Reb Doniel, I don’t doubt you are a learned and upstanding member of the community. I am happy to hear you are involved so much in your kehilah. I applaud your interest in helping our youth.
I’m talking practicality, and you’re giving a list of Rabonim, most of whom I am familiar with and honor, but that is entirely beside the point. And the fact that you don’t realize it is beside the point is troubling. Practically speaking, not every regional director or chapter director has exactly the same hashkafic approach. For some, the idea is to simply identify those non frum kids most likely to respond to kiruv and turn them into frum Jews. Those will reach relatively few but have a high proportion of “successful” frum adults as an outcome. Others will work to reach many more kids, teaching them and influencing them and inspiring them, so that they make Jewish choices in their lives. So that they dont intermarry, so that they live lives guided by the ethical principles of our tradition. and some of these will want more, so they will be learning at Yarchei Kallah conventions, they will go to the kollel program in Israel, and maybe spend a year in yeshiva. And they will see all of that as success.
Regardless, though, of the particular outlook of the city or region, the point of contact has to be genuine and it has to be on terms that will engage the youth. If you can’t relate to their world, its not for you. If you cant stop yourself from justifying or even introducing your particular approach to hashkafa or halacha, its not for you. Because, Reb Doniel, ITS NOT ABOUT YOU. Its about them. Their journey, their needs, their relationships, their friends, their interests. If you don’t get that, you will not be a successful NCSY advisor.
I strongly suggest you consider what I am telling you. If you still want to be involved, speak to a local or regional director. They are some of the most learned and well rounded and tolerant and good humored and dedicated frum yidden that I know, and I know most of them across the continent. I hope there is some way in which you can be involved, because the work is very rewarding – in a spiritual, not material way.