How to Train a Temple Youth Group Board: Event Recruitment
A Step-by-Step Guide by Lee Smith, Social Action Vice President, NFTY - Mid-Atlantic Region As Jewish teens who are working to strengthen the Reform Movement, we place a lot of emphasis on recruitment for youth group events. While we recognize that Temple Youth Group...
The Big Impact of Little Traditions
As summer kicks off, we say goodbye (for now) to our amazing Class of 2019 seniors. Maya Evers reflects on her time in NFTY-MAR and what the community means to her. Senior year is incredible, emotional, and chaotic. It is the year of college apps, prom, graduation,...
Celebrating Change & Growth With Remarks From the URJ North American Board Meeting
The URJ North American Board of Trustees convened in Baltimore, MD this week. As part of their gathering, URJ North American Board Youth Lay Partner, Shelley Niceley Groff; outgoing NFTY President, Lila Greene; and incoming NFTY President, Maya Levy shared the...
How Kol Koleinu Gave One Teen a Stronger Sense of Self
Co-written by Rabbi Tamara Cohen (2018-19 Kol Koleinu A Teen Feminist Fellowship facilitator) and Rachel Gorman-Cooper a two-year participant of Kol Koleinu). In mid-May, the 2018-19 Kol Koleinu fellows and their parents gathered on a sunny afternoon in Manhattan to...
The Value of True Partnership
By Abby Adelman & Amanda Wachstein, NFTY-PAR NFTY prides itself on being a teen-powered youth movement, and it is. However, behind every strong teen is an adult supporting and partnering with them to guide and enhance their work. When we look back over our year...
Statement from NFTY in Response to the Deadly Shooting at Chabad of Poway
On the last night of Passover and six months after the tragedy of the Tree of Life Synagogue, news of a shooting at a Chabad in San Diego shook our movement. The shooting claimed one life and injured several: one injured was under the age of 18. We mourn with the San Diego Jewish community and wish a speedy recovery for those who are injured.
NFTY Goes Big in April
April is known for many things… rain showers, warmer weather, and flowers just to name a few. For NFTY, April is “NFTY’s Big Month” – it’s when each region has at least one event and 2,000 teens are engaged in all different kinds of programs, ranging from mental...
5 Reasons I’m Proud to Work with NFTY Teens
By Jenny Travis, URJ Youth Communications Associate When I was in second grade, my friend and I both won goldfish at our synagogue’s Purim carnival. I made what I thought was the perfect home for my new pet: a fishbowl with colorful rocks and a plant. My friend,...
4 Ways to Change The Conversation to Reflect Our Values
By Nina Heller, NFTY CWR Our culture is filled with many different values. Both secular and religious, these values permeate all aspects of our society and guide us in determining right from wrong. As far as sexual violence prevention is concerned, this culture...
Why We Need to Lift Up the Voices of Sexual Assault Survivors
By Rachel Landis, NFTY NAR Last fall and again in recent weeks, the American Jewish community was rocked by sexual assault allegations against many of its most prominent members. As a Jewish woman, I was particularly upset to see how so many men who claimed the same...