I just got back from the opportunity of a lifetime. This past weekend, I received the opportunity to participate in NFTY (my youth group)'s Junior Youth Group Kallah (JYG). This event was for all 7th and 8th graders interested in a taste of NFTY. I was given the chance to act as a liaison to the Senior Youth Group, leading programing and services to give the participants the chance to experience what it is that I, and so many other Jewish teens, love so much.
Over the course of the weekend, I got to know many of the kids and got the chance to foster relationships with them. Some were already excited about joining NFTY and wanted to get started already, some were just there to get a taste and trial run of the organization. Either way, I was very touched by the experience that I had.
Right now, I serve as the Religious and Cultural Vice President. But next year, I may be something different. And the year after that, I will graduate and move on to another position in life. Every year, changes will occur, sending me to new, uncharted territory. But in my place, there will be young, excited people to take up my work, doing some of the same things I did, while other things differently.
At the event this weekend, there most likely was a future Religious and Cultural Vice President. There may have been a future Membership Vice President. There may have been a future President. The possibilities for this generation are endless, just as mine were, and still are.
It may seem a little strange that a high school junior is talking about "the youth" as if it were a different body from himself. I will admit, I am still very much a part of it. I have a very bright future ahead of me if I make it that way, and am excited to reach new heights in my life. But at this stage of the game, I find it interesting to stand back and look in both directions. In front of me is my own expansive future. Behind me, however, is a list of accomplishments, experiences, and feelings that have come and gone, and I am waiting for the next set of people to come and take up where I left off.
As a very insightful Rabbi told us this weekend, King Solomon once received a ring that could make those who are happy sad, and those who are sad happy. This ring was said to be magical. The ring itself was simple silver, with three letters written on it. These letters were Gimmel, Zayin, Yud, the first letters of גם זה יעבור, gam zeh yaavor, which means this too shall pass. The symbolism is that no matter what is happening, good or bad, it will always change, move on, end in some way. My time as an RCVP may be coming to an end, but someone new will take my place. And when I am done in NFTY, something new will come up that will be just as exciting, just as thrilling, just as meaningful. I just don't know what that will be yet.
Monday, March 29, 2010
Monday, March 22, 2010
Day late
As many observant readers may have noticed, it is not Sunday night, but rather Monday night that I am writing this blog. I was, unfortunately, sick all weekend, and was unable to write yesterday because of a nasty headache.
As I lay there, sick as a dog, I was considering why people like being sick? This may sound silly, as nobody WANTS to be sick, but I believe a large part of the population of school or working age people DO enjoy that scratchy throat that signals a short respite from the hard grind of the work week.
It is for this reason that I have compiled a list of the top 5 good things about being sick and the top 5 bad things about being sick. Here it comes:
Good Things:
5- Don't have to go to school, work, or any other kind of laborious task. This can be great if the past few weeks have really caught up with you.
4- If you have a list of movies you are ready to plow through, audio/visual sources are quite a fun way of distracting yourself from the suffering of being ill.
3- Sympathy from parents/relatives/friends. Facebook statuses and texts wishing me to get better fill the inbox and it feels nice to be missed.
2- March Madness. I happened to be sick during the second round of March Madness, so while my friends were in school, I got to chill and watch college basketball. That's a pretty good deal.
1- Food. As a good Jewish boy, the food is a big plus. Soup, orange juice, ice cream, and anything else I can claim will help me feel better is laid out before me, and I wait happily, ready to consume it all. I eat high on the hog when I'm not feeling so well.
Bad Things:
5- Headaches. The worst sort of sickness in the world is a headache. I can work through a runny nose. I can go about my day despite a sore throat. Heck, I can even function with a fever. Add a headache to the mix, and I'm instantly done. I can't stand headaches and the inability to do any sort of moving activity, thinking activity, sitting activity, sleeping activity, or anything in between.
