Approximately 90 NCSY alumni who are currently serving in the Israel Defense Forces or in Sheirut Le’umi (National Service) gathered on a recent Saturday night after Shabbat for an appreciation dinner in Jerusalem organized by the NCSY’s Alumni  division.

Rabbi Yehoshua Marchuck, Director of NCSY Alumni, explained, “When our teenagers make that important step in their decision to join the IDF or serving in National Service, they inspire us. We’re so proud of them and this was our way of giving back.”

NCSY is the international youth movement of the Orthodox Union. NCSY Alumni works with former NCSY teenagers to ensure they maintain their connection with the Jewish community post-high school and beyond.

They Came from Near and Far

The NCSY Alumni who were honored, most of whom are native North Americans, came to the event from all across Israel — from Netanya, Tel Aviv, Afula and Otniel.

Zev Friedman, originally from Memphis, is among the NCSY Alumni currently serving in the IDF. Though normally required to remain on his army base, a letter from the NCSY leadership was sent to his commanding officers requesting permission for him to leave his base for the event. Permission granted.
 
  

Zev Friedman, center, is a Memphis native and NCSY Alumnus currently serving in the IDF.

He is flanked by West Coast NCSY Associate Regional Director Rabbi Derek Gormin, left, and Rabbi Yehoshua Marchuck, Director of NCSY Alumni.

Evan Gerwitz, 23, of Chicago, knew he would move to Israel after his first visit with NCSY’s The Anne Samson Jerusalem Journey (formerly known as TJJ) in 2008. He was one of five teenagers from the trip to end up serving in Israel after high school. He served in the Golani Brigade, eventually rising to the rank of a platoon sergeant.

After learning in Israel for a year post high-school, Tovah Berman, 19, of Fair Lawn, New Jersey, decided to make aliyah and is in National Service at Shaare Zedek Medical Center in Jerusalem.

Tovah Berman currently serves her Sheirut Le'umi

(Israel National Service) at Shaare Zedek Medical Center in Jerusalem.

Involved in NCSY her whole life, Tovah traveled with New Jersey NCSY on disaster relief missions to assist cleanup efforts after natural disasters in the United States. “NCSY taught me the importance of giving back,” she reflected.         

Growing up in a religious Zionist home, aliyah and serving in the IDF were always something Shimon Berman, also of Fair Lawn, thought about. “NCSY and especially my summer in NCSY Kollel, with its study of Jewish texts, really strengthened my connection to Judaism and my desire to make aliyah,” he said. Shimon credits New Jersey NCSY Regional Director Rabbi Ethan Katz with helping him actualize his dreams.

“Seeing how many others have made the same sacrifice was a true inspiration and source of encouragement,” said Shimon, who trained religious soldiers for combat units and now serves as a combat soldier on reserve duty.

Saluting the Guests of Honor

Rabbi Katz, one of the NCSY leaders who flew in for the event, expressed his admiration for the NCSYers currently serving the State of Israel.

“The recent NCSY event was a beautiful example of what NCSY is,” Rabbi Katz said. “We are proud of our alumni and we want them to know that NCSY is here for them every step of their journey in life.”

Rabbi Avi Berman, Director of OU Israel at the OU’s Seymour J. Abrams Jerusalem World Center, explained: “We are seeing the Jewish people understanding that we are one. It doesn’t matter where you were born, but if you are Jewish then you are connected to the entire 13 million Jewish people who stand together.”

Popular musician Shlomo Katz performed and author Miriam Peretz, who lost two sons in the IDF, spoke during the evening. For many, the event was a chance to meet new friends, reconnect with old friends and strengthen their bonds to Israel and the Jewish people.

“It is not a simple thing to come and enlist when you don’t have to,” Mrs. Peretz told the participants. “You leave everything behind and you come to fight for the Land of Israel and the people of Israel. It moves me as a bereaved mother to see youngsters such as yourselves.”