Sara Zahler has been named the new Memphis NCSY Director – and there’s nothing she’d like more than to share the meaning and connection NCSY has brought to her own life with others.

A Manhattan native, Sara, 21, participated in NCSY as a teen and started a Jewish Student Union (JSU) club in her high school.

After spending a gap year in Israel at Machon Maayan, Sara served as a volunteer advisor for West Coast NCSY and then as City Director for Manhattan NCSY.

“I’m super excited to help cultivate a strong community for the Memphis teens,” Sara says. “NCSY has done so much for me as both a teen and an adult, and I can’t wait to share that with others.”

This past May, Sara graduated from Yeshiva University-Stern College for Women with a degree in political science. She then married and moved to Nashville with her husband Gavi, who works in the music industry.

In her new role, Sara will be traveling to Memphis regularly, running social and holiday programs, including Shabbatons for Junior and Senior NCSY, as well as JSU programming. She will also be joining Memphis teens at all Midwest NCSY regional events.

“Everyone I’ve met so far from the Memphis chapter has been so kind,” Sara says. “My goal is to create positive Jewish experiences, and with the kindness and generosity I’ve seen so far, I can tell it’s going to be a beautiful group effort.”