Thursday, December 22, 2011

Political drive

I got the chance to hear the President of the United States speak at the Union for Reform Judaism's Biennial this past weekend. The speech was fantastic, and really demonstrated that Obama knew his audience and was committed to making this a good presentation. It was, after all, geared toward a Jewish community that could be influential in his re-election campaign.

After leaving the event, I heard many people say that they were voting for Obama in the coming election because of this speech. Now, I will say that after this event, I have a better idea of who I am going to vote for, but it has nothing to do with anything Obama said during his speech. As a matter of fact, I would have come to the same realization whether Obama had attended Biennial or not.

Throughout the weekend, I had the opportunity to be in on conversations going on about all of the most important issues within Reform Judaism. We discussed personal expression with NFTY's teens, we discussed the transition of leadership from Rabbi Yoffie to Rabbi Jacobs, and, most importantly, we discussed the importance of Youth Engagement, and how to properly attain more involvement from our youth communities.

Throughout all of this discussion, I was basically told what it is that the Union for Reform Judaism stands for. I came to discover that I too agreed on many of these stances. These ideas included standing up for human rights, for peace, and for understanding amongst all of us. These seem like basic things to stand up for, yet so often we, as people, lose sight of the importance of continually reminding ourselves what it is that is important to us.

In this way, I came out of the event knowing who I will most likely vote for in an election, not because of any one candidate, but because I know better what I want from a candidate. I know what it is that I find most significant to my view of a better America, a better American Jewry, and, most specifically, the best way to a better Global union amongst all people.

Not only did I walk out of this event with a better self-perception politically, but I also walked out with a renewed passion for lifelong Jewish learning and commitment. I so much enjoyed all of the elements of the weekend that I want to continue to work with the Union for Reform Judaism to make our campaigns a success, and our visions reality. By any one of us, our cause will most definitely fail. But as one collective voice, we as a movement are a force to be reckoned with. I am excited to work for a positive change in our world as a part of the Union for Reform Judaism.

Thursday, December 1, 2011

Week 3 Northwest

My coastal journey continued from Boston to Seattle last weekend. This time I departed for the Fall Kallah of NFTY Northwest, a region which I had wanted to see for a long time. I chose it as one of my two travel regions, so as to get the chance to see a city I had never seen before, as well as to get to see a region that I had only heard about, never experienced, to that point.

Upon arrival at the Seattle-Tacoma airport, I had the chance to meet up with Melissa, my advisor, who was joining me on the trip. It was good to know I went to the event with her, as I felt as though she knew much more about the region than I; plus, spending a little extra time with her was a blessing that I got to experience.

To get to the event, it was necessary to drive onto a ferry, and get across the Sound. Again this was a first, having never experienced a ferry ride. I was utterly breathless as I looked over the side of the boat to view to skyline and the water. The whole area seemed to be one of the most beautiful places I had ever been, and I cherished the opportunity to see it. If it were not for my NFTY travels, I would most definitely not have had the opportunity to travel to this part of the world.

When I finally arrived at the actual event, I was instantly impressed by the region. It seemed as though the community that they had built was one that totally required the checking of all ego and discrimination. Although we ideally strive for total equality and love amongst our participants in NFTY, it can often be harder said than done. In NFTY-NW, there seemed to be no social classes; everyone seemed to get along and, at the very least, respect on another. This was strikingly beautiful to find in a community, and I was very pleased that I had gotten the chance to see it.

Over the course of the weekend, I experienced programming, services, and social action that was very well thought-out, planned, and executed. I was very delighted to see the amount of preparation and enthusiasm with which the regional board attacked each and every aspect of the weekend.

One of my biggest concerns going into the weekend was the question of how I would interact with participants. I know from past experience that there were times when North American board members hung out more with the adult staff and leadership, rather than the teens, and seemed to take an aloof leadership angle to the event. On the other hand, I had also heard of instances where board members had spent much of their time as “active participants,” going through the same experience as any other member of the community. It was from this angle that I chose to experience my event, and was greatly rewarded in my experience. I had the opportunity to meet people who I would otherwise have never met. Deeply committed NFTYites who were just as in love with our movement as I was came up to me throughout the weekend, and I got the chance to interact with almost everyone within the group. When those times when it was necessary for me to stand in front of the group and present something, the group was appropriately respectful, yet when I was trying to blend in with everyone else, I was able to have just as much fun because they treated me as a peer.

Upon my arrival home in Chicago, I had more friend requests than I had experienced since Convention in February. I can say that I most definitely made the right choice in going to an event in NFTY-NW, as I got to experience a region of the country I had never seen, featuring programming that was fascinatingly intriguing, filled with participants who were ecstatic to be there. Overall, for someone who doesn’t go to nearly enough regional events anymore, I’m glad NFTY-NW was the one I got to experience.

Friday, November 18, 2011

Trip 2: CJTL

With the second weekend of my travel experience, I went to Boston, Massachusetts for the Coalition on Jewish Teen Leadership. This group was a collection of the leadership of the leading youth groups in Jewish America. NFTY, BBYO, and Young Judea were present, while USY and NCSY were unable to join us, but still hold a place in the think tank.
During the time we spent together, the six NFTYites who were present got the chance to talk to the 8 BBYO representatives and 1 Young Judean as to the customs and traditions associated with their group, the way that they do things, and what makes each group a unique experience.
Over the course of the weekend, there were several opportunities to push the way in which I, as a NFTY leader, thought about my organization as well as the others. I would not say by any means that this was a “fun” weekend; I did have plenty of fun, but what really happened was we tackled big issues that face our organizations and attempted to figure out how we can work together to improve the future of Judaism.
What I found most incredible was the discussion of the possible footprint that the five major youth groups cover. We have the potential to touch the lives of as many as 100,000 Jewish teenagers if we can reach our maximum outreach. That number is incredible. As someone who went to a high school with plenty of Jews, many of whom were unaffiliated with a youth group or even a Jewish style of living, I see this group coming together to improve the opportunities of Jews all across the country and globe to become active in their Judaism, and to be excited to participate.
This next week is my travel region to NFTY Northwest. Check back for an update!
With the second weekend of my travel experience, I went to Boston, Massachusetts for the Coalition on Jewish Teen Leadership. This group was a collection of the leadership of the leading youth groups in Jewish America. NFTY, BBYO, and Young Judea were present, while USY and NCSY were unable to join us, but still hold a place in the think tank.
During the time we spent together, the six NFTYites who were present got the chance to talk to the 8 BBYO representatives and 1 Young Judean as to the customs and traditions associated with their group, the way that they do things, and what makes each group a unique experience.
Over the course of the weekend, there were several opportunities to push the way in which I, as a NFTY leader, thought about my organization as well as the others. I would not say by any means that this was a “fun” weekend; I did have plenty of fun, but what really happened was we tackled big issues that face our organizations and attempted to figure out how we can work together to improve the future of Judaism.
What I found most incredible was the discussion of the possible footprint that the five major youth groups cover. We have the potential to touch the lives of as many as 100,000 Jewish teenagers if we can reach our maximum outreach. That number is incredible. As someone who went to a high school with plenty of Jews, many of whom were unaffiliated with a youth group or even a Jewish style of living, I see this group coming together to improve the opportunities of Jews all across the country and globe to become active in their Judaism, and to be excited to participate.
This next week is my travel region to NFTY Northwest. Check back for an update!

Wednesday, November 9, 2011

Trip 1: HUC

Over the weekend, week one of my month of adventures, I was a participant at the Hebrew Union College, Jewish Institute of Religion retreat for college students. I was able to go and experience programming alongside almost 20 other participants who were all very interested in pursuing lives of Jewish adulthood.
Throughout the weekend, there were several opportunities to get a glimpse of what Rabbinic school looks like, what is expected, and the excitement that is associated with being a leader within the Jewish clergy system. I was filled with pride knowing that most of the Rabbis that had had an influence on my Jewish education had all passed through this program.
One of the most meaningful elements of the trip was when we visited the Plum Street Synagogue, where the Rabbinic students walk up one flight of stairs to the bima, and walk down the other side as official Rabbis. The experience of seeing this beautiful, holy location really affected me, because I hope to one day make that trip.
When the trip was all said and done, I was very thankful that HUC had given me the option to participate. The experience was exceptional, because it was an opportunity for me to get together with like-minded individuals from colleges all across the country, who were interested in exploring elements of their faith, just as I was.
Additionally, the opportunity to experience the college and learn a little bit more about what it means to be a Rabbinic student made the whole thing a little more real, and a little more accessible. This also showed me just how important it is for me to continue my education, and gave me an academic goal to strive for.
Now that I am back at Indiana Unviersity, I am all the more excited to get deep into my Jewish Studies education. I have the chance to get myself off on the right foot, and I look forward to the chance to get an undergraduate education that will allow me to pursue my life goals in a beneficial and holy way.

