National Conference of Synagogue Youth (NCSY) has long had an impact on Jewish teenagers, starting with the formation of regional chapters beginning in 1951. The first, Midwest Synagogue Youth Organization, began in Peoria, Ill., and participating cities included St. Louis and Kansas City, Mo., as well as Denver, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Omaha and Des Moines, Iowa. 

The national NCSY organiztion was created in 1954 in Savannah, Ga.  NCSY has two divisions: Senior NCSY for grades 9-12, and Junior NCSY for grades 5-8. 

“Although NCSY is the youth organization of the Orthodox Union, it not only welcomes but was specifically created to engage Jewish youth from all Jewish backgrounds,” said Rabbi Mike Rovinsky, who has been the NCSY’s St. Louis director since 2001. “We have Reform, Conservative, Orthodox and unaffiliated teens that all come together to experience and engage in Judaism.” 

St. Louis will have a strong presence in NCSY this year, beginning with the NCSY Senior Fall Convention in Minneapolis on Nov. 18-20.

“We definitely hope to have record-breaking numbers in attendance,” said Akiva Garfinkel, a senior at Fasman Yeshiva in Illinois and president of Midwest NCSY’s regional board. “After a long summer, we expect everyone to be motivated and inspired by  what promises to be an amazing Shabbaton.” 

Shosh Friedman, NCSY Midwest’s associate regional director, expects 250 to 275 attendees, possibly more. 

“We expect people from all over the Midwest,” she said “We’ll have St. Louis, Chicago, Kansas City and several other cities well represented.” 

NCSY’s success is in enabling teens to connect with other teens from all backgrounds, as well as with their Jewish heritage, in ways that are meaningful for them. 

“It’s an open environment for Jewish youth,” Akiva said. “Our participants are completely dedicated to furthering our message — that is, furthering Judaism, really — to Jewish teens all over the world.”

Rovinsky holds NCSY near and dear to him for this reason. 

“It was through NCSY that I was inspired to engage Jewishly in a serious and meaningful way,” he said. “Now I have the opportunity to inspire the next generation of Jewish leaders to engage their Jewish identity in ways that are meaningful to them.” 

Friedman agreed. 

“Our experiential education model helps teens to feel connected and inspired,” she said. “We hope to empower and inspire our teens, to help them to be passionate about their Judaism, and therefore able to one day give back to the Jewish community.”

While all the Midwest regions cities have started local events, the regional kickoff is important. 

“We’re letting first-timers go half-price,” Rovinsky said. 

The theme, which Friedman said will be the connection of the Jewish people to the land of Israel, begins a year of NCSY that will culminate in the State of Israel’s 69th birthday.

This year’s Fall Shabbaton is far from the beginning of the NCSY experience for its experienced veterans. Many of NCSY’s members have been a part of the program from an early age. 

“I actually started going to NCSY in fifth grade,” said Yonah Shafner, a senior at Yeshivat Kadimah High School in Olivette and the board’s vice president of outreach. “When I started to attend seriously in 10th grade, I really saw the wondrous impact it has.”

What stands out this year is the skyrocketing participation by the St. Louis chapter. Although it has consistently been one of the more involved chapters in the Midwest, it has started to really take off. Out of all the chapters, St. Louis had the most participants at the end-of-year Nageela Shabbaton, Akiva said, and that doesn’t take Junior NCSY into account, which is experiencing similar growth. 

It is on the Midwest Regional Board that St. Louis’ impact is best seen. Along with members from traditionally strong NCSY communities such as Chicago and Memphis, teens from St. Louis occupy three of the eight seats on board. In addition to Yonah Shafner, members are Elisheva Kent, the vice president of Chesed; and Isabella Yampol, the vice president of Junior NCSY. 

The focus on children who are entering middle school, as well as those preparing to graduate high school, is very healthy for the local NCSY community by encouraging a cycle of growth. Junior NCSY is, for the most part, run by Senior NCSY, which adds to the synergy between these two groups.

“I think what St. Louis does right is that it stresses Junior NCSY,” Yonah said. “We learn how to be advisers and how to empower and impact others.” 

The Minneapolis conference, which will, among other things, prominently feature the Mall of America, promises to be a special experience for those who attend it. 

“NCSY has transformed Jewish engagement for teens,” Rovinsky said. “What is so special about NCSY is that while we, as staff, come to facilitate the program and make sure the teens grow from the experience, we, too, walk away inspired ourselves.”