By SaraAnn Stanway, NFTY-GER Southern Recruitment Vice President

When I first began attending NFTY-GER events, I was told time and again that it was a transformative leadership experience, and that anyone could be part of making GER the best it could be. Like most of my friends, I was eager to launch into new friendships and didn’t pay too much attention; I figured that leadership and making changes were up to Regional Board, and that even if I had found something that could be improved, it wasn’t my place. It’s only been a year, but since then, the amazing leaders of GER have inspired a total turnaround in my attitude.

Several months ago, I thought it might be fun to get together with a few other RCVPs in GER to talk about our jobs, goals, and TYGs. Worried about overstepping, I asked Pam what she thought about it – and there I learned that this amazing region absolutely makes good on its promise to encourage leadership and consider the ideas of even general members; so many people, board and non-board, helped create the first RCVParty, and this past weekend, after lots of planning and excitement, the event finally came.

I’ll be honest; it didn’t go quite as expected – but then again, what does? The programs and discussions we’d planned took on different directions and there was a bit of awkwardness in leading it with my friends; after all, we didn’t know how to run an event by ourselves and the whole experience was definitely strange! I may have ended up with a face full of glitter at one point, but in the end, I wouldn’t have changed a thing. We had a great time talking about our TYG leadership experiences, discussing the future, and just hanging out and enjoying NFTY buddies. Learning to feel comfortable proposing my ideas, asking for help, and taking action was, just as I was promised at New Member Kallah a year ago, a transformative leadership experience, and I’m so grateful to all the GER giants who helped – here’s to looking forward to more!

With knowledge that we have the ability to share such knowledge with the world and influence others, and while I may hold the position of Social Action Vice President on NFTY-GER’s regional board, I have become aware of the lack of knowledge I hold about my state government. Sure I can tell you the heated topics going on a national level and what the last episode of NPR was about but I can’t explain how my state runs its politics. This is a common theme among many teens I have come into contact with. For this very reason I made sure to commit myself as much as possible to the RJVNJ.

The RJVNJ(Reform Jewish Voice Of New Jersey) is an organization that, in partnership with NFTY-GER, Rutgers and a few clergy members from the region  aimed to teach teens about the pressing topics in our state and enable them to stand up for what they believe in. I attended a summit a couple of weeks ago along with Rutger’s Hillel members, other temple youth groups and teens from NFTY-GER. While we came from different walks of life it became apparent that we all lacked the nitty-gritty details about our state government. This is why it was so important that we came together to learn as a community about what we can do to make a difference. At the summit we talked and learned more about pressing issues like gun control and marriage equality laws and what we can do to make a difference. We were also taught about how New Jersey is influenced by the states around us like New York and Pennsylvania and how this made getting important messages about the New Jersey government extremely tasking and very expensive.

Overall the summit was a success because teens walked away with a clear understanding of what their government entailed. It was an awesome experience to see teens from the New Jersey region both active and not active in NFTY taking an interest in their state government. I am happy to say that I got to know a few of the non-NFTY active teens and  was able to bond over our similar interests and Jewish heritage. Only time will tell what the teens will do with that information. What is certain is that the RJVNJ will continue to be around to aid teens to get their voice out there and clear the dense fog that exists between teens and our state government.

Are you involved in a program like RJVNJ? Let us know in the comments!

Have you seen the Harlem Shake? It has taken YouTube by storm. For many weeks, our community has been wondering when Camp Harlam would replicate this phenomenon. Well… that day has come. Check out the HarlAm Shake, performed by campers, staff and alumni here at NFTY Convention 2013.

Enjoy!

This d’var torah was given at NFTY-GER’s New Member Kallah at Camp Harlam by RCVP Jason Flatt.  Jason is a senior from New Jersey. Jason has served his synagogue, TYG (AETY) and NFTY-GER with passion and commitment. He currently serves as GERs Religious and Cultural Vice President. Jason is a proud alum of Camp Harlam, Urban Mitzvah Corps and NFTY EIE-High School in Israel.

Shabbat shalom. We are in the middle of a holy conundrum, Chol HaMoed Sukkot, the Shabbat that occurs in the middle of Sukkot. Chol, the normal, the unholy or even when we sing birkot havdallah, “hamavdil bein kodesh lchol” the weekdays. And HaMoed, the holy or the sabbath. Traditionally the interim days of Sukkot are regarded not quite like Shabbat but not quite the chol. You are permitted to work and such but when it is done, to take leisure  and that’s only if the work must be done to maintain an income. But now it is Shabbat, and therefore, we must treat it like Shabbat, giving us this day’s slightly funny name.