Wednesday, November 2, 2011

Stronger, better, smarter

As a college student, I can often get carried away into a routine. I get lost in a rut and feel as though I have to go about my days the same way every week. Thank goodness for the month of November, because I am going to have a major shakeup.
During the month of November, I am getting the chance to travel across the country and see four different major cities in four different weekends. I’m traveling first to Cincinnati, then to Boston, Seattle and finally home to Chicago. Almost all of this is to be done for my work with NFTY, which just is another reason that I thank God that I have another year.
The chance to travel is one that not many college students get to have as often as I am about to do it. I, therefore, want to be able to share my experience of getting to see different parts of the country, so I will be blogging each week about my experience at the last place. This will start this coming week, after I travel to Cincinnati for a Hebrew Union College retreat.
I am currently getting the chance to study at a Big Ten University that offers so many classes that I can pretty much study any subject in the world that I could ever dream of wanting to learn. The biggest way in which I am learning, though, is very much not in the classroom. I am learning how the real world works, how to interact with others, how to live a life on my own. With all of this learning, I am getting an incredible opportunity to grow into the person I hope to be in my life, and, in some ways, make mistakes, learn from them, and change. Having the opportunity to do some extra-curricular travel is just one of the many ways in which I intend on studying well beyond the boundaries of the classroom. I am going to get the chance to learn from those who I travel with, those who are sharing different lifestyles and experiences from myself. I am excited to be able to do this, and to embark on something new, exciting, and fun.
I’m trying to get stronger. That is the bottom line. In everything I do, I am trying to get stronger in some form or another. Right now, I am focusing on three major areas: physical, mental, and psychological.
To get stronger physically, I have been working harder in the gym than ever before. Let me amend that statement: I’ve been working in the gym. I have been going almost every day, and really have a focus on eating better, working harder, and developing a better sense of general health.
To get stronger mentally, I am pushing myself in all different academic fields. I am dedicating more time to my classwork, reading more behind the scenes, and overall simply trying to push my thinking to a whole new level. I want to soak up as much information as possible during this time, because I have the resources to do well, so why not get as much from it as possible.
To get stronger psychologically, I am working on my interaction with others. I know that I can’t make everyone happy all the time. Instead of trying, I am working on being the best person I can be. If others like who that is, than I am succeeding. If they don’t like what I am, than I can’t worry about it. As Iong as the man I am is the one I want to be, I don’t care who else stands beside me.
I am in pursuit of a goal. The goal is to wake up every morning, look in the mirror, and like what I see. If I am hung over, I can’t like what I see, so I don’t drink. If I look in the mirror, and feel fat, I’m doing it wrong and need to get healthier. If I look in the mirror and am wondering who I see, than I need to take the time to better understand myself.
The work is not necessarily easy, but I am ready to be a good man, so I’m willing to do the work now to make it a reality.

Thursday, October 20, 2011

College ranking system redifined

Now that I am nine weeks into my college experience, I feel as though I have a pretty accurate account of what college life is like. Yes, college is challenging, and there are classes that are mentally taxing, but the most valuable part of the experience is actually in the use of time outside of the classroom. Here is a top five list of the best parts of college life so far:

10. The library and the gym. This may sound totally dorky, but I am so excited to have the opportunity to get lost in a library filled with fascinating books about a variety of topics that I may not have ever considered before. I love getting the chance to explore the reading material, and get an education on so many topics through college, even if I am not taking a formal class on a subject-matter. The gym is also a resource that is often under-used by college students but is exceptional. The facilities are immaculate and very modern, offering an exercising experience that is well worth the sweat and pain.

2. Football and basketball games. Getting to bond with everyone from your school in support of an athletic team (even if they suck), is an amazing part of the college experience. Taking full advantage of the student section, going to the games makes a fun experience even better when you feel as though you are actually part of the action of the game itself.

3. Dorm life. Being able to chill in the room and play video games with the guys makes dorm living more of a fun experience than a restriction. Tonight, we were all sitting around, telling jokes, eating pizza, and playing video games. It was an awesome time, and really a fun way to decompress after the stresses that come with a school day.

4. Reinvention. When you enter college life, there are no preconceived notions or standards that have been set. You are totally able to reinvent yourself if you want as a person, in an attempt to make you a better you. In my case, I feel as though I am able to work on eliminating the parts of me that I don't like and really work on making dominant the parts of me that I do like.

5. Independence. I heard it over and over before starting school, but the amount of independence given to college students is through the roof. Nobody cares that I am awake let alone blogging at 3 in the morning. I can eat when I want, sleep when I want, attend classes if I want. Having that free will is an incredible opportunity, but also the area in which most college kids screw up. Learning how to be independent is really the whole point to the college experience as it is.

Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Twisted Thursday

The modern work week structure includes five days of labor, those days including Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, with two days of rest, being Saturday and Sunday.
Friday is not, as you may have discovered, part of the weekend. Most IU students have five days of classes, and five week-nights of studying and homework. Why, then, are so many students treating Thursday night like a night on the town?
In the lobby of my dorm, every Thursday night, it is more popular to see guys and girls getting dressed up to hit the frats than it is to see students returning from the library. This, in and of itself, would not be a problem for me. It is none of my business how someone chooses to spend their evenings. I am not anyone’s mother.
The problem arises in the morning. Friday is, contrary to popular belief, a day in which we have classes that are just as important to our education as any of the other four. When those students who are working hard to do well in college, have to go to class with their hung-over, half-asleep peers there is a breakdown in the education system. How can a class that is based on discussion and participation function when attendance drops on Fridays because of hard partying.
Additionally, the way of quantifying attendance levels is not necessarily most accurately depicted by the number of students in the seats. The better answer is how many students are attentive and ready to participate in class.
It is hard enough to get engaged in a class on Friday morning when sober. I desperately want to be back in bed, having nothing to do with drinking. When it is already hard to get out of bed and be a valuable member of the classroom environment, it is even less valuable to be there if your hangover is too intense to even raise your hand.
Students have two nights to do their drinking. If a person in the University community is looking for a chance to go out and get wasted, it is not hard to find someplace to go on Friday and Saturday nights. Using a third night, Thursday night, to drink is offering up the opportunity for further trouble associated with drunkenness, under-age drinking, and idiotic, bad judgment. When students have those three nights in a row to get themselves into trouble, it is increasing the likelihood of unnecessary harm to all involved. There have even been nights when Saturday will be a slow, lazy night because students are partied out by their Thursday and Friday nights. This is, put simply, ridiculous. Why waste your partying on a night when you actually have other things to do? Why would you lose out on a care-free Saturday night because you partied too hard on a night that you shouldn’t have.
As college students, we have the opportunity to make our own decisions without any interference from parents or guardians. That being said, we, as students, have a form of obligation to be acting somewhat responsibly, taking into account not only the choices one makes but the consequences these choices can have on others. When someone chooses to go out on a Thursday night and get thoroughly intoxicated, it is one thing to be effecting that night for that person; it is another thing when this choice negatively impacts the others around you in their pursuit of a valuable, meaningful education.

Thursday, September 29, 2011

Changing Perspective

I want to take the chance to wish everyone a Shana Tova, a Happy Jewish new year. Today was my first time experiencing the High Holy Days from away from home. I attended services through the Indiana University Hillel. This was a fantastic experience, mixed with a new element.

I attended the 9 a.m. Reform services and enjoyed the comfortable melodies, meaningful readings, and spiritual connection. I then decided to try something new and stayed for the second service, this time a Conservative service.

Sitting with my friends from the Judaic Studies department, I was amazed by how little I knew. Most of the Hebrew was new to me, the readings were unfamiliar, and the melodies were downright foreign. This was very awkward for me who, as someone who goes to services every week, thought I was very familiar with this stuff.

What I came to appreciate a little more was the diversity of practices, even within our own faith. It is easy to look at others and try to understand them, but it is rare that we look at our own communities and observe the differences within it. I found it meaningful to get the chance to evaluate the practice of my faith in conjunction with those who share a similar belief but a different style of practice.

I want to continue to spend this new year trying to see things from new perspectives. I want to remove myself from the routines of complacency and narrow-minded mentalities.
I want to become more appreciative and understanding of the differences that make us unique and the similarities that we have that make us strong.

