Ma’ayanot sophomores and juniors traveled to New Orleans April 25-29 as volunteers on a NJ-NCSY Rapids Rising Mission. They painted and repaired homes for Habitat for Humanity, toured the Lower Ninth Ward, Old Shul and Jewish cemetery, volunteered for an environmental non-profit called Green Light New Orleans where they changed light bulbs to energy-efficient bulbs and educated the local community about energy conservation, and brought Torah and ruach to Torah Academy of New Orleans. They also spent a meaningful Shabbat at the historic Congregation Anshe Sfard, where they shared Divrei Torah over lunch with the community.

“NJ-NCSY is proud to partner with Ma’ayanot in educating our teens about true Torah values such as tikkun olam, chesed and what it means to be a light on to other nations,” said Rabbi Ethan Katz, regional director of New Jersey NCSY. “The Ma’ayanot students once again excelled in every aspect of the program and created a true kiddush Hashem.”