By Jason Rosenblum, NFTY-CWR Communications Vice President
On December 2, over one hundred teens gathered in Carmel, California to attend NFTY CWR’s second event of the year: Fallinter, Soul Meets Body. The event took place at Congregation Beth Israel, and was hosted by BIRTY (Beth Israel Reform Temple Youth). CWR began the night at Congregation Beth Israel with dinner, followed by a Congregational service led by Rabbi Bruce Greenbaum and our own RCVP and song leader Jared Swezey-Gleason and Sarah Edelstein. After Shabbat services were MVP Maya Grossman’s mixers, consisting of storybook-skits and lots of playing cards. Next on the schedule PVP Danny Robinow led a program focusing on body image and the role society plays in how we view ourselves. Danny divided the region by gender, and each group participated in a “Stand up if you agree” activity. The activity helped demonstrate that no one is alone, and that everyone faces insecurities. Guys were then asked to experiment with putting on make-up if they felt comfortable doing so. While they had fun with the activity, they later had a thought-provoking discussion about the double standard that exists for women and make up. The women had a longer discussion about some of the issues they face with body image, and both groups bonded at the end. It was a very meaningful experience and participants looked hard at body image perception and society. The night ended and everyone was sent home to their host families for the night.
The next morning, everyone arrived at the temple and hopped on buses to go to the beach for Saturday morning services. As participants sat facing the ocean, Jared led a beautiful service and torah study focused around the theme of the weekend, body image. The region discussed what “B’tzelem Elohim: Made in the image of God” meant both individually and as a region. After the service, NFTYites eat their lunches caught some rays while relaxing on the beach.
Afterwards, the region piled back into buses and returned to the temple to begin the social action program led by SAVP Talia Gilbert. The program centered around obesity, eating disorders, muscle dysmorphia, and the personal stories of people who have struggled with their body image. Also included in the program was the chance to participate in the “I am beautiful” campaign, where NFTYites were given the opportunity to record themselves finishing the sentence “I am beautiful because…”. Another station allowed NFTYites to write letters from boys to other boys, girls to other girls, and each sex to the other sex that all contained positive statements of support.
Next came the Fallinter Regional Board Meeting. Business included ratifying an amendment proposed last Spring Conclave to have the regional RCVP write and lead a program focused on Israel each year, and announcing this years’ extended board. The region “motioned to commotion,” regional board members’ gave their board reports, and TYGs discussed news and events. The meeting was efficient, productive, and quick.
After the board meeting, participants were picked up and taken back to their homes for the weekend for time to get ready for Big Fun, (which, for Fallinter, is traditionally NFTY Prom). Since the theme of the event focused around body image participants were explicitly told that they could dress to their level of comfort, including pajama pants, slippers, and a fuzzy hat if they so desired. Participants returned to the temple, ate a delicious Vietnamese dinner, said goodbye to Shabbat during Havdallah, then danced the night away. After the dance came closing circle, the NFTY cheer (led by President Noah Scheneirer and the rest of regional board), then a final night at the participants’ host family’s homes.
Sunday morning rolled around quickly, and soon all participants were back at the temple watching the slideshow put together by CVP Jason Rosenblum. After the slideshow, the regional board did their huge merchandise reveal: customizable burlap sacks! Just kidding! A clever t-shirt designed by Treasurer Ben Kurzrock was the official Fallinter merchandise product of the event. After passing around the newsletter, NFTY notes, and TYG event reminders, the region did one final NFTY cheer before participants were sent home with a new perspective on body image. It was a moving weekend for all—thank you so much BIRTY for hosting us!