“To everything there is a season and a time for every purpose under heaven.” Not only was this made famous by Pete Seeger and The Byrds, but it is a verse from a book of the Jewish bible, the Tanach Thayer read every year on Sukkot, Ecclesiastes. Tradition tells us this was a book written by King Solomon the Wise in the twilight of his old age. Personally, I find this book, and most especially this verse, to be the most beautiful in all the Tanach. Verse three continues by listing a pair of opposites that are inevitable parts of life, as tragic or wondrous they may be. It begins “a time to be born and a time to die,” and every line after follows the same “a time to ___ a time to ___”

Now everybody stand up! I’m going to read some of the lines from the poem and I want you to then turn around in a circle in your place one time and say “Turn! Turn! Turn!” So let’s try “a time to be born and a time to die.”

Good good. After I go through my list, I want you all think of some opposites that fit into this “a time to blank a time to blank” format and ask you to raise your hands and I’ll call on you to say them out loud and we will again, turn turn turn to represent and to say that we accept these things to be true and inescapable, yet we and all the works will continue to turn turn turn all together.

a time to plant and a time to uproot,
a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,
a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,
a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,
a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,
a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace.

As we continue in now trough the new year, 5773, or the new school year or the new NFTY year, through good and through bad, always find a way to take a friend and continue to turn, turn, turn.

Please comment on this post and share the inevitable opposites, the holy conundrums, that we all face at some time in our lives…

By Evan Traylor, NFTY President

With the NFTY year in full swing, I was extremely excited to visit NFTY-GER for their New Member Kallah this past weekend. From the moment that the participants arrived at beautiful URJ Camp Harlem in Kunkletown, PA to the moment the buses slowly departed, the NFTYites of Garden Empire Region created an amazing kehillah kedosha – a holy community.

While the name of the event is New Member Kallah, every Reform Jewish teen in the region is invited and encouraged to attend this first full event of the year. The theme of this year’s new Member Kallah was “Everyday Heroes”. The programming (including the dance) focused around each individual’s ability and power to change the world around them through acts of loving kindness.

With a weekend full of engaging programming and services, incredible community building, and lots and lots of NFTY-GER traditions, here are some of the highlights from NFTY-GER New Member Kallah:

In their programs, participants learned and practiced skills that would help them become an everyday hero. Understanding the power of making someone smile, learning to embrace the worst while celebrating the best experiences in our lives, and expanding our comfort zones, are just a few of the many things that participants took away from the weekend. The final program of the event focused around creating opportunities to help people in each individual’s community; each participant created their own “pay it forward” chart, making a plan to help three people in their lives, in hopes that these people will be inspired “pay it forward” to 3 others themselves. Every GER NFTYite put these new skills to use during the weekend as well, making sure that everyone (especially the newest members of the region) was included in every activity and felt comfortable in the NFTY setting. This was especially noticeable during song session on Saturday afternoon, in which every single GER NFTYite was engaged in singing and dancing around the Chadar Ochel of Camp Harlam, including the almost 50 enthusiastic new members. It was truly amazing to witness how all of these teens came from so many different Jewish backgrounds, URJ congregations and camps, to unite as one region. One Kehilla Kedosha.

Like in many regions, the final morning of a NFTY-GER regional event brings about a lot of traditions. As a fundraiser for Urban Mitzvah Corps, one of NFTY’s summer experiences focused around social action in the New Jersey area, NFTYites can pay for “grams” – little shout outs to anyone and everyone that past UMC participants read aloud for everyone to hear at breakfast. After hearing about 20 minutes of funny moments from the weekend and sincere thank you notes, we all moved into friendship circle. At friendship circle in NFTY-GER it is traditional for all of the seniors to take off their left shoe and make a pile in the middle of the circle, symbolizing that they will always have a foot left in NFTY even after they graduate. Also, 2 GER NFTYites are selected to make sure that the pile of shoes remains intact throughout the entire friendship circle. It is also a tradition for the President of NFTY-GER to wear a passed down JFTY shirt (Jersey Federation of Temple Youth) and recite in order the names of the past NFTY-GER regional presidents. After all of these traditions and friendship circle songs, NFTY-GER culminates this time with a rousing NFTY cheer, followed by their own NFTY-GER  cheer sung to the tune of the Tigger Song: “The wonderful thing about GERites, is GERites are wonderful things. From New York to New Jersey, and everywhere in between.”

