Against All Odds

“Best. Summer. Ever.” took on new meaning this year as 10 teens from the Midwest, including 8 from Minnesota, made it to Israel on TJJ, JSU/NCSY’s summer trip to...

Connection – and Pride

Nat Smookler (r.) is an incoming senior at Two Rivers High School in Minnesota. For Nat, this summer was one of “connection,” to both new people and her own...

Feels Like Home

One of Sofia Kostinovski’s (l.) most meaningful moments on TJJ was stargazing in the desert in Eilat. “We were able to sit quietly and not say anything at all...

The ‘Magic’ of Community

Evie Gardner (c.) says she loved everything about her summer in Israel – from the water sports to the new friendships to what she describes as the “unity and...

New Perspectives

Noam Bucher, an incoming junior at Parkway North High School in St. Louis, had a reality check of sorts on TJJ. It happened when the teens visited the site...

The Trip That Almost Wasn’t

Best. Summer. Ever. took on new meaning this year as 10 teens from the Midwest made it to Israel on TJJ, NCSY’s summer trip to Israel for public school...

TJJ Is Back This July

TJJ, (The Jerusalem Journey), NCSY’s summer trip to Israel for Jewish public school teens, is back this summer after a one-year hiatus due to the war in Israel. Twenty-seven...

‘You Are Untouchable!’

Nearly 200 community members came out in support of Minneapolis JSU/NCSY at its End-of-Year Event on May 20. The event honored JSU teen leaders and highlighted teens who have...