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A booklet of topics to explore and discuss Brought to you by Central Region West
Dear Parents and Teens, We are so proud of the work that went into CRW’s Kallah 2011 and inspired by the learning and exploration that took place by all our participants. This overnight dedicated to Jewish exploration was planned and led by our teens. This booklet is our way of sharing our overnight with our BBYO families. We welcome you to peruse this booklet at your leisure to continue the discussions that took place February 4-5th 2011 at CRW’s Kallah, iJew, do you? The theme, iJew, do you? is about challenging our participants to explore and identify their Jewish connections and experiences. In this booklet you’ll see the topics explored during this overnight and related readings to expand these discussions. Feel free to click on the links and continue your learning at the many resourceful websites included here. We hope you’ll find this information stimulating and engaging.
Thank you from your Regional Staff,
Jill Pottel Senior Program Director
Aaron Bock Program Director
Leeba Morse Program Director
Things to talk about….
Community and Identity Big Jewish Idea: Community is central to many people’s Jewish identities. Who we interact with and feel connected to in‐ forms our decisions on how we behave and the choices we make. In a pluralistic environment we strive to create a commu‐ nity in which everyone feels free to create an identity that matches their own Jewish pillars. Except from A New Model for Jewish Identity http://www.myjewishlearning.com/beliefs/Theology/Who_is_a_Jew/Types_of_Identity/New_Model.shtml For countless American Jews, Jewish identity is shaped by the model of living as a minority immigrant group strug‐ gling to protect its heritage against assimilation. Contemporary research affirms this, tending to frame questions in terms of traditional Jewish behavior‐‐lighting Shabbat candles, attending synagogue, fasting on Yom Kippur, affiliating institu‐ tionally, and supporting Israel. Yet the reality for many today is that they do not relate to this inherited model. Economically and socially successful insiders, Jews are part of a pluralist society in which the primary factor determining ethnic and religious identity is individ‐ ual choice. We need a new, more helpful descriptive model that recognizes the vital role that personal decisions play in Jewish‐American identity construction Concluding paragraph answering the question “Why be Jewish?” by Aron Moss http://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/329429/jewish/Why‐Be‐Jewish.htm The biggest threat to Judaism is not external pressure but rather internal confusion. When we lose sight of our mission, we lose the strength and stamina to survive. The Jewish feeling we need to develop in ourselves and our children is not fear of anti‐Semitism, or guilt about assimilation. It is a humble pride in the greatness of the Jewish mission and confident resolve to fulfill it. When we are clear about our identity, no threat in the world can shake us. Questions for you to ponder: Do you think the traditional model of Judaism is on its way out? Should we be concerned about that and why or why not? What do you think threatens our Jewish identity today and how can we overcome that threat? Do you feel like a minority because you are Jewish? What make you feel Jewish?
Things to talk about….
Personal Values
Big Jewish Idea: Values are learned from family and friends and motivate us to “do the right thing.” More often than not these values can be found in Judaism as well. Knowing our values come from the Jewish liturgy connect us to a network of people that surpasses time and geography. Excerpts from http://www.aish.com/jw/s/48909497.html Contemporary society says, "The important thing is to feel good about what you're doing." Judaism says, "The important thing is to do good, regardless of what you feel." Judaism says: Do it anyway. It is beautiful to feel charitable, but it is far more beautiful to actually give charity. It's wonderful if you never feel the temptation to say bad things about other people, but it is considerably more wonderful to refrain from saying them even when you are tempted. The Bible portrays Abraham as a man intensely concerned with the comfort and well‐being of others. He leaves his sickbed when he sees strangers in the distance, ignoring his pain in order to show them hospitality. He pleads with God to spare the cruel sinners of Sodom and Gomorrah. So thoroughly does he inculcate the habit of kindness in the members of his household that when his servant Eliezer journeys to find a wife for Isaac, the litmus test he applies is one of compassion: He looks for a girl who is willing not only to offer him a drink of water, but to draw water for his camels as well ‐‐ a backbreaking chore. Excerpts from the Panim Institute’s Jewish Values Matrix, http://panim.bbyo.org/educators/JEWISH_VALUES_MATRIX.pdf : Chesed, Rachamim – – חֶ סֶ ד ֲרחַ מִ ים, compassion, especially for those who are disadvantaged or vulnerable (Zechariah 7:9; Hosea 2:21; Sabbath 151b; Bezah 32b; Sotah 14a) Adam Yachid – – ָאדָ ם י ָחִ יד a single human being – The rabbinic concept that one human being was created originally so that no one can say, ‘my father was greater than your father.’ In other words, every human being is unique and inherently precious (M ishna Sanhedrin 4:5) Questions for you to Ponder: What does it mean to make ethical decisions? What values do you hold in highest esteem? Is it important to do good, regardless of what you feel and is it important to feel good about what you’re doing?
Things to talk about…
Coping and Judaism
Big Jewish Idea: When coping with difficult situations and personal struggles it’s comforting to know others experience similar struggles and uplifting to help others overcome difficult situations we’ve experienced our‐ selves. From http://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/1228223/jewish/Psalms‐and‐Jewish‐Prayer‐for‐ Healing.htm For time immemorial, whenever Jews found themselves in difficult situations, whether individually or com‐ munally, they would open up the Book of Psalms and use King David's ageless poetic praises and supplications to beseech G‑d for mercy. The Midrash tells us that when King David compiled the Psalms, he had in mind himself, as well as every Jew of every generation and every circumstance. No matter who you are and what the situation, the words of the Psalms speak the words of your heart and are heard On High. The third Lubavitcher Rebbe once said that if we only knew the power of Psalms and the effects of its recitation, we would recite them constantly. "Know that the chapters of Psalms shatter all barriers, they ascend higher and still higher with no interference; they prostrate themselves in supplication before the Master of all worlds, and they effect and accomplish with kindness and compassion." Excerpt from Psalm 118 “All the nations surround me; in the Name of HASHEM I cut them down! They encircle me, they also surround me; in the Name of HASHEM, I cut them down! They encircle me like bees, but they are extinguished as a fire does thorns; in the Name of HASHEM I cut them down! They pushed me hard that I might fall, but HASHEM assisted me.”