4- Have you ever watched 30 hours of mindless TV in a row? It can get to the point where every sound-board added laugh makes you want to throw a rhinoceros against the TV screen.
3- Sleeping sucks while I'm sick. I hate laying down and hearing the pressure in my ears, and not being able to breathe through my stuffed nose or my sore throat. Try to get a good night sleep without breathing. If it works, you may not wake up.
2- Isolation from society sucks. Missing important events like youth group events and meetings stinks when you WANT to go to things. I have to miss the things I want to miss, plus the things I want to go to.
1- I'm sick. Hello? There must be something wrong with me or else I wouldn't be lying on the couch. How much fun can all this really be.
Overall, there is quite a few reasons why being sick can be fun, and a lot of ways it sucks. But overall, being sick does suck. No kidding. That's why people don't do it more often.
As I lay there, sick as a dog, I was considering why people like being sick? This may sound silly, as nobody WANTS to be sick, but I believe a large part of the population of school or working age people DO enjoy that scratchy throat that signals a short respite from the hard grind of the work week.
It is for this reason that I have compiled a list of the top 5 good things about being sick and the top 5 bad things about being sick. Here it comes:
Good Things:
5- Don't have to go to school, work, or any other kind of laborious task. This can be great if the past few weeks have really caught up with you.
4- If you have a list of movies you are ready to plow through, audio/visual sources are quite a fun way of distracting yourself from the suffering of being ill.
3- Sympathy from parents/relatives/friends. Facebook statuses and texts wishing me to get better fill the inbox and it feels nice to be missed.
2- March Madness. I happened to be sick during the second round of March Madness, so while my friends were in school, I got to chill and watch college basketball. That's a pretty good deal.
1- Food. As a good Jewish boy, the food is a big plus. Soup, orange juice, ice cream, and anything else I can claim will help me feel better is laid out before me, and I wait happily, ready to consume it all. I eat high on the hog when I'm not feeling so well.
Bad Things:
5- Headaches. The worst sort of sickness in the world is a headache. I can work through a runny nose. I can go about my day despite a sore throat. Heck, I can even function with a fever. Add a headache to the mix, and I'm instantly done. I can't stand headaches and the inability to do any sort of moving activity, thinking activity, sitting activity, sleeping activity, or anything in between.
4- Have you ever watched 30 hours of mindless TV in a row? It can get to the point where every sound-board added laugh makes you want to throw a rhinoceros against the TV screen.
3- Sleeping sucks while I'm sick. I hate laying down and hearing the pressure in my ears, and not being able to breathe through my stuffed nose or my sore throat. Try to get a good night sleep without breathing. If it works, you may not wake up.
2- Isolation from society sucks. Missing important events like youth group events and meetings stinks when you WANT to go to things. I have to miss the things I want to miss, plus the things I want to go to.
1- I'm sick. Hello? There must be something wrong with me or else I wouldn't be lying on the couch. How much fun can all this really be.
Overall, there is quite a few reasons why being sick can be fun, and a lot of ways it sucks. But overall, being sick does suck. No kidding. That's why people don't do it more often.
Sunday, March 14, 2010
Taking the leap
Those who think are regarded as the intelligent, thoughtful, smart people of the world. I believe this to be the case. More thought that is put into a decision most often results in a choice that the person who makes it can be proud of, whether it is successful or not. Thoughtfulness is, all and all, a valuable trait to be had in individuals.
There are times, however, when thinking can become a negative. There are situations where thinking can hinder one's ability to make good decisions and healthy choices. I, personally, tend to over analyze things. I think and think about something, taking a look at every possible angle, and never let go. Even after decisions I will occasionally look back and see whether I made the right choice. This can be detrimental to mental health. If a person can't do something without painstaking thought, there can be frustration associated with even the smallest of decisions.
It is at times when I am over thinking things that I need to remind myself of one important part of my life. This idea is Faith. Faith is a pivotal part of my life, as it revolves around being Jewish. Faith is the root of religion, the source from which all practice stems.