May God give me the strength to learn and to understand.

Sunday, September 11, 2011

Standing for Honor

Today was a day filled with emotion and memorial. Ten years after four hijacked planes reeked havoc on America, the day was filled with services, volunteerism, and remembrance.

I was in third grade when the attacks occurred. I have seen my peers post all sorts of facebook statuses saying "I will always remember where I was when it happened." I'm going to be honest: I don't remember much of that day. I don't remember what I felt when my parents sat me down and explained the concept of terrorism, what had happened, and what it meant. What I do remember is what came after.

I remember the feelings of insecurity that Americans felt, and still feel, when we board an airplane or go into a large city. I remember the ignorance that we experienced when we wrongfully associated all Muslims as terrorists. I remember the mourning, when we had to bury those who had worked so hard for this country, whether in the towers or to save their fellow citizen.

What I remember most, though, was the sense of pride that I developed after that day. I can say that I know what it is like to take pride in one's flag and one's country. I know how it feels to stand tall in defense of an idea, attempting to spread peace in a world so contaminated by hate.

The scary thing is, some people have forgotten. There are those in the United States who will post "I will always remember" today, and then return to spitting hatred about American defense against those who wish to see our downfall. I don't know whether or not I believe fighting for a just cause is right (because I am overall a fan of peace). What I do know, however, is that when someone challenges your right to live, you have every right to open a fire under their ass.

For anyone who knows me, they know that I don't like the concept of war, but that I am not afraid of a bit of conflict, especially when defending something that I think is right. That being said, I most definitely think it is right to defend the American way and to fight against anyone who tries to harm our nation and its people. I will continue to support the American troops who go out to defend us, and I pray that they return safely. It is also important that those who intend to hurt us know this: You will not succeed. We will not let you take the fire out of our hearts. We will end your reign of terror. And you will feel the whole wrath of the American people.

I might not remember the actual day, but I will always remember the sacrifice that men and women have made for me every day since to ensure that I can grow up in a land that is free. I may not be able to recount my location at the time of the attack, but I can be damned sure that I will remember the feelings I have of pride when I hear the national anthem, knowing well that the American people are too strong to take down without a fight. And I most definitely will remember every day that I am blessed enough to call America my home.

May all of those who lost their lives be a blessing to those who knew them, to those that loved them, and to those that honor their memory today.

May it be God's will.

Sunday, September 4, 2011

September 4th

After spending two weeks at Indiana University, I have really come a long way since my senior year in high school, when I spent much of my fall filling out college essays and applications and, much more likely, stressing about their outcome.
Now that I have been fully removed from the whole experience, I thought it may be valuable to take the time to write something specifically directed at the senior class right now. Basically, I have been in your shoes, and there are five basic things that I think you should know.
1. Set your relationship with your parents and siblings up for success early. Start talking about how you are going to communicate and how they can talk to you without pissing you off. In my first two weeks, I have been able to talk to my family just enough without annoying them by taking up there time or avoiding them, and also enough that I feel like they are involved in my life, but not to an extreme degree.
2. Drop the importance of the GPA. If I asked much of the Sophomore class here what they had gotten as a high school GPA, I bet they would barely remember. It is just a number. Don’t let it define you. It is so easy to be owned by that number and let it take over who you are as a person, but there is more valuable to extra-curricular that bring you inner peace or satisfaction, rather than spend all of your time hitting the books. Also, side note, don’t think that having a higher GPA than someone means that someone is “smarter” or “better”. That is extremely shallow and arrogant, or, on the flip side, demoralizing and self-depreciating.
3. No degree of stressing will impact your ability to get into a given school. You can spend hours stressing once the application is gone, or you can let it go, and simply wait until you hear a response. I did not attend a single class at the University of Wisconsin, but they did teach me one of the best lessons I have ever received and that is patience. You might as well enjoy the time you have, because soon a new form of stress will happen: picking which of the schools that you were accepted to will you actually attend?
4. Segueing well from the last point, DO NOT ATTEND A SCHOOL THAT DOES NOT WANT YOU. You may have grand goals for yourself and have your mind set on a school, but if a school isn’t willing to accept you with open arms and maybe a little money added in, then don’t go. I spent far too much of my time pushing a school that didn’t want me to take me, even though I had a school waiting in the ranks that was practically begging me to come. That being said, go to the places that you feel good about and that make you feel good. Don’t go if you have cried over them.
5. At the bottom line, which school you choose as a general rule DOES NOT matter. Clearly if you want to go into business, you should go to a school with a good business school (Kelley School of Business at IU is awesome). If you want to be a musician, go to a good music school (Jacobs School of Music anyone?). All of that being said, I go to a Big Ten school, and I would venture the guess that a school day looks the same all over, with professors who are among the elite in their field, who care about what they are teaching. If you are debating between two well-respected school, it doesn’t really matter where you pick, just that you enjoy the time you spend there.
I hope that this has been helpful or enlightening to someone. I wish I had had someone who had the guts to tell me “Senior year was stressful because you let it be, and you need to enjoy it”. Maybe they were there but I didn’t hear them clearly enough. So take this to heart.

Wednesday, August 31, 2011

August 30th

Today was my third day of college classes. In those first three days, I have learned an incredible deal, not necessarily in the fields I'm studying, but rather in general about my academic future.

First of all, the schedule is very strange to me. I knew that I would not go to class non-stop from 8 to 3 like I used to, but I was not familiar with the way things work. I have an hour long class early in the day, and hour and a half break, and then another hour of class, before finishing with the rest of lunch and the afternoon and evening to myself. Having the chance to have such large gaps gives me plenty of time to decompress from the stress of the last before advancing to the next class.

Another element of college that I never considered was the academic pursuits of many of my instructors. I have several teachers and professors who are students themselves, working on doctoral programs and dissertations. I expected to get to college and have ancient, worldly people talking at me. Instead, I have experts in their fields, who are young enough to be up-to-speed on the cutting edge advancements in their lines of work, who are able to share their own academic experiences (because they were recent enough that they still remember).

One of my instructors gave me an excellent piece of advice when I went to visit him during his office hours. He said that a writer had said that anyone who dedicates 10,000 hours to a field of study, whether it be athletic, academic, or intellectual, will surpass the natural talent of a prodigy and become a true master. This individual had long since passed his 10,000 hours in his field, and could attest to the expertise that come with it. This was his way of telling me also that studying "what sounds cool" will not lead to success necessarily, but rather throwing one's self wholly and completely into a field will lead to the greatest success.

I don't necessarily know what I am going to dedicate 10,000 hours to. I have a pretty good idea, but even I am open to the chance of changing my mind. What I am committed to, though, is working hard enough in college to succeed at the classes I'm taking, because I am privileged enough to attend a University that offers such a wide variety of classes at such a high level.

Wednesday, August 17, 2011

August 17

Today was an interesting experience. I had the opportunity to go to the Commission on Youth Engagement as part of the Union For Reform Judaism's efforts to properly reach out to those members of the teen community who may not be reached otherwise.

One of the elements that was most significant to this was the coming together of all of the constituencies that go into the Union as a whole. Members of each subgroup within Reform Judaism were there to help in the creation of a new vision for how to get people involved.

I, along with five other NFTYites, was invited to the event for the opportunity to share the perspective of teens, and to experience the discussion so as to help in the development of a call to action to be put forward at the URJ Biennial in December.

The meetings lasted all day, and went across an enormous level of discussion points. During the course of the day, I had the chance to share my personal perspective on multiple issues and the ways in which I saw them being rectified. What was most significant to this was that not only did I have the chance to talk, but that the adult leadership around the table had a genuine interest in what I had to say. They all listened to my viewpoint, added their own thoughts along similar wavelengths, and were able to build the ideas that we were creating to incorporate what I was saying. This unique opportunity meant that all of the NFTYites at the meeting felt valued, and felt as though their voice was being heard.

Although the meeting was very long, and it was often difficult to remain completely focused, it was an incredibly valuable opportunity for our movement to call to the table so many different components of the organizations that make Reform Judaism flourish. It gave hope for the future that we will be able to create resources for Jewish teens for future generations to come. And it allowed us to practice what it is like to be the adult leadership, creating valuable information for our peers and for our successors in the movement.

Sunday, August 7, 2011

August 7th

I know I haven't blogged in quite a while, so I wanted to make sure that I got one in before school starts. This summer has been an incredible one, and has filled my time with excellent learning, growing, and relaxing.

