Youth GroupsB'nai Israel Federation of Temple Youth - BIFTYIntroducing…B’nai Israel’s Tween SceneRosh Hodesh: It's A Girl ThingAn Invitation for ParentsNFTY - NEiTorahCollege PageBIFTY B'nai Israel Federation of Temple Youth BIFTY, the high school youth group has been off to a great start. This year, with co-presidents Emily Levine and Shira Underberger leading the way, the group has been very active and fun, as well as being involved in several social action projects. To start off the year, BIFTY planned and organized the High Holy Day food drive. We stapled the collection bags and passed them out on Rosh Hashanah and then collected the food and loaded the trucks on Yom Kippur. All totaled, this year we were able to donate 7562 pounds of food to The Connecticut Food Bank. It was an impressive amount of food and we thank the B’nai Israel Community for their generous food donations.
As far as our weekly programs go, we have seen some new faces, as well as some of the regulars from years past. We are always so excited to see new people showing up and joining us. We hosted a PIZZA in the HUT for the 6th and 7th graders during Sukkot and ran a ‘BIFTY style’ program after having dinner outside. We have had a Family Feud night, a Badmitton Tournament and are looking forward to some upcoming events. We are gearing up for the LeeVees concert where we are having a BIFTY dinner beforehand and inviting some of the local youth groups in our area to join us. We are also looking forward to having this year’s 8th grade class to join us soon. We have had a very active group attending regional events as well - Levi Leap (huge regional dance), in October and Fall Conclavette in November. BIFTY had a significant showing at both events and we hope to continue to grow and more and more of our high schoolers take advantage of all that NFTY-NE has to offer. As always, BIFTY continues to host weekly programs generally on Thursday nights from 7-8:30. (the first Thursday of the month is a board meeting) Our schedule is posted on the BIFTY board in the religious school wings and our monthly calendar is posted on the temple website. If you have any questions, feel free to contact anyone listed below. We welcome any high school student to come and see what BIFTY is all about – for one program or for them all!
B'nai Israel Students build on their Confirmation Class experience in Washington D.C.
TRUMBULL — For local students, a trip to the nation's capital has brought home a tragedy on the other side of the world. During their annual trip to Washington, D.C., with their synagogue, B’nai Israel in Bridgeport, 16-year-old Trumbull High School juniors Jenna Cavicchia, and Ben Davis first learned about the genocide in Darfur, Africa, when they had to choose an issue on which to lobby Congress. "I couldn't believe I hadn't heard of this," Cavicchia said last week of the experience. "I was really shocked." When the pair returned to Trumbull, they decided to organize a chapter of STAND: A Student Anti-Genocide Coalition at the high school. "Our two main goals are to raise awareness and funds," she said. So far, the club, which meets every other Monday at the high school, has raised almost $1,000, which is sent to STAND. STAND is an umbrella organization of more than 600 high school and college chapters dedicated to helping put an end to the genocide in Darfur. Letting their fellow students know what was happening in Darfur — where about 400,000 people have died since 2003 — has been the biggest hurdle, club members said. About 20 students have joined the club. "Nobody knew about it," Julie Juabsamai, 16, said. Many fellow students, Cavicchia added, "didn't even know what genocide was." The war in the Darfur region of western Sudan began in February 2003. The victims are the non-Arab or African tribal groups of Darfur. The deaths result not just from attacks by Arab militias in the region, but also from malnutrition and disease. There are estimates that about 90 percent of all ethnic African villages have been destroyed. "They've gotten a lot of comments like, 'Why aren't you doing something about the problems here,' " said Joseph O'Dwardy, the club's adviser. "What's amazing is it's a global issue. You're talking about genocide and these kids are concerned enough to know it's important and I think that's pretty amazing." Cavicchia said that as human beings, it's everyone's job to help one another in times of need. "I think we've lost touch on how to put yourself in someone else's shoes and that's the reason why I decided to start this club," she said. To raise funds, the club has sold green bracelets, and to raise awareness has a photo display exhibited in the high school's media center. Carvicchia said the Trumbull group may also take part in DarfurFast next year, during which they ask people to give up a luxury, be it a magazine, or a cup of coffee at Starbucks, and donate its value to STAND instead. This year's DarfurFast was held Oct. 5. For more information on STAND or to make a donation, email voicestandarfur@yahoo.com.
A REPORT FROM OUR TEENS To Rabbi Prosnit and the Board of Trustees, After returning from our NFTY trip to Israel, we would like to thank you for contributing to our amazing excursion. With the help of our congregation, it was possible for us to embark on an amazing journey through the land of Israel. Our three days in Prague opened us to the history of the Jewish people during the Holocaust. After visiting the Terezin Ghetto, Old Town Square and Charles Bridge, we flew to Cyprus to begin our re-enactment of the Exodus voyage of 1947. Over the next three days, we sailed across the Mediterranean Sea until we reached Haifa. We spent the next four weeks all around Israel. We had many worthwhile experiences such as climbing Masada, swimming in the Dead Sea, camping in the Negev and praying at the Kotel. We saw Egypt and Jordan, snorkeled in the Red Sea, and spent five interesting days with eight Israeli teens. Although we were not able to travel up north because of the war in Lebanon, we had a great experience nevertheless and gained knowledge about Judaism and what it means to be a Jew. Thank you for enabling us to experience such a worthwhile, educational and enjoyable trip. Sincerely, Hannah Carron, Drew Barlaam and Matt Viens
Rosh Hodesh: It’s a Girl Thing! Our “girls only” groups (one for 6th and 7th graders facilitated by Andrea Goodman, LCSW, and one for 8th and 9th graders facilitated by Jen Goldberg, PhD) meet monthly on Saturday mornings to do ritual, munch, talk, learn and celebrate being who they are. Curious? Please join us! For more information, contact Rabbi Gurevitz.
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