To My Inspiring NCSY Staff
Dear Chevra,
I am writing this note to you Erev Chag Sukkot 5767. It has been a hectic year. It seems like only yesterday I was sitting behind my desk in Los Angeles managing West Coast NCSY. I watched one of the videos today from a few years ago in West Coast. It made me look back and question whether I made the right decision in leaving the position of Regional Director for National Director. I no longer enjoy the intense Kesher that all of you enjoy with Jewish Teens around North America. In that way, my job has been quite hard. So why did I take this job and where do I see NCSY going? That is the million dollar question. I will attempt to answer it over the next few lines.
While I have sat in my office in the 14th floor of 11 Broadway I have seen the future of North American Jewry. It is not pretty. Most of the Jewish children around our continent will not be practicing Jews by the time they reach adulthood. The only thing that I can see preventing that from happening is you- the warriors of NCSY. Let me take a moment to describe all of you.
1) You are incredibly hard working
2) You are Bnei and Bnos Torah
3) You care about each and every Jew
4) You refuse to abandon G-d and stand proudly by His side
5) You don’t take no for an answer
6) You strive to do the improbable and impossible
7) You are selfless
8) You value Talmud Torah
9) You are humble
10) Most importantly – You are beautiful in every possible way
I find myself asking G-d every morning why he gave me the Zechus to lead you into the battle against assimilation. Every time I meet another member of the NCSY team I find myself overwhelmed with hope and confidence that we can stem the tide of Judaic indifference. All of you have given me such strength over the past year. I thank you on behalf of a grateful G-d and a stiff necked people, for all that you have done and continue to do for the Jewish People.
This past week a very special young woman named Karin Dimant made a marketing presentation to a group of us. She had done research on NCSY for about six months. One of the pieces that Karin presented to us was NCSY’s new tag line. She explained that a tag line should sum up your organization in a few words. Karin then unveiled our new tag line…….
NCSY: Inspiring the Jewish Future
For the first time since I walked into NCSY I felt like I had an accurate description of who we are and what we do. We inspire the Jewish Future. Because of your inspiration…there will be a bright Jewish Future.
Thank you, thank you and thank you for inspiring 30,000 Jewish teens every year. Thank you for inspiring 1 National Director.
Best wishes for a beautiful and inspiring Chag.Sameach. May we celebrate Chol HaMoed in Yerushalaim with Ehud Goldwasser, Eldad Regev & Gilad Schalit!
BeAhava Rabbah,
Steve Burg
I thank you on behalf of a grateful G-d and a stiff necked people, for all that you have done and continue to do for the Jewish People.
Posted by Technology Transfer Services on 02/03 at 06:11 AM
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