Growing up immersed in a Jewish lifestyle, prayers and well-wishes were always the norm. In every conversation I heard in temple or in my house as a little girl—and believe me, there were quite a few—they had something to do with stating that they were in someone’s thoughts, that they were important, that their ideas or opinions mattered.

NFTY brought forth that concept that had been so ingrained in my Jewish identity—the idea of wishing well for others—and transformed it. You see, through programs, mixers, Torah studies and just socializing with other NFTYites, I realized that words only get people so far. The “well-wishes” are only meaningful if there are actions accompanied with them.

NFTY taught me, since my very first event, that if I want to see change happen, I have to make it happen. I can long for the change I wish to see, but if I am not willing to put myself out there and be that change, then my wishes just go to waste.

This lesson has directly let me to joining the organizations I work with today, one of which being the Alliance for a Healthier Generation, an organization that was created by the Clinton Foundation and the American Heart Association. I am a part of their Youth Advisory Board, a group of 21 people ages 8-18 throughout America who want to put their dreams into action and transform their communities into healthier places. All of us have our own dreams, our own visions for the places we live, but we all share one common basis—the passion for putting ourselves out there and making a difference. I am not aware how my other board members cultivated this passion, but I know that for myself, NFTY is what created this life meaning and goal for me. I am blessed to have been able to make an impact with this organization, and I know that I was able to do so because of the lessons NFTY has taught me.

It’s funny, because when you think of a Jewish teen organization, you never think what someone would learn there would impact the health of citizens in Henderson, Nevada. And the best part is, it’s creating so much more. Every person who goes into a NFTY event, be it in Florida, Phoenix or LA, has been changed by something they’ve learned. It goes past the programs, the social action projects or even the services—it’s the personalities they unfold, the memories that change them, the ability to be themselves that allow them to open up and find who they really are.

The impacts from NFTY don’t just occur at events; they occur when you get home. They appear when you reach out and make a new friend because you know the real value of friendship. They appear when you join a club or organization because you’ve realized how important philanthropy is. They appear when you are able to reach out and change your school, community, state or even world, because you now have the confidence in yourself to know that it is possible.

If I have learned anything to be undeniably true, it is that every NFTYite changes the lives of others. Every NFTYite is important. Every NFTYite makes an impact, no matter the size, that changes the lives of the people around them to be better.

As when I was young, I am still very involved in my temple, and I still hear people talk to each other quite often. But unlike when I was little, when I hear these well-wishes from people at synagogue or at NFTY, I also hear something else hidden between the words—a promise. It’s a promise to act, a promise to care and it’s truly a promise to not just hope for the well being of those people, but to be in active part in making sure that promise comes true.

By Randy Burke, NFTY-SW

In short, NFTY-HUC Study Weekend, was incredible. I first heard about the weekend through my rabbi, Rony Keller, who wanted me to attend the weekend because of my expressed interest in becoming a rabbi myself. The weekend was staffed by three HUCinci students; Ari (a fifth year student), Dana and Leah (both second year students). In addition, Alex Rogers, from NFTY helped the HUC students in their programs. There were twelve kids who came for the weekend, which made for great discussions. The focal point of the event was Jewish identity; What it is, how you create it, and what it means to you. We had discussions and completed projects based on the week’s Torah portion, vayakheil-pikudey. We also had rabbis and cantors come and lecture on topics such as identity versus identification and musical differences between Sephardim and Ashkenazim. We also visited the Plum Street shul Saturday after Shabbat services, went bowling Saturday night and as a group, we created friendships that only NFTYites understand.

Personally, the best part of the weekend was the Saturday morning Shabbat service. Throughout the previous day, I enjoyed walking around the HUC campus and talking with the students, but come Saturday morning, I was so connected to the Shabbos prayers, it seemed as if I was a student there. I could see myself as a student there, learning, studying and praying alongside a community with the same aspiration to go into the rabbinate. The feelings running through me that morning confirmed that all I had done from teaching at Sunday school, to attending Camp Stein, to tutoring students for their b’nei mitzvot and going to Israel are things about my Jewish identity that further reinforce my dream of becoming a rabbi.

Going into the weekend I wanted to be a rabbi, but coming out I had the mentality that I will be a rabbi.

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Teen Study Weekends, a joint venture of NFTY, Hebrew Union College, American Jewish Archives and the Religious Action Center, bring teens together on the HUC Cincinnati campus to focus on a weekend-long theme that allows participants to explore their Jewish identity while engaging with some of the Reform Movements most dedicated scholars and teachers. Learn more at www.nfty.org/studyweekend.