When I realize that I am over analyzing things, I take a step back. I look at myself in the mirror, and I tell myself three things. I tell myself:
1) Have faith in yourself to make the decision that will be best for you.
2) Have faith in your community, who has offered you the ability to face this decision, and have faith that they did so for good reason.
and 3) Have faith in God, that God put you on the path that will lead to the best result.
I'm not saying God is deciding whether or not you win or lose your soccer game. I'm simply saying that God puts each and every one of us on earth for a reason. When life gets stressful and decisions have to be made, realize that, with a little faith, the whole process can be easier. Take a total leap of faith, putting yourself in a position for success. If things don't work out, its not a big deal. If things do work out, though, faith paid off.
There are times, however, when thinking can become a negative. There are situations where thinking can hinder one's ability to make good decisions and healthy choices. I, personally, tend to over analyze things. I think and think about something, taking a look at every possible angle, and never let go. Even after decisions I will occasionally look back and see whether I made the right choice. This can be detrimental to mental health. If a person can't do something without painstaking thought, there can be frustration associated with even the smallest of decisions.
It is at times when I am over thinking things that I need to remind myself of one important part of my life. This idea is Faith. Faith is a pivotal part of my life, as it revolves around being Jewish. Faith is the root of religion, the source from which all practice stems.
When I realize that I am over analyzing things, I take a step back. I look at myself in the mirror, and I tell myself three things. I tell myself:
1) Have faith in yourself to make the decision that will be best for you.
2) Have faith in your community, who has offered you the ability to face this decision, and have faith that they did so for good reason.
and 3) Have faith in God, that God put you on the path that will lead to the best result.
I'm not saying God is deciding whether or not you win or lose your soccer game. I'm simply saying that God puts each and every one of us on earth for a reason. When life gets stressful and decisions have to be made, realize that, with a little faith, the whole process can be easier. Take a total leap of faith, putting yourself in a position for success. If things don't work out, its not a big deal. If things do work out, though, faith paid off.
Sunday, March 7, 2010
Support System
Every Rabbi and teacher has stories that they tell, to explain an idea or theme that they want to convey. This is my first attempt to come up with a story that conveys an idea very close to my heart.
There was a little town that did not have very much. There weren't many people, there weren't many shops, there weren't many of anything. The one thing that they did have was a lot of heart. Well, one night, a large storm swooped in a toppled the little temple where the community would gather on Friday nights to join in worship.
The congregation gathered at the Rabbi's house the next day to discuss what to do next. One congregant stood and shouted "It is now Monday! What will we do if we do not have a temple by Friday night?" Another stood and said "We have nowhere to pray! What ever will we do?" One man named Jacob in the middle of the room took the center of the discussion and boldly and proudly said "I will rebuild the temple. I will take care of it. Nobody needs to worry."
Well the Rabbi stroked his beard (as all rabbis do) and looked the man up and down. "Jacob, we thank you for volunteering to rebuild the temple, but you will need much help to accomplish this task." "No," Jacob said. "I will do it by myself. I can do it. I am strong, and smart. I don't need to bother anyone else."
So the Rabbi let the man attempt to build the temple the next day.
Well Tuesday morning came, and Jacob went to the site of the temple. He spent all morning cutting the wood, hammering the nails, and constructing the first wall. Well as he set it up, and began to create the second one, the first came crashing down, destroying all the work he had already done. He went to the rabbi and said "Rabbi, I tried to build the temple but when I went to build the second wall, the first fell down. I need to attempt it again tomorrow." The rabbi stroked his beard and looked Jacob up and down. "Why don't you look for some other citizens to help you in your construction?" "No, no, I have it under control. I don't need help," Jacob replied adamantly.
