Jewish Community Partners

Jack Kampf, son of Cantor Ricky Kampf and Anat Kampf, is a junior at the Cooper Yeshiva High School for Boys. Memphis Jewish Federation’s Lemsky Endowment Fund provided him with a Teen Israel Experience grant to offset the costs of his NCSY Kollel program. All rising juniors and seniors are eligible for grants of up to $3,000 to attend a recognized teen program in Israel. Teen Israel Experience applications for 2025 are open and can be accessed at Lemsky Endowment Fund  Jewish Community Partners (jcpmemphis.org)

Personal growth and connection to my people are two things I experienced this past summer on NCSY Kollel. The summer not only exceeded my expectations but also had a profound impact on my personal development and spiritual journey. I can say that the summer I had which was full of fun, learning, and connecting with the land of Israel would not have been possible without financial support provided by my parents and a grant from Memphis Jewish Federation’s from Lemsky Endowment Fund.

NCSY Kollel is known for its learning, programming, crazy sports activities, and great trips. Every day was filled with learning, fun, and adventures. The mornings began with classes led by impressive teachers, who during the school year teach in various Yeshivot throughout Israel.

These sessions were interesting discussions that challenged me to think deeply about the material. The curriculum was thoughtfully created to increase my understanding of Jewish texts and to inspire a connection to my faith and traditions.

Beyond the classroom, the program had many opportunities for personal growth and making new lifelong friends. I participated in group discussions, volunteer projects, and social activities that showed a powerful sense of togetherness. The friendships I formed were not just connections, but actual relationships built on shared values and experiences. I know many of the friends I made over the summer were not just temporary friends, but friends that will last my whole life. This sense of togetherness was one of my favorite parts of my summer. It was so awesome to be part of a group of Jewish teens who all got along with each other.

Despite the current challenging environment, the program was able to continue offering special trips. Our trip to Eilat will be forever etched in my mind. We were on a party boat not too far from the border with Egypt, when police boats surrounded our boat. It seems a signal from our cell phones led the security forces to think we were coming into Israel from Egypt and it set off an alarm. The police checked us out and saw we were not terrorists, and let us continue our way, but it was quite intense there for a period of time and I was relieved it ended well.

The grant awarded provided financial assistance to enable this program possible for me. My parents knew this was the program I had my heart set on, and they did everything in their power to make it happen for me. The grant ensured that I could immerse myself completely in the learning and communal activities, without my parents having to worry about the logistics and expenses that often accompany such programs. It was generosity that went beyond mere monetary support; it was an investment in my personal and spiritual development.

The impact of the grant also enabled me to participate in all aspects of the program, from intensive study sessions to enriching extracurricular activities. It also allowed me to engage more fully in communal life, where every moment was an opportunity for growth, learning, and connection. Freedom from financial worry meant that I could approach each day with enthusiasm and openness, embracing every opportunity for learning and personal development.

As I look back on my summer with NCSY Kollel, I am filled with gratitude for the experiences I had and the growth I achieved. The knowledge I gained, the relationships I built, and the personal insights I achieved are invaluable and left a lasting impact on my life and continue to influence my personal and spiritual journey.

In conclusion, my summer at NCSY Kollel was a deeply meaningful and special experience, giving me the opportunity to immerse myself in an environment of learning and community. It has been life changing.

Thank you to Memphis Jewish Federation’s Lemsky Endowment Fund for making my incredible NCSY Kollel experience possible.