This past Tisha B’Av, the voices of the 26 participants on NCSY Summer’s new program, Derech, mixed with the voices of the other visitors to the Kotel, the Western Wall, to create an impromptu choir. The participants started a kumzitz, and several had tears streaking down their faces as emotions ran high while singing “Sha’arei Shamayim” (“Gates of Heaven”) and “Sh’ma Kolleinu” (“Hear Our Voices”).
The intensity and beauty of the group’s singing was unexpected for Josh Miller, a junior at Ida Crown Jewish Academy in Chicago. This summer was Josh’s first time on an NCSY summer program, as well as his first time in Israel. A division of the Orthodox Union, NCSY inspires Jewish teens to connect with their Judaism, the Torah and Israel through innovative, cutting-edge social and recreational programs. The five-week trip for North American high school boys far exceeded Josh’s expectations.
Josh, who sits on the Midwest NCSY Regional Board and the Chicago Chapter Board, said that “experiencing the land while learning its history was inspiring. The Torah learning was also incredible. We learned and had trips every day, and I chose to continue learning in an optional learning program at night.”
Derech was created this year to fill a gap in NCSY’s range of summer programs. Adding this new all-boys option in Israel with significant learning and more travel has allowed NCSY to expand its offerings.
“It’s a big decision which summer program kids go on, and I know I chose the right one,” Josh said. “I didn’t know anyone that first day at the airport, but I knew on day one that everything was going to work out. Everyone wanted to be there, and had a connection with each other.”
For Derech participants, the summer ended far too quickly.
“On the last day, guys were crying on each others’ shoulders,” the teen said. “We all knew we wanted to keep these relationships after the program ended.”
The trip was so powerful that some participants channeled their inspiration into creating their own songs.
“A couple of kids used some of their time in Jerusalem to find a recording studio and record the ‘Derech Niggun,’ ” Josh said using the Hebrew word for a “tune.” “That last Shabbat, we sang it all day long, and on the last day, we sang it at the airport as we said our goodbyes.”
Before heading home, Josh and the other participants sat down to discuss how they could bring back what they learned and experienced into their everyday lives.
“Coming back from the program, I have a fire lit in me for learning more Torah,” Josh said. “I want to take the time out of my day to learn more Torah during the week.”
For the full list of 21 NCSY Summer programs, see: summer.ncsy.org. Preregistration is open for NCSY Summer 2025 programs at: summer.ncsy.org/prereg2025.