Things I learned at NFTY Convention 2013…
Names might be hard, but conversations are easy.
Over eight hundred and fifty people all singing the same words at the same time is the most beautiful sound in the world.
It’s very possible to be closer to people you met five days ago than people you’ve known your entire life.
The NFTY cheer might sound different in every accent, but they are still the same words that bring our community together as one.
It’s easy to make a best friend and never see them again when there are more than 850 people in a relatively large area.
It’s hard to remember to miss your family when they’re all there with you.
Live and let live means accepting others AND accepting yourself.
Everyone has a gift and when we bring all those gifts together, magic happens.
Sometimes we make mistakes, but mistakes happen and the best thing to do is learn from them.
One person can change the world and that one person could be me.
Everyone has a story and you won’t have a clue what it is unless you ask.
Sometimes listening to a discussion is more meaningful than playing an active role.
It’s better to use your experiences to help others understand than to be too scared of them to let yourself learn.
Helping others learn means asking yourself lots of questions.
The only difference between a beach and a desert is the water. I like water.
North American board members are real people, not scary monsters who will eat you if you approach them or superheroes who think you aren’t worth their time
It’s very difficult to read “Helaine” off of a name tag.
The Jurassic Park Ride produces the perfect hair the next morning and so the obvious reaction is to install one in your backyard.
Having a panic attack in the House of Horrors classifies as “board bonding” if you’re with your TYG president and communications vice president.

Basically, I learned something I already knew: I have, am and will always “Live and Die N-F-T-Y!”

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.

The creators of Spiderman said it best: “With great power comes great responsibility.” The power of influence is one that can not be taken lightly, under any circumstances. Whether this power comes from a radioactive spider bite or the status as a Kohen in biblical Israel, individuals who are given power over others are responsible for the well being of those who they influence.

The Kohanim, or priests, in biblical time were the decedents of Moses’s brother, Aaron.  This week’s parasha, Teztaveh, speaks in great detail about the priests. In Exodus Chapter 29, the ordination procedure is described.

The ordination begins with the gathering of two unblemished rams along with a young bull and a mixture of unleavened breads. Aaron and his sons are then lead to the entrance of the tent of meeting and washed with water. Aaron, who is to be the high priest, is clothed in the elaborate vestments which have been made with care by the finest of craftsmen. He is anointed with oil and then then his sons are also dressed in fine clothes of the Kohanim. The next step includes the slaying of the beasts brought for sacrifice and marking the vestments as holy with the blood of the animals. Parts of the beasts and the unleavened breads are offered to G-d and others are eaten by the priests. If there is any extra in the morning it is not to be eaten because it is holy. After this initial series of steps, there are seven more days filled with meticulous sacrifices to G-d in name of the priests. At the end of the seven days, G-d will consecrate Aaron and his sons as his priests.

This definitely seems like an arduous process for the Kohanim to receive their status as holy. I’m sure somewhere during those seven days of sacrifice they wished they could have received their power as easily as a radioactive spider bite. Perhaps it is this intricate affair which makes their status among the Israelites so high. If it is this difficult to make something happen, it’s got to be good, right? Of all the Jewish people, traveling  for forty years in the desert and later in the times of the first and second temples, the Kohanim were the the people chosen to represent G-d to the people. Many parshiot in the Torah begin: V’ydabeir adonai al Moshe v’al Aharon laimor, G-d said unto Moses and Aaron….. Moses and Aaron were used as the vehicle for G-d’s message unto the Israelites. Eventually Moses and then Aaron died and the task rested solely on the decedents of Aaron, the Kohanim.

This duty of relaying the message of G-d gave the priests a great deal of influence over the actions of the Israelites. They had a responsibility towards the Israelites to communicate the information without error. If they were not successful in doing so, the Jewish people would not have faith in the priests to perform their other tasks. The Kohanim performed many sacrifices for the Israelites that could only be performed by a Kohen, this made their jobs extremely important and gave them power in the Israelite society.

When someone is given this kind of power, they have an obligation to care for those around them, those who can’t care for themselves. This idea of “Hashomer Achi Anochi- Am I My Brother’s Keeper,” our obligation to care for others is one that NFTY as a whole is studying this year and is very prominent in the idea of influence. Those who have influence over others have a duty to be their brother’s keeper and assist those who are unable to help themselves.

