What a vacation! The snow storm was amazing. I haven't seen snow like that in a long time. I pulled out my snowboard and got it ready. Snowboarding trips are already being planned!! I'm so excited! I love winter!
I need to acknowledge the board. Many of you may not really see the work they do. These 8 teenagers work so hard to put together progams. This year is more challenging than most. The board needs to write programs that speak to 8th-12th graders. They are constantly listening to feedback and working to make the next program even better than the last.
Elections are around the corner. January 18th is the last day to get forms in.
JUNIORS!!!! You have a very exciting month ahead for you. This month we are celebrating Tu B'shevat in ways you probably haven't ever celebrated it before. We are doing oragami, yoga and meditation, eating all kinds of fruits, and much more!
Coming soon is a huge interactive and fun Israel project! You'll never guess what we are going to do!
~Grace
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Elections
I'm not so old that I cannot remember when I ran for board in high school. I was RCVP for two years, and SAVP for my senior year. I put together many services with many different themes and organized social action projects that ranged from park clean ups to lobbying local legislators. It was the most amazing thing. I went to one NFTY biennial, and as many kallahs as I could get scholarship for.
Then I hit college. Hillel and Kesher are just not the same as NFTY. They both seem.......watered down. That is what I thought until I started going to conferences. Then I saw the amazing spirit of Hillel and Kesher. I went to every conference I could get out of class for. My favorite thing to do was to go down to D.C. and lobby. I was even hired to songlead an inter-faith conference on reproductive rights (that's where I got the bumper sticker on the back of my car).
Being on board is so much fun. Yeah, it's a lot of work too. You get to plan and run programs for the entire youth group, put together trips, put together major events like the Purim Carnival, and even help out with BNTYjr. You also build a lot of leadership skills. It's different working in a team. You can't just write the program by yourself. You need to involve every other board member in the process.
Run for board. Pick up a packet with me, or download them from the temple website......and facebook (if I can figure out how to do that). Your forms must be handed in to me, and you must have had a meeting with me, by January 18th.
Elections are on January 25th! Be there!
Then I hit college. Hillel and Kesher are just not the same as NFTY. They both seem.......watered down. That is what I thought until I started going to conferences. Then I saw the amazing spirit of Hillel and Kesher. I went to every conference I could get out of class for. My favorite thing to do was to go down to D.C. and lobby. I was even hired to songlead an inter-faith conference on reproductive rights (that's where I got the bumper sticker on the back of my car).
Being on board is so much fun. Yeah, it's a lot of work too. You get to plan and run programs for the entire youth group, put together trips, put together major events like the Purim Carnival, and even help out with BNTYjr. You also build a lot of leadership skills. It's different working in a team. You can't just write the program by yourself. You need to involve every other board member in the process.
Run for board. Pick up a packet with me, or download them from the temple website......and facebook (if I can figure out how to do that). Your forms must be handed in to me, and you must have had a meeting with me, by January 18th.
Elections are on January 25th! Be there!
Islander's Game!
A massive high five needs to be given to Ariel, our Publicity Vice President. Ariel was looking forward to putting together a trip for BNTYsr. She met with Emily (our newest advisor) and talked about going to see a hockey game. In less than a week's time Ariel called our group sales guy, Adam, at the Islanders, got the information, put together a flyer, and gave the group all the information they needed. The game was a big success! The Islanders lost to the Rangers, but we had so much fun at the game. Parents were so flexible and supportive. Since BNTY couldn't provide a bus, parents got together and carpooled so everyone who wanted to go, could go.
It was an amazing time! Pictures will be posted soon.
~Grace
It was an amazing time! Pictures will be posted soon.
~Grace
Monday, November 23, 2009
Our Link to Israel?
As I decided back in August, my professional development topic this year would be Character Education. However, I choose two more professional development topics. I decided to become more fluent in technology. I am going to be active on a BNTY blog, and a personal blog (http://www.dgtrisharder.blogspot.com/), as well as get aquainted with Twitter and amp up the BNTY facebook page. In addition to this, I applied for a fellowship position with the Center for Israel Education. This is I am an Israel Educator Fellow.