A huge shout-out to the NFTY-GER Regional Board and their Youth Programs Manager, Pam Schuller for all of their hard work and leadership in NFTY-GER. Also, shout-out to all of the NFTY-GER chairs who did so much throughout the event to make the weekend a huge success. Thank you to all of my new NFTY-GER friends for making me feel welcome in your region. NFTY-GER truly is a region comprised of Everyday Heroes!

Evan Traylor is a Freshman at the University of Kansas.  He is currently studying Political Science, with a minor in Jewish Studies.  Evan hails from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma and is a proud alumni of NFTY-TOR. Stay up to date with all thing NFTY President by following Evan on Twitter and Facebook.

By Jenna Wyatt, NFTY-GER

February 2011, and I was headed to Dallas, Texas. I was only in my first year of NFTY and had only attended two events prior, but I could not have been more excited. It almost did not feel real, but I was indeed off to NFTY Convention 2011.

This trip was my first time traveling without family and my first time leaving the east coast, but I traveled with fellow GERites whom have since become like family members to me. I remember waiting for the NFTY bus after landing in Dallas, my friends and I just kept saying, “oh my goodness guys we are in Texas!” — we said it over and over again for quite some time.

NFTY Convention gave me the opportunity to see NFTY on the North American level, and it really made me feel more connected to NFTY as a whole. Seeing how big NFTY really was and what an impact we can all make, made me want to step outside of my comfort zone. I participated in NFTY Competitions 2011 by writing a D’var Torah that focused around the parasha of that week and my Jewish journey thus far. I took my first risk in NFTY and although I did not win the competition, I am glad I took that risk, because it made me want to take many more. Once I stepped out of my comfort zone, I could not wait to step out some more. NFTY Convention made me curious and I began to discover myself as a leader. Among other things, it led me to apply for a NFTY-GER Regional Chair Position, which was a great stepping stone to where I am now. On a smaller level, it made me want to go and meet everyone I could at Convention; And I would like to think that I did just that.

While at Convention I made friendships with so many others from different NFTY regions, such as NFTY Michigan, and strengthened friendships with individuals of my own region, NFTY-GER. Someone told me that I would never see my Convention friends again and that I would lose touch with them. However, that is so untrue. I have since crossed paths again with the friends I made at NFTY Convention 2011, both at the URJ Kutz Camp during Mechina 2012 and the regular camp session. A great part of Convention is seeing the cultures of other regions, meeting people and connecting with old friends. You are bound to run into the friends you’ve made once again, especially if you continue to be an active participant of NFTY.

I wrote a blog post for my congregation after NFTY Convention 2011 and wanted to share a part of it here, because it really captured how I felt as the eager sophomore I was:

NFTY Convention cannot be described in words. This is due to the fact that there are not enough words in the world to properly describe it. NFTY Convention 2011 was one of the best experiences I have ever undergone. Convention shows the unity of all nineteen regions in our NFTY community.

With around 800 voices, 800 hearts and 800 teens joined together we see the magic of Kehillah Kedoshah. Being a sacred community and a single family united, every individual brings something different to the table even if they are a part of a larger picture. Everyone contributes their many different opinions and cultures to make what we have so special.

Convention is a time for making bonds stronger with those whom you already know and for creating bonds with new people from all over the United States and Canada. For instance, at Convention I felt the bond of GERites growing stronger, but I also made strong bonds with new friends that live in other places such as Michigan. Convention truly is an awesome experience and I recommend it to anyone who has the opportunity to go.

Now as a rising senior, who has just returned from an amazing summer at the URJ Kutz Camp, I could not be more excited to attend NFTY Convention 2013 in Los Angeles, California. Not only do I plan on catching up and reconnecting with camp friends at Convention, but I also plan on stepping outside of my comfort zone once again and discovering all that is new.

Do not think that you have to step out of your comfort zone to attend this NFTY North American event or that you cannot go because you are too shy. NFTY Convention is an incredible experience for all who get to attend. All that I said in my sophomore year blog post, I still agree with 101%. Anyone who has the opportunity to attend NFTY Convention 2013 should really go, it is an unbelievable experience to see all of NFTY unified together, to learn, to create friendships, and to see all you love about NFTY on an even larger level. I know that I will be there, and I cannot wait to see you in Los Angeles for NFTY Convention 2013!

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NFTY Convention is the biennial North American gathering of the North American Federation of Temple Youth. The only event of its kind, NFTY Convention brings together Reform Jewish teens from all of NFTY’s nineteen regions, our URJ Camps, alumni of our Israel and Mitzvah Corps programs, and teens committed to Reform Jewish life to laugh, learn, pray and sing together. NFTY Convention will take place in Los Angeles, CA from February 15-19, 2013.  

