Our first Shabbos in Phoenix was a blast! This Shabbos we had Rabbi Katz, from Israel, stay with us and he held a question and answer session with us on Friday night. Later we had an optional kumzitz for us and it was superrr fun!!!!! We got to wake up at 9:15 (Finally able to sleep late one day!!!!) followed by davening. Rabbi Katz gave us a shiur on the 5 reasons why we do Chessed – since we do so much Chessed on GIVE West. Lunch was really great because the advisors had mixed us up so that we can meet new people! We played ‘Fruit Salad’ where someone is in the middle and says a fact about themselves and whoever that fact applies to stands up and has to find a new seat. It was such a fun way to get to new people on the trip and this Shabbos we really came together as one big group of friends!!! During the free time, some of us played fun games like Times-Up, or Anomia with our advisors, and many of us bonded with new people!!!! We had a Chabura with our advisors about speaking with G-d and then we had ebbing which was super awesome! By the time we knew it, it was Havdallah! We had a melava malka with an ice cream and waffles bar!!! We sang and danced together, it was so much fun. This was an AMAZING Shabbos in Phoenix that we will never forget! Can’t wait for week two of GW!!!

Gabriella, New Jersey
Miriam Aliza, New Jersey

This morning we woke up at 6:30am and met at 7:00am for Tefillah. During Chabura we learned about seeing the good in every situation and how happiness isn’t about what you buy, it’s about the person’s attitude and outlook on life. There was no need to pack lunch because we went to Labella’s pizza for lunch! We then headed out to Desert Mission Food Bank where we split into two groups. Half of us went to sort and pack different food items, while the other group went to a garden to pick and wash vegetables. We picked tomatoes, watermelons, zucchini and cucumbers and we planted watermelons. At the food bank we sorted and bagged food, drinks, snacks, and diapers for the needy. What was great about the desert mission food bank is that they make everyone feel like they’re buying food in a supermarket. But the fun doesn’t end there! We went on a water hike in 99 degrees but thankfully we all went in our bathing suits to cool off in the lake…PHEW! It was amazing to see a natural lake in the middle of the desert! After getting back to the hotel, a bunch of us went swimming in the pool! Afterwards, we started getting ready for Shabbos in Phoenix! SO EXCITED FOR OUR FIRST SHABBOS ON GW!!!! It’s gonna be amazing!!!

Gabriella, New Jersey
Abi, New York

Today we started Day 3 of GIVE West! We started our day by waking up at 6:45 (a little later than yesterday). At 7:15 we all met in our “Meeting Room” for Tefilla and lunch packaging. Our staff surprised us with panini presses to make our lunches…YUM! We then grabbed our hats and water bottles and headed on the bus to the Grand Canyon. The ride was FOUR hours long but we stopped at lively bathrooms and watched A Cinderella Story on the way. Everyone enjoyed the movie!!! Once we arrived we met with our tour guides and divided into separate groups. We walked along the stunning Grand Canyon Southern Rim and then said a Bracha in honor of its beauty. We enjoyed the beautiful view and got some merch (see the website for all our cute pics). On the four-hour bus ride back we watched the greatest showman and played sheep-bang. We then concluded the night with a meatball and spaghetti dinner – which was amazing. After dinner, we played musical chairs, had free time to hang out, and had an optional shiur with Rabbi Katz from MMY. Can’t wait till tomorrow!!!

Sarah, Canada
Rebecca, Florida

Today we woke up at 6:30am and started the day off with davening and amazing Chaburas where we learned how being positive can change your life and how it’s extremely important to love oneself! Then we went to our first chesed activity of GIVE West! We formed assembly lines and packaged food for those in need. We packaged almost 800 boxes at St. Marry’s Food Bank Alliance! With our new friends, we took a 2-hour bus ride to the beautiful town of Sedona, Arizona. In Sedona, we took a one hour hike to see Bell Rock and the Red Rock Mountains, it was absolutely beautiful and looked like a bell – what a coincidence! We also had time to walk around the cute little area of Downtown Sedona. We drove back to the hotel and had delicious dinner and closed the night with a really funny and interactive game of minute to win it! We had such a blast today on GIVE West!

Sarah, New York
Batya, Florida

Welcome to NCSY GIVE WEST 2019! Can you believe it?! It’s here! All of the NCSY GIVE WEST planes landed safely today at Phoenix International Airport and the summer is finally underway. Once all of the NCSYers hopped on our coach bus in Phoenix, we headed to La Bella Pizzeria for a delicious lunch and speed dating ice-breaker! Learning about each other was fun and easy in this interactive game. We then had time in Walmart to get anything we didn’t have room to pack, and snacks of course! We made it to our hotel, the Homewood Suites in Tempe, for a game of Human Bingo and some free time in the afternoon getting to know each other, chilling around the hotel, and unpacking our things. After settling in, we joined back together for mincha, orientation, summer SWAG, and a yummy dinner. After dinner, we enjoyed a fun night activity of Divide By. We ended the night early giving everyone time to finish unpacking and rest up for our exciting day tomorrow filled with chesed and fun in the Phoenix sun. A big thank you to Jennifer for the scrumptious food today and to all of our amazing NCSY GIVE WEST advisors and staff for their enthusiasm and help. We cannot wait for Day #2 on the BEST. SUMMER. EVER!