By Amanda Wachstein, NFTY-PAR Advisor

Rosanne Selfon (my mom, also known as Bubbio), Mila and me

The best gifts in the world are the people in our lives and the moments we share together, especially when those people are our mothers, the women who have made us strong, resilient and loving. These women come in all shapes and sizes; they speak different languages; they work both in and outside the home; they chauffeur and clean and cook and do endless laundry. They are elegant and fun, all at the same time. Our moms impact our world, far and near, in different ways.

We can name famous mothers such as Sarah and Leah, Golda Meir, Margaret Thatcher, Hillary Clinton, Michelle Obama, or Madonna. These remarkable, very different women are or were leaders and visionaries who will long be remembered. However, I believe that each of our own mothers has made a lasting influence, albeit in circles closer to our homes.  This Sunday, Mother’s Day, offers each of us an opportunity to acknowledge our incredible moms.  When was the last time you told your Mom how much you appreciate her? I know, from first-hand experience, that a mother’s love is unconditional and enduring. She nurtures, feeds, clothes, teaches, supports, encourages and gives all that she can.

I grew up in an average-sized family with two parents, two daughters and a dog. Females dominated our home. My Dad didn’t stand a chance – he learned, very early, to put the toilet seat down! He scared our dates but later shopped for wedding gowns. His world included fashion, cheerleading, and dealing with endless teenaged drama. Somehow, he gave us all the love and support we ever needed, despite the house being endlessly filled with so many girls with all their moods!

My maternal grandmother, Gangy, launched our family of strong-minded females. We speak our minds and believe in ourselves. Ours is not a family where females sit back and allow life to float by. Rather, we learned to take the bull by the horns, make our way, and enjoy the ride. My mom expanded Gangy’s legacy. I truly have the most remarkable mom in the world; I will go as far as saying, I have the best mom in the world but I hope most people feel as I do.

My mom taught my sister Lysa and me to always believe in ourselves, to love deeply, to laugh a lot, to always try our best, to work hard, to be polite but speak up, to not dwell in the past, to brush ourselves off and learn from mistakes, to try new things, to make learning lifelong, to give to others, to eat chocolate on bad days, and to remember that tomorrow always brings a new day.

Both my parents, but especially my Mom, instilled the Reform Jewish values I practice daily. L’Dor V’dor…they are the same values that my husband Ben and I share with our five year-old daughter Mila. Celebrating holidays with family and friends, caring about the environment, respecting all human beings, doing mitzvot, and on and on…these are values I learned from my Mom.

NFTY-PAR Spring Kallah 2013 Banquet with the females from New Board/Old Board and Mila

One could say that I have been a ‘pseudo-mom’ for the past twelve years while serving as the NFTY-PAR Advisor. Other than motherhood, being a NFTY Advisor is my life’s passion. The work that I do in NFTY is life affirming, intentional and extremely rewarding. Having the opportunity to mentor, guide and shape our teens who will lead the next Reform Jewish generation is humbling. Every four years, I have the privilege of witnessing a new NFTY generation enter our sacred kehillah and begin a transformation which concludes four years later when each graduating NFTYite stands confident, knowledgeable and passionate about being a Jew. This sometimes seems like a miracle, and it is always awesome to see! So much of what I give to NFTY comes originally from the values my Mom imparted to me.

As we celebrate Mother’s Day and all our mothers, we cannot overlook the birth of NFTY by its founders, the National Federation of Temple Sisterhoods, today named Women of Reform Judaism (WRJ). Since WRJ sought and fought to create a Reform Jewish youth movement in 1939 through to today, WRJ has supported NFTY both financially and with hands-on support. Just this year, WRJ gave thousands of dollars to support the Campaign for Youth Engagement.  WRJ sponsored the Dan Nichols Concert at the NFTY Convention. Without thousands of dollars in supportive scholarships given by local sisterhoods, many of our teens would never participate in the many NFTY programs we offer.

