Have you been to a "Jew-Fest" Lately?

by Talia Lakritz

Jew-fest. Noun. An event in which many Jews gather and have an insane amount of fun.

Ok, so maybe the term “Jew-fest” isn’t in any dictionary. Maybe some friends and I made it up. Regardless, I just attended one and loved every minute of it.

NCSY, an organization dedicated to "inspiring the Jewish future" since 1954, organizes several conventions a year for Jewish high school students. The coeducational crowd ranges from unaffiliated to Orthodox, from public school teens to yeshiva students. The conventions are designed to bring people closer to their Jewish roots and inspire through song, dance, discussion groups, multimedia presentations, skits, games, recreational activities, and simply hanging out with other Jewish teens from around the Midwest. In other words, a Jew-fest.

This past convention was December 24-28 at a gorgeous resort in Lincolnshire, IL, though conventions are held in Minneapolis, Kansas City, Skokie, Memphis, St. Louis, Indianapolis, and even Milwaukee from time to time. Each city has a chapter that organizes local events and brings members to conventions, adding up to about 250 NCSYers in the Midwest region. As a member of the Milwaukee chapter, I enjoy attending movie nights, pizza parties, and “Latte and Learning” sessions with local pals, as well as meeting new people and expanding my Facebook page and phone contacts at regional conventions.

NCSY is something that is hard to put into words. The gatherings aren’t just conventions, they’re experiences. An NCSY-style Shabbat is like matzah ball soup with a dash of hot sauce. The good, old-fashioned traditions like kosher food, religious services, and words of Torah are all there. But they’re presented in fresh, exciting, and mind-expanding ways that resonate with teens.

For example, the theme of this past convention was "Joy to the World: Finding True Happiness." So, in addition to sessions on the subject, a hilarious Oprah Show parody reminiscent of a Saturday Night Live skit took the idea to a new level. In the multimedia presentation, an unhappy celebrity couple sat on Oprah’s couch and described how their vast fortune did nothing to increase their happiness or solve their problems. After a brief commercial break, featuring an Apple ad complete with banter between a Mac and PC, “Oprah” returned with "Dr. Phil," who attempted to explain to the stars that life is more about material possessions and that true happiness comes from fulfillment. The skit left us all with a great message, in addition to keeping us interested and giving us a good laugh.

Unfortunately, it would be impossible to go through every activity from the convention. From ice skating with “Party in the USA” in the background to the havdalah ceremony with a live band to snow tubing and skiing to the “Around the World” themed banquet, there are too many fun memories and hilarious moments to put in one article alone. But if you’re interested in meeting Jewish teens from around the Midwest, learning more about Judaism in creative and engaging ways, participating in exciting activities, and having an all-around good time, NCSY might just be your place to do it.

After all, who doesn’t love a Jew-fest?

For more information about NCSY, contact Milwaukee chapter advisor Shelley Israel on Facebook or at 414-442-6556.

Talia Lakritz, 17, lives in Mequon and is a junior at Torah Academy of Milwaukee.