The next day, Wednesday, Jacob went out again and began his work. He spent all morning cutting the wood, hammering the nails, and constructing the first wall. As he set it up and moved to construct the second wall, the wall came crashing down, destroying his hard work. Jacob again went to the rabbi and said "Rabbi, I tried to build the temple but when I went to build the second wall, the first fell down. I need to attempt it once again tomorrow." The rabbi once again stroked his beard and looked Jacob up and down. "Why don't you look for some other members of the community to help you in your construction?" "No, no, I have it under control. I don't need help," Jacob replied adamantly.
So the next day Jacob went once again to the site of the temple. He constructed the perfect first wall, and as he set it up, he went to build the second wall. As he began to hammer in the nails of the second wall, the first slowly began to fall. As it did so, however, a young boy ran forward to catch it. As he strained to keep the wall from collapsing, another man from the community came forward, he too working to keep the new building from destruction. Eventually, the whole community had turned up to help, either by holding up a wall, or by helping to construct the roof. By the end of the day, the temple was built, constructed in beauty. The congregation found it to be even more beautiful than the one before it, for the simple reason that they, themselves had helped to create it.
The purpose of this story is to convey the message of community, as well as the need to share burden. When one man tries to do it all, he is bound to fail. When a community works together, they are nearly unstoppable.
There was a little town that did not have very much. There weren't many people, there weren't many shops, there weren't many of anything. The one thing that they did have was a lot of heart. Well, one night, a large storm swooped in a toppled the little temple where the community would gather on Friday nights to join in worship.
The congregation gathered at the Rabbi's house the next day to discuss what to do next. One congregant stood and shouted "It is now Monday! What will we do if we do not have a temple by Friday night?" Another stood and said "We have nowhere to pray! What ever will we do?" One man named Jacob in the middle of the room took the center of the discussion and boldly and proudly said "I will rebuild the temple. I will take care of it. Nobody needs to worry."
Well the Rabbi stroked his beard (as all rabbis do) and looked the man up and down. "Jacob, we thank you for volunteering to rebuild the temple, but you will need much help to accomplish this task." "No," Jacob said. "I will do it by myself. I can do it. I am strong, and smart. I don't need to bother anyone else."
So the Rabbi let the man attempt to build the temple the next day.
Well Tuesday morning came, and Jacob went to the site of the temple. He spent all morning cutting the wood, hammering the nails, and constructing the first wall. Well as he set it up, and began to create the second one, the first came crashing down, destroying all the work he had already done. He went to the rabbi and said "Rabbi, I tried to build the temple but when I went to build the second wall, the first fell down. I need to attempt it again tomorrow." The rabbi stroked his beard and looked Jacob up and down. "Why don't you look for some other citizens to help you in your construction?" "No, no, I have it under control. I don't need help," Jacob replied adamantly.
The next day, Wednesday, Jacob went out again and began his work. He spent all morning cutting the wood, hammering the nails, and constructing the first wall. As he set it up and moved to construct the second wall, the wall came crashing down, destroying his hard work. Jacob again went to the rabbi and said "Rabbi, I tried to build the temple but when I went to build the second wall, the first fell down. I need to attempt it once again tomorrow." The rabbi once again stroked his beard and looked Jacob up and down. "Why don't you look for some other members of the community to help you in your construction?" "No, no, I have it under control. I don't need help," Jacob replied adamantly.
So the next day Jacob went once again to the site of the temple. He constructed the perfect first wall, and as he set it up, he went to build the second wall. As he began to hammer in the nails of the second wall, the first slowly began to fall. As it did so, however, a young boy ran forward to catch it. As he strained to keep the wall from collapsing, another man from the community came forward, he too working to keep the new building from destruction. Eventually, the whole community had turned up to help, either by holding up a wall, or by helping to construct the roof. By the end of the day, the temple was built, constructed in beauty. The congregation found it to be even more beautiful than the one before it, for the simple reason that they, themselves had helped to create it.
The purpose of this story is to convey the message of community, as well as the need to share burden. When one man tries to do it all, he is bound to fail. When a community works together, they are nearly unstoppable.
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