After 5 incredible weeks in Israel, NCSY GIVE has arrived home safely, B”H. We are incredibly grateful to everyone who contributed towards making this tumultuous summer not only possible, but excellent. The feedback we have been receiving is wonderful, the girls grew in ways that we could only have dreamed of, and the reputation of the program has been upheld, in large part thanks to you.
A special thank you to Rabbi Berman, Keevy Fried and Mr. Faigin for arranging that short meeting in Chispin to creatively plan that the 
remainder of GIVE’s time up North be spent through the lens of chessed. Our chessed projects had been sparse and despite the girls remaining positive, the energy was starting to dwindle. I left that meeting with a list of phone numbers and contacts, and we immediately got to work setting up chessed projects for the group for the next week. Little did we know at the time, but that meeting led to one of the most special moments on NCSY GIVE 2014.
Rabbi Berman insisted that we pack packages for soldiers, which he would arrange to be delivered directly from our hotel in Tzfat to Gaza. We had already packaged packages and written letters to soldiers, but recognizing the need for more, we agreed. Rabbi Berman was insistent that these packages be beautiful, filled to the brim with the best of the best, and since the OU was sponsoring, we figured- why not! :) His brother in law drove me to a grocery store in Tzfat to purchase the goods and we bought out the store. Upon arrival at the hotel, we set up the packing station, and watched as the girls poured into the room, got organized and packaged 70 lovely bags for soldiers. Of course, the bags would not be complete without a note, so the girls added notes as well- just a quick “thank you!” for all that you do.
And that was it.
We continued on to leave the North, head to Jerusalem and enjoy the last week and a half of the program. While at a chessed project on our last day of GIVE, Rena Bierig, one of our advisors, received a phone call from an 
unknown number. The voice on the other line identified himself as “Aner”, someone Rena did not know. He explained that while sitting in his tank in Gaza, he received a package filled with all of the most delicious treats imaginable, but one thing stood out to him. It was Rena’s note. Rena will be making Aliyah iy”H in October and shared this news in her letter to her then unknown recipient. She went on to thank him for allowing herself and NCSY GIVE the opportunity to be in Israel this summer and to feel protected; praised him for his bravery and his heroism; and thanked him for his selfless devotion to Am Yisrael. With that, she signed the letter, and wrote her number at the bottom. Aner went on to tell Rena that it was this letter that gave him the chizzuk he need to get through those 26 days and that he kept this letter in a safe place with him until with the intention that when he returned home he could properly call and thank her. Rena was overcome with emotion as Aner spoke of his wife and 4 month old daughter that were waiting for him at home and how much strength he gained from knowing that a total stranger supported him as well. Rena was at a loss for words, but timidly asked Aner if he would be willing to come to GIVE, for our last night in Israel, to meet the girls behind the packages. He was thrilled at the opportunity. He explained that he lived in Jerusalem, was born in the Old City near where we were staying, and that the very place where he would be speaking to the girls, was the place that hosted his Bar Mitzvah 16 years earlier.
We did not tell the girls in advance what was about to happen. We gathered them in the courtyard and Rena gave the backstory, ending with Aner walking into the room. The girls were in shock. Tears, gasps, and a standing ovation and applause filled the room as Aner, our hero who just wanted to express hakaras hatov, stood before us. We were overcome with emotion and pride, and felt achdus like never before. Aner spoke for only a few moments, but his words, changed our lives forever. He explained that protecting our land and our people is a right of passage in Israel and when he is thanked for it, he is reminded of the greatness of the broader world 
of Jewish people who really do appreciate our soldiers. Receiving Rena’s letter was just the resurgence of life that he needed to carry on, as he was so far from his family (this was his first time fighting as a father). He concluded with two important messages that he said his wife would be upset if he didn’t relay: One- Make Aliyah. Two- When you do make Aliyah, you have a place in our home to come anytime for shabbat or just to relax. We will be your family here. And with that, he left.
A tearful group listened as Rena concluded by reminding the girls that often we do chessed
and don’t see immediate results, but that does not mean that someone isn’t benefiting on the other side. Food packaging, donating, raising money, letter writing… whatever the action, never forget that there really is someone out there sitting at home or in a tank, reading your note, holding your gift, or having a better day, because of you. Let Aner be the proof.
What a powerful ending to incredible summer, and we have the OU to thank for that.
May we continue to partner in changing lives for many years to come.
Erin and the NCSY GIVE Family
