Coach buses and vans filled with eager teenagers from across the Midwest set out on an overnight journey to participate in the 2011 NCSY Fall Regional Shabbaton in Memphis hosted by Baron Hirsch Synagogue and the Memphis community.
An NCSY Shabbaton experience is a fun, meaningful and inspirational weekend that brings together Jewish teenagers from a variety of Jewish backgrounds for an incredible and uplifting experience. Early Friday, newcomers and seasoned NCSYers were greeted with the utmost delight by their energetic NCSY advisors and staff. In total, 185 NCSYers and over 250 total participants hailed from Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Kansas, Missouri, Indiana, Arkansas, New York and Tennessee. Memphis recorded its own largest local attendance at a regional Shabbaton with 40 local participants. Without a doubt, Midwest NCSY’s 2011 Fall Regional became a Shabbaton to remember.
The weekend started with a trip to the Memphis Zoo, reconnecting with old friends and meeting new friends and advisors before attendees went to their respective host homes to prepare for what would become one of the most uplifting and inspiring Shabbatons in NCSY history! One hundred percent attendance at pre-Shabbos ruach, candle lighting, the Mincha service, and an energy-infused Kabbalat Shabbat set the tone for the rest of the convention. Educational sessions and discussions led by both advisors and NCSYers themselves allowed participants to indulge in multiple flavors of the Torah, delving into serious topics such as free will and judgment of other individuals. Shabbat consisted of delicious meals, Davening, Divrei Torah (words of Torah), Kiddush, Improv and free time – which all culminated with “As Shabbat Ebbs Away” and the unique, live band filling Havdalah. Shabbat allowed both NCSYers and advisors to create irreplaceable tight bonds that will carry on for a lifetime.
After Shabbat, NCSYers raced back to their host homes to prepare for an eventful night of miniature golfing, go-kart racing and arcades at Putt Putt Golf and Games, before returning to Baron Hirsch for more live music, dancing and food.
Sunday morning, NCSYers said their farewells, exchanged phone numbers and email addresses, and promised to see one another at the next Shabbaton.
An NCSY experience gives every teen the opportunity to build friendships with teens and advisors while at the same time inspiring our Jewish teens of today to help build a better Jewish tomorrow. For Local Memphis NCSY information contact Marc Lennon at memphisncsy@gmail.com or 901-830-0286.