This summer was also an emotionally overwhelming one. It was the first time that I had to refer to my high school as "my old school" and my classmates as "people I WENT to high school with". This sounds like silly language choices, but it was anything but. This represented a drastic change in the way I saw myself. I was no longer tied down by what I thought I was in high school. I felt as though I had the chance to reinvent something. I didn't really want to reinvent myself, but to reinvent the way I saw myself and the way I put myself out for others to see.

I graduated on June 2nd. In the two months since, I feel as though I have grown significantly, quite possibly the most I have grown in any two month period in my life. This growth is in several directions. I learned what it means to be living independently, as I spent the summer at an amazing camp (URJ's Kutz Camp) and had the chance to really be responsible for my own living for six weeks. I learned what it means to truly not care what other people think of you, and to simply be the person you are in new places, because people will wind up liking you better anyway. And I learned that I am continually growing, as is everyone around me.

This last fact may sound simple, but it is actually monumentally important. I am learning, growing, and turning into a better person all the time. Yet I so often think of people in cemented terms. I rarely consider how some one's summer experiences may have changed their ways of thinking, or how they behave. I want people to give me the benefit of the doubt, but how can I have that if I'm not willing to do the same.

I have changed a lot this summer, and I think for the better. I hope and wish that people will have the chance to see what kind of person I am and am becoming, rather than dwelling on what I once may have been.

May it be God's Will

Saturday, July 2, 2011

July 2

As a newly inducted member of the Kutz community, I was unaware of one of the coolest traditions of the place: Shabbat Afternoon Softball.

The way the game works is this: staff plays against participants, with staff calling themselves the winners. Participants will cry foul play, but the games are, as a general rule, as fair as possible. The only time it gets a little fuzzy is when the game is close in the last inning.

I looked forward to this from the day I got here until today. There were no games during staff week or Mechina, so this, my third Shabbat, was my first round. I was so excited as I grabbed my mitt and headed for the field; I was excited because 1. I love baseball/softball, 2. I don’t get to play nearly enough, 3. I was finally able to play on the staff side of a URJ camp sporting event.

As we took the field, it was about 25 staff members against 20 participants. I took the field most innings, and played a combination of first base and outfield. I have to say that fielding was my favorite part. I fancy myself an excellent fielder, while my hitting is a little sub par.

In my first at-bat, I hit foul pop that was caught harmlessly. In the field that inning, though, I was able to recover an errant throw and gun down a runner trying to score from second. It was a laser beam of a throw, and easily got the man (although, as usual, the participants argued.)

In my second and final at-bat (with a 25 man roster, not everyone hits a whole lot), I took a few low and outside pitches before rocketing one to deep right-center. I flew around the bases for an inside-the-park two-run home run. I would love to be able to say that this was a game-changer, and that it put the staff ahead for the first time before sealing it in the bottom half of the inning. Instead, it was simply the 14th and 15th runs, with a final score of 15-4. Wasn’t really close, but at least I was able to contribute.

What was most fantastic about the game was that everyone was able to play a little bit, get really into the competition of the game, and yet still band together to enjoy one another’s company. After the game, we were all able to laugh about the hard plays, and we were able to congratulate one another on the big ones.

I guess it was made even better by the fact that we won.

AZ

Tuesday, June 28, 2011

June 28th

Blog post June 27, 2011

One week ago, a group of 16 regional Religious and Cultural Vice Presidents arrived at Kutz Camp for their first round of training on the RCVP trip. They came with minds ready to be pushed, ideas ready to be dreamed up, and spirituality that was about to be challenged.

I had been on two of my own RCVP trips, and was well familiar with what it was like. I knew how I had felt, and I wanted to recreate those same feelings for the network that I could now officially call mine.

I must admit that I was nervous. I dreaded the thought of screwing up, having my network not like me, or not being able to provide the same benefits to them that I had been given. It turns out that these fears were unnecessary.

Within the first few hours, the group instantly formed a deep and meaningful connection. We weren’t just gathering to hang out or chill; we were coming together to do holy work, and to become closer as the teen spiritual leaders of our movement.

After an RCVP trip that was most definitely the best that I could have remembered, we headed into Mechina apprehensive about what we were going to do about staying together. It is easy to stay close when we are the only 17 people on camp. When there are 130 others, it can become more difficult. Again, these issues were averted, because of the tight bonds that we had already formed. I have never seen a group get as close as the RCVP family became in such a short time.

When I led services on Friday evening, the family sat in the front row. Each one of them took in the experience and saw what I was doing that they liked, what I was doing that they would change, and what I was doing that they had questions about. They made the service even more meaningful for me, which was just another of many times when they moved my spirituality levels up several notches.

As we head into the year as a network, I cannot stop repeating the same phrase: “We will accomplish great things.” I hope that, over our terms, we each can have a profound impact on our regions, nations, and movement, so as to better create the end goal that we are so constantly grappling for. I am excited to see the extent to which we can make a difference in the lives of our participants.

Our job is to push others to reach their maximum height. I was pushed this weekend to reach farther than I have ever done before. If the regional RCVPs were able to push me as far as they did, I can only imagine where they will push their own regions.

May it be God’s will.

Wednesday, June 8, 2011

June 8

I recently made the very bad decision of looking up "NFTY" on UrbanDictionary.com. For those of you who don't know, Urban Dictionary is a website that gives real life definitions for popularly used words (including all slang and abbreviations and any other commonly used diction.

That being said, on my particular inquiry, I got several definitions for the acronym NFTY. The first few were mainly biased in a positive direction. Things like "the best organization for Jewish youth" and the likes, which just further demonstrates the passion for the movement that the members have. The next few definitions, however, quickly switched biases. These now included phrases like "they suck" and "an epic failure." What came along with this was remarks like "Organization X is a little better than Y, but still sucks in comparison to Z."

When I then went on to check the two other Jewish organizations that are prevalent in our area, I found similar results on BBYO and USY's pages. The first few, glowing remarks; the last few, hateful and slandering.

What I don't understand is why there is such a nasty relationship on the internet between these groups. In some regards there is very little competition between them, as NFTY is a Reform movement, and USY is Conservative, while BBYO is intentionally non-denominational.

The real issue I have with this, though, is in the hate that emanates from it. While this subtle "screwing around" is just for fun, it actually hits a very core issue in American Judaism. We, as a people, have experiences generations of hatred and antisemitism. We experienced slavery in Egypt, the Inquisition, and the Holocaust. These acts of horror against Jews all came from ignorance and cruelty. Why is it, then, that we, within our own faith, are now bashing on another, simply in the act of putting another organization at the top of the pile?

I cannot speak for any organization, although I will attempt to speak for my fellow NFTYites. I have many friends in both of the other organizations, and I have always appreciated the good work that they are doing. Although I would love to see everyone participate in NFTY because of how awe-inspiring it is, I would rather someone was involved in SOME FORM of Jewish participation than none at all.

All of this being said, I am calling for the end to the meaningless badmouthing that goes on between the groups. I, personally, will refuse to say anything untrue or unquantifiable about an organization, especially one I have no experience with. I also call for a collective effort to bring Judaism into the public light as a movement of peace, friendship and love, working to eliminate petty cruelty and bullying.

May it be God's Will

Friday, May 20, 2011

May 25

Barack Obama really screwed his campaign yesterday. To say politely, he infuriated most of the Jewish population within the country.

This frustration comes from Obama's comments on Israel's borders. He suggested that Israel return land to the Palestinians in an attempt for peace, giving up land taken by Israel during the Six-Day War in 1967. To say that this was received badly is an understatement.

The war was an example of extreme hostility toward the State of Israel, as well as Judaism as a whole. We demonstrated our determination and might as a people by not only fending off the opposing troops, but also taking new land.

Obama proposing peace negotiations in the Middle East is excellent. For him to offer his exterior perspective on the matter was also potentially helpful, especially in the hopes of offering a moderating voice to the clamor of biased voices. The problem, though, has everything to do with two problems: wording and timing.

First, wording was a challenge. Obama was proposing changes that many would scoff at. The reason: many found it inappropriate that he was trying to influence a part of the world that was not under his control. Why is it that the US needs to get involved in a problem that doesn't effect them, especially when the US is siding with the "opposing" side of the war.

Now, from a timing perspective, Obama really goofed up. We are a year and a half away from an election year. Throwing the Israelis under the bus so close to his bid for reelection is not a good plan, especially when so many Jewish voters are willing to chip in with campaign contributions.

