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Dear NCSY GIVE WEST Parents,
It is crazy to believe that later today we are already welcoming in the first Shabbos together on GIVE WEST 2016. Since the minute the planes all landed, the girls have been bursting with excitement, energy, and passion. Despite the fact that we have 43 NCSYers from all over the US, Canada, and Israel, it feels as though we have already become a unified GIVE WEST family. Thank goodness we have three long weeks left together!
This week week was filled with ice-breakers, two amazing Chesed missions, advisor Chabburot, the Arizona Diamondbacks Major League baseball game, a trip to the breathtaking Grand Canyon, a fun and interactive Panoply night activity, and a special guest shiur with Rabbi David Katz (Director of Michlelet Mevaseret Yerushalaim, MMY, Seminary in Israel), who will be spending Shabbos with us as well. Otto, our amazing bus driver for the summer, has already been giving us a great tour of this beautiful state, and will continue to do so until we reach Portland, OR! Today, we will be heading out on a third Chesed mission here in Phoenix (Benevilla), enjoying a fun afternoon in the Big Surf Water Park, and then enjoying a relaxing and inspirational Shabbos together in the hotel.
In this week’s parsha, a group of Jews, led by Korach, rebelled against Moshe. The reason for their rebellion was due to the fact that they wanted to share Moshe’s power in leading the Jewish people. Instead of stating their true desires for power, they blamed their rebellion on Moshe saying, “It is too much for you to handle” (16:3)! The Rabbi’s explain that Korach was simply jealous of Moshe and his position; the fact that “it was too much for him” was not his true concern at all. If Korach had taken the time to think and be honest about his true thoughts, share them in a constructive manner with Moshe and the establishment, it is possible that the rebellion could have been pre-empted.
This summer on NCSY GIVE WEST, we are learning in Chabburah about 5 different middot through 5 famous Women in Tanach. The goal of our learning together is to enlighten and inspire the NCSYers to think a little more critically about themselves, their character traits, and to introduce them to the concept of self-introspection. Simply by being on this program they are also learning how to best work as a team to accomplish a common goal. If they, unlike Korach, think honestly about themselves and their actions and channel them properly, they can bring unity and redemption, instead of rebellion and destruction. Together, we can bring the Geula.
It has been a fantastic first week here on the West Coast and I am looking forward to all that is yet to come!
Here are the remaining hotel locations for the trip. If you need to send anything urgent to your daughter, please email me first to confirm so that I can look out for it.
July 10th – July 21st:
American Jewish University, 15600 Mulholland Drive, Bel Air CA 90077
July 22nd – July 24th:
Lexington Inn & Suites, 1413 Howe Avenue, Sacramento, CA 95825
July 25th – July 27th:
Portland State University Conference Housing, 1912 SW 6th Ave, Portland, OR 97201
Enjoy the Week #1 Review video HERE !
Good Shabbos!
Leah Moskovich
NCSY GIVE WEST Director
moskovichl@ncsy.org
914-629-2726
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