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Dear Friends and Supporters,
This week, almost 2,000 NCSY teens and staff are making their way to Israel on NCSY summer trips. By the time you read this, some will already have landed. Others will be packing, heading to the airport, and preparing to go in just a few days. And in today’s world, with the uncertainty, headlines, questions, and concerns surrounding Israel, that is something remarkable.
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It would be easy to step back. It would be easy to say, “Maybe not this year.” But the Jewish people have always had a deep connection to Israel. No matter what is happening in the world, there is something inside us that keeps pulling us back.
In the Torah, God tells Abraham, “Lech lecha, go forth... el ha’aretz asher ar’eka, to the land that I will show you.” Abraham did not know exactly where he was going. He did not have all the details. He did not know what the road ahead would look like. But he understood that this journey mattered, and began a journey that would shape the Jewish people forever.
Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveitchik explains that Abraham’s journey to Israel was not only his own personal story. It created something lasting inside the Jewish people. From that moment on, Jews would always feel a pull toward Israel, sometimes strong, sometimes quiet, but always there. That is what we are seeing this week, as almost 2,000 young people go to learn, grow, explore, connect, and experience something bigger than themselves.
They are not going because everything is simple. They are going because connection is not only built when things are easy. Sometimes, it is built even more deeply when things are complicated. These teens are stepping into a story much bigger than one summer, joining generations of Jews who understood that Israel is more than a destination. It is part of who we are as a people.
And none of this happens on its own. It happens because parents believe in their children and trust the power of these experiences. It happens because supporters invest in the future of Jewish life. It happens because staff give their time, energy, and hearts to guide our teens with care and responsibility.
My blessing to all NCSYers in Israel: go with pride. Open your eyes. Open your hearts. Take in the land, the people, the history, and the moment. You are not just going on a trip. You are taking part in a journey that has been going on for thousands of years.
This week, it continues through you.
With gratitude,
Rabbi Glenn Black
CEO, NCSY Canada
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A new report from the Combat Antisemitism Movement found that Instagram was not only hosting antisemitic content, but actively pushing it into users’ feeds through its recommendation system. Researchers tracked 100 antisemitic posts over 96 hours, finding that they generated 5.3 million likes, 3.8 million shares, and may have reached as many as 280 million users.
Among the most disturbing findings were AI-generated “rabbi” personas spreading antisemitic conspiracy theories while pretending to carry religious authority, with one fake account gaining more than 1.4 million followers. The report raises serious questions about how much antisemitism users are seeing not because they searched for it, but because the platform itself helped put it in front of them.
| | 25th Kishka Klassic Drives NCSY Canada’s Mission Forward | |
The 25th Annual Kishka Klassic brought golfers, sponsors, and supporters together at the stunning Copper Creek Golf Club for a milestone day of competition, connection, and community support. From the energy on the course to the excitement of the $25,250 Hole-in-One Contest sponsored by Paisley Partners and Navacord, the tournament showed why this event has become such a meaningful annual tradition for NCSY Canada.
Congratulations to this year’s tournament winners:
1st Place – Recover@Home
Yonah Budd, Lucas Budd, Cameron Weir, and Troy Smith
2nd Place – Export Packers
Richard Rubenstein, Brandon Handleman, Zach Burnett, and Lorne Sussman
3rd Place – Verdant Lawn
Eliyahu Shainhouse, Benjamin Shore, Eli Shach, and Mark Feintuch
Thank you to Dinner Sponsor Hartmans, who gifted every golfer a $100 gift card, as well as Umami Sushi, who closed their store to serve a standout sushi bar, and Kosher N’ Natural, who brought extra fun to the course with snow cones and candy. Together, the golfers, sponsors, vendors, and supporters helped make the 25th year a celebration of community, generosity, and NCSY Canada’s mission to open doors for Jewish teens.
| | Watch the recap of this incredible day! | | Foursome Photos by Jack Beker Photography | | | | |
The Israeli government and Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA) are partnering on a $66.7 million plan to strengthen Jewish day school education in the United States and Canada. The Israeli government approved NIS 100 million, about $33.4 million, which will be matched by philanthropic donations to support affordability, academic quality, access, and services for students with learning disabilities.
JFNA leaders say the goal is not simply to help families already choosing Jewish education, but to increase enrollment at a time when October 7th and rising antisemitism have made Jewish identity feel more urgent. The funding is only a first step, but the partnership signals a larger push to make serious Jewish education accessible to far more families.
| | SPARKS Impact Challenge Turns Teen Ideas Into Community Action | | |
The 2nd Annual SPARKS Impact Challenge brought families to Questrade for an evening focused on more than student presentations. Finalists shared community initiatives they had built themselves, showing what happens when teens are given the tools, confidence, and platform to turn their ideas into real impact.
MC’d by Rabbi Shlomo Mandel, with opening remarks from Yair Shpiler, Founder & CEO of Jewnity Sports, and closing remarks from Rabbi Glenn Black, the evening reflected the heart of SPARKS: helping young people see themselves as capable leaders in the Jewish community. Mazel tov to Elisheva Herman, whose initiative, Chaverot Outdoors, was selected as this year’s winning project, and to every finalist who showed that teen leadership is something we build now.
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With Toronto’s municipal election coming on October 26, CJPAC’s VoteAnd.ca initiative is helping Jewish Canadians and allies understand how much local involvement can matter.
Join the Municipal Day of Action on July 5th to learn how to get involved and help strengthen civic participation in our community.
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A new Brandeis University study found that Birthright Israel participants after Oct. 7 are arriving far more Jewishly engaged than previous cohorts, with many already reporting stronger ties to Israel before the trip even begins. Among summer 2025 participants, 53% said they felt very connected to Israel before the trip, compared to 29% in 2023.
The study also found a more troubling shift among young Jews who did not participate, especially those whose connection to Israel and Jewish identity declined over the same period. As Birthright continues strengthening the identity of those who go, the findings point to a growing challenge for the wider Jewish community: reaching young adults who are drifting further away before they disconnect entirely.
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