Tuesday, May 17, 2011

May 20 (NFTY 6)

I couldn't have talked about my NFTY experience without talking about my board. Alyssa, Stevie and Danny, you three were amazing as juniors on board. Having these three to be there to support me was incredible. I often thought that, as juniors, it was my job to look after you and back you up. It turns out nobody had my back better. Leah, as a first year senior, was equally incredible at throwing herself into not one but two positions and doing them with grace and respect. I can only hope that I have impacted her as much as she impacted me.

Finally are those three that I mentioned earler. Jaren, Elyse, and Naomi, who I have served two years with. Elyse has been there my entire Jewish life, and I can easily see her as the president of the Congregation at which I am Rabbi. Naomi so quickly became an important part of my life. After hours on the phone and conversations sitting on the bimah, I know she will be an amazing leader for the future, as well as an amazing friend.

Last but not least there is Jaren. Jaren is the one who has grown the most. I have never seen a young, irresponsible boy turn into an honorable, dedicated man so quickly. I have spent the most time with him and can't possibly see my future without him as a friend .Although this is not true for many, Jaren is truly the type of leader who needs no title to make great change.

There have been countless people along the way who assisted and inspired me in my NFTY life. What I realized is most important, though, was that NFTY is not an event based youth organization. In reality, NFTY is an enlightened state of being. We don't have to stop being NFTYites just because we have graduated from the program. The life-lessons, experiences, and aspirations we get can continue to impact us as we proceed into our adult lives and beyond. The Jewish people has a long history of strength, passion, and love. We, as NFTYites, have been prepared to carry the torch and move Judaism into a bright future.

May it be God's will.

May 17 (NFTY 5)

As my final moments in NFTY came, I saw my senior circle come into view. Four times I had seen NFTY seniors walk around the circle and talk about how NFTY had changed their life. I was to be the thrid to last speaker, coming right before Beth (the regional advisor) and Naomi (my regional president).

Before I had the chance to go, I listened to four different people tell me that I had made the most significant impact on their NFTY lives. I still, exactly a month later, can't believe how much these people mean to me, and can't possibly understand the impact that I have had on them. I wanted to be their friend, and if I was anything more, I am lucky. I am so moved to have touched them in any way.

It finally became my turn to speak. I took some time to thank certain people around me. I also talked about how important the advisers were. I thought about how amazing it is that we have advisers. How many other high school kids have one adviser, let alone multiple?

My last and most important point was about how NFTY had impacted me. I told the group that I saw NFTY as life-practice. I had the opportunity to see what it would be like to be a Rabbi, what it is like to interact with congregants, and what it is like to communicate with God.

I was forced to end my senior circle address quickly because I was being pinched for time. THat is the basis for why I started to write this series (or a saga at this point). I wanted to be able to have a real conclusion to my time.

May 17 (NFTY 4)

For my North American time to begin, my regional life needed to end. For me, I have become active in both my home region, CAR, as well as NFTY-NO. I went to NO's Spring Kallah, so that I could have the chance to say goodbye to my "colder" friends.

At this event, I was able to grow closer with the people who I had always known, but got to know on an even better level. This made the NFTY weekend quite possibly the best of my life. I had more pure fun than ever before. I can't thank NFTY-NO enough for welcoming me into their community with open arms.

For so long I had looked forward to NFTY events. Now, though, I was not looking forward to KOLBO at all. Despite my amazing opportunity to remain in NFTY for an extra year, I still had to say goodbye to my region and all of my friends in it.

As we began the event, I quickly realized how good I had gotten at thinking logistically. I was able to square away details several hours before it was needed, and felt good about the services I was putting out. During the service Saturday morning, I felt as though my community had come together in prayer, and that we had created something truly magical.

It was Saturday night that my most significant moment of leadership occurred. During elections, a young man was elected to be the new NFTY-CAR RCVP. I had officially found my successor and had subsequently been replaced. This was the first time I had had a successor (I was my own last year), and was quite moved by it. Both of the candidates for the position were amazing and will be spiritual leaders within our community. I am lucky to say that I feel confident that I have left the region that I love in good hands.

Sunday, May 1, 2011

May 1

Today was Yom Hashoa, Holocaust Memorial Day, across the world. Our hearts joined together to remember those who had so unfairly lost their lives, and to commemorate their lives, despite the hardship that goes with it.

In Israel, it is on Yom Hashoa that, at a specified time during the day, the entire country shuts down for a moment. One single minute is dedicated completely and totally to silence, with the world bowing its head in mourning. This moment, which I hope to one day experience, is so moving simply to hear about, that it shakes the very fibers of one's being.

It is on this day that we remember those who perished at the hands of monsters. I have heard many mourn the 6 million who died in the Jewish Holocaust. This number, however, is not nearly enough. In truth, we must mourn over 12 million people. We must mourn all who died in this horrible time, not simply those who were Jewish. It does not matter what faith a person was; in the end, all life is precious, and far too many were stripped away.

Yom Hashoa is a sad day. Yet it is an even sadder day when we know that this type of hatred still exists today. We cannot forget those who walk among us who continue to be persecuted because of their religious beliefs, ethnic backgrounds, or sexual preferences. We cannot continue to ignore those who beg for freedom, yet still have none. We cannot blindly pass those who are in need of our strength.

As Jews, it is our job to remember so vividly the horrors that plagued 6 million of our own people, and to assist those who are still suffering. We were once slaves in the land of Egypt, so we are no strangers to the feeling of pain that comes with being hated. It is our job to extend our hands in love, to aid those who have forgotten what it feels like to be loved.

Zichronam L'vracha. May their memories be for a blessing.

Thursday, April 21, 2011

May 5 (NFTY Part 3)

Mechina rolls around for the second time. I went on the RCVP trip, which let me meet those in my network and start forming connections. It was amazing to see how one of the members of my own network from the year before, Rio Blue, was now the head of the new group. I began to consider my own future in NFTY, something that occurs frequently. I spent the rest of Mechina meeting the amazing leaders that are in our movement, and seeing the incredible things that we are poised to achieve.

My first event of my senior year finally came. I had spent four weeks at camp, and spending the fifth there with NFTY was very good for me. What wasn't so good was what was going on at home. My mom had, halfway through the summer, been diagnosed with breast cancer. I had discovered this the day before I left for camp, so it was most definitely plaguing my mind. Having the chance to be with NFTY allowed me to ease my mind and to be comfortable with those around me. Frankly, I was comforted by the company of my best friends.

Two moments stick out for me as the turning points of Summer Kallah and my term as RCVP. The first was on Friday night, during services. My friends from school had just arrived and the weather outside featured a nasty thunderstorm. We cam together for the first time as a full community. I don't remember what the theme was for the service. It didn't even matter. We sang and prayed with an enthusiasm I don't think I have ever seen before or since. We enjoyed Shabbat with all of our hearts and were moved by the experience. It was a life-changing moment for everyone involved, and still gives me chills when I think about it.

The second moment came during Havdallah. I created a Jewish star with candles and allowed each person to light one, completing the star with light. I had no idea what would come from this. What resulted was a single photo of a illuminated Jewish Star that blazed across the wallpaper of every phone in NFTY CANOe. Many NFTYites still have this wallpaper for their phone, even now so many months later. This was an example of making something tangible, despite the loftiness of my religious duty.

As my senior year in NFTY progressed, I spent more of my time working beyond simply writing services. I tried to write blog posts to open the eyes of my region. I tried to incorporate Judaism into the lives of all NFTYites.

Now we come to the most significant time of my NFTY life: my second Convention. Before the event, I decided that I, after serving two years as the Chicago Area Region Religious and Cultural Vice President, I wanted to move up to the next level. I would run for the North American RCVP position. This is a position that many had encouraged me to pursue and that I knew I could do. I also knew that this would be my way of remaining in the movement for the benefit of both the organization and myself.

Once at Convention, it turned out I could relax a little bit (I was running unopposed), yet I also wanted to make sure that all of those in NFTY knew how much I loved it and how much I was willing to do to advance the movement.

Over the course of five days, I was involved in amazingly eye-opening services, educational programming, and intense fun. I also saw close to 800 Jews come together to rock out with our greatest Jewish musical artists. Nothing is more meaningful than rocking out while praising God.

At the end of the event, elections took place where I and three others (eventually four) were selected to be the next leaders of the North American Federation of Temple Youth. I am so excited to get the chance that so few have ever had, and to truly make the organization that I love so much a meaningful experience for all young Jews.

More later.

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

April 20 (NFTY part 2)

As I served on regional board, I was given eight amazing people with whom I grew. Sam and Joe were the two older guys who I looked up to and who taught me what it meant to be a leader, all while remaining "one of the guys." I had Sydney and Jordyn, who had an elegance to their leadership that I worked to emulate. The rest I will talk about later.

