“A Summary of N.E.L.F.T.Y’s History (1948-71)”

Written by Joan Lipman, NELFTY Archivist

The manner in which NELFTY originated is not know exactly. Members from both the Niagara Falls temple and Buffalo Temple Beth Zion organized the first annual NFTY Lake Erie Reform Jewish Youth Conclave. This was an informal weekend on May 14-16 organized by Betzy Boasber and Jay Breed. Bradford, Erie, Jamestown, Olean, Buffalo and Niagara Falls all attended this conclave which included a trip to the falls, a dance, and an organizing meeting. On Nov, 11-14, 1948 nine people from Buffalo TBZ attended the fourth Biennial convention of NFTY to form definite plans for LEFTY (Lake Erie Federation of Temple Youth) which later became know as NELFTY.

On Sept. 17 1949 LEFTY held its first regional board meeting to elect officers. Judy Morrison from Buffalo was elected president. LEFTY grew tremendously in the first year. It was at this time that Toronto joined. Jamestown held a Purim weekend to which it invited the entire region.

In sept. of 1950 the 13-member board of LEFTY met in Jamestown to elect its new officers. A new constitution was drawn up, and a program of inter-temple socials, dances, and debates was set up for a closer region for LEFTY’s second year.

The first major problem that LEFTY encountered was the fire that destroyed Temple Beth Zion in Buffalo, NY. It had been the blood of LEFTY but Cleveland joined and helped tremendously.

One of the most important conclaves in LEFTY’s history occurred in Jan. 1953 at Toronto. The region continued to grow. In addition to the regulars from Buffalo, Rochester, Erie, Toronto, Cleveland (Euclid Ave. Temple) and Bradford, guest membership was extended to Montreal, Youngstown, Hamilton, Cleveland the Temple and Temple Emanuel. To help organize the new groups, a caravan committee was formed.

In Erie on May 1-3, 1953 LEFTY had its first official Spring Board meeting. Full membership was given to Bradford and Hamilton. Also, talk of LEFTY camp materialized at this meeting. On August 20- September 2, 1953 about 90 campers attended LEFTY’s first summer conclave at Camp Lakeland outside of Buffalo. It was here that the first Goldman Oratorical Contest took place.

At a fall board meeting held in New Castle on November 1953 there was a debate on this issue of a name change. There was a complain concerning the Toronto mailings of “LEFTY Hi-Lights” which were being confused with a far Leftist organization in Toronto. This was during the time that Mcarthy was accusing important people of siding with the Communists. After this meeting, the name ELFTY (Eastern Lakes Federation of Temple Youth) was used on the mailings, but was never officially adopted. This name was discarded because of its awkwardness and the name NELFTY was decided upon.

In 1954 NELFTY had a rough time. Syracuse, Jamestown, Batavia and Niagara Falls had been taken off the roster. This executive board was very weak. Despite this trouble, NELFTY was still expanding in new directions. Both Akron and Butler were accepted as guest members and NELFTY received a new advisor. By the end of that year the region had become very successful and well organized. In 1995 two old cities added new temples, Rochester Temple Emanuel and Toronto Temple Sinai both officially joined the region.

At a NELFTY meeting in June 1955 a constitution and archives committee was established. It was resolved that all contributions for the archivist should be made as gives to NELFTY (pictures, newspaper clippings).

In August 1955 the first NELFTY newspaper was given out at camp. In 1963 Niagara Falls Beth El’s youth group became a full member of NELFTY. At this time the regional membership was 988. In 1967 there were 23 TYGs that composed NELFTY, with two on trial membership. The average membership was 41 members. The largest TYG was Buffalo Beth Zion with 123 participants and the smallest was Bradford Temple Beth El with six members. Just to ge a feel for what wend on in NELFTY in the late 60s here’s a list of the conclaves: 1) Spring Boards-late April, 2) Spring Executive Board meeting-early May, 3) NELFTY Summer Camp-Late August, 4) Tri-Cities (4 in the region)- Mid October to Early Novemeber 5) Fall Executive Board Meeting-early November, 6) Winter Conclave-Late December, 7) Torah Corps Kallah and Debating Conclavette-early April.

In 1971 under the presidency of Garry Loeb, NELFTY added three new events to its calendar-a winter leadership institute, and two social action Kallot.