At a gathering of 120 Jewish teens this past week, the incredible feeling of power as a movement was astounding. As a collective group, we were able to have conversations that not only demonstrated progress in the relationships we formed, but also in the entirety of Reform Judaism.
Over the course of the weekend, we discussed everything from prioritizing our goals for the future, to the need for advocacy themes in our organization, as well as the need to provide certain structure to our voting processes to both maintain the integrity of our elections process, as well as that of the candidates.
After one particularly long discussion that resulted in the tabling of a large decision to a later date, one of the greatest young men I have ever met said "It is not so much about the changes we are making, but rather that we are empowering people to make change." This was truly insightful.
As teenagers, people are always telling us we can accomplish great things. In most contexts, this sounds like a hoax. How can I, one teenager, make an impact on the world? It is when we get to practice decision making, practice standing up for what we believe in, and practice making necessary changes in our society that we can begin to make these lofty goals an actuality.
Our youth movement is just what it's title is. A movement. We are constantly moving forward and developing our priorities, as well as setting up systems that will allow us to better the work that we are doing. Yet, our most significant act of motion is simply growing up.
Another of the amazing parts of this past week was the installation of the coming year's board that occurred on Saturday night. For this ceremony, each of the outgoing board members shared some words about their discoveries during their term and imparted their wisdom unto the rest of the general assembly.
Seeing the leaders who helped to train me and shape me as a leader in this movement leave it was a sad thing. I was disappointed to see them no longer called NFTYites. But they gained a new, even more significant title: JEWISH LEADERS. After all of the movement in the youth organization, it was time for the movement to grow beyond its borders and escalate into a lifelong journey. Who could possibly have set a better example for me than these five outgoing board members, and who can possibly be more capable to take their place than the five incoming.
In the coming year, there is so much excitement to follow in the footsteps of those who came before us as well as to pave our own trail. Being given the opportunity to be empowered to make change is something that I will cherish for my entire life, as well as an excellent opportunity to not only make my way along a path, but to leave behind ideas, proposals, guidance and support, so that those who come after me can see the way as well.
Monday, June 28, 2010
Monday, June 14, 2010
Summer Sun making fun
Top 20 things to do over summer vacation:
20: Watch 10 movies in three days.
19: Stay up til 2 in the morning finishing your 10th movie in three days.
18: Wake up at 11 every morning.
17: Clean your room for 15 minutes and get distracted by facebook again and again.
16: Get a visit from friends who show up at your door unannounced and have a meeting in their car.
15: Write blog posts a day late and deep into the night.
14:Go for a Slurpee run the minute school lets out.
13: Become a hockey expert overnight.
12: Make a list of all the things you need to do today... and then do one a day for a week.
11: Move your phone charger closer to your computer so you can Skype and text at the same time.
10: Go to Panda Express twice in two days.
9: Play baseball 3 times in a week.
8: Hide school backpack in a corner so it doesn't ruin your fun.
7: Go outside, complain its too warm, go outside and complain its too cold.
6: Stay up until 2 in the morning on facebook.
5: Watch the end of the hockey season, which makes little sense because there is no ice in the summer.
4: Take three naps in one day.
3: Play disc golf four days in a row with your dad.
2: Fly home from Boston at 8 at night and leave for New York at 4 the next morning.
1: Lose your keys at a baseball park at 9:15 at night when it is dark.
20: Watch 10 movies in three days.
19: Stay up til 2 in the morning finishing your 10th movie in three days.
18: Wake up at 11 every morning.
17: Clean your room for 15 minutes and get distracted by facebook again and again.
16: Get a visit from friends who show up at your door unannounced and have a meeting in their car.
15: Write blog posts a day late and deep into the night.
14:Go for a Slurpee run the minute school lets out.
13: Become a hockey expert overnight.
12: Make a list of all the things you need to do today... and then do one a day for a week.
11: Move your phone charger closer to your computer so you can Skype and text at the same time.
10: Go to Panda Express twice in two days.
9: Play baseball 3 times in a week.
8: Hide school backpack in a corner so it doesn't ruin your fun.
7: Go outside, complain its too warm, go outside and complain its too cold.
6: Stay up until 2 in the morning on facebook.
5: Watch the end of the hockey season, which makes little sense because there is no ice in the summer.
4: Take three naps in one day.
3: Play disc golf four days in a row with your dad.