I ran through my junior year on board, learning how to lead and finding my way. I quickly made a close friendship with NFTY Northern's RCVP, Forrest Yesnes, never dreaming of where those two juniors would end up.

Soon it came time again for KOLBO. This time, I was seeking the presidency. I ran with every intention of winning. I had no idea in my head that defeat was even an option. Unfortunately, I had set myself up for bitter disappointment. I was defeated by someone who later became one of my best friends. I was forced to run for reelection to RCVP, a position that I still loved but had thought I had outgrown. It turns out I was wrong. Wrong about everything that weekend. Wrong about my role as president, wrong about my maturity, wrong about my calling. I thank God for unanswered prayers, and that I had the chance to wind up where I truly belong.

More later.

Monday, April 18, 2011

April 18 (NFTY part 1)

I had to say goodbye to my best friends yesterday. After four years of friendship, I had to walk away from the best thing that has ever happened to me.

Yesterday was my last day in NFTY-CAR. I, as a graduating senior, got my chance to walk around the senior circle and talk about how much NFTY as meant to me. I had both a thousand words to say, and yet was, and still am, speechless.

I wanted to take the time to debrief for myself. Eight grade KOLBO was the beginning. My first event was not the stereotypical bad first event. I actually had a lot of fun. I read Torah, which was an exciting chance to get immediately involved in the religious and cultural end of NFTY. Once the event was over, I felt good about NFTY, but not head over heels.

Now comes the regret. I didn't go to Summer Kallah or Kickoff my freshmen year. This, now, in retrospect, was a massive mistake on my part. I should have gone to accelerate my love of NFTY. I guess it doesn't really matter, because I got to go to 26 events, but I still wish I had gotten more involved more quickly.

For the next year, from one Winter Kallah to the next, I went and had fun. I liked the feeling of community that I had when I was there. I liked the friendships I was making.

I decided in the early days of 2009 that I wanted to go to Convention. It would be my first North American event, and I wanted to take my involvement to another level.

I look at my first Convention as the moment when I went from liking NFTY to the deep love that has consumed me for years. I had friends who were seniors, which, as a sophomore was pretty cool. I was actively getting involved in the politics of the event, and took a close look at the possibility of running for my own regional board.

At KOLBO 2009, I ran. I put myself out there in NFTY and began my love affair with the position of Religious and Cultural Vice President. During elections, I gave a speech that involved participation by the audience. Many still remember "Why Austin?" and some see that as the reason I was elected. It was definitely the first time I felt that I was a good speaker.

More is to come tomorrow.

Saturday, April 2, 2011

April 2

Baseball season is finally here. I am so much happier when the Cubs are playing. I have an outlet for all of my emotions. Every emotion I could ever imagine comes through:

Happiness: Nothing shows happiness quite like flying the big blue W over Wrigley Field after a win.

Frustration: When the Cubs walk in a run (which they are notorious for doing) it is amazing that I don't put my foot through the TV.

Sadness: Knowing that October very well may come and leave the Cubs behind. Again.

Hope: Maybe this will be our year. And if anyone says otherwise, just keep wishing.

Jealousy: The Yankees and their 27 championships. That is frustrating. Can't they share some of those?

Contentment: Not that I enjoy seeing other people suffer, but seeing the Twins and whoever is playing the White Sox win gives me a nice feeling.

As the Cubs begin their year, we can only hope that this is our year. I will, however, follow every game and be sure to keep the hope alive. Gotta love baseball season.

Monday, March 21, 2011

March 21

Running has been my outlet. I began running a week ago, doing it as a way to clear my head during stressful times such as these, as well as to lose a few of the pounds I gained during the less-than-active months of winter.

What I didn't realize was how good I would feel running. I feel as though I am working on something much bigger than just my cardiovascular health. During my runs, I am able to digest my day, because I run right after school. I am able to really think about what has gone on over the course of my school day, and be prepared to go into the night's worth of homework well rested. I am able to become so physically exhausted that I don't think I can go any farther, and yet I get on it and keep on going.

Running is really just a symbol for the rest of my life. When I run, I am allowing myself to get into a mental and physical state of drive, yet peace. I am in the zone, ready to keep going, yet all I am focused on is where I am going. I run most often without a set destination, but rather for the simple enjoyment of hitting the road. I change it up every day, so that I don't become bored with my surroundings.

So far, I have ran on seven days. I have seen some amazing things. Today, I saw a hawk, flying from light post to light post. The grace and beautify of the animal was amazing, and I wanted to be able to run and catch up to it. I can't believe all of the amazing things I see along my path, and I'm glad I have the chance to take these moments to see them.

As I run through my life, I am going to be faced with a lot of hard roads. Sometimes there will be a sidewalk, sometimes I'll have to off-road it. Sometimes I will be alone, and sometimes there will be others running nearby. It will never be easy to go for a run, but it will always make me a better person to kick it into gear, and push myself beyond my limit.

Thursday, March 10, 2011

March 10th

We had a debate today in AP Psychology. Interestingly enough, I probably learn more in that class than any other. The reason for that is because, unlike my other classes, my teacher is less focused on "sticking to the curriculum," and instead focuses on true comprehension of the subject. We do hands-on activities, watch pertinent videos, and engage in interesting discussions.

Today, we had a fairly heated discussion. We were talking about the development of moral reasoning in human development. We were presented with a dilemma: If presented with the opportunity to cheat on a test and not get caught, would you do it?

I would say the class was split 25/25/50. 25% of the class were hard-core defenders of not cheating. They thought it was wrong to do, and was an unfair way to take advantage of the situation. Another 25% thought that it was there for the taking, and that it was only being resourceful to cheat, so go right ahead. The remaining 50% were those who were relatively undecided on the topic, and had important views in both directions.

I was one of those who said that I wouldn't cheat. I made a comment about how, in 10 years, nobody will care how you did on any test, or what your GPA was, but what will matter is the type of person that you became. I said that all of our actions create who we are as people, and I wouldn't cheat, because it is the wrong way to define myself as a person.

As the debate continued, one of my classmates made a comment that came off as a little bit hostile. He said that it was ridiculous that people were saying they wouldn't cheat because, if presented with the opportunity to do so and not get caught "everyone would cheat." I instantly challenged him, asking whether that was just him impressing his own personal feelings on the entire class. He was adamant in saying that we were not being honest with ourselves or the class in our answers of morality.

Here is where my problem comes in. It is vastly inappropriate to say that, because I feel a certain way, it is impossible for anyone else to feel differently, unless they are either lying or something is wrong with them. I don't think it is fair for one person to say that the moral decisions of another are wrong for being "too right", even if it may be less than realistic, or less than the norm.

I understand that, if you are not going to get caught, there are a great many people who would be willing to forgo honesty in favor of advantage. I refuse to accept, though, that I or any of my fellow classmates are wrong for choosing otherwise.

The fact that we were having a moral discussion in school was amazing. It needs to happen more often. But to do so, everyone needs to know how to do so in a way that will not insult or isolate others. That is not what a discussion is about.

Tuesday, March 1, 2011

March 1

On Saturday, my brother stood before the entire congregation and read from the Torah for the first time. He became a Bar Mitzvah, and began his life as a Jewish adult.

I am exceptionally proud of the job that he did. He read with great pride, respect, and religious enthusiasm. It is very inspiring to see such a young person come forward and do such great things when it comes to speaking from his heart, all while opening the hearts of those who love him.

Whenever someone in NFTY is elected to a regional board position, one of the first things they are told is to find their successor. I have found one of mine. He is my brother. He may not be a regional board member, or he may be. But he will be a leader in the Jewish movement. I can know with certainty and hope that I will have someone behind me who will do amazing things and help to make this world a better place.

This is my wish for Logan. May he have everything he ever wants, and yet also struggle with life's important questions.

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

February 23

With a full day between myself and the Convention festivities, it is time for me to debrief. Unfortunately, there is too much greatness to share than I can fit in one post. Fortunately, it is my blog, so I can post as many times as I want. I will, therefore, post a little bit each night, for a total of five or six total posts.

First, I want to start with the most basic. NFTY is home. NFTY is home for so many different types of people. There were people there who had 1000 friends at their school, none as good as their NFTY friends. There were some there who had no friends back at school, and only were able to feel comfortable when surrounded by fellow Jews.

I will never forget how welcoming we were. I will never forget how WELCOMED I felt. I will never forget how amazing it was to see young Jews reach up to grasp their dreams, whether it be delivering a D'var Torah, singing in the teen choir, or shaking Dan Nichol's hand. It is unbelievable how much empowering goes on in our youth movement.

