THANK YOU FOR BUILDING THE REFORM YOUTH MOVEMENT WITH US!
NFTYx events are local events hosted by Reform congregations and supported by NFTY regional teen and adult leadership. Events are designed and led primarily by teens for teens and the host congregation encourages members and non-member teens alike to participate. Hosting NFTYx helps congregations engage teen members and foster a more expansive Reform teen community in their area.
The “x” signifies an unknown variable. NFTYx does not follow a set script or structure; each NFTYx reflects the unique ideas, goals, and collaboration of those curating the event. Wherever your creativity leads you, NFTY is here to help mobilize teens to attend and bring your vision to life.
To ensure that everyone is safe, comfortable and included, NFTYx event organizers agree to abide by our NFTY B’rit Kehilah (code of conduct), uphold NFTY’s 13 Principles, and follow our health and safety standards. NFTY and the URJ provide resources and publicity while acting as “Network Weavers” who connect the different opportunities together and convene and support program leaders.
NFTYx impact: We asked hosts and teens to share the benefits of hosting NFTYx
“Seeing the teens take ownership of what they were doing.”
-Staci Cohen, Religious School Director, Anshe Chesed Fairmount Temple in Beechwood, OH
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“The Micro-grant was invaluable in allowing our TYG to host a major event with minimal cost to our participants.”
-Lizzy Genatowski, Youth Director, Temple Isaiah in Los Angeles, CA
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“Hosting a NFTYx event has been a highlight of my synagogue youth career. I was blown away by how incredible these teens are, as well as how warm, welcoming, positive, vulnerable, and loving are the culture and community they have built. All of the teens who attended our NFTYx event had a great time — including/especially the NFTY first-timers! — and they all expressed that they planned on attending future NFTY events. Not only do NFTYx overnights like this provides a great foundation for boosting NFTY engagement, but being the host of a NFTYx event offers synagogue communities and youth professionals the chance to be leaders in this critical stage of rebuilding our new-normal NFTY community.”
-Jenna Friedman, Director of Youth Engagement, Temple Shir Tikva in Wayland, MA
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My region SUPER benefitted from NFTYx. We were able to build strong, consistent regional community because of NFTYx. For teens, being able to meet up once a month allowed for them to make deep personal connections with each other and with the region as a whole. On a synagogue level, NFTYx gave an opportunity for congregations to plant seeds and deepen their involvement with regional community. Many synagogues successfully used NFTYx events as jumping off points for fostering their own teen engagement.
– Avital Abraham, NFTY NAR Regional Mentor and Youth Director, Woodlands Community Synagogue in Greenburgh, NY
HOW NFTY CAN SUPPORT YOUR CONGREGATION OR COMMUNITY HOSTING A LOCAL NFTYX EVENT
NFTY will support your event by:
- Awarding a microgrant when funds are available
- Advertising across your region or city to teens in your community
- Providing a toolkit on how to run an event
- Offering a self-paced, virtual training for staff in advance of the event if needed
- Hosting registration, including co-insuring your event if needed, for events with 25+ teens
- If NFTY hosts registration, reimbursing your congregation or community with a single check up to the amount of participant fees collected
NFTY cannot:
- Organize or sign contracts
- Pay in advance of the event for supplies or entertainment
- Guarantee staff at the event - this is decided on an event-by-event basis with your regional mentor
Steps for NFTYx Events
Step 1: Schedule your event
- Contact your NFTY Regional Mentor to coordinate scheduling and get your event on the regional calendar
Step 2: Register your Adult Lead
- Register your adult event lead, who will be present for the whole event and will be in charge of health, safety, and wellbeing.
- We will email them links to run a background check
Step 3: Submit Synagogue Agreement
- Read and sign the Synagogue Host Agreement (at least 3 weeks before event)
- Submit proof of insurance in order to be covered by the URJ’s liability insurance
Step 4: Plan your event
- Build the registration
- Plan your programming
- Apply for a NFTYx micro-grant!
Step 5: Staffing and host homes
- Required Adult/Teen Ratio: day 1/15, overnight 1/10
- Repeat Step 2 for all overnight staff
- Check out our Host Home guidelines and resources (background checks required)
Step 6: Submit Data and Pictures
- After the event, upload the registration list so that the teens in attendance get invited to the next NFTY event in your community (and keep an eye in the mail in the weeks after you submit! We look forward to sending some NFTY swag to say “thank you” for being a partner in building a Reform Youth Movement we can all be proud of!)
- Share photos, stories, testimonials, and feedback with your Regional Mentor.
NFTYx Resources for Certified Mentors and Teen Leaders
Registration, Budget and Event Set-Up
Incident Reporting
In the case of an incident including behavioral, medical, harassment, or abuse, please use this form to alert our full time staff team.
Alumni & Volunteers
- Join the alumni support network and help NFTY thrive! Contact lstock@urj.org to learn more.
- Volunteer to staff a NFTYx program.
the nfty team
Rabbi Isaama Goldstein-Stoll, Director of Youth Organizing – Local Communities and Synagogues
Logan Zinman Gerber, Director of Organizing and Mobilizing Youth; Leaders In Action
Julie Marsh, Director of NFTY
Emma Jaszczak Maszi, Program & Operations Associate: Leaders in Action