2: Fly home from Boston at 8 at night and leave for New York at 4 the next morning.
1: Lose your keys at a baseball park at 9:15 at night when it is dark.
Monday, June 7, 2010
Taught Teacher
This past Friday night, I was invited to an adult B'nei Mitzvah for the mother of my best friend. I arrived at temple expecting your run of the mill service, maybe a little longer than usual, but, overall, nothing out of the ordinary.
Instead I received one of the greatest lessons that I could ever have learned. As my friend's mom read from the Torah and performed the ceremonies necessary to becoming Bat Mitzvah, I saw a great lesson. I saw this mother giving her son the greatest gift she could possibly give. She was, in fact, having this Bat Mitzvah to coincide with her mother's birthday, as a sort of gift to her mother. She also was giving a gift to her son, whether he realized it or not.
This woman, who, after the fact, said that she was immensely afraid of speaking in front of a group, was showing her son, who, incidentally had just been elected president of the temple's youth group, that learning Judaism does not stop after you are 13 years old when the traditional bar mitzvah time occurs. It does not stop at 18 years old when you graduate the high school program. It does, in fact, continue into adulthood and for the rest of a Jewish life, continually pursuing education and learning. The fact that this mother was able to teach her son that she was still learning and that he too had to continue to pursue his Judaic education, was something that I found incredibly meaningful, and possibly the most exciting part of the event.
Life lessons seemed to be on a two-for-one sale, because I learned something else that was really important to me. The group of adults who were officially becoming Bar or Bat Mitzvah that night all had something in common. They were all nervous. And they all had reasons why they had put this off for many years. One was afraid of public speaking, another didn't want to take time away from her family. All of them did it, however. They all stopped making excuses for their own fears or insecurities and did something that they are all proud of. I was incredibly moved seeing someone who wanted to accomplish something overcome their fear and do it, throwing caution to the wind on those things that scared them.
Without even knowing it, these four members of the community taught me something with their learning. The student became the teacher without even knowing it.
Instead I received one of the greatest lessons that I could ever have learned. As my friend's mom read from the Torah and performed the ceremonies necessary to becoming Bat Mitzvah, I saw a great lesson. I saw this mother giving her son the greatest gift she could possibly give. She was, in fact, having this Bat Mitzvah to coincide with her mother's birthday, as a sort of gift to her mother. She also was giving a gift to her son, whether he realized it or not.
This woman, who, after the fact, said that she was immensely afraid of speaking in front of a group, was showing her son, who, incidentally had just been elected president of the temple's youth group, that learning Judaism does not stop after you are 13 years old when the traditional bar mitzvah time occurs. It does not stop at 18 years old when you graduate the high school program. It does, in fact, continue into adulthood and for the rest of a Jewish life, continually pursuing education and learning. The fact that this mother was able to teach her son that she was still learning and that he too had to continue to pursue his Judaic education, was something that I found incredibly meaningful, and possibly the most exciting part of the event.
Life lessons seemed to be on a two-for-one sale, because I learned something else that was really important to me. The group of adults who were officially becoming Bar or Bat Mitzvah that night all had something in common. They were all nervous. And they all had reasons why they had put this off for many years. One was afraid of public speaking, another didn't want to take time away from her family. All of them did it, however. They all stopped making excuses for their own fears or insecurities and did something that they are all proud of. I was incredibly moved seeing someone who wanted to accomplish something overcome their fear and do it, throwing caution to the wind on those things that scared them.
Without even knowing it, these four members of the community taught me something with their learning. The student became the teacher without even knowing it.
Monday, May 31, 2010
Remember what we are fighting for
Memorial day is a day to remember all of those brave men and women who are out on the front lines, defending our country and standing up for what they believe in. I love the holiday, not just because of the bar-b-ques and the relaxing, but because of the symbolism and meaning behind the event.
The day is, however, a sort of catch-22. I am someone who believes a pair of ideas that don't always coincide, most specifically in this situation. On one hand, I am a person who believes that fighting is the result of stubbornness, and that most often it is important to forgive each other and move toward a peaceful agreement on both sides of any argument, no matter how big or how small. On the other hand, though, I believe that it is incredibly important for us as individuals, as well as as a nation, to stand up for ourselves and defend the ideas that we believe are right. Standing up for one's self is vitally important, because without standing forcefully, your enemy will believe that they can reach their objectives more easily using force than peaceful agreement.
