NEW JERSEY NCSY LEADERSHIP STUDENTS RETURN TO NEW ORLEANS ON VOLUNTEER MISSIONS, FEBRUARY 8-12 GIRLS ONLY; 22-27 BOYS AND GIRLS
In recognition of the fact that the damage caused by Hurricane Katrina is still being repaired, New Jersey NCSY will send two delegations of Jewish teen leaders from both public high schools and yeshivas to New Orleans next month. Once again, they will come to clean up; to clear out; to take apart; to reestablish, to build up; and to strengthen. Assignments are labor intensive, and plans often change last minute in order to meet the needs of the specific communities.
NCSY | Jewish Youth Leadership is the international youth movement of the Orthodox Union.
From Wednesday, February 8-Sunday, February 12, the largest all-girls delegation yet, of 17 students from both yeshiva and public high schools, will represent Fair Lawn High School; James Caldwell High School in West Caldwell; Livingston High School; Ma’ayanot Yeshiva High School for Girls in Teaneck; and Teaneck High School.
A second delegation will be sent Wednesday, February 22-Monday, February 27 consisting of boys and girls from Rae Kushner Yeshiva High School of Livingston, NJ.
The New Jersey NCSY volunteer missions, coordinated by Rabbi Ethan Katz, Associate Regional Director of New Jersey NCSY, send Jewish teen leaders across the country two-fold: as proud Americans, teens assist communities damaged by natural disasters, regardless of the faith and cultures of those citizens; and proud Jews, they invest energy and love to inspire and strengthen the local Jewish communities by their presence.
Student participants are chosen by their schools based on various qualities: scholastics, character development, leadership potential and content of a qualifying essay they write. Students attend training seminars before the trip, covering topics such as the concept of what a person’s own responsibility is to mankind and the country in which he or she lives; the Jewish ideals of tikkun olam, repairing the world; and responses to expect from non-Jews unfamiliar with Jewish clothing or ways of life.
An additional student leadership mission, consisting of students from The Frisch School in Paramus, NJ, is currently in planning stages for late March to Alabama or to Joplin, MO.
Rabbi Katz can be reached at {encode=”mailto:ethan@njncsy.com” title=”ethan@njncsy.com”} or call the New Jersey NCSY office at 201-862-0250.
OU | Enhancing Jewish Life