Annie Geister (second from l.) of Northbrook began her Jewish journey in 2012, when she she joined Jewish Family Experience (JFE) in the 3rd grade. She spent three years there, and later participated in the JFE Bat Mitzvah Program.

“JFE made a lasting impact on my life by teaching me a lot of the foundations of Judaism,” Annie, now 21, says.

After JFE, Annie became active in NCSY during her years at Glenbrook North High School. She participated in Shabbat and holiday programs, educational programs, and a lifechanging summer trip to Israel on TJJ.

“I went on TJJ as a 15-year-old in high school and it is still the best trip I have ever been on to this day,” says Annie (bottom row, 2nd from l). “I made lifelong friends and memories that my friends still talk about six years later.”

Annie also developed a warm relationship with North Shore City Director Rabbi Jeremy Schaechter and continued participating in NCSY alumni programming after high school.

Today, Annie is active with Jewish groups at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, where she is pursuing a degree in Finance and Information Systems.

She credits NCSY with giving her a Jewish community to be part of – and the opportunity to learn about many aspects of Judaism.

“NCSY gave my friends,” she says, “and the Jewish values that I will take with me throughout my whole life.”