So basically, I am a big supporter of our troops. They are defending our land, standing up against those who attempt to plague our country with terror and destruction. But I'm also cautious of war, as I believe that no peace can be found when one fight remains.
Some people believe that to support the troops is to support the war. This is, frankly, rather ridiculous. The troops are doing the work, putting their lives on the line, because their country needs them. They are the human beings that make up this great nation, and as other members of that community, we are obligated to care for a support those who are taking up that important job of defending us. We can never thank them enough, but we have an obligation to try.
Thank you to all of those who have served this great nation against those who seek to destroy us. God bless America.
The day is, however, a sort of catch-22. I am someone who believes a pair of ideas that don't always coincide, most specifically in this situation. On one hand, I am a person who believes that fighting is the result of stubbornness, and that most often it is important to forgive each other and move toward a peaceful agreement on both sides of any argument, no matter how big or how small. On the other hand, though, I believe that it is incredibly important for us as individuals, as well as as a nation, to stand up for ourselves and defend the ideas that we believe are right. Standing up for one's self is vitally important, because without standing forcefully, your enemy will believe that they can reach their objectives more easily using force than peaceful agreement.
So basically, I am a big supporter of our troops. They are defending our land, standing up against those who attempt to plague our country with terror and destruction. But I'm also cautious of war, as I believe that no peace can be found when one fight remains.
Some people believe that to support the troops is to support the war. This is, frankly, rather ridiculous. The troops are doing the work, putting their lives on the line, because their country needs them. They are the human beings that make up this great nation, and as other members of that community, we are obligated to care for a support those who are taking up that important job of defending us. We can never thank them enough, but we have an obligation to try.
Thank you to all of those who have served this great nation against those who seek to destroy us. God bless America.
Sunday, May 23, 2010
"I have a dream"...and YOU do too
You are 5 years old. You are sitting in a kindergarten classroom and your teacher asks you "What do you want to do when you grow up?" You think for a moment, and then throw something out there. Sometimes it is an astronaut, sometimes a fireman, sometimes a scientist, a president, and any other profession. But there is an answer. Something you want to do.
I recently turned the tables and asked one of MY teachers what SHE wanted to be when she grew up. At first she laughed, chuckling at the concept of "growing up" for an adult. But, after a minute, I repeated the question. I wasn't joking; I wanted to know.
Everyone has dreams. Whether they are short term or long, lofty or basic, insignificant or momentous. But all too often they disappear. You grow up, realize how hard it can be to attain them, and stop trying.
I find it especially disheartening when I see people stop striving for what they reach for. I can't help but feel responsible. That may sound ridiculous, but I feel that I could have helped them, no matter how big a goal, at least in some way.
Interestingly enough, one of MY goals right now is to avoid just that. My goal is to be there to help people realize those dreams that may be seemingly out of reach. I want to help facilitate those who think their dream is impossible, but really just need a little extra help in reaching the peak of the mountain.
So whether it be something as little as visiting some restaurant, or as lofty as becoming president of the United States, don't let your dream slip away. Don't get wrapped up in how hard it is to attain. Get wrapped up in how amazing it will be to get to the goal. And if you ever need inspiration, look for me. Ask me. Or ask anyone. All you need is a kick in the butt to get you rolling.
I recently turned the tables and asked one of MY teachers what SHE wanted to be when she grew up. At first she laughed, chuckling at the concept of "growing up" for an adult. But, after a minute, I repeated the question. I wasn't joking; I wanted to know.
Everyone has dreams. Whether they are short term or long, lofty or basic, insignificant or momentous. But all too often they disappear. You grow up, realize how hard it can be to attain them, and stop trying.
I find it especially disheartening when I see people stop striving for what they reach for. I can't help but feel responsible. That may sound ridiculous, but I feel that I could have helped them, no matter how big a goal, at least in some way.
Interestingly enough, one of MY goals right now is to avoid just that. My goal is to be there to help people realize those dreams that may be seemingly out of reach. I want to help facilitate those who think their dream is impossible, but really just need a little extra help in reaching the peak of the mountain.
So whether it be something as little as visiting some restaurant, or as lofty as becoming president of the United States, don't let your dream slip away. Don't get wrapped up in how hard it is to attain. Get wrapped up in how amazing it will be to get to the goal. And if you ever need inspiration, look for me. Ask me. Or ask anyone. All you need is a kick in the butt to get you rolling.
