To the ones who raised us, took care of us when we were sick, held our hand when we were scared and told us it would all be alright. For sending us on a life-changing summer and everything else… this one’s for you.

In the waning days of The Jerusalem Journey (TJJ) summer program in 2011, Bus 7 pulled into a secluded hilltop that overlooked the city of Jerusalem. The program was the first time many of the teens had been in Israel and it was an emotional moment, but for one teen, the moment proved to be life-changing. As the teens sat in a circle, Bus Director Josh Gottesman presented a pair of tefillin, sponsored anonymously, to Peter Century, a tenth grader from Cleveland Heights.

“We knew it would mean something to Peter,” Gottesman explained. “Tefillin is such an incredible mitzvah in terms of personal growth. Peter had a spark and we knew it would kindle something deep inside him.”

Peter was bewildered and inspired. TJJ was what he considers his first real Jewish experience. Up until then, his only other Jewish experience was what he described as a “fake bar mitzvah” that he asked his family to throw him because he thought he’d get cash. Otherwise, he had been almost totally unaware of his Jewish identity. During the busy summer, Pete had seen advisors and other members of the trip put on tefillin. They had explained the mitzvah to him and helped him wrap the black leather straps around his arms and head.

The pair of tefilin was only the beginning for Peter. He didn’t really know how to put them on so he needed to start learning. When he returned, he began visiting Cleveland NCSY Director Rabbi Arieh Friedner. Soon his visits became more frequent and he began spending every Shabbat with the family.

“I kept going back,” he said. “That was the only Judaism that I could hold on to.”

Since he didn’t have a Jewish name, the Friedner family helped him pick one: Yosef Shalom. Peter became closer and closer to the family, not only spending every Shabbat with them but also visiting them during the week. Since there wasn’t a synagogue close by, Pete began putting on his tefillin before school every morning. The next summer Peter decided to attend NCSY Kollel, another NCSY summer program, where he learnt more about his heritage.

This summer Peter returned to Kollel as a Counselor in Training (CIT). Mrs. Friedner made him promise to call her at least once a week. In a few months, Peter will begin his year in Israel, studying in Yeshivat Netiv Aryeh. The year in yeshiva will be the culmination of a long journey for Pete, one that he says was inspired in part by a pair of tefillin.

“When I was presented the tefillin, I guess you could say I thought to myself that now I actually have to do this,” he said.

To sponsor a pair of tefillin for a teen, click here.

Fifteen years after going on NCSY Kollel, Canada’s Daniel Gryfe returns year after year.

One participant of NCSY Kollel keeps on coming back.

As the fast of Tisha B’Av wanes to a close and the sun begins to set behind the Western Wall, hundreds of teens on NCSY summer programs sit on the stone courtyard and sing together as part of a kumzits (gathering). Frequently, passers-by will sit in the circle and join the teens as they commemorate the destruction of the Beis Hamikdash (Holy Temple) two thousand years ago. Among those seated in the circle is real estate investor Daniel Gryfe who attended NCSY Kollel 15 years ago.

In 1997, as a junior in high school, Daniel Gryfe decided to spend a summer on NCSY Kollel. He was never really active in NCSY, but the experience was significant for him. “It was my first yeshiva experience,” he explained. “It was fantastic. It was a stepping stone. I still remember the sugya, topic, I learnt on Kollel: the seventh perek (chapter) of Berachot.”

After the summer, in his senior year, he began learning night seder in the Toronto-based Ne’er Israel and then went on to study in Israel at Kerem B’Yavneh (KBY)— one of the few students from his high school who attended the esteemed yeshiva— and then Yeshiva University where he majored in business. He met his wife, Dena Graff, a student at Stern College for Women, while he was there.

After graduation, he joined his family’s firm and began working in Toronto. In 2004, at the tail-end of a European business trip, Daniel ended up in Israel for Tisha B’Av. As he went to daven Ma’ariv at the Kotel (Western Wall), he saw the familiar circle of NCSYers and joined the group.

“I stumbled upon it,” he said. “There wasn’t a problem joining the circle. It was a remarkable feeling of achdus, of unity. It’s a great feeling— it’s a sense of inspiration. The achdus that it provides is a major factor of what the redemption of Tisha B’Av is supposed to be based upon.”

Gryfe noted that he’s seen Jews from every walk of life— religious, not religious, Ashkenaz, Sephardic — join the circle and sing with the teens.

Every year since then, he makes it a point to spend his Tisha B’Av in Israel and spends the last hour of the fast with NCSYers. At his last count, he’s made it to nine kumzitses.

Rabbi Moshe Benovitz, the director of NCSY Kollel, said that the kumzits developed organically. “It was actually a grassroots movement, energized by many NCSYers and advisors who felt that they simply could not stay away from the Kotel on Tisha B’Av,” he said. “Not only are there no extravagant bells and whistles, but there are not even spoken words of explanation and inspiration.”

Daniel is also highly committed to Canada NCSY.

“I’m on the board of Canada NCSY,” he said. “I attend meetings as a board member and give my support both financially and personally. It has to do with my own personal experiences as well as the fact that NCSY does a phenomenal job on Jewish continuity. They really enlighten kids who would never have the chance to get enlightened about yiddishkeit. I know firsthand several people that it has done wonders for in their lives.”

Rabbi Glenn Black, CEO of Canada NCSY, was effusive about Daniel’s activities. “Daniel is part of our Young Leadership Team,” explained Rabbi Black. “He’s a person I turn to on a regular basis for advice. He’s got an amazing business mind and he’s able to help me develop my thinking and create programs and events that are just right for our community.”

As for the kumzits, Daniel plans to continue to attend and hopes to bring someone along with him. “My son will probably be there with me in the next couple of years,” he added.

For the 85 girls on NCSY GIVE (Girls Israel Volunteer Experience), this summer is an opportunity to give back some of the good that they received in their lives. Over the next few weeks, the girls will contribute to the many needs of Jews living in Israel. But this week, they focused primarily on giving to the children of Israel.

Don’t forget to read this week’s Story of the Week: “Last Minute Switch“

For the 980 teens on NCSY Summer, this week was the beginning of a summer in which memories will be created, moments will be shared and life-long friendships will be formed. But right now, this is where the journey begins.