That being said, we cannot have this be this way if we don't work at it. For every moment that we enjoy our joy and peace, we must fight to maintain it. It is through hateful words and unkind actions that we can ruin all the work that was done before us. We need to be the ones who actively welcome everyone in, whether they have friends back home or not.

Everybody means the world to somebody. To NFTY, somebody means the world to everybody. And that is a beautiful thing.

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

February 22

After a beautiful NFTY Convention 2011, here is just some of the response:

going back to school today was WAY too difficult. let's all go back to NFTY convention. please? ♥

texas ♥ convention ♥ nfty ♥

I said what's up Dallas. what's up? Jump on it! And by "it" I mean sexy potatos, beefsteak tomatos, floors shaking like an earthquake, Tony from Uganda, voices that don't exist, planes that leave too late, and so much more. I want to go back to Texas!!

NFTY Convention, what was your favorite/most memorable experience. 1 2 3, GO!!! ♥

I'm home. NFTY withdrawal time... :'(

listening to Jewish Rock Radio to help fuel my NFTY withdrawl

NFTY CONVENTION WAS AMAZING!! I LOVE Y'ALL

NFTY Convention was amazing!!! I miss and love you all, especially kutz 2010 kids

I will post my own words tomorrow. Tonight, I'll let NFTY do the talking.

Tuesday, February 8, 2011

February 8th

The Superbowl is always a time of high excitement and enthusiasm. Whether you like to watch the game or just the commercials, everyone had something to cheer for Sunday night. The game was too close to call, the commercials were clever, and the half-time show was great.

We also have Christina Aguilera. Her rendition of the National Anthem was highly anticipated. They talked about it on Sportscenter, Pardon the Interruption, and on most other sports talk shows.

When it came time for the actual performance, she did a great job. Except for one line. She messed one up. She repeated part of one line, while skipping another.

On the news yesterday, the anchors discussed her performance and read some twitter posts (tweets) about it. Both of the first tweets said that she butchered the anthem and that she owed an apology to the nation for her ghastly mistake.

It is very easy to be critical of the girl's performance for someone sitting on the couch watching. I think these people have drastically undervalued the pressure that comes with this kind of performance. Millions of people all over the globe are watching you, waiting for you to start the game. It is no surprise that the pressure got into her head a little bit and caused her to bungle the words.

It is here that we all need to pause for a moment. We sing the National Anthem before sporting events to generate a sense of national pride and to create a sense of pride in our country before competitions. It gives us unity and it gives us strength. We, as a community, benefit more from having Aguilera botch the words, rather than having nobody try at all.

We, as a community, need to appreciate the value of the spirit of the words, rather than the words themselves. And we need to have a little patience. Although she is an international superstar, Christina Aguilera is still human. She is allowed to get swept away by the excitement and get a little nervous. We have to appreciate the fact that she had what it takes to do it at all.

Monday, January 31, 2011

January 31

Winter time, after the excitement of winter break and finals, can suck. Spring break is so far away, Summer vacation even farther, and the chance of having anything exciting or fun to look forward to dwindle.

With the crazy weather that is predicted for Tuesday night and Wednesday, the school is buzzing over the possibility for a snow day. That is the topci each student, teacher, and administrator has on the mind, none with what I would think of as worry. Everyone involved could benefit from a day off.

Why, though, is that the focus of attention? It is because we all need something to look forward to, something to seperate the days from one another.

As we go about our lives in the dark days of winter, we fall into ruts, doing the same things every day without any change or excitement.

All this being said, we need to find ways of thrilling up our lives. It is not enough to simply live to get through to spring break. We need to create certain benchmarks to live for.

For me, the longest I can go without something to look forward to is two weeks. I have to set deadlines, times when I can know that something fun, exciting, or special will happen.

NFTY convention is 18 days away. Even that is too long. I have to set the Super Bowl, hanging out with friends, whatever, as my goals. This is an almost entirely psychological thing. Will I actually not be able to survive 18 days without somethign to look forward to? No, of course not. But the ability to be happy causes the need for something in our lives to look forward to.

So lets all hope for a white Wednesday.

Sunday, January 23, 2011

January 23

It is all too easy in our society to find scapegoats. Those people who we get to dump all of our problems on and blame. We get to pick certain people who will get to fall because of personal circumstance, whether it be because of sports, because of work, or because of plain old life.

It is so easy to point a finger at someone else and say "it is his fault things are happening this way." What is must harder is to look into yourself and decide that, maybe it was your turn to screw things up.

What I find most difficult to avoid is when we blame people for things that nobody controls. When the weather doesn't cooperate with our plans, when our plans fall through for whatever reason, when we get a cold on the day of the big celebration. We can't figure out when these things are going to happen. It is our job to just deal with them as they come up. Sometimes we look to others to blame these things on. Who can we blame so that we don't have to look at the situation for what it really was: a random act that maybe messed with our plans.

I was driving to a youth group event last weekend and blew out a tire. It was a random thing; I could have blown it out going to school the next morning, going to temple the day before, anything really. It just happened to be on the way to the youth group event that I most wanted to go to this month. I realized that I was getting frustrated with everyone who I was interacting with. I got frustrated with my friend who didn't answer the phone at the youth group event, even though he clearly couldn't hear the phone ring, or was busy doing something else. I found myself getting angry at my parents for saying I couldn't use my car to get to the event. I found myself getting pissed at the tow truck driver who was changing the tire, because he was an idiot. Now, was my friend busy? Yes. Did it suck that I wouldn't be able to go to the event? Yes. Was the truck driver not-so-smart? Yup. But overall, it wasn't any of their fault that the tire blew out. It was just the way things played out.

I learned there that it is always easy to blame someone. It isn't always easy to blame no one.

Monday, January 17, 2011

January 17th

A man working at a store where I was today was talking to a friend of his. He turned to his friend and reminded him that the post office was not open today because "It is Columbus day, or something like that."

It is a disappointment to me that, on a day to remember Martin Luther King Jr (who is very different from Christopher Columbus, might I note), that we cannot even remember who we are remembering. MLK was a great man, a man who saw change happening in America, and wanted to bring about peace not only within groups, but between them as well.

My mother has always said that we should spend Martin Luther King Jr. day in school, learning about him, rather than sleeping late and getting to go about our regular, school-free day. I always used to shrug this off and be thankful that we have one less day of school. Today, though, I did wish that there was better education about the life of a man as great as King. We need to remember the work that he did, so that we will never believe that one person is better than any other.

I too have a dream. I have a dream that we look at our past and learn from it, and that we work together to work toward a future of peace. I dream that my children will not even know of racism, and instead grow up in a world where all are appreciated, not for what they are not, but for what they are.


"A genuine leader is not a searcher for consensus but a molder of consensus." Martin Luther King Jr.

Wednesday, January 12, 2011

January 12th

It is Wednesday, and I have finished four of six finals. Time to go to bed, so that I can do well on the final two. Have a good night.

"If you always do what you always did then you always get what you always got"

Tuesday, January 11, 2011

January 11th

Wow. You don't know how good you have it until you see someone else more messed up than you.

On the day of the first round of finals, my mom showed me a segment that had aired on the Today Show this morning. This particular part of the broadcast was talking about a new book called "The Battle Cry of the Tiger Mom." It focused on a woman who had written this book about the ways in which she went about parenting her children.

During the video introduction, the narrator tells us that the two daughters were very restricted in what they could and could not do socially. Things that were not allowed in the household included sleepovers, play dates, watching television, or playing computer games. Each girl was forced to play either piano or violin, and was required to practice for between 2 and 3 hours a day.

When talking about grades, the narrator asked the oldest girl if she was a perfect A student. The girl's response?
"No, I got an A- once, in Calculus as a Sophomore."
There are two problems with that statement. First of all, an A- is, guess what, STILL AN A. What are you complaining about? I struggle to maintain A- and B+ grades, and you are saying that an A- isn't close enough to perfect? Second of all, Calculus as a Sophomore? That is ridiculous. What kind of math class could she be in now, as a Senior? I can't even begin to fathom what kind of brain surgery she must be capable of conducting at this point.

After the video introduction ,an interview was conducted with the mother and author of the book. She, a daughter of a Chinese immigrant, attempted to use "Chinese values" as the reasoning behind her, if I may say, CRAZINESS. She attempted to explain that, on the basis of hard work, perseverance, and love, she was able to raise two very great kids.