Coping and Judaism continued… Debbie Friedman, an influential Jewish musician known perhaps most famously for her adaptation of “Mi Sheberach” the prayer for the sick, passed recently from pneumonia. http://www.myjewishlearning.com/culture/2/Music/American_Jewish_Music/Debbie_Friedman.shtml Most of her songs are created for specific people and occasions. Her frequently performed "Mi Sheber‐ ach," for example, was composed for a Simchat Chochma (celebration of wisdom) ceremony honoring a woman friend on her 60th birthday. "My friend was having a very difficult time in her life, and a number of her friends were also struggling," Debbie explains. "Yet she had arrived at this age and she was deter‐ mined to embrace it. 'Mi Sheberach' spoke to that." Introduced to the Reform Movement at the UAHC San Francisco Biennial in 1993, Debbie's "Mi Sheberach" has since become the fastest adopted liturgical melody in the Reform and Conservative Movements. Check out BBYO’s Make it Better Campaign: On Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/pages/BBYO‐Central‐Region‐West/120378231368654#!/ pages/Stand‐Up‐For‐Each‐Other/179569452054210) On Youtube—and post your video response! You need to sign in to YouTube and then click on the com‐ ments box and it will let you post your response. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iaS9XW0dXe8) On our website—find resources, press releases and more information about what teens are doing to create a more inclusive community in BBYO. (http://bbyo.org/news/releases/ stand_up_for_each_other/) Questions for you to ponder: Where do you turn in times of hardship? Do you think prayer, in any form, can help heal someone? Is there value to have structure and guidelines to follow in times of grief? What can you do to make it bet‐ ter?
Things to talk about…
Pride
Big Jewish Idea: Historically, Judaism has been an insular religion which practices thereby distinguished its members as sepa‐ rate from others. In an assimilated society it’s important to grapple with the pride we have as members of this society and whether being Jewish has a part in that. Aziz Ansari, a film and movie star of Indian‐Muslim decent retold a story about an interview where he was asked if he was “psyched by all the Slumdog Millionare stuff”: “And I was like, you know what… I think about it and yeah, I am, I don’t know why. I had nothing to do with that movie, just some people that look kind of like me starring in an Oscar nominated, Oscar winning film, but I’m excited just to see people like me. …and then I thought about it and I was like, man, are white people just psyched all the time? “Back to the future, that’s us! ET, that’s us! Titanic, us! Every movie but Slumdog Millionaire and boyz in the hood, that’s us!”” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kf1Bvk_tNM4 Example t‐shirts from http://www.cooljewishtshirts.com/ Excerpt from “The Jewish Week” Joe Lieberman and the Jews: a complicated story. http://www.thejewishweek.com/blogs/political_insider/joe_lieberman_and_jews_complicated_story It would be fascinating to see some national Jewish polling on Lieberman today. I suspect it would show the predictable huge chasm between Orthodox and non‐Orthodox voters, with the Orthodox minority still avid supporters of the Connecti‐ cut independent. For the non‐Orthodox majority, detailed questions would likely reveal both admiration for his trailblazing accomplishments and strong opposition to his positions on key issues. And maybe a touch of disappointment. Lieberman's election as the first Orthodox Jew in the Senate and his 2000 vice presidential nomination represented a kind of political coming of age for American Jews. There may have been a second coming of age that happened later, when it became clear Jews didn't feel obligated to support Joe just because he is a Jew. Maybe that's the best sign yet that Jews have truly arrived in American politics. Questions for you to Ponder: Should we take pride in other Jewish people’s accomplishments? How do you feel when you see someone on the street wearing Jewish paraphernalia? Would you be more inclined to vote for a Jewish candidate in any elec‐ tion or contest because they are Jewish?
Things to talk about…
Points of Connection Big Jewish Idea: Judaism currently encompasses several denominations which span practices and beliefs across a wide spectrum. Today is normal and encouraged for Jews to discover which point of connection endears them to this vast religion whether that be celebrating a holiday, attending a Jewish day school, listening to Matisyahu, or spending a Saturday night with BBYO. Reboot is a catalyst to catalysts – a growing network of thought‐leaders and tastemakers who work toward a common goal: to “reboot” the culture, rituals, and traditions. Www.rebooters.net In the last few months Reboot attracted enormous attention in the mass media, including an interview on CNN, with its “Sabbath Manifesto” and its National Day of Unplugging on March 19/20. Last fall’s High Holiday project, 10Q invited partici‐ pants to reimagine the Ten Days of Repentance through ten personal questions over the ten days. The goal is still to involve young unaffiliated Jews, but with a twist: timeless Jewish ideas are reframed in an utterly contemporary context. It’s the new face of Reboot. http://ejewishphilanthropy.com/reboot‐still‐creating/ Wilderness Torah awakens and celebrates the earth‐based traditions of Judaism to nourish the connections between self, community, earth, and Spirit. www.wildernesstorah.org Hazon means vision and is America's largest Jewish environmental group. Www.hazon.org Hazon creates healthy and sustainable communities in the Jewish world and beyond. Questions for you to Ponder: What is your Jewish entry point? What is missing from the entry points in your life? Can you serve as someone else’s Jewish entry point and what would that look like?