NFTY 101: Everything you need to know about NFTY
Authors: Michaela Christopher—NFTY-SW PVP, 2007-2008 and Ally Resnik—NFTY-SW RCVP, 2007-2008
Created For: Fall Kallah 2007
Touchstone Text:
“Say what’s your name?”
--NFTY Cheer
Goals:
1. Freshman learn about NFTY
2. Freshman begin to feel comfortable at a regional event.
Objectives:
- Experience different aspects of NFTY (Judaism, programming, social action, NFTY traditions)
- Have rotations related to each of the aforementioned aspects
- Will help freshman feel more comfortable at their first regional event
Materials:
3 boom boxes
CD’s with Friendship Circle songs
Lyric Handouts (enough for one per PP) for:
The General
For What It’s Worth
Redemption Song
__ Bead Necklaces
People:
Any number of PP’s split into 3 groups of __
One PL will be needed
3 Group Leaders will be needed, one per group
Space Needed:
Barn and the area around it (i.e. one group in rec center, one on front porch, one on back porch)
Time Table:
00:00-00:05 Introduction/Break into groups
00:05-00:15 1st Rotation
00:15-00:25 2nd Rotation
00:25-00:35 3rd Rotation
00:35-00:55 Traditions: Beads, Cheers (NFTY/Class), Friendship Circle
00:55-01:05 Mini Friendship Circle
01:05-01:06 Wrap Up
Procedure:
00:00-00:05Introduction/Break into groups
PL reads:
“Welcome to your first NFTY program. I know NFTY events can be scary…especially your first one. I remember that when I was a freshman, no one took the time to explain to me what NFTY was; I had to figure it out for myself. So this year, we decided to write a program to teach you about NFTY and all of our wonderful traditions. Now we’re going to try an activity. There are __ of you. We need you to split into three groups of __. One group in three of the corners of the room. Ready go.”
PP’s will then break themselves into groups of __ and go to their first rotation.
00:05-00:35Rotations
PP’s will go through three 10 minute rotations.
Rotation 1: Programming
1. GL reads:
“This station is about programming. A program is an activity where we learn about different topics through discussion, hands-on activities, and occasionally other crazier ways. Programs are an important part of NFTY because they allow us to express our views and learn new things about specific issues. Program topics vary from music to self-exploration to nature to social issues to hot topics (such as gay marriage, abortion, stem cell research etc.)—just to name a few. We’re going to do a mini program now; involving one of our favorite NFTY songs “The General” by Dispatch.
Programs often start out with an introduction…like that blurb I just read. Sometimes the next part of a program involves an activity. Our activity is going to be listening to “The General.” As you listen, pay careful attention to the lyrics, mood, and tone of the song as well as how you react to it.”
2. GL passes out lyrics sheets and then plays song.
3. GL reads:
“Most programs involve some kind of discussion about the program topic itself or about whatever activity that has just taken place. These discussions allow NFTYites to voice their opinions. So continuing with our own mini-program, let’s talk about the song we just listened to.”
Discussion Questions:
- Who can summarize what goes on in the song?
- What is the “general” (haha general!) meaning you get from this song?
- What’s a particular part of the song that stands out to you and why?
- Why do you think this is one of our “favorite” NFTY songs?
- Another aspect of programming is the Study Theme. Every year NFTY selects a Study Theme or a central theme, typically related to Judaism, that we learn about through programming. This year’s Study Theme is Tihiyeh Shofeit L’Atzmecha: You Will Be a Judge For Yourself. This theme centers around Jewish Pluralism, or the similarities and differences among all Jews. What are some similarities and differences among different types of Jews that you know of?
5. GL reads:
“Usually at the end of a program the entire group comes together for a short wrap-up. Later in this program we will come together as a group to have a wrap-up…but for now this is ours, so let’s rotate.”
Rotation 2: Social Action
1. GL reads:
“This station is about one of the most important parts of NFTY—social action. Social action is another term for tikkun olam—repairing the world. In NFTY, we like to define social action as having three “A’s”: advocacy, awareness, and action.We try to incorporate these “A’s” into every NFTY event in some way. For example, we might do a program about conserving energy—making nftyites aware of the ways that many teens waste energy and how this will affect us in the future. The program might also contain a pledge that nftyites will take action to fix the energy problem by conserving energy themselves or even involve writing letters to congressmen encouraging them to take a stand on the energy situation, a form of advocacy. We even dedicate an entire NFTY event to social action. It is called social action weekend or SAW for short and it takes place_____.