Let me explain a little. The Israel Educator Fellowship requires a year-long commitment. During this year, participants attend four seminars, write at least three lesson plans, attend two Community of Practice (COP) meetings, participate in discussions online, and do a lot of reading and outside research. At least 2 hours each day is spend on readings and research. It's pretty intense. Most of the participants in the fellowship are full-time employees of a temple, or retired and teach one or two nights at a synogogue. I am one of three participants under 30.
Yesterday I attended the second seminar in the series up in Westchester. It was such a pretty drive. During the four-hour lecture Dr. Ken Stein talked to us about what was going on in Palestine before Israel and how there was a Jewish state in existence in 1939. Tal Grinfas-David spoke to us about how we can use primary source documents to teach the growth and development of Israel from Lech L'cha to present day. It was a very inspirational session and I came away full of lesson ideas and curriculum suggestions for Israel Education in the hebrew school.
One thing we examined was why Jews had this draw to live in Palestine, and now Israel. Why do we feel so connected to the land? I grew up not feeling any connection to Israel. After I went, and came home, I began to feel this strong connection. For some reason there are things that I feel can ONLY be done in Israel. I understand this to be slightly silly, for these are things that can absolutely be done in other places......but in my mind, I will not do them unless I am on Israeli soil.
The history of this zionistic connection to Israel is puzzeling. As Jews we were persecuted a lot, and we were forced to leave many places. Some times we were forced in to making the choice to leave. Other times the people in power forced us to leave. If Jews have this connection to the land that is now Israel, one would think that when forced to leave a place, these Jews would go and settle in Israel. However this is not the case. This continues not to be the case. Today, according to a chart that Dr. Stein presented, there are more Jews living in the US than there are in Israel (don't take this as exact fact.....even I do not really trust the data that I saw on these numbers. It is not known whether the poll considered a person a Jew based on self-identy, or based on maternal lineage).
This is kind of confusing to me, and I still do not know really where I stand on the matter. I need to know more (which is why I applied to this fellowship). I believe it is very important for us to learn about the history is Israel. I believe it is very important to learn about world history as well.
One participant brought up the fact that she sees Israel Education a very important topic, but she cannot see where it would fit in to the curriculum without adding time to the day or program. Is Israel Education more important than Hebrew language (which in supplemental schools we rarely get, most are only taught to read and not taught what the words mean), or Torah, or prayer, or Jewish Thought? It is hard to pick what are the most important things to teach about Judaism. Even if one did choose, his or her choices may not be the same as the next persons. Israel does not even agree, which is why they are so pluralistic over there. As the saying goes, if there are three Jews in a room, there are four opinions amongst them.
It is a lot of food for thought on my part. I strive to include some Israel Education in my 8th grade class and the youth group. Recently, BNTYjr did a program on Israeli graffiti. It was just a scratching of the surface, but combined with their Falafel Program, it started the conversation about Israel.
So now I ask all of you, what is your connection to Israel? What do you teach your children, friends, family, or others about Israel? Do you feel connected to Israel? Why or why not? What are the five most important things about being Jewish/the Jewish People?
*Posted by Grace
Let me explain a little. The Israel Educator Fellowship requires a year-long commitment. During this year, participants attend four seminars, write at least three lesson plans, attend two Community of Practice (COP) meetings, participate in discussions online, and do a lot of reading and outside research. At least 2 hours each day is spend on readings and research. It's pretty intense. Most of the participants in the fellowship are full-time employees of a temple, or retired and teach one or two nights at a synogogue. I am one of three participants under 30.
Yesterday I attended the second seminar in the series up in Westchester. It was such a pretty drive. During the four-hour lecture Dr. Ken Stein talked to us about what was going on in Palestine before Israel and how there was a Jewish state in existence in 1939. Tal Grinfas-David spoke to us about how we can use primary source documents to teach the growth and development of Israel from Lech L'cha to present day. It was a very inspirational session and I came away full of lesson ideas and curriculum suggestions for Israel Education in the hebrew school.
One thing we examined was why Jews had this draw to live in Palestine, and now Israel. Why do we feel so connected to the land? I grew up not feeling any connection to Israel. After I went, and came home, I began to feel this strong connection. For some reason there are things that I feel can ONLY be done in Israel. I understand this to be slightly silly, for these are things that can absolutely be done in other places......but in my mind, I will not do them unless I am on Israeli soil.