To learn more about the event, available scholarships and to register, visit www.nfty.org/convention. 

By Pamela Schuller, NFTY-GER Youth Programs Manager

It’s hard to believe the NFTY year has come to an end. While we have lots of great plans in the works for the upcoming year, I’d like to take a moment to remember some of our great events over the past 10 months!

We had an amazing group of participants this year in NFTY-GER. As a region, these teens are caring, funny, polite and dedicated to having an amazing Jewish experience together. I truly love having the opportunity to work with them. One of the best ways to see some of the great things teens are taking from our weekends is to continue following our experiences on the NFTY Blog, which includes event recaps, lit team submissions and topical discussions.

Hagigah

Hagigah, was hosted by Temple Beth Miriam in Elberon. The theme of the event was “Turn Up Your Shine.” Along with the usual components of an event, participants were also able to pick an arts elective to focus on. Temple Beth Miriam provided amazing choices from creating your Kiddish Cup. creating your own Tallit and Krav Maga (a form of Israeli self defense).

Another highlight was having Havdalah on beach! It was too beautiful to put into words. The weekend was a huge success!

Elections

Elections were hosted by Temple Beth El in Spring Valley. We had almost 100 participants attend the event where we elected the next NFTY-GER regional board. Ten amazing teens were elected and since that date, 21 chair positions have also been filled. Mazel tov to all of them and to all of you for helping to create such incredible leaders in this region!

Spring Kallah

Spring Kallah, at the URJ Kutz Camp, was our last event of the year. Along with saying goodbye to the seniors, we had some amazing Jewish programming. The theme of the weekend was fittingly “Oh the Places you will go!” A great portion of the event was spent talking about where Reform Judaism fits into one’s life right now and where it may fit into the future. There were some tearful goodbyes to the senior class but tons of smiles knowing that they are going on to do incredible things!

That was the theme of NFTY-GER’s Spring Kallah 2012, which took place this past weekend.  It was a weekend filled with love, laughter, and of course tears.

It started Friday afternoon.  4:10pm, I left my house to get to my temple on time.  It was incredibly chilly out but we all huddled together like penguins. We laughed and hugged and tried to avoid talking about how in 48 hours the seniors would have completed their last NFTY event.

The bus came surprisingly on time, and soon all 12 people at my bus stop had loaded our luggage and got settled with our friends.  Before long we were off to URJ Kutz Camp.  Upon our arrival, we had time to go to our bunks and unpack/freshen up for dinner and the evening. When dinner rolled around, one of the buses was still missing, but we started dinner anyway to keep on schedule…even though running behind schedule eventually was inevitable.

The dining hall was loud.  It always is.  We’re catching up with friends that we haven’t seen in what seems like forever, trying to relay everything possible about our lives.  The missing bus showed up eventually, and after a noisy dinner filled with hugs we moved on to a crazy song session, wonderful Friday night service, a fantabulous mixer and the first Tochnit (program).  After Tochnit 1, we had snack and then I stayed behind for an old board/new board meeting. Staying out of the bunks past curfew was weird, but I’m sure I’ll get used to it.  I then returned to my bunk, chilled with my friends, and ate some chocolate, then curled up in bed and fell asleep while listening to music.

Saturday morning I woke to the sounds of the girls in the room next door talking, and got out of bed to complain.  I ended up sitting and talking in their room for a while…it’s impossible to stay mad at a NFTY-ite for more than a few minutes. Then I freshened up, headed to breakfast, grabbed a bite to eat, and then went to services.  The services were beautiful (as they always are) and I got to go up with New Board for an aliyah.

Following services we moved on to Torah Study, which went swimmingly.  I led my group with a senior named Ashley Ellis, who I’ve known of my entire NFTY “Career”.  She and I had grown closer over the course of this year, and I loved group leading with her.  I felt like the conversation flowed naturally and it was a great idea on Jon’s behalf to split it up into separate gender groups.  Then there was lunch, in which I think I had… 10 bites of food in total.  I kept getting dragged away by people for candles, which was nice, especially since there were some I wasn’t expecting at all.  Like the one given to me by Jon Ross.  It’s incredible and beautiful and I think it may be my favorite candle that I ever got. Getting it from someone as amazing as him made me feel so happy and I feel like this weekend we got closer then we ever were before.  And I got a candle from Chris Mason- the curly hair candle.  I’ve known Chris since I was in 8th grade and I don’t think we ever had a full conversation until this Kallah. It made me feel happy to know that he had noticed me during my time in NFTY (and HaZamir).

