NFTY-MI Glossary

Welcome to NFTY-MI. 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!!

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 URJ Biennial is going to be held in 2009 in Toronto, Canada.

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.

B’rit 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.

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 MI participants do at an event is gather in a massive circle. We sing, there are speeches given by whomever would like to speak, as well as many tears and hugs.

Installations: a very special ceremony when the old Regional Board passes down their position to the new Regional Board, and says goodbye. This takes place at Spring Kallah.

Havdallah: Shabbat concludes with this service, held on Saturday evening.

Hosts/Coordinators: 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.

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

KUTZ: NFTY's Campus for Reform Jewish Teens. Kutz Camp is the North American NFTY Leadership Academy, located in Warwick, NY. NFTYites go to Kutz for one academy to learn about leadership, Judaism and so much more.

Leadership Kallah: This is a NFTY-MI 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.

MI: MI is our region of NFTY. MI stands for Michigan. It includes TYGs from all over the state of Michigan.

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

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.

Plenary : Held every year at Leadership and Boards Kallots, this is a meeting of the general assembly where NFTY-MI can pass resolutions on certain issues, get updates from TYGs and vote on various things including regional board elections.

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

Regional Board : The Regional Board of MI is made up of 7 amazing, hard-working teens from all over NFTY-MI. They are elected each year at Boards Kallah and are essential in making NFTY-MI what it is. They write and run programs and services, and represent NFTY-MI 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.

Songleaders: Amazing NFTY-MI participants 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 Advisor: An adult who advises and mentors us in programming, logistics, administrative work and leadership skills from our Temple Youth Group.

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.