The history of this zionistic connection to Israel is puzzeling. As Jews we were persecuted a lot, and we were forced to leave many places. Some times we were forced in to making the choice to leave. Other times the people in power forced us to leave. If Jews have this connection to the land that is now Israel, one would think that when forced to leave a place, these Jews would go and settle in Israel. However this is not the case. This continues not to be the case. Today, according to a chart that Dr. Stein presented, there are more Jews living in the US than there are in Israel (don't take this as exact fact.....even I do not really trust the data that I saw on these numbers. It is not known whether the poll considered a person a Jew based on self-identy, or based on maternal lineage).
This is kind of confusing to me, and I still do not know really where I stand on the matter. I need to know more (which is why I applied to this fellowship). I believe it is very important for us to learn about the history is Israel. I believe it is very important to learn about world history as well.
One participant brought up the fact that she sees Israel Education a very important topic, but she cannot see where it would fit in to the curriculum without adding time to the day or program. Is Israel Education more important than Hebrew language (which in supplemental schools we rarely get, most are only taught to read and not taught what the words mean), or Torah, or prayer, or Jewish Thought? It is hard to pick what are the most important things to teach about Judaism. Even if one did choose, his or her choices may not be the same as the next persons. Israel does not even agree, which is why they are so pluralistic over there. As the saying goes, if there are three Jews in a room, there are four opinions amongst them.
It is a lot of food for thought on my part. I strive to include some Israel Education in my 8th grade class and the youth group. Recently, BNTYjr did a program on Israeli graffiti. It was just a scratching of the surface, but combined with their Falafel Program, it started the conversation about Israel.
So now I ask all of you, what is your connection to Israel? What do you teach your children, friends, family, or others about Israel? Do you feel connected to Israel? Why or why not? What are the five most important things about being Jewish/the Jewish People?
*Posted by Grace
Friday, November 20, 2009
Shabbat Shalom
Hi All,
This Shabbat BNTY is going to synogogue to honor Mrs. Deanna Pasternak....who is now actually Rabbi Mrs. Pasternak!
I've been sick all week, so I am looking forward to this Shabbat as a time to get some work done....something I have not done all week.
I had the help of friends and students to take on some of my work this week. I can't thank them enough.
On a personal note, my friend from Israel is leaving to go back home at the end of the month. I'm kind of sad she is leaving, but glad to have had the time with her. Lately, I've been thinking about my time in Israel. Truthfully, I really miss it. I'll post some pictures on this thing once I figure it out.
See how all tech things fall apart when you go to college Kanter.
No office hours this Sunday, I'll be in Westchester at a seminar that will give me more tools to be more awesome at Youth Director. See you all Monday!
*Posted by Grace
This Shabbat BNTY is going to synogogue to honor Mrs. Deanna Pasternak....who is now actually Rabbi Mrs. Pasternak!
I've been sick all week, so I am looking forward to this Shabbat as a time to get some work done....something I have not done all week.
I had the help of friends and students to take on some of my work this week. I can't thank them enough.
On a personal note, my friend from Israel is leaving to go back home at the end of the month. I'm kind of sad she is leaving, but glad to have had the time with her. Lately, I've been thinking about my time in Israel. Truthfully, I really miss it. I'll post some pictures on this thing once I figure it out.
See how all tech things fall apart when you go to college Kanter.
No office hours this Sunday, I'll be in Westchester at a seminar that will give me more tools to be more awesome at Youth Director. See you all Monday!
*Posted by Grace
Thursday, November 12, 2009
BNTY!
For those of you that may not know, BNTY is:
- awesome
- a lot of fun
- a place to hang with you friends
- a place to be Jewish with other Jews
- a place to play gaga
- full of awesome programs
- full of leadership opportunities
- always going to NFTY events
- creating fun temple-wide events
BNTY is for those in grades 5 - 12. Don't worry, we don't all meet together. Fifth, sixth, and seventh graders meet on Wednesday nights. Eighth, ninth, tenth, eleventh, and twelfth graders meet Monday nights.
Want to know more? Come join us!
*Posted By Grace, Director
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