NCSY (formerly known as the National Conference of Synagogue Youth[1][2]) is a Jewish youth group under the auspices of the Orthodox Union. Its operations include Jewish-inspired after-school programs; summer programs in Israel, Europe, and the United States;[3] weekend programming, shabbatons, retreats, and regionals; Israel advocacy training; and disaster relief missions known as chesed (kindness) trips.[4][5][6] NCSY also has an alumni organization on campuses across North America.[7]
History
In 1959, NCSY hired Rabbi Pinchas Stolper as the first National Director in the United States.[8]
During the social upheavals of the 1960s and 1970s, the Orthodox youth of NCSY opposed social change, choosing instead to emphasize religious tradition.[9] In this period, at least one NCSY chapter took public action on this point, passing a resolution rejecting marijuana and other drugs as a violation of Jewish law.[9] At the 1971 NCSY international convention, delegates passed resolutions in this vein, calling for members to "forge a social revolution with Torah principles."[9]
According to the Orthodox sociologist Chaim Waxman, there has been an increase in Haredi influence on NCSY since 2012.[10] Waxman based this on NCSY's own sociological self-study.[11]