During this historic Centennial celebration, we at NFTY congratulate and honor WRJ. Its Centennial logo says inspired by its past…committed to the future. WRJ lives these words every day. This remarkable 100^th birthday is a testament to what passion, diligence and determination can create. On this Mother’s Day, let us honor and thank every woman in our congregations, Women of Reform Judaism.

Celebration, in part, honors an individual or marks a rite of passage. But at its hearts, a celebration also pays tribute to something larger than ourselves – our connection to community, to shared life experiences, and to love. Many good wishes to everyone this Sunday as you celebrate with your moms, sisters, grandmas, bubbies, gangys and bubbios. Remember to show how much you appreciate their love and all they mean to you.  Happy Mother’s Day to all of our incredible mothers!!

By Allison K., NFTY-TOR Parent

Allison recently wrote this letter to her daughter, Logan. Allison’s daughter is a freshman in NFTY-TOR, the same region she grew up in over 25 years ago. 

Dear Logan,

After dropping you off for your Freshman Spring Kallah, I was overcome with emotions. I was trying to sort through them and knew I needed to write them down to share with you.

• Joy – For your enthusiastic energy towards getting to go to this place of utter comfort.
• Excitement – You can hangout with incredible teens that truly know you.
• Pride – Watching you grow as a leader.
• Love – For your shining spirit.
• Happiness – Knowing these events, these people will help you define what Judiasm means to you.

Mostly, I realized I felt gratitude. Gratitude to NFTY for giving you and other teens the gift it gave me over 25 years ago. The feelings you had before getting on the bus Friday, I had those too. The feelings you had while participating in Shabbat, song sessions & “NFTY” fun, I know those feelings. I remember being in the experience and struggling to define what that feeling was. (You know the one that only other NFTYites get). It took me seeing it your eyes 25 years later to identify it.

IT IS GRATITUDE!

Logan and her mom

Gratitude for giving teens that place to escape to every couple months where you are just free to be you. It is about getting to leave behind the stress and pressure of High School and all the drama that comes with it. Leaving your family, their annoyances, opinions and judgement at home. Being able to be with people that you were born with a connection too and understand why that connection is so important.

It is not until I now that I realize how much my NFTY years shaped who I am. As a Jew, as a leader, and definitely as a parent. I learned a lot of life lessons those weekends, but what I learned most was who I was and what was important to me. Being Jewish has been an incredible blessing in my life. It has given me lifelong friendships, lead me to your father, offered me comfort, but most of all it has giving my life value.

Logan, seeing where your NFTY experiences take you is truly a gift for me. Thank you for reminding me of mine and letting me witness you make your own.

I love you,

-Mommy

By Helaine Bach, NFTY-SW

Until December 24 of last year, I had never really thought about gun control. It was one thing on a long list of issues the government didn’t seem to be doing much about. Why should laws be passed to prevent the slight chance of mass shootings when people die of inadequate health care every day? Prioritizing is key when creating laws and until that day, the government did not see the benefit of passing stronger gun control laws in the grand scheme of things. The school shooting in Newtown, Connecticut changed this.

The media is a powerful thing. So powerful, in fact, that it can create pressure for lawmakers to take action for causes which otherwise may have been ignored. The shooting set the gears moving in the lawmaking system and it also started the gears in my head. I was suddenly faced with an issue that I had never given much thought. In fact, it was everywhere: in the media, conversations with my friends, and even my Jewish world.

As I was preparing a D’var Torah for the NFTY competition this year, my rabbi suggested that I include a paragraph about the shooting and the responsibility of government officials in the advancement of gun control laws. At first I was hesitant. While the subject would provide a topical aspect to my D’var Torah, I wasn’t sure if I was ready to speak about this topic. I thought about it for a while and in the end decided to include a section which addressed the issue.

I became increasingly interested in the issue of gun control and when it came time to sign up for workshops for NFTY Convention, one of my choices was “Assault Weapons: Constitutional Right or Stoppable Killer?” I wanted to learn more about the subject and figured that NFTY would be a perfect opportunity.