Sunday, May 16, 2010
Guitar Hero
Rick Recht is one of the most prestigious singer/songwriters in Jewish contemporary rock music today. He has created dozens of songs to prayers, hymns, and ideals that are sung in congregations all over America, and even globally.
Today, I got the opportunity to play with him in a concert he gave at Temple Beth-El. This was, simply, one of the most meaningful musical experiences of my life.
Let's start with some back story. When I was about 10 years old, I heard that, at my temple, a young performer was coming to sing for us. It sounded like fun, so I went to temple early to get a close seat. It turned out it didn't matter, because Rick called us all up onto the lower stage to be closer to him and to the music. From that first song on, I was in love with his music, and I wanted so badly to be able to create it.
I began to pick up a guitar that my dad had purchased, and never got good. It sucked. It was hard, I couldn't get the notes to sound right, and I wasn't making the songs I had in my head.
I saw Rick a few more times, and every time he would tell me that I should play with him. I always politely came up with some reason to say no. The real reason was that I stunk. I never had the guts to practice hard enough to get any good.
Well, through some hard work and forced practice, I began to get better. I only really started working hard a year ago, when I was elected to my youth group position in which I felt obligated to be able to play songs and prayers that I was leading.
After a year of practicing, I was again presented with the opportunity to play with Rick, this time in front of all of my youth group friends. I decided to take the chance, and play. It was, in simple terms, amazing.
Now lets be realistic. I still didn't know how to play almost any of his songs, and definitely not well. But it didn't matter. Songleading is only about 10% guitar. Its really 90% excitement and enthusiasm. I sang my heart out on every song, played what chords I knew, and faked what I didn't, and bounced and smiled to the music. To hear that I was leading a group in song, no matter what notes I was playing on the guitar, was incredible. It was amazing to be able to be part of a community and create something with the person that inspired me to pick up Jewish music in the first place. I am forever grateful to Rick for inspiring in me that excitement. Now, it is my job to pass it on to the next Jewish musician.
Today, I got the opportunity to play with him in a concert he gave at Temple Beth-El. This was, simply, one of the most meaningful musical experiences of my life.
Let's start with some back story. When I was about 10 years old, I heard that, at my temple, a young performer was coming to sing for us. It sounded like fun, so I went to temple early to get a close seat. It turned out it didn't matter, because Rick called us all up onto the lower stage to be closer to him and to the music. From that first song on, I was in love with his music, and I wanted so badly to be able to create it.
I began to pick up a guitar that my dad had purchased, and never got good. It sucked. It was hard, I couldn't get the notes to sound right, and I wasn't making the songs I had in my head.
I saw Rick a few more times, and every time he would tell me that I should play with him. I always politely came up with some reason to say no. The real reason was that I stunk. I never had the guts to practice hard enough to get any good.
Well, through some hard work and forced practice, I began to get better. I only really started working hard a year ago, when I was elected to my youth group position in which I felt obligated to be able to play songs and prayers that I was leading.
After a year of practicing, I was again presented with the opportunity to play with Rick, this time in front of all of my youth group friends. I decided to take the chance, and play. It was, in simple terms, amazing.
Now lets be realistic. I still didn't know how to play almost any of his songs, and definitely not well. But it didn't matter. Songleading is only about 10% guitar. Its really 90% excitement and enthusiasm. I sang my heart out on every song, played what chords I knew, and faked what I didn't, and bounced and smiled to the music. To hear that I was leading a group in song, no matter what notes I was playing on the guitar, was incredible. It was amazing to be able to be part of a community and create something with the person that inspired me to pick up Jewish music in the first place. I am forever grateful to Rick for inspiring in me that excitement. Now, it is my job to pass it on to the next Jewish musician.
Sunday, May 9, 2010
Advanced Placement, not A Punishment
Its AP season. I know. I get it. You know how I know? Less people sleep, more people cry, everyone is on their last nerve, and nobody can hang out with friends because they are all studying.
I hate AP testing. Not because of the tests themselves, I can handle that. Not because of the studying that goes into them, I can handle that (if I do it at all). It is the freaking out that so many students do over the test. A test is, first and foremost, supposed to be an exploration into what it is that you remember and understand from the past year, testing not your ability to spit back information, but rather to assess whether or not the class was valuable in education.