After lunch and song session we did ASEFAH, in which I cried during the board reports (legitimate sobbing, especially during my predecessor, Jared Plaxe’s, report) and my TYG added something to an amendment.  Then there was free time that wasn’t actually free for me- I had a ton of things to do. Leading the free time activity, attending a program meeting, making a bunk run, receiving many candles, and awkwardly loosing my phone made this time period stressful…but I loved it. And the phone turned up in my phone pocket later that night- of course.

Following my not-so-free free time, we had the last Tochnit of the weekend.  I read it with the (now former) SAVP Ish.  Ish has hair envied by all and is a pretty cool person, but I had never really talked to him until that activity.  Leading the program (which was split up by grade) with him was an amazing experience and it made me feel that I am truly ready a leader next year.  I was leading my peers, my friends, my family- and they were listening to me (and Ish).  The program went smoothly, and soon we were all going to eat dinner.

After dinner, we lined up for Havdallah and spiraled our way in.  Sitting in the spiral, hearing the old board reflect on their time in NFTY and realizing what I had been trying to ignore all weekend, that all of my senior friends were at their final NFTY event, made me break down in tears.  At one point I was crying so hard that my friend Adam took his hand out of mine and put his arm around me and I sobbed into his shoulder.  After Havdallah ended everyone was shuffling around crying and hugging each other and every time I stopped crying for a minute I’d start crying again.

Once all of the crying and tears died down, we moved into board installations.  Firstly, may I say that I’m incredibly happy that our regional advisor, Pam, changed the way we do installations (I had a nightmare of my curly mane being burnt off).  Secondly, I love everyone on both Old board and New Board.  Third, Jared Plaxe.  He’s been inspiring me since before I knew him; since last year when he was a chair member.  And then when he got elected, I just loved how confident he was (and still is).  I’m so glad we became friends and that I get to follow his steps and be the next Central Recruitment Vice President.  I also love that he passed down his beloved yellow fanny-pack to me. (Long story short, he and another board member named Shaina bought matching fanny-packs the beginning of the year and EVERYONE in our region was jealous of them because they play your iPod.)  So during installation he gave me the Central Recruitment candle and the map, and then he reached around his waist and unhooked the fanny-pack, and you could hear a collective gasp go up from the region.  Every time I’ve thought of it and how big of an impact Jared’s had on my life the past two years since I learned who he was I start crying (my eyes are watering now)

So after installation we had a little dance party because everyone was still kind of teary eyed and we needed some free time.  After the hour-long dance party we moved into Senior Circle.  I was sitting with my friend Shai, who I’ve known since he started NFTY last year, and a new girl, Lyndsay, who I became friends with almost instantly.  I watched as the seniors walked around the circle, taking two minutes to sum about between one and four years of their lives.  One of the things that stuck out from what was said is “NFTY didn’t change where I was going to go to school, or what my major would be.  It did change how I perceive a smile and what a friend is to me.”  NFTY has changed everyone in different ways, and this event, every event, and the participants who attend that, are proof.

This morning, I scarfed down two muffins and then spent breakfast running around, doing Girl Board stuff and helping run the store since they needed help and writing GERams and shout-outs and delivering GERams.  Before I knew it breakfast had ended and it was time to go to the Beit Am to read shout-outs and do friendship circle.  I sat with New Board, lying on Jenna Wyatt, and then lying on Justin Horgan.  I watched the seniors cry and I threw a pack of tissues at Sydney Beson because I couldn’t stand to see more crying (good thing is that it made her laugh).  I watched as traditions were passed from one generation to the next, L’dor V’dor.  I watched as Lev Freedman and Jonah Stern became the new shoe stackers, as Ben Sagerman took his place as President and I watched as Justin and Alyssa McGraw took their place as the ‘planes’.  And then it was time for the cheer.  At first New Board was standing there awkwardly, but then a few of us ventured into the middle.  Jon was skipping past me and grabbed my arm and we skipped together for a while as the cheer started, but then I left him and found my own place and my own rhythm in the circle.

And then that was it.  The Kallah was over.  We got our things and the people who’s buses were there loaded them onto their buses and we all hugged goodbye and we cried and said we loved each other and it was a mosh pit of luggage and bodies and tears.  The two buses that were there pulled out and the event was over.

