.” – Jasmine, NCSY Alumnus, Baltimore, MD

Jasmine is one of the many teens that connected to both their fellow Jews and their personal Judaism through NCSY.  NCSY has been addressing the challenge of “inspiring the Jewish future” for decades, including right here in Baltimore where they are entering their 56th year.  NCSY takes on the twin challenges of Jewish assimilation and apathy head on, adapting throughout the years to reflect a changing Jewish landscape.

Many of today’s teens are not found in traditional Jewish spaces like synagogues and JCC’s. NCSY, through their signature Jewish Student Union (JSU) culture clubs, goes into  public and secular private schools, offering something for the body and the soul.  With a slice of pizza and some Jewish learning, teens find a way to connect at their level and at their pace.  Clubs are only the beginning. These students are provided a myriad of programming, from hanging out and learning with staff in a local coffee shops, to lobbying on Capitol Hill, or spending summers in Jerusalem.

“We view ourselves as opening Jewish doors,” said Rabbi Jonah Lerner, Atlantic Seaboard NCSY Regional Director. “Each teen is different, so we need to show the endless array of opportunities that Judaism offers.  For some it’s the Shabbat table, for others it’s Israel Advocacy and for others it’s just a shmooze with a staff member that empowers him or her to take an active role in their Jewish destiny.

Over 1,300 Jewish teens went to Israel last year with NCSY, falling in love with the land and becoming more committed to its people.  Of those, over 130 were local Atlantic Seaboard teens, showcasing that a large portion of NCSY’s reach and impact is right here in our backyard.

NCSY ‘s Mordi Spero, now in his second year as NCSY’s JSU coordinator in Baltimore, oversees JSU programming at public and private high schools in the area. Over the past year and a half, Mordi has expanded into 8 different schools: Franklin, Owings Mills, Towson, Pikesville, Park School of Baltimore, McDonogh School, Boys’ Latin School of Maryland and Calvert Hall.

“The goal of JSU programming in Baltimore is to connect every Jewish teen to Judaism, however they are able to connect,” said Spero. “Whether that means a love for Israel, whether that means just a strong Jewish identity, proud to be a Jew, or whether that means being able to identify as a Jew in school.”

As NCSYers continue to grow, they need more support than ever. There are thousands of teens who have yet to be connected to Judaism in any real way.  One way to help NCSY reach them and enjoy a special time is to join 2,000 others who come out each year to support NCSY at the annual Isaac H. Taylor Jewish Music Festival. At this year’s concert, NCSY will present Sam and Donna Wach with the Lifetime Dedication Award, giving our community another reason to attend

Sam and Donna have NCSY in their blood. Sam grew up in the Catskill Region of NCSY and Donna from New Jersey and then during the mid 80’s, while in Ner Israel, Sam became an advisor in Seaboard. Donna says she did not marry Sam because of his NCSY background “but it helped!”

In the 70’s most students of the Hebrew Day School of Sullivan Ulster Counties did not continue their Jewish education past 8^th grade, Sam's rebbes encouraged him  to continue learning at Manhattan Hebrew High School run by Rabbi Shlomo Riskin, although he always returned to the Catskills for Shabbatonim.  The region was small but active; connecting small towns around the area to the larger Jewish community. Sam served on Regional Board as Education Chairman leading sessions and coordinating chavrusa learning with both public and day school youngsters.

Donna attended her first NCSY shabbaton at the Sherman Avenue Talmud Torah in Jersey City, N.J, while attending Rogosin Yeshiva High School in 1979. Donna reflected that "the weekend changed my life forever, I remember that havdallah and kumsitz like it was yesterday”.  She instantly got involved as chapter president, regional board member and chapter advisor (Chapter of the Year, 1982!). “My family could not have been more encouraging and supportive as I decided to become more observant, I was very lucky”

In 1990 with 2 year old Yitzy in tow the Wachs moved to Baltimore, and of course wanted to stay involved in the NCSY family. Sam first ran the NCSY Basketball league and taught in Teen Torah Center, later becoming known as NCSY’s Hebrew High School. They spent 5 fabulous years running the Annapolis chapter which resulted in lifelong friendships with back to back regional presidents, Matt Lewis and Andrea Snyder Schulman,  with many members who went on to live rich Jewish lives. Over the next decade Sam ran the Baltimore Junior chapter, working with Beth Tifiloh, Liberty Jewish Center, Randallstown Synagogue Center and Ner Tamid (where he has been youth director for 20 years). Sam’s final NCSY assignment was as Field Director, helping struggling chapters in smaller communities, opening new chapters, and running mini-shabbatons in communities up and down the Atlantic Seaboard.  For about 20 weekends a year, the Wachs and their 3 boys traveled from Harrisburg to Lancaster, from Potomac to Norfolk and beyond . “We raised our kids in NCSY and could not be happier that we did, at a young age our kids taught by example, became accepting and caring of fellow Jews no matter what their level of Torah knowledge and observance. Most important they learned to sleep anywhere on any surface imaginable, and we loved having a region full of babysitters.”

Join the movement that is Inspiring the Jewish Future! This year NCSY’s 42nd Annual Isaac H. Taylor Jewish Music Festival will be held on January 15th at Meyerhoff Symphony Orchestra in downtown Baltimore.  It will feature the music of Miami Boys Choir, Simcha Leiner and Dovid Gabay. Sam and Donna Wach will receive the Lifetime Dedication Award for their many contributions to the teens of NCSY. This concert is Atlantic Seaboard NCSY’s single largest fundraising event of the year and generates the support needed to guarantee that no Jewish child is ever denied the opportunity to experience the beauty of Torah.

For more information, to become one of NCSY’s dedicated sponsors, submit a tribute to the Wachs, or to purchase tickets, please contact NCSY, at 410-358-6279, emailatsconcert@ncsy.org, or visit the website: www.atsncsy.org.