NCSY Israel, a youth movement tailored to help new English-speaking olim to the country, aims to answer every question a teen might have when it comes to Israeli topics. Speaking with Ynet, a counselor and student participant in the movement explaine its importance and impact on local new immigrant teenagers.
Emily Stemp and Avital Levine, good morning. Emily, let's start with you. Tell us a little bit about NCSY and specifically about its activity here in Israel.
“NCSY is a youth movement that is the only movement in Israel that caters to teens who made aliyah with their families. Specifically in the way that we cater to them as teens, as chanichim (students) and not as staff members. So, there are a lot of youth movements in Israel that are catering to teens. But in most of them, the teens are serving as counselors for younger kids, which is amazing and empowers teens.”
Celebrating a decade of NCSY Israel
(Video: Lior Sharon)
“We believe that teens also have their own needs and need a space to talk about their own struggles, especially teens who have made aliyah and in addition to going through all of the social and religious identity challenges that teens tend to face in general, they also have made aliyah.”
“So they're coming into schools where they don't necessarily understand the language, the culture, how things are done. Not all of them have necessarily established a connection with the land or with the nation of Israel yet.”
“So while this might technically be their home, they don't necessarily feel like it is and a lot of them are really just looking for a safe space to, first of all, speak in English and have fun, and have meaningful, inspiring experiences with staff that care about them and friends that understand them and their past. So that's really what NCSY does.”
“We provide a lot of events that are a fun time for teens, but are really an avenue for connection with staff so that we can help them in their integration as new olim into Israeli society and escort them through all those challenges that they're facing as teens who have just made aliyah.”
So integration is the main purpose of the movement. And now you're celebrating a decade.
“Yes, we're celebrating a decade. Over the 10 years, we've seen so much growth. The movement has really taken so many different turns. But I would say, in addition to integration, one of our main goals is also serving as a spiritual and educational avenue. So it's not just about the integration into Israeli society, but also based on values of Judaism.”
Avital, when did you make aliyah?
“I made aliyah in 2013.”
Tell us about your participation in this movement.
“I joined maybe three years ago in 10th grade. And for me, I never really had an outlet. The same kind of way NCSY has been able to do that for me. I was kind of nervous. I didn't really know people in NCSY, just one of my friends pulled me into it.”
“And immediately I went to a Shabbat and that for me changed how I look at any youth movement that I've ever been to before. It just was something so different than anything I experienced. And it was really just incredible.”
How did it change your life here in Israel?
“It made me feel like I had a place to go to. First of all, with other kids like me who made aliyah. You know, and it's not just catering to new olim, like people that made aliyah recently. It's also catering to people who made aliyah a long time ago, but that still struggle. So I felt very seen.
“And also the incredible madrachim and madrachot (advisors) and different staff members. They just make each kid feel heard and seen and it's just such an incredible space.”
Emily, let's talk about this time last year. It was different, wasn't it?
“It was indeed. I would say over the last year, our mission became more important than ever. Because, like Avital said, not everyone has made aliyah recently. But I would say, especially for those who made aliyah recently, the events of the last year have been an additional hardship, just in terms of challenging our strength and continuing to be here and endure and stand by a nation that we are connected to and a part of.”
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“So NCSY, I would say that integration piece really strengthens that Israeli Zionist Jewish identity within our teams and, in addition to giving them an outlet to just take a step back from the news and tragedy, we give them just an opportunity to have fun.
“There's been a lot of giving back and answering the call. We've done several chesed (kindness) events. We've packed packages for soldiers. We've had learning programs in soldiers' names and several more chesed events. We've done a lot of answering the call and empowering our teams, not just to sit back, but really to take a stand, to be part of things and strengthen that Jewish identity during everything that's going on.”
Rabbi Avi Berman, executive director of OU Israel, says his goal is to help the new teenage immigrants integrate successfully.
“Our goal is to make sure that every single English-speaking oleh, no matter what age or country of origin, is coming to Israel and finding their place here, ensuring they integrate into the country and into society in the most optimal way," he said. "NCSY Israel is one of the unique programs the OU runs in Israel that enables teenagers to integrate and thrive in such a successful way. Ten years of NCSY Israel have flown by, and we look forward to many more decades of integrating olim in Israel through NCSY, JLIC, Yachad and the many other programs that we at the OU run for English-speaking olim.”