This is the power of influence that comes with great responsibility. There is a quote from the movie the Princess Diaries in which the character Lilly Aldrin makes this point exactly. “Wanting to rock the world, but having zip power like me, now that’s a nightmare. But you, wow. Wow is having the power to affect change, make people listen, How many teenagers have that power?”

The tragic shooting at the Sandy Hook Elementary School in December brought this issue of priestly influence into the 21st century. I opened a weekly email from the URJ shortly after the shooting and was struck by one of the headlines: “Religious Leaders Push Congregants on Gun Control.” This is exactly the sort of thing that religious leaders should be using their influence on. Upon clicking the link, I discovered the article was one in the New York Times, describing the actions different clergy members took to influence their congregations to push for stricter gun control laws. The sway religious leaders have over their members can and hopefully will inspire the action to produce change on the issue of gun control laws.

That is what people with influence should be doing, “rocking the world.” Sure, it’s great to be able to tell others what to do and guide them, but the true concern of people of influence is to make changes that help to repair the world, Tikkun Olam. By doing this, they are in fact being their brother’s keeper, helping those who cannot help themselves.

This was the responsibility of the Kohanim of biblical Israel and it is now the responsibility of everyone here, the temple youth of North America. I have faith that some day every one of you will have influence over a group of people, whether this be as a teacher in a classroom or as president of the United States. When you do, I hope that you will be mindful of the message “with great power comes great responsibility” and understand that this responsibility of the power of influence is not one to be taken lightly.

by Rachel Kahn, NFTY-Northwest President, Sophie Grossman, NFTY-Central West President, Spencer Winson, NFTY-Southwest President, and Jenna Snyder, NFTY-SoCal President   

Twice a year, the NFTY General Board meets to do the business of NFTY. On rare occasions, the General Board is given the opportunity to review recommendations to give NFTY’s highest honor, NFTY Lifetime Membership, to individuals who have indelibly impacted NFTY. The requirements for NFTY Lifetime Membership include dedicating more than seven years to the ongoing development of NFTY on a North American level.

Our most recent recipients have dedicated their time, resources, and passion to helping further youth participation within NFTY-SoCal, NFTY-Southwest, NFTY-Northwest, NFTY Central West, Camp Newman, Camp Kalsman, NFTY in Israel, NFTY EIE Semester in Israel, NFTY Mitzvah Corps, NFTY Convention and the URJ Kutz Camp.

Because of their generosity, more than 20,000 young people have been afforded the opportunity to attend NFTY events, travel to Israel, and enjoy exciting summer camping experiences. However, perhaps their greatest gifts are the time and passion they have dedicated to creating the canvas for immersive, meaningful, and transformative Reform Jewish experiences in which to be created.

On behalf of the West Coast regions of NFTY, it is our honor, privilege, and joy to present NFTY Lifetime Membership to outstanding role models, philanthropists, and supporters, Mark and Peachy Levy.

 Resolution to Grant NFTY Lifetime Membership to Mark & Peachy Levy

Friday, February 15, 2013

WHEREAS NFTY strives to create a community where every individual is equal, regardless of financial situation, and;

WHEREAS NFTY strives to not let members’ financial situations limit their participation in NFTY regional events and summer programs, and;

WHEREAS many NFTYites have received financial aid in order to attend events and participate in programs, and;

WHEREAS Mark & Peachy Levy have donated significantly to help teens attend meaningful and life changing programs at  URJ Camp Newman, NFTY-SoCal, NFTY-SW, NFTY Mitzvah Corps, NFTY in Israel, the URJ Kutz Camp, and NFTY-EIE, and;

WHEREAS the Levy’s contributed significantly to expand the growth of URJ Camp Newman (NFTY-CWR’s regional camp) and to URJ Camp Kalsman (NFTY-NW’s regional camp) since 2002 and;

WHEREAS scholarships given by the Levy’s have impacted more than 20,000 teens and children over the past decade, and;

WHEREAS their support through the decades has provided meaningful and significant Jewish experiences to thousands that would otherwise not have had opportunities to attend NFTY or URJ camp programs,

THEREFORE LET IT BE RESOLVED that Mark and Peachy Levy be granted NFTY Lifetime Membership, NFTY’s highest honor.

