NFTY-CAR Glossary

Welcome to NFTY-CAR. Part of NFTY culture is our language full of acronyms and weird words that sound unfamiliar. Here’s a dictionary, in case you get confused!!

Advisor : An adult who advises and mentors us in programming, logistics, administrative work and leadership skills. Our Regional Advisor is Beth Avner.

Assistants: These are volunteer leaders who help to run programs and other activities.

Birkat Hamazon : Commonly known as the “Birkat”, this is the prayer that NFTYites say after we eat. It thanks God for our food and drink.

Biennial : The URJ Biennial occurs every other year, when there is not a NFTY Convention. This is a massive gathering of all the adult leaders of the Reform Jewish movement. Biennial also has a NFTY Youth Track for NFTYites to take part in. The next Biennial is in December 2007 in San Diego.

Brit Kehilah : NFTY’s code of conduct. You signed this before coming to an event; it details the rules and regulations for a NFTY event. Basically, you promised not to do drugs, drink, engage in inappropriate sexual conduct and to be a respectful NFTYite.

CAR : CAR is our region of NFTY. CAR stands for the Chicago Area Region. It includes TYGs from South Bend to Olympia Fields and from Champaign to Lindenhurst. Also, the city of Chicago!

Co-chairs: These dedicated NFTYites spend time and effort planning NFTY kallot. They are loved immensely because of all the hard work they put in to making our events amazing.

Convention : NFTY Convention is a nationwide event that occurs every other year. NFTYites from all across the country, and even across the world gather to learn, pray, and have fun. The next Convention will take place in February 2009 in Washington, DC.

Friendship Circle : The last thing CARites do at an event is gather in a massive circle. We sing, there are speeches given by the Regional Board and Co-chairs, as well as many tears and hugs.

Kallah : fun weekends when NFTYites from all different TYGs in a particular region come together to meet other NFTYites, pray and learn. NFTY-CAR has four kallot.

Installations : a very special ceremony when the old executive board passes down their position to the new executive board, and says goodbye. This takes place in May.

KUTZ : The Kutz Campus for Reform Jewish Teen Life is the North American NFTY Leadership Academy, located in Warwick, NY. NFTYites go to Kutz for one or two “academies” to learn about leadership, Judaism and so much more.

LTI : Leadership Training Institute. This is a NFTY-CAR event that focuses on leadership.

Mechina : This is a leadership training week for newly-elected NFTY regional officers that takes place at Kutz Camp. There is also a North American NFTY Board meeting which provides an opportunity to vote on resolutions and set the NFTY agenda for the upcoming year.

Mazon, a Jewish Response to Hunger : A social action project that NFTY takes part in. Three percent of all registration costs for events is donated to this Jewish organization to help everyone fulfill their basic human requirement for food.

NFTY : NFTY is the North American Federation of Temple Youth. Anyone who is a member of a Temple Youth Group from Hawaii to New York, from Canada to Texas is a part of NFTY.

Netzer Olami : An international organization of reform Zionist Jewish youth, of which NFTY is the North American snif (branch) of. Simply put, it’s like NFTY, but everywhere!

OSRUI: This is our region's camp where we hold Summer and Winter Kallah. It is located in Oconomowoc, WI.

Programs : Informal programs (as opposed to formal education in the classroom) take place at all Kallot. Programs can be about any topic from Purim to AIDS to the Middle East Peace process. Programs can also be social like a dance or a carnival.

RAC : The Religious Action Center. Located in Washington, D.C., the RAC is the social action center for the URJ. NFTY works closely with the RAC on social action issues.

Region : This encompasses all the TYGs that fall in a certain geographic area. NFTY has 19 regions. These TYGs get together for Kallot and other events.

Regional Board : The Regional Board of CAR is made up of 8 amazing, hard-working CARites. They are elected each year at Kolbo and are essential in making CAR what it is. They write and run programs and services, and represent NFTY-CAR at North American meetings.

Ruach : Hebrew for "spirit." Basically, it’s the enthusiasm we show for NFTY, for learning, for Judaism and for everything we do.

Senior Circle: At Kolbo every year, senior circle allows the graduating seniors to talk about their time with NFTY, as well as pass down important items from their NFTY experience.

Songleaders : Amazing CARites who lead us in song session and services.

Song Session : We sing Jewish music, clap, stomp, dance, and make lots and lots of noise. This is where we show our ruach most!

Tikkun Olam : Tikkun Olam is repairing the world. It’s the Jewish value which tells us to do social action! NFTYites do this by participating in mitzvah projects, social action programs and doing mitzvot in general.

TYG : Temple Youth Group. The group of teenagers at your temple that get together for events. Your TYG is a part of NFTY.

TYG Board : The members of the TYG that usually plan and run youth group events for individual youth groups.

URJ : Union for Reform Judaism, the parent body of NFTY. The URJ encompasses all of NFTY plus lots of college students, adults, rabbis, cantors, temple board members and well…basically any Reform Jew in America. They also manage camps like Kutz. They provide adult, rabbinical and financial support to NFTY.