Why, then, do so many people lose sleep, lose patience, and lose fun when the big bad test comes into view?
The reason for this, I think, is because of the society in which we live. So much focus is put on academic excellence. We have to get an A on everything. We have to take the highest level courses. We have to do as much schoolwork and extracurricular activities as we can possibly pack into one day, and not give any thought to what will keep us moving.
Where did we get this "Failure is not an option" attitude? I read, in English class, an article written by a writer, William Zinssler, who said that we, as people, have "a right to fail." This right has, however, been slowly taken away from us.
Failure does not, or rather should not, carry the negative connotation that it most often has. If we do not occasionally fail, how will we ever learn? We are told to learn from our mistakes, but how can we do this if we are not allowed to MAKE them?
I believe, in a society where we are taught that failure is not an option, the only people who tell us we are not allowed to fail are also the ones doing the failing. When a school tells us we cannot fail by stressing grades and making standards that are unachievable, they are failing to instill the ability for their students to learn from their experiences, both good and bad. When parents tell their children that they cannot fail and set ridiculous grade quotas, they are not instilling the values that are necessary for human life: The ability to fail, get back in the game, and succeed despite previous failure.
OK, I get it. I may not be the most popular AP student anymore. I am not accepting the breakneck attitude of kamikazeing my way to the test. Because guess what? There will always be a new test. There will always be a new bench mark, a new goal. If I can just stay up all night studying for ONE MORE TEST, I can finally relax. Unfortunately, when someone has this attitude for too long, it begs the question: When? When will you relax, take a deep breath, and enjoy just being a kid? Never. If you waste the few years of teenage life that we have on studying, we won't ever be able to look back and enjoy our past. We SHOULD study, we SHOULD set goals, but we should never let them contaminate our lives to the point where we don't have anything more to live for than just the next benchmark.
Stop. Right now. You may have a test tomorrow, or the next day, or the next. But it doesn't matter. In ten years, it won't matter how you did on an AP French test. It will matter if you lived your life to the fullest, and had the best life you could have had.
I hate AP testing. Not because of the tests themselves, I can handle that. Not because of the studying that goes into them, I can handle that (if I do it at all). It is the freaking out that so many students do over the test. A test is, first and foremost, supposed to be an exploration into what it is that you remember and understand from the past year, testing not your ability to spit back information, but rather to assess whether or not the class was valuable in education.
Why, then, do so many people lose sleep, lose patience, and lose fun when the big bad test comes into view?
The reason for this, I think, is because of the society in which we live. So much focus is put on academic excellence. We have to get an A on everything. We have to take the highest level courses. We have to do as much schoolwork and extracurricular activities as we can possibly pack into one day, and not give any thought to what will keep us moving.
Where did we get this "Failure is not an option" attitude? I read, in English class, an article written by a writer, William Zinssler, who said that we, as people, have "a right to fail." This right has, however, been slowly taken away from us.
Failure does not, or rather should not, carry the negative connotation that it most often has. If we do not occasionally fail, how will we ever learn? We are told to learn from our mistakes, but how can we do this if we are not allowed to MAKE them?
I believe, in a society where we are taught that failure is not an option, the only people who tell us we are not allowed to fail are also the ones doing the failing. When a school tells us we cannot fail by stressing grades and making standards that are unachievable, they are failing to instill the ability for their students to learn from their experiences, both good and bad. When parents tell their children that they cannot fail and set ridiculous grade quotas, they are not instilling the values that are necessary for human life: The ability to fail, get back in the game, and succeed despite previous failure.
OK, I get it. I may not be the most popular AP student anymore. I am not accepting the breakneck attitude of kamikazeing my way to the test. Because guess what? There will always be a new test. There will always be a new bench mark, a new goal. If I can just stay up all night studying for ONE MORE TEST, I can finally relax. Unfortunately, when someone has this attitude for too long, it begs the question: When? When will you relax, take a deep breath, and enjoy just being a kid? Never. If you waste the few years of teenage life that we have on studying, we won't ever be able to look back and enjoy our past. We SHOULD study, we SHOULD set goals, but we should never let them contaminate our lives to the point where we don't have anything more to live for than just the next benchmark.
Stop. Right now. You may have a test tomorrow, or the next day, or the next. But it doesn't matter. In ten years, it won't matter how you did on an AP French test. It will matter if you lived your life to the fullest, and had the best life you could have had.
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