Respectfully submitted,

Rachel Kahn, NFTY-NW President                             Sophie Grossman, NFTY-CWR President

Spencer Winson, NFTY-SW President                       Jenna Snyder,  NFTY-SoCal President

On behalf of NFTY Northwest, NFTY Central West, NFTY Southern California and NFTY Southwest

Recently, NFTY-SWites spent their Martin Luther King Jr. holiday weekend helping the community for NFTY Southwest’s Social Action Weekend. After hanging out Thursday night and doing a quick friendship circle, participants headed home to rest up for the busy upcoming days. Programming Vice President Matt Wall and Membership Vice President Jordan Weissman started Friday morning with a karaoke mixer before everyone left for their service projects. The social action activities included: making fleece blankets, organizing medical supplies, working at Wilson Elementary School, playing at the Boys & Girls Club and helping at St. Vincent de Paul food bank. Later, the teens went back to their host homes to prepare for a beautiful Shabbat service lead by the clergy of Temple Emanuel and head songleader Taylor Wachman. Everyone mingled during dinner and danced during Shabbat Shira until Programming Vice President Matt Wall lead his program on #firstworldproblems where participants made a personal coat of arms and a collage of their first world problems and solutions. Head songleader Taylor Wachman closed the night with friendship circle and everyone went home after a fun, exhausting day.

On Saturday morning, the region welcomed our special guest, Kelly Biedinger, URJ Kutz Camp Assistant Director. Religious and Cultural Vice President Cody Rosen began the morning with services and Torah study and NFTYites discussed the plagues of the Egyptians, their own modern plagues and how to speak up about them. Once everyone shared their ideas, Camp Swift director Whitney Jacobson explained the Camp Swift carnival. Over 200 elementary school children spent the afternoon with NFTY-SWites and other volunteers. Activities included: face painting, spin art, bounce house, golf, mummy wrap, fortune telling, ring toss and many more games! When the carnival concluded, Social Action Vice President Maddy Ginis lead another program on mental health — participants learned about depression, anxiety, anorexia nervosa, Asperger Syndrome and how to help others with mental illness. To relax after a long day, on Saturday night NFTY-SW met at Golfland and played laser tag, mini golfed and drove go-carts. Everyone hung out, danced around and enjoyed their last night together. The regional board led a beautiful Havdallah followed by friendship circle.

On Sunday morning, Temple Emanuel was filled with teenagers and their luggage. Communications Vice President Kenny Levy showed historian Miranda Rosen’s slideshow from Fall Kallah and opened the NFTY store. Head songleader Taylor Wachman led the regional in the final friendship circle of the weekend and everyone said the final goodbye to their friends until Spring Kallah in April. Shortly after, the buses for the airport left and the Phoenix-area NFTYites left as well, leaving behind only wonderful memories from another incredible NFTY-SW Social Action Weekend.

By Natalie Levy, NFTY-SW Parent

I have two sons in NFTY — Clay is a senior, and Kenny is a junior.  With Social Action Weekend 2013 now history and Clay in his senior year, it feels quite bittersweet. This Spring Kallah will bring the end of a very meaningful chapter in his life. Throughout their high school years, our boys have been guided emotionally, spiritually, and socially by this extraordinary group of NFTY kids. They have created bonds and built friendships that will last a lifetime.

I feel incredibly blessed that we have been able to not only observe, but to help foster many of those bonds by being able to participate on some small level in these wonderful weekends during these past four years. Hosting kids at these events has brought us so much joy. It has given us the chance to be a “fly on the wall” as our boys, along with many of the current Juniors and Seniors laugh, sing, share and grow together. It has also given us an opportunity to get to know many of the boys from throughout the Southwest region, which has been a very special treat for us. So to those who’ve asked in the past few weeks, WHY would we host FIFTEEN boys for a weekend that was not even sponsored by our own synagogue, rather, one all the way out in Tempe (more than 30 minutes away)?! I say to you, why wouldn’t we? How often during the high school years are you given an opportunity to help facilitate such close connections being made by your kids?

Feeding them? Where will they sleep? How will they all have time to shower? What about the mess everywhere? Or the noise? MEH! Buy bagels and cereal and just step over things for a few days. It all works itself out. (The boys put up a sign up list with times for showering in the morning!) Believe me, the joy you feel seeing all of the love that surrounds your child, far exceeds the time you spend mopping the floor after they’ve all left.

So as we watch Clay close this chapter in his life, we are so grateful to know that we will get one more year with Kenny in NFTY. One more year of hugs and thank yous and smiles from some of the greatest teens in Reform Judaism!

Thank you NFTY-SW!

Natalie Levy