Another one of our favorite NFTY songs is “For What It’s Worth” by Buffalo Springfield. As we listen to it now, think about how it relates to social action as we just described it.”
2. GL passes out lyrics sheets and plays song
3. Discussion
- How does this song relate to social action or tikkun olam?
- “Young people speaking their minds; getting so much resistance from behind.” Why do you think it’s important that we, as young people, speak our minds about issues that are important to us?
- Every year NFTY picks an “action theme.” The action theme is a general social action theme that all of the NFTY regions in North America raise awareness about, take action to support, and advocate for. This years is called “To Reclaim the Power of Humanity: NFTY acts to confront irrational fear and oppression.” It encourages NFTYites to challenge discrimination and fear. Can any of you name a few causes that might relate to this theme?
- What are some other causes that are important to you that you think other should be aware of?
4. GL tells PP’s to rotate!
Rotation 3: Judaism
1. GL says:
“NFTY or the North American Federation of Temple Youth is obviously a Jewish youth group. While not all of our programs or activities are about Judaism, we usually tie Judaism into what we are doing in some way. Still, at each regional event we have Shabbat Evening and Shabbat Morning services and a Torah Study. Although this may seem like a lot of religious programming, services and Torah Studies in NFTY are exciting and different. We even try to add in some fun. For example, at each NFTY service we sing Mi Chamocha, just like many other synagogues do at their services. But not only do we sing Mi Chamocha, we sing it to the tune of Bob Marley’s “Redemption Song”. In case you haven’t heard this song before, we are going to listen to it now.”
2. GL plays “Redemption Song” and passes out lyrics.
3. Discussion Questions
- Do any of you know what Mi Chamocha is about or where it comes from? (If not, GL reads: The Mi Chamocha was sung by the children of Israel right after they crossed the Red Sea. They had just been freed from slavery in Egypt and were overcome with joy. After all those years of bondage they had finally been redeemed.)
- Find Mi Chamocha on your lyrics sheets: What are the parallels between Mi Chamocha and Redemption Song?
- Do you think that it is appropriate to sing Mi Chamocha and Redemption Song together? Why or Why not?
- In this song, Bob Marley sings “cause all I ever had redemption songs, these songs of freedom” What do you think he means by “songs of freedom” and why would it be important to keep singing these songs in times of trouble or hardship?
4. GL says:
“This was a little bit like a Torah Study. We take a text, like the words to Mi Chamocha, from the Torah and discuss it in ways that are relevant to our lives today. Sometimes we even do a cool activity first, like listening to “Redemption Song.”
5. GL tells PP’s to rotate!
00:35-00:55Traditions: Beads, Cheers (NFTY/Class), Friendship Circle
At the end of their third rotation, PP’s are directed by their GL’s to assemble as a group in RecCenter.
PL says:
“I hope you have enjoyed your first program. Now we want to teach about a few traditions we have here in NFTY-SW.”
1. Beads
PL passes out necklaces then says:
“At each regional event all the NFTYites in attendance get a specific color bead that is unique to that event. As you continue through NFTY you gain more beads and each bead serves as a reminder of that event and the fun times took place. Keep these necklaces for Sunday morning when you will receive your first bead.”
2. Friendship Circle
PL says:
“Possibly the most important NFTY traditions is friendship circle. We have friendship circles Friday night, Saturday night, and Sunday morning. In a friendship circle we stand with our arms around each other and sing some of our favorite NFTY songs, including the ones you just listened to ( For What It’s Worth, Redemption Song, and The General) and others. There are even a few traditions within friendship circle.”
Passing Kisses:
PL says:
“For example, we “pass kisses” around the friendship circle. Only seniors are allowed to start these kisses, by kissing the person next to them on the cheek, that person then kisses the next person on the cheek and so forth. The idea behind this that we are passing the love in NFTY around in a circle in the form of a kiss.” (group leaders attempt to demonstrate appropriate cheek kissing)
Seniors and Shoes:
PL reads:
“Halfway through the friendship circle, the seniors kick their shoes into the middle of the circle. If you are not a senior don’t do it. The seniors then run into the middle of the circle to retrieve their shoes and make their own circle in the middle. This was a tradition started many years ago when a senior accidentally kicked his shoe into the middle of the friendship circle and the other seniors followed. It stuck and became a NFTY-SW tradition.”
3. Cheers
PL says:
“NFTYites like to show lots of ruach or spirit. One of the way we show our spirit is the NFTY cheer. The seniors lead this cheer after each friendship circle.We are going to teach it to you now.”
