As you probably know, this year NCSY launched a brand-new department called the NCSY Relief Missions. Building on the success of the Rose and Fred Distenfeld NJ NCSY Chessed Missions, NCSY has expanded operations across the country.

Normally, during every month of the year, groups will travel weekly to New Orleans, Puerto Rico, Houston and more to volunteer. This year, the program expanded from just local groups from New Jersey to groups from New York, LA, Denver, Boston, various Midwest states and more. In 2020, the plan is to take 30 groups, with a total of nearly 600 teens from across the country, to participate in volunteer opportunities across the country.

They say it is better to give than to receive. Well, that has many interpretations. The obvious one is it is better to be in a position of giving than needing someone’s chesed, but perhaps it can be viewed as: By giving we actually are receiving. We are receiving the tremendous feeling of satisfaction, the feeling of making a kiddush Hashem, the feeling of true tikkun olam…of making the world a better place in the name of Hashem.

This has been seen firsthand when a group of teens has finished a house so the owner can move in after over two years of not having a home. When the homeowner sees the group working on his home and blesses “the Chosen People” with tears in his eyes, indeed the group is giving, but it is receiving even more.

When the NCSYers help feed thousands of people while wearing kippas and everyone says, “Bless you, Holy Children,” they know they are receiving more than what they give.

So, what is to be done now that the teens are grounded? NCSY Relief Missions has taken on a new role in addition to planning missions for the summer and the remainder of the year. It has gone virtual, like the whole of NCSY programming. On its website there is a long list of chesed opportunities that can be done from home, for those who have a tremendous need.

Chesed also begins at home! This year, many grandparents will not be able to join their families for the Seder. But do not “pass over” your grandparents! NCSY Relief Missions has created a program for grandchildren to call their own grandparents as well as other elderly people who do not have a family to join. They can learn the Haggadah over the phone, which will culminate with a virtual Seder. Teens can read to their grandparents from the NCSY Haggadah while they pass on the wisdom of generations.

Many teens have expressed that they want to speak to their grandparents more often, but they are busy, and they don’t always know what to say or how to start the conversation. Now it is simple. Try “Hi, Saba/Bubby/Grandpa. NCSY has this new project of learning the Haggadah over the phone with our grandparents. Can we participate in it together?”

NCSY is bringing virtual volunteering opportunities to teens, bridging the generational gap and bringing families together virtually during this Pesach season.

For more information, visit the website at https://reliefmissions.ncsy.org/virtual-chessed/, call 646-459-5142 or email [email protected].

Rabbi Ethan Katz is the national director of NCSY Relief Missions.