What do Agudath Israel and NCSY have in common? One would typically think not much. After all NCSY runs a co-ed high school Kiruv venture and Agudah would probably never have anything to do with such a venture. Mingling of the sexes, especially in the hormone laden environment of adolescents, would be anathema to them. As such one would think that NCSY would be a “hands off” proposition in any incarnation. After all how can one participate in an organization that allows adolescent boys and girls to socialize as part of their actual program?
I will never forget what Rabbi A. Y. Weinberg (…or AY as he was affectionately called by all who admired him) told me when he was regional director of NCSY Midwest Mesorah region. He is a man who I am thoroughly convinced has a very bright Olam Haba assured. His father was the famed Rosh HaYeshiva, Rav “Motel” Weinberg, ZTL.
During AY’s long tenure here where he created the powerhouse Kiruv Bulwark that NCSY Midwest is now, he begged his father to come and speak to the those Kids… most of them from public school looking to become inspired to Yiddishkeit. To AY’s constant disappointment, his father’s response was always a big “No”! Only if he would turn NCSY into a separate gender operation would he consider it... an impossible proposition in order for its mode of Kiruv to be successful.
This is the kind of thinking that usually dominates many on the right when it comes to NCSY. Lots of lipservice is paid to the “great Kiruv work” they do but little else. They otherwise generally ignore NCSY at best. Young adolescent Bnei Torah, no matter how Ehrilch, are forbidden from participation in this organization by almost every Yeshiva, including HTC, for fear of their “succumbing to temptation’ while involved in the sometimes frivolous environment of an NCSY mixed gender event. This leaves little in the form of role modeling for the public high school teenagers which they really need.
And you would think that Agudah pretty much thinks the same way. But that is not the case. Realizing an opportunity to make a tremendous contribution to Klal Yisroel a beautiful act of Achdus took place. A deal was brokered between Rabbi Micah Greenland, the current director of NCSY Midwest and Rabbi Dovid Schnell, president of Agudath Israel of the Midwest. The following is, in part, a correspondence I received from Rabbi Greenland:
This summer, an exciting new kiruv venture is being launched for children in the Midwest, Camp Nageela Midwest for boys and girls grades four through eight. This new project is a joint venture between the Midwest Region of Agudath Israel and the Midwest Region of NCSY. The project utilizes multiple contributions from both organizations, and it utilizes staff from both. So far, over 50 youngsters have registered for this unique outreach experience.
The opportunity to launch this kiruv venture presented itself when Agudath Israel recently purchased a brand new site in Marshall, IN to be used in August for their Camp Bnos Maarava program. That left late-June and all of July open, and Agudah seized the opportunity to use the facility for a six-week kiruv camp. Recognizing that NCSY has great expertise in working with this population (and the necessary connections to successfully recruit campers), Agudah took on NCSY as a partner in this venture.
In this partnership, Agudath Israel has agreed to provide both the facility and funds for the camp, while NCSY has been given charge of administrative staff, developing programming and running the camp. Counselors will be culled from both the NCSY and the Agudah worlds, and all staff people will be approved jointly by Agudah and NCSY. The posek for the camp is Rabbi Shmuel Fuerst, dayan of Agudath Israel, who has a longtime sensitivity for kiruv issues and close working relationship with NCSY.
The first three weeks of the summer will be dedicated for a three-week girls’ program, and the next three weeks will be the boys’ session. Running the program as a separate-gender experience was consistent with many existing NCSY summer programs which are not co-ed, and it helped make the partnership a no-brainer for Agudah.
Camp Nageela Midwest, similar in its target audience and program to the long-running JEP project Camp Nageela in the Catskill Mountains of New York, boasts a beautiful, newly renovated, air-conditioned facility built on 500-plus acres of land. Cabins are carpeted, each with a living room, fire place and private bathroom facilities. There are both indoor and outdoor gymnasiums, a weight room, rope courses and 33 acres of sports fields, including tennis courts.
Nageela Midwest is actively recruiting both campers and staff. "We are looking for energetic and exciting collegiate bnot/bnei Torah who can both inspire and motivate these children to become passionate about their Judaism. A successful Nageela staff member will have the opportunity to literally change the lives of dozens of unaffiliated Jewish youth,” Rabbi Greenland declared.
So for all you youngsters out there (to paraphrase legendary Cubs broadcaster Steve Stone): If anyone wants an exiting summer experience and a chance to interact with peers of differing Hashkafos, check it out.
