Youth Groups

B'nai Israel Federation of Temple Youth - BIFTY

Introducing…B’nai Israel’s Tween Scene

Junior Youth Group

An Invitation for Parents

NFTY - NE

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B'nai Israel Federation of Temple Youth

Meet our new BIFTY Advisor
My name is Jennifer Wallis. My husband, Bruce, and I, and our two children live in Fairfield and are members of Congregation B’nai Israel. Our daughter loved her years in the Nursery School and now attends the Religious School on Sundays. Our son, whose entrée to B’nai Israel began with his Coffee and Cuddles class, continues to thrive at the Nursery School and had a fabulous 6-week session at the BISKids Camp this summer. I am beginning my fourth year as Religious School teacher on Sundays, which I love. And now, I am happy that I have another fulfilling role at B’nai Israel, as BIFTY’s Advisor.

Some of the happiest moments of my youth were hanging out with friends from my temple youth group and spending summers at Kutz Camp, the URJ’s Camp Institute for high school students. I am especially thrilled to have the opportunity to work with some fantastic teens as BIFTY’s Advisor. For those of you who don’t know, BIFTY (B’nai Israel Temple Youth) is our congregation’s youth group for high school students. We will be announcing our calendar of programs in the next month or so and I, along with the entire BIFTY Board, would like to welcome old and new friends to join us. All programs are created by BIFTY teens, for BIFTY teens. If you (or your son or daughter) have any questions or would like more information about joining BIFTY, please don’t hesitate to contact me at jrrwallis@yahoo.com.

Enjoy the rest of the summer, and I look forward to a wonderful year ahead.

I am proud to introduce our 2010-2011 BIFTY Board to you:

BIFTY Board 2010-2011

NFTY-NE

Go right ahead!!! - Check out http://www.nftyne.com !!!

Announcing NFTY Mitzvah Corps!  Indulge your passion for social action through daily hands-on service projects.  Live with Jewish teens from all over the country who are dedicated to changing the world.  Learn about Jewish, social and ethical issues and how to change the community in which you live.  Travel and experience different cultures while forming life-long friendships.
There are currently three NFTY Mitzvah Corps programs: Bay Area Mitzvah Corps in San Francisco, CA; Urban Mitzvah Corps in New Brunswick, NJ; and Mitzvah Corps of the South based at URJ Jacobs Camp in Utica, Mississippi.  Kutz Camp, Warwick, NY also has a Mitzvah Corps for teens to work with Jewish children with autistic behaviors.
To find out more click here, e-mail or call 212.650.4071.

Junior Youth Group 5770/2009-2010

We are very excited about the upcoming year for the 5th and 6th Grade Junior Youth Group.  For those of you with children new to this age group, the purpose of the Junior Youth Group is to foster strong social and religious connections for the 5th and 6th graders with their peers outside of the religious school experience.  A social action component is also included in each program.  The programming is totally run by parent volunteers through the Junior Youth Group Committee and we would welcome your participation.  We run approximately 5-6 programs during the year.

In the past, we have done things like a Chanukah movie night, laser tag/bowling and a trip to an indoor water park.  The Youth Group generally meets on a Saturday night for about two and a half hours.  This past year, all of the programs were well attended and we hope to continue to build on the success of the past year.  Please mark your calendars for our first activity which will be on December 5, from 7:00 - 9:30 and is currently in the planning stages.

In order to be environmentally friendly and to keep costs down communications about the Junior Youth Group programs will be sent via email.  If notification of the programs via email is not practical for you please call Lori at 374-5159 or email me at lunderberger@pullcom.com.

For the welfare of everyone and to ensure a comfortable environment for all the Youth Group Committee has decided to adopt a Code of Conduct, a copy of which is enclosed.  We are asking that you and your child read and sign the enclosed Code of Conduct and return it to Theresa in the Religious School Office if you think your child might attend any of the programs.  The signed Code of Conduct will apply to the entire year. The Code of Conduct will also be available on the B’nai Israel website: www.congregationbnaiisrael.org/coc.pdf

We look forward to your child’s involvement and thank you in advance for your support.  If you are interested in joining the Youth Group Committee to help plan the activities, have any suggestions for activities or have any questions please call me or e-mail me.

L’shalom,

Lori L. Underberger
Youth Committee Chairperson

If you would like more information, please call Lori
at 374-5159 or e-mail (Underberger@pullcom.com).

NFTY-NE

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