GL’s will teach NFTY cheer to freshman.
PL will say:
“And after each time we say the NFTY cheer, we break up by classes and do our own class cheers. Which brings us to our next order of business, your class cheer. You have ten minutes to come up your class cheer which can be about anything you want as long as it’s appropriate. Ideally, it should also have something to do with your class.”PP’s will then make up their class cheer and practice it.
00:55-01:05Mini Friendship Circle
PL says:
“Now we are going to have our own mini friendship circle complete with singing, kisses, and cheers. If you don’t feel like singing, that’s okay; but, it is important that you don’t talk to your neighbor during friendship circle because friendship circle means a lot to many NFTYites, and talking can ruin the circle.”
PP’s have their own mini friendship circle and sing parts of“For what it’s worth,” “Redemption Song,” and “The General.”
01:05-01:06Wrap Up
PL says:
“We hope you enjoyed your first program, the mini friendship circle, and learning about all our NFTY traditions! For the rest of the event you will get to see all of these aspects of NFTY in action!”
DISPATCH
"The General"
there was a decorated general with
a heart of gold, that likened him to
all the stories he told
of past battles, won and lost, and
legends of old a seasoned veteran in
his own time
on the battlefield, he gained
respectful fame with many medals
of bravery and stripes to his name
he grew a beard as soon as he could
to cover the scars on his face
and always urged his men on
but on the eve of a great battle
with the infantry in dream
the old general tossed in his sleep
and wrestled with its meaning
he awoke from the night
just to tell what he had seen
and walked slowly out of his tent
all the men held tall with their
chests in the air, with courage in
their blood and a fire in their stare
it was a grey morning and they all
wondered how they would fare
till the old general told them to go home he said
[CHORUS:]
I have seen the others
and I have discovered
that this fight is not worth fighting
I have seen their mothers
and I will no other
to follow me where I'm going so
Take a shower, shine your shoes
you got no time to lose
you are young men you must be living
go now you are forgiven
but the men stood fast with their
guns on their shoulders not knowing
what to do with the contradicting orders
the general said he would do his own
duty bout would not extend it not further
the men could go as they pleased
not a man moved, their eyes gazed straight ahead
till one by one
they stepped back and not a word was said
and the old general was left with his
own words echoing in his head
he then prepared to fight he said
[CHORUS]
go now you are forgiven
BuffaloSpringfield
"For What It’s Worth"
There's something happening here
What it is ain't exactly clear
There's a man with a gun over there
Telling me I got to beware
I think it's time we stop, children, what's that sound
Everybody look what's going down
There's battle lines being drawn
Nobody's right if everybody's wrong
Young people speaking their minds
Getting so much resistance from behind
I think it's time we stop, hey, what's that sound
Everybody look what's going down
What a field-day for the heat
A thousand people in the street
Singing songs and carrying signs
Mostly say, hooray for our side
It's time we stop, hey, what's that sound
Everybody look what's going down
Paranoia strikes deep
Into your life it will creep
It starts when you're always afraid
You step out of line, the man come and take you away
We better stop, hey, what's that sound
Everybody look what's going down
Stop, hey, what's that sound
Everybody look what's going down
Stop, now, what's that sound
Everybody look what's going down
Stop, children, what's that sound
Everybody look what's going down
Bob Marley
"Redemption Song"
Old pirates, yes, they rob I;
Sold I to the merchant ships,
Minutes after they took I
From the bottomless pit.
But my hand was made strong
By the 'and of the Almighty.
We forward in this generation
Triumphantly.
Won't you help to sing
These songs of freedom? -
'Cause all I ever have:
Redemption songs;
Redemption songs.
Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery;
None but ourselves can free our minds.
Have no fear for atomic energy,
'Cause none of them can stop the time.
How long shall they kill our prophets,
While we stand aside and look? Ooh!
Some say it's just a part of it:
We've got to fulfil de book.
Won't you help to sing
These songs of freedom? -
'Cause all I ever have:
Redemption songs;
Redemption songs;
Redemption songs.
---
[Guitar break]
---
Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery;
None but ourselves can free our mind.
Wo! Have no fear for atomic energy,
'Cause none of them-a can-a stop-a the time.
How long shall they kill our prophets,
While we stand aside and look?
Yes, some say it's just a part of it:
We've got to fulfil de book.
Won't you help to sing
Dese songs of freedom? -
'Cause all I ever had:
Redemption songs -
All I ever had:
Redemption songs:
These songs of freedom,
Songs of freedom.