At NFTY Convention, I was not only able to expand my knowledge on Jewish views of gun control during the workshop, but also had the opportunity to hear from Mayor Michael Bloomberg as he addressed NFTY Convention in a video broadcast about the issue of gun control. Mayor Bloomberg used the time he had speaking to the Jewish youth of North America to call us to action. We were called to stand for stronger gun control laws and were given a way that we could help.

I was so happy to be finally hearing of a way that I could make a difference, even if it was a small one. Mayor Bloomberg directed NFTY to http://www.demandaplan.org/, a petition that we could sign and also a resource of information about what Mayors nationwide are doing to curb gun violence.

Mayor Bloomberg’s parting words struck me the strongest: “every voice matters and saving even one life is like saving the whole world.” I took this as a call to action and it is my hope that the rest of NFTY did as well. A call to action to end gun violence in the United States and in doing so, to save  the world by saving a life.

We are delighted to share highlights from NFTY’s recent mid-year board meeting (NFTY Veida) at NFTY Convention in Los Angeles, CA.  Additional information will be posted online at www.nfty.org in the coming weeks.

It is with great pleasure that we announce the 2013-2014 NFTY North American Board. Their terms will formally begin on June 22, when they are installed at Mechina, which will take place in June 2013.

Andrew Keene, President
NO-President@nfty.org
Andrew is the current president of NFTY’s Northern Region (NO) and a member of Congregation Shalom in Milwaukee, WI. Andrew served NFTY-NO last year as the Religious and Cultural Vice President and is an alum of the Regional Board Track at the URJ Kutz camp and has attended two of the American Jewish Archives Teen Study Weekends in Cincinnati.  Andrew has attended the previous two biennials and has been deeply involved with innovative youth engagement in Milwaukee.

Morgan Weidner, Programming Vice President
NW-pvp@nfty.org
Morgan is the current Programming Vice President of NFTY’s Northwest Region (NW) and a member of Temple De Hirsch Sinai in Bellevue, WA.  Morgan spent the fall of 2011 developing her love for Israel while living on Kibbutz Tzuba as a student on the Eisendrath International Exchange (EIE) program.  She has also been a camper at URJ Camp Kalsman for three summers.

Gordon Kaye, Social Action Vice President
OV-savp@nfty.org
Gordon is currently serving as regional Social Action Vice President of NFTY’s Ohio Valley Region (OV) and is a member of The Temple Ohabai Shalom in Nashville, TN.  Gordon has spent seven summers at URJ Goldman Family Camp as a camper, an avodahnik and most recently a staff member.  He also traveled to Israel with NFTY in the summer of 2010.  Gordon is the son of Sally and Mitchell Kaye.                                 

Micah Friedman, Religious & Cultural Vice President
STR-rcvp@nfty.org
Micah is currently serving as the Religious and Cultural Vice President of NFTY’s Southern Tropical Region (STR). He is a member of Congregation Beth Am in Tampa, FL and was a student at Hillel Academy Jewish Day School in Florida.   Micah is a three time alum of the URJ Kutz Camp and the only NFTYite to be named as a Kutz Fellow for two years.  Micah has been a student leader at Camp Jenny, NFTY SAR and STR’s annual four-day camp for elementary school students from inner-city Atlanta for three consecutive years.

Aaron Heft, Membership & Communications Vice President
MAR-cvp@nfty.org
Aaron is the Communication Vice President of NFTY’s Mid-Atlantic Region (MAR). He is a member of Temple Sinai in Newport News, VA where he served two years as the TYG President before running for regional leadership.  He is also the Tot Shabbat Music Director at his synagogue and an avid musician.  Aaron will be spending his first summer at Jewish overnight camp this summer at the URJ Kutz Camp.