NFTY is my heart.  It’s my soul.  It’s in my breath and my skin.  This weekend showed me that I’m ready to be a leader for my region.  It showed me how many good friends I have.  When I look back on this weekend it won’t be measured by how many candles I got or how many tissues I used or how many tears I shed or how many GERams I got.  It will be measured by the friendships I made.  It will be measured by the friendships that I will keep for a lifetime and it will be measured by the hugs and smiles that were exchanged.  This event gave me the push I needed to show me that I truly am a leader, just like Jon and me skipping in friendship circle during the cheer.  I needed that little extra boost of confidence to get going, but I was able to find my own ground after a while, and he was able to let go and let me, and underclassmen, step up to be a leader.  But even though the seniors may have had to stop to let us underclassmen find our place, they will never be forgotten and they will always be connected to NFTY.  Through their candles, their shoes, the way they have impacted us and shaped our lives.

Never Forget These Years NFTY, because I know I won’t.

I learned during Hagigah that life hits you hard and the things in life that seem certain (like NFTY) aren’t always set in stone.  Friday evening I was on my sofa miserable, not because I was sick, the stomach bug had left long ago, but because I was missing the wonderful services run by SALTY and seeing my friends.

Saturday rolled around and I could not be out the door sooner.  During the two hour car drive (shout out to my dad for not only driving two hours to get me to Hagigah, but two more hours to get himself home), I was a complete spazz.  And I was definitely a complete spazz during the rest of Hagigah.

I loved every second of the time I was at the event, down to sharing a house with dogs (creatures that I don’t exactly love but I found out are insanely cute).  I also had the insane pleasure of getting sand in my boots, some of which is still in there, as well as getting to admire sea life with amazing people.  I got to sing with some super good looking people in front of the NFTY-GER community and for the first time in my NFTY history my camera ran out of battery power.  I also got to connect with people who I had known for what feels like forever and meet friends, whom after less than a day were my sisters.

Overall Hagigah this year taught me not to take NFTY events for granted.  That something along the way could go wrong.  It also showed me how much this community means to me.  I was in tears over missing an event that lasted a little more than two days.  NFTY is one of the only places where I can truly be me and I thank each and every one of you for reminding me of that constantly.   It’s also the only place where I truly feel that people care 100% about everything they do and everyone they meet.  NFTY is the place where I can turn my shine up 100% and I love this community more than words can describe.

Reflecting back on this weekend one day later. The spread of smiles that I can still picture. The love that I continue to feel as I carry my beads around during school. The weird looks I get when I try and explain what I did this weekend. The homework that remains unfinished because I just wanted to sleep. The Facebook posts and the Tweets all remind me of how wonderful the weekend was, the friendships created, renewed and continued. The memories of Havdallah on the beach and exploring an aquarium. My last Hagigah was amazing. Thank you all!

NFTY-GER, there are no words to describe this weekend other than perfect. Throughout the event, when I thought something was going great, it got better. The event ran so smoothly that I had to remind myself that this was not just any type of casual get together, but it was Hagigah, the event I have worked so hard on for the past six months.

Although I will remember this event for a very long time, there are three distinct images that will remain in my head forever.

There was one word to describe Friday night: chaotic because one bus carrying fifty participants was two hours late. Though, it may have been chaotic, I found the service peaceful. Beth Miriam congregants and GERites were able to pray together as one community. We all forgot about the craziness that was occurring fifteen minutes ago, and reflected on the past week. We were able to focus on our very own inner light and ignore the always-changing lights around us. Being able to have all of SALTY and Temple Beth Miriam see the spirit and compassion GER brings to services was very special to me. Right before I got up to give my D’Var, I was a little nervous. I kept saying to myself, “What if they don’t get it?”, “What if nobody cares about the great success story of SALTY”; but NFTY-GER, you did care.  Reading that sermon made me so much more confident for the rest of the weekend. Having 140 teenagers and 100 congregants look up to you like that is a real confidence booster and I rode this confidence for the rest of the weekend. Overall, I was so happy to see SALTY lead over 250 people in worship.

The program written by Haley Peckman and me went perfectly. Although we had to cut things out of the program, because of the limited time we had, watching everyone focusing on meditation during the program really means the world to both of us. I still cannot believe the impact of our program. Dee was talking to a few participants during the social event and they said their favorite part of the event was our program. When people say that a program is their favorite part of an event, I can’t do anything except smile. In addition, that means that a program touched the participants. All of the compliments we received are really meaningful and we both thank you for being great, engaged participants in our program.

