akov’s words, all these expectations would seem realistic.
However, Abarbanel perceives a more fundamental objective to Ya’akov’s observations of his children. The old father wanted to establish from which of his sons would emerge the future kingship of the Jewish people. Ya’akov therefore describes both their present and future qualities in order to establish this fact and prevent future squabbles among the brothers, known for their envious qualities.
Of course, Yehudah’s singularly positive leadership characteristics triumph. He is the mild cub that matures into a mighty lion; he has the consistent courage to defeat his enemies. And unlike Yosef, he is accepted by all his brothers, including Efraim, Menashe and Binyamin, the favorite offspring. That surely teaches us something about the leaders and the led.
Sincerely yours,
Menachem Persoff, Director, Israel Center
NCSY B'YISRAEL
Let's ZULA
What did you say, have they finally lost it, the good folks at NCSY?
Every Monday, Thursday and Saturday night at 6:00pm our youth lounge is open to ZULA. That it is to say, to hang out, to shmooze, to shoot the breeze, to chill, and hang about. What will we really do, you ask?
Well, every night will be something else: a concert, a flick, a group discussion, a guest.
Come, join us - its for all kids, students who are looking for a place to hang your hat (you don't need to bring one though).
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A new program is in the making over at NCSY. It's called GESHARIM, or bridges, and its target audience is recent olim. The idea is to prepare bar/bat mitzva age kids to accept the responsibilities of becoming full fledged members of the tribe. The program will introduce the concepts of basic Judaism, history and ritual in the Jewish life cycle. Whole families will be involved in trips and recreational activities, leading up to the actual bar/bat mitzvah. GESHARIM will also assist in organizing a culminating celebration and party.
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.il
NESTO welcomes to its board Jeremy Sultan. Jeremy, hailing from Nofei Aviv, is the newest member of the board and has already begun to recruit new members to NESTO and offer helpful comments for programming ideas.
At our first meeting as a full staff, Daniel, Ilana and I targeted key programs that we will be implementing in the upcoming weeks. Next week Daniel will begin a dinner discussion group, and shortly chesed opportunities will be made available for NESTOers to volunteer with.
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The “matzav” hit NESTO this week as our Tuesday speaker could not leave his Efrat home to get to the Center. In his stead, I began a discussion with the 15 kids present on the topic of the rally the night before and their general feelings towards the situation. Afterwards some kids chose to watch a movie, others gathered around one of the NESTOers who brought his guitar for a singing session, and still another group ran off to Ben and Jerry’s to use their NESTO membership discount cards.
This coming week... Fiddlin'&Food will resume with the topic: Simcha & Drinking
in Judaism. After discussing the idea with the kids, I have decided to have the lounge ready at 7:00pm with food and music for socializing. The kids will then have a solid 45 minutes to catch up with one another before we begin the Fiddlin'&Food portion of the program.
Shabbat Shalom, Rabbi Avi, Daniel and Ilana
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
According to David Bedein, Media Research Analyst and Bureau Chief of Israel Resource News Agency... In mid-November 2000, the Israeli government issued a comprehensive "white paper" which documented that the PLO had broken every agreement that Israel had ever negotiated with it. Yet under pressure from the US Ambassador to Israel, the Hon. Martin Indyk, that government report on PLO non-compliance was not translated into Hebrew nor was it made available to the public at large. The Israeli government has since refused to provide the report for anyone, not even to US congressional representatives . The reason: If that report was released as an official Israeli document, it would make Indyk vulnerable to a charge of perjury, since he testified to US congressional committees that the PLO had complied with the various accords signed with Israel. (there's more)