Kids? Try robots. She used her ridiculous ideas about what her culture believes important to raise two zombie daughters, who will never be able to experience what it means to live in the real world. If you are constantly asked to be the best, and no less than that will be accepted, than one day you will fail. Failure is not an option, it is a requirement. How can we learn from our experiences in order to be better people without first failing a few times. When the first time they will fail comes around, they will be so shell-shocked that they will never be truly able to recover from the horror. This mother has successfully doomed her children to years of therapy and mental instability because of her need for excellence.

The news reporter even quoted, and the mother verified, that this woman had once told one of her daughters that if she didn't perfect a piece on the piano, she would "take all of her stuffed animals and burn them." Really? You are saying that to a child and claiming that you will not cause any mental harm or emotional detriment? That is a clear example of dementia right there.

This woman even had to audacity to call out Western living as saying that American parents CONDONE teen drinking, drug use, and pregnancy. Really? Because I'm fairly certain if I came home drunk, high, and pregnant (well, that one would be something of a challenge, now wouldn't it), my parents would flip a taco.

This woman needs to take a very close look at what she is doing in the world. I think this relates to something that I said to one of my friends this week. Wrapped up in the stress and pressure of finals, my friend said that she needed a miracle. In response, I said that I don't think God really cares whether or not you get an A in History class, but rather if you were a good person while doing it. This mother should really consider what she is doing to her children, and ask if she is doing what is best for them in the long run.

God help us all, I guess.

Monday, January 10, 2011

January 10th

Finals week began today, and the whole school is in full stress mode. My school is not an easy one to attend at this time of year, because of the intensity with which it goes about studying. If you are not cramming for exams, you are simply not doing something right.

I have one teacher, though, who has been particularly outspoken about the finals frenzy. This teacher teaches on of my favorite classes, and has spent the entire year trying to encourage us to think beyond the walls of the classroom, to think about what we are learning on a more significant and worldly level. I think the class has achieved a greater level of success because of this encouragement, and I believe we have all gotten a little bit more from the class because of it.

During the week when most other teachers are attempting to fill our heads with the information that we will need to get an A on the final, my teacher was working on making sure that we knew how to use the material beyond that. The class he teaches does not cater well to a classic style of exam, so a final is a difficult thing to study for. He was quite critical of the exam, as a matter of fact, and even mentioned to us how stupid it is that we even have to take an exam, because he believes that it is better to have an assessment that reflects our actual growth in the class, something that the current exam fails to do.

I think my teacher is right on in this. Exams focus too much on letter grades: what do I need for an A-, what do I need to maintain my B average. The focus needs to start being more on how much we learned and how we can take that into the real world and benefit our community. How can we do that with simply an A on a report card?

Sunday, January 9, 2011

January 9th

This morning, I played guitar at my temple, songleading for services as well as the parent open-house type program that my first grade class led. I played about 10 different songs, and was engaged in some serious songleading excitement. Of those 10 songs, eight of them were written by Debbie Friedman.

This morning, Debbie Friedman died at the age of 58. Her music, which began at OSRUI, the summer camp that I attend and love, inspired thousands of Jews all around the globe. Her beautiful talent brought great joy and light to the spirit of an entire movement. She will be greatly missed.

May her memory be for a blessing.

"Life is not the amount of breaths you take, it's the moments that take your breath away."

January 8th

Gettin more opportunities for freedom as we get older is part of what makes getting older fun. We are presented with the chance to become more worldly, and get to experience things on a level that we have never reached before.

When teenagers get freedom, they often do stupid things. They don't know what to do without someone keeping tabs on them, and therefore go out and think it is ok to get drunk or stupid (well, both usually). Most of the time, though, the stupid ideas come from the ones we are told to do. If you are home alone, you are TOLD that having a party is the "right" way of having fun in that situation. It is the true sign of maturity when you are able to overcome this by doing what is right, even when it is not what might be fun for the moment.

“Nobody ever did, or ever will, escape the consequences of his choices.” Alfred Montapert

Thursday, January 6, 2011

January 6th

This week has been an incredible act of endurance for me. I have had more paperwork, more writing, and more studying to do all at once than any other time of high school. So much for an easy senior year.

Here is what I don't understand. With all of the work that i have been doing, I have had to stay up until 11:45 three nights in a row. Today, I could barely get out of bed. At school, I had trouble staying awake, and trouble even going from one class to another attentively. Overall, it was as if I was running on empty. How, then, do people do waht I am doing every day? I have several friends who can't even think about getting to sleep until at least 2 oclock in the morning. Every day, some people will even stay up until 1 in the morning, just to get up at 4 to finish. They come to school with three to five hours of sleep. Thnking about that, they get less than 24 hours of slep in a school week. That is rediculous. After how tired I was today, I can't even imagine how hard it is to function after so much work. It isn't even only about staying up late. It is also about what they, and I, are doing with the time we should be sleeping. We are working hard just to stay afloat with all of the school work, extra-curricular activities, jobs, and, in my case, youth group matters.

This is a vicious cycle. We stay up late so that we can do all of our homework to be ready for school, but by the time we get to school, we are to exhausted from the night before to actually be able to do well or focus.

I'm ready to go to bed, mostly because I want to make sure I am ready to work hard tomorrow.

"We accept the nature of the reality that is presented to us" The Truman Show

Wednesday, January 5, 2011

January 5th

First blog to say I can't blog. I have too much on my plate and just need to go to bed.

Great post. Better one tomorrow.

Tuesday, January 4, 2011

January 4th

Today was a weird day. Within one day, I went from incredibly excited to incredibly not. I went from happy to pissed at the drop of a hat. I went from stressed to at peace, and back to stressed again a thousand times. Overall, it was just a tough day. January is not shaping up to be an easy month.

Monday, January 3, 2011

January 3rd

Back to school day really gets a bad rap. So many people dread going back after winter or spring break. I am usually one of those people. This year, though, I just couldn't bring myself to be upset. The idea of getting to go back and see all of my friends and teachers was actually a really nice break from, well, break. I had missed getting to see everyone and work hard at school. So much free time on my hands was fun, but at the same time, I was ready to get back in the swing of things and restart my routine.

My favorite part of going back to school today was Physics. I know, who ever would have thought I would like Physics. Really, when you think about it, what is there to like? It is the math of science. I can't stand either of those two subjects. But this year, and especially today, I really enjoyed toe pursuit. The chance to fight my way through a problem to get the right answer. Because the whole class is really just a metaphor for real life. We are going to have problems. We are not going to have the answers. We are going to struggle, to throw "equations" at the problem and try to solve it. Sometimes we will get it right, sometimes we will get it wrong, but overall, our teachers and peers will be there to give us advice, guidance and support, and we will, eventually, sink or swim. Today, I was able to swim in Physics. Maybe tomorrow I won't. But it sure was fun trying today.

“In physics, you don't have to go around making trouble for yourself - nature does it for you.” Frank Wilczek

Sunday, January 2, 2011

January 2nd

Going to college is intended to be an educational experience. Who knew that the education would begin before you got there.

The lesson that I am getting right now is one in patience. The University of Wisconsin is going to get back to me before January 15th, but they do not tell me how much before that the decision will come. It could be today. It could be tomorrow. It could be January 15 exactly.

I am someone who loves to plan. I like to plan ahead what I will do when, how I will do things, and every detail kept in order. Not knowing what your options are, however, really impacts your ability to plan. Wisconsin is teaching me to have pateince, to sit by and wait while a decision is made for me.

Between now and then, I will check my email somewhere close to 1000 times. I will do everything to keep myself busy, as if to make myself feel like I have a say. But overall, Wisconsin is teaching me one of the most valuable lessons it will teach me, whether I attend or not. Just got to stay patient.

“All human wisdom is summed up in two words - wait and hope” Alexandre Dumas Pere

Saturday, January 1, 2011

January 1st

Today is the first day of a new year. It is also the beginning of my next journey into blogging.

Last year, I posted almost every week, each time on a different topic. This exercised my ability to come up with engaging information to talk about, and allowed me to come up with ways to experess myself both for others and for my own benefit.

This year, I want to try something different. Rather than a weekly post that is many paragraphs long, I want to attempt a daily post. These posts will be shorter most of the time, sometimes being only two or three sentences while other times reaching to multiple paragraphs. THis will allow me to work on stretching my creativity to allow me to observe what goes on around me and to find the value in the most often mundane.

I will post in this fashion every night for the first part of the year, and reflect back on it in June to reflect and adapt based on my experiences.

I will also close every post with a quote that is moving to me in some way or another.

“The road of life twists and turns and no two directions are ever the same. Yet our lessons come from the journey, not the destination.” Don Williams Jr.