Once again, I am here talking to all of you about Havdallah.  This Havdallah was magical. This is what I wanted to do since last year’s Hagigah: have NFTY-GER spiraling onto the beach to celebrate the end of the week and event. The sand under my feet made me feel at home as I was introducing 140 GERites to where I live: the beach. When Lo Yisa Goy just suddenly stopped, Adam Rothstein turned up his shine during the stillness to create a movement: a movement to sing without the song leaders. Stepping up like that and turning up your shine is what this world needs and what Hagigah was all about. I also heard that if you looked up into the night sky, you would have seen a circle going around the moon. The scene represented two kinds of spirals; moon, representing the braided Havdallah candle, which brightens up the dark night sky, and the circle, representing the Havdallah spiral gathering around the candle as one. One Kehilah Kedosha, a holy community gathering around the one thing that brightens up the night. Just magically.

There are so many people to thank for making this event a huge hit. I would like to start off with you, the participants. Your engagement during every single activity during the weekend thrilled me. Seeing one smile would have made this event a success, but seeing so many smiles was just beautiful. Next I would like to thank the Hagigah Chairs, Regional Board and SALTY Board. Without your leadership, guidance, and support, I would not be writing about such a successful event right now. You all have helped me so much in writing my speech and program and all your hard work should be recognized because this wasn’t an individual effort, but a huge team effort. Finally I would like to thank Dee Ross. Your leadership, dedication and enthusiasm for SALTY is the reason why we are celebrating the best NFTY-GER event of the year. There are so many other people that deserve recognition, but if I list all of them, it will take up a whole page. Some of them include Mr. and Mrs. Peckman, Dr. and Mrs. Pess, Dr. and Mrs. Berg , Mr. and Mrs. Spector, Paula Rowland,  Brian and Gina Gillet, Beth Laliberte, Rabbi and Mrs. Stanway, Frank, and many many more people. Thank you NFTY-GER, you never cease to amaze me.

Friday night Sermon:

Shabbat Shalom everyone, and thank you for coming to SALTY’s Creative Service. Tonight is different from all other nights, because this Shabbat we gather not only as a congregation; but also as a regional youth group. Tonight, we kick start NFTY GER Hagigah: a weekend where all participating will be challenged to Turn Up Your Shine! I hope that each of you here tonight, GERite or not, take time this weekend to really focus on being present so that you may transcend what makes you passionate onto the community surrounding you. Of course I hope that each of you carry past experiences and look ahead to the future; but while you are here, put those things aside. Be here.

In this week’s Torah portion, Aaron is given specific instructions on how to succeed in G-d’s eyes. Conversely, no one gives us a plan to follow to a destination of personal achievement and happiness. That is a motivation that must stem from inside the individual. This internal awareness can spark the light of passion that may lead us on a lighted trail to greater fulfillment.

SALTY and GER are both environments that I have had the opportunity to explore my passions and see my inner light join the many flames of my friends and mentors. Quite literally, there is a tradition in NFTY GER that exemplifies this idea. Each year at Spring Kallah (our last event of the NFTY season), candles are passed down from seniors to underclassmen. Each candle has some sort of theme or meaning and has either been passed for many years, or is just beginning with those two people. The senior and the underclassman sit down together and the senior lights the wick. The ceremony ends with both people blowing out the flame. I have always been fascinated with the cyclical nature of the candle giving process. A flame is created and shared, blown out, and yet another person walks away with the candle. At the end of my sophomore year, one of my closest friends took me aside. We took refuge from the rain under a gazebo and she took out a very plain, short yellowing candle. She lit the wick and looked me in the eye as she told me its history. This candle had been circulating in NFTY-GER since before I was born. She explained that the candle was nameless, themeless. And it was her favorite candle. It had been given to her by a graduating Regional Board member who had been her first NFTY friend. He bestowed the nameless candle to her because of his complete belief and pride in her. She told me that it meant the world to her, as tears started streaming down her face. I realized too, how much she meant to me; how much she believed in me; and how all of that was supposed to fit into the small, old, nameless, yellowy candle. I got up from that gazebo a much more confident person. My friend gave me much more than a candle and a couple compliments that day. She encouraged my inner light to get brighter. I think that maybe we are all small and nameless candles at some point in our lives. But the encouragement we can feel from the other flames is what makes each of us individually significant.