Other NFTY Mid-Year Board Meeting Business:

Constitutional Selection of NFTY Study Theme and Action Theme for 5773-5774 Academic Year

• NFTY Study Theme – Hashomer Achi Anochi – Am I My Brother’s Keeper? NFTY Studies Our Responsibilities Toward Others
  • We have renewed last year’s theme for a second year.
• NFTY Action Theme – Lo Yisa Goy El Goy Cherev – NFTY Addresses Conflict Resolution

Additional pieces of new business adopted include:

• Resolution granting NFTY Life Membership to Mark and Peachy Levy
• Recommendation that NFTY’s Brit Kehillah now include an explicit ban on bullying
• Resolution to amend the constitution stating that changes to NFTY’s Brit Kehillah start from legislation proposed by the NFTY Board (pending ratification)
• Resolution to amend the constitution to restructure the North American Board – creating separated positions for Membership VP and Communications VP (pending ratification)

After lunch at Dockweiler Beach, NFTYites spent the day experiencing Los Angeles as a living laboratory for innovation with visits to more than 20 local nonprofits, including some that work in interfaith relations, LGBTQ advocacy and animal welfare.

]]> http://blogs.rj.org/nfty/2013/02/18/nfty-conventions-sunday-in-la/feed/ 0 http://blogs.rj.org/nfty/2013/02/18/nfty-cheer-comes-alive-at-convention/ http://blogs.rj.org/nfty/2013/02/18/nfty-cheer-comes-alive-at-convention/#comments Mon, 18 Feb 2013 07:52:27 +0000 From the NFTY Blog http://blogs.rj.org/nfty/?p=3340

Union for Reform Judaism President Rabbi Rick Jacobs and NFTY President Evan Traylor delivered a joint D’var Torah during Saturday morning T’fillah at NFTY Convention 2013.

By SaraAnn Stanway, NFTY-GER member

When a NFTYite is asked, “Why do you do this? Why do you love this?” their answers will invariably include the following: bonds of friendship are formed instantly and permanently, and the experience of surrounding oneself with people who not only share a similarity, but the very trait that usually sets us apart from the crowd – our Judaism – is breathtaking. This is perhaps best exemplified in the “friendship circle” – across the country, from GERites to proud members of So-Cal, NFTY participants join together in a massive circle, wrap their arms around each other, and take part in what is essentially a form of havdallah; in this case, the separation is not between Shabbat and the rest of the week, but Kallot and the rest of high school. The concluding song of friendship circle is “Leaving on a Jet Plane,” which is understandably a tearjerker. Newfound friends embrace, phone numbers are swapped, and we say our goodbyes. Except, what do you say when your bags are packed, you’re ready to go, and NFTY Convention is your journey’s destination? It sure isn’t a tearful farewell! Like its participants, NFTY is constantly changing, not only in itself, but in the way its participants view things; for example, that mournful song transformed into an anthem of excitement.

This weekend, still only beginning, is a transformation for each and every one of us fortunate enough to attend the 2013 Convention. For some, these changes are small:, building the confidence to board a plane alone for the first time, trying out a new melody in t’fillah, or taking a different opinion on a subject of debate. For others, the changes are monumental, because of the absolutely incredible environment created by NFTY Convention. Just this morning, Talia Leman, who as a mere child founded an award-winning charity, delivered an inspiring speech about the power of anyone and a little luck, and its effects were immediate; even before she concluded, my best friend and I were excitedly whispering about some changes we hope to effect to promote the youth engagement in Reform Judaism and are looking forward to taking action to make them a reality. Furthermore, being surrounded by these countless examples of creativity, success, and ambition represented by the numerous Regional Boards and North American Board has solidified my own personal intentions of pursuing a leadership role in NFTY-GER in the coming elections, as I am sure it has for many others as well. It’s impossible not to take on an attitude of optimism and hope here, because it is impossible to feel at all apprehensive when surrounded by over 800 people who believe in you. We haven’t yet been in Los Angeles for more than two days, yet this experience has already transformed my peers and me. And if this is what it’s like when the event is just getting started, I can only imagine what else is in store for us in the coming days.