“The Duality of Light” was another experience that really stuck with me. By chance, my sister Bryce had come across a link online about an free exhibit at Lincoln Center. It looked interesting, so my mom dropped us off and we walked into Alice Tully Hall. The woman that was running the exhibit asked us to have a seat in the waiting area because, to our surprise, the exhibit was to be experienced one person at a time. As Bryce and I were waiting, an older woman came out of the exhibit and chatted with her friends. She seemed excited, spooked almost. She said that there was another woman inside the exhibit. This only spiked my curiosity, but also made me a little anxious. Bryce and I planned that I would go in first, and tell her if it was worth it (or if it was horrifying). Eventually, it was my turn and I walked over to the woman running the exhibit. A separate hallway had been built in the middle of the hall, and she instructed me to walk into the hallway, turn right, and walk all the way to the end until I reached a strip of light on the floor. It seemed easy enough, but I was concerned as to why I would need such specific directions to walk down a hallway. I began walking down the hallway. She told me I was going to see something that only I could see. It was pitch dark and all I could see was the strip of light she had mentioned. There was a recording playing of shushing and water dripping. I could feel my eyes trying to open wider and wider, and a shift to more cautious walking. When I got to the strip of light at the end of the hallway, I looked up at a screen. A million tiny lights twinkled and then abruptly exploded. A person was walking towards me on the screen, and I soon realized the person was myself. I also realized that the self I saw onscreen was a recording of the past few minutes I had spent walking to the strip of light. Just as suddenly as my image had appeared, I blew up into a million bits of light. I was gone and a blueprint of stars replaced me. I was awestruck. I stood in front of the screen, thinking about how small I am. How short our image is here before we are again replaced by the galaxy. After a couple minutes of taking this in, I walked back out of the dark hallway. The woman asked me what I had seen, and I told her. She said it was very good and that I should not tell anyone. However, I am telling you because 1) the exhibit is over and 2) I think it is too relevant to exclude. The Duality of Light Exhibit was created to challenge our perception of space through light, and it has been an experience that really grounded me and made me think about who I am and what I can do in my life. I hope that each of you are able to vicariously experience the exhibit, since you will probably not be able to actually experience it.

I hope all of you take time this weekend to get inspired, motivated, and passionate. I hope each of you come into the present moment and find yourself a stronger light at the end of Hagigah.

Thank You and Shabbat Shalom.

I have always been entranced by the flame of a Havdallah candle. Staring into the fire, I find myself filled with feelings of bliss, serenity, and comfort. This past weekend at NFTY-GER’s Turn Up Your Shine Hagigah Kallah, I experienced a Havdallah service, like none I had participated in before. As the region began to walk onto a vacant New Jersey shore beach, spiraling around the majestic Havdallah flame, song leaders led us in the singing of Lo Yisa Goy. Then the guitars faded and there was a moment of silence as the line continued to move. From the silence then came the sound of someone resuming the song, creating a rippling effect in the region, everyone becoming song leaders, not letting the music die. I found this to be the most beautiful moment of the weekend, not because of the waves crashing on the shore or the stars shining in the sky, but because of how GER was able to turn up my shine. All of my worries in the world vanquished at that very moment; the only thing on my mind being the twisted candle.

We were sitting in a spiral for Havdallah and I was listening to our voices joint together and the crash of the waves on the beach, and I teared up a bit, it definitely brought back memories of previous NFTY events and Urban Mitzvah Corps 2011, just generally the passing of time, but the feeling was like no other, it was simply beautiful. Hagigah was probably one of my favorite NFTY-GER events so far, for so many reasons. The weekend cannot be described in words, but truly showed how people can come together to make something special. The easiest way to describe it is by using the Torah portion, Tetzaveh, like all the parts of Aaron’s robe come together and have a special role, at Hagigah everyone came together and had a special role, in order to create something beautiful. Then this beauty was exemplified with the community singing and the crashing waves as we welcomed the new week.

-Jenna Wyatt

I have always been entranced by the flame of a Havdallah candle. Staring into the fire, I find myself filled with feelings of bliss, serenity, and comfort. This past weekend at NFTY-GER’s Turn Up Your Shine Hagigah Kallah, I experienced a Havdallah service, like none I had participated in before.

As the region began to walk onto a vacant New Jersey shore beach, spiraling around the majestic Havdallah flame, song leaders led us in the singing of Lo Yisa Goy. Then the guitars faded and there was a moment of silence as the line continued to move. From the silence then came the sound of someone resuming the song, creating a rippling effect in the region, everyone becoming song leaders, not letting the music die. I found this to be the most beautiful moment of the weekend, not because of the waves crashing on the shore or the stars shining in the sky, but because of how GER was able to turn up my shine. All of my worries in the world vanquished at that very moment; the only thing on my mind being the twisted candle.