1 The Ohio Valley RCVP Network Packet ✡✡✡✡✡✡✡✡✡✡ Compiled by Micah Kraus, RCVP of NFTY Ohio Valley 2017-2018 with help from past RCVP’s and NFTY resources

Contact info and Social Media Phone: (513)503-4171 Email: [email protected] Twitter: @ov_rcvp Instagram: @mikraus1999 Facebook:Micah Kraus ✡✡✡✡✡✡✡✡✡✡✡✡✡✡✡✡✡✡✡✡✡✡✡✡✡✡✡✡✡✡✡✡✡✡✡✡✡✡✡ Don’t forget to follow NFTY-OV on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram! Join the NFTY-OV Facebook group! Information on Holidays, , and in general The URJ website The NFTY website, has lots and lots of resources

2 Dear Wonderful RCVPs of NFTY Ohio Valley, Welcome to the best network! NFTY is a Jewish organization, so it is our job, whatever the event or program is, to add some Jewishness to all of it, and help the rest of our board to incorporate Judaism into their programming. This packet will discuss what it is we all can do to make our experiences Jewish in a meaningful way throughout the year. This job is whatever you make it to be, as with any TYG board position. If you put in the work, you can see incredible results and a huge impact on your fellow Jewish teens, and even the community as a whole. Regional events are only several times a year; in order for our movement to make as big of a difference as it can, we all have to be the leaders we were chosen to be, and make NFTY’s impact a year round process. Often times, the RCVP is viewed as a position where you just plan services and cultural programs. But I want to challenge you to be the person at board meetings who is always questioning how a program relates to our religion. Judaism has so many teachings, it would be hard not to include it in every thing! If you’re youth group is doing something that has no Jewish value, that can be ok, but challenge the rest of your board to make sure there is some Jewish aspect to it. Finally, remember to have fun. Being on board can be an incredibly rewarding experience, but if you don’t have fun, you’re only gonna remember the bad parts. Also, do good in school and stay safe and remember...

,(באהבה) With lOVe Micah Kraus, NFTY Ohio Valley RCVP 5777-5778

3 So What Even is Reform Judaism?

Reform Judaism is a pluralistic, progressive, egalitarian denomination of Judaism that allows the individual autonomy to decide their personal practices and observations based on all Jewish teachings (Torah, , Halacha, Rabbis etc.) as well as morals, ethics, reason and logic. The Union for Reform Judaism, the governing body that represents most (but not all) Reform synagogues in North America, takes official stances that represent Reform Judaism as a whole, but leaves the individual the right to their own individual belief. CHOICE THROUGH KNOWLEDGE Check here for more info!

Some quick information on the Torah…

TORAH: THE 5 BOOKS OF MOSES: Genesis (Bereshit): Creation, Adam and Eve, Noah and the flood, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Sarah, Rebecca, Rachel, & Leah. The promise that Abraham's descendants would receive the Land of Israel and be a blessing to the rest of the world. Exodus (Shemot): The Egyptian exile. Moses, the ten plagues, the Exodus from Egypt and the revelation at Mt. Sinai. The gift of the Written and the Oral Torah. The building of the Mishkan. Leviticus (Vayikra): The laws of the Priests, the Temple, the sacrifices, and the festivals. The Jewish code of morality and ethics, "Love your neighbor as yourself." Numbers (Bamidbar): The struggles of the Jewish People for 40 years in the desert. The census, the formation of their camp. The rebellion of Korach, the episode of the 12 spies, the capture of the East Bank of the Jordan River. Deuteronomy (Devarim): Moses addresses the Jewish People before his death. Includes rebuke, encouragement and warnings for their future. Commandments that apply only in Israel. Commandments that govern the interaction with other nations. One copy of the complete Torah is given to each tribe. One is placed in the Holy Ark. The death of Moses "the greatest of all prophets" and "the most humble of all men."

4 How to plan a service… There are generally 3 types of services, Traditional, Thematic, and Experimental.

Traditional Services: ● This service is basically the outline out of a Mishkhan T’filah. For all prayers decide whether it should be English or Hebrew, read, or sung, and in some cases the melody. ● This is normally accompanied by a sermon/D’var Torah. ● A traditional service can be best modeled after a service at your temple.

Thematic Services: Here are a few steps you can take to plan a wonderfully inspiration and thoughtful thematic service. 1) Decide on a theme (e.g. Nature, Israel, meditation, the Beatles, love…) 2) Find readings that go with the theme, OR have service participants write them. Be sure to apply the reading to the prayer. 3) Select melodies for music that create the correct mood for the theme 4) Insert readings in between music and prayer 5) Choose an opening and closing song in accordance with the theme

Experimental Services: These kinds of services don’t have the usual outline or template, they are completely free and creative! The write up should include some sort of outline, but it should be creative! Instead of focusing on making services as manageable as possible, experimental services have the goal of impacting each person individually so that each person can say they had their own unique, spiritual experience. Here is a list of guidelines if you are having trouble: 1) Decide what impact you want to have: How do you want to connect with the congregation? What message do you want to send? A few methods are to connect through music, nature, have them relate the prayers to our lives. ● Start with the “Why”: Why are you writing this service? What is your goal? What do you want the participants of your service to learn or experience? Start with the “why” when writing services and programs, then get to the “how” and “what.” ● Establish a Connection: Rather than making participants mindlessly read and sing the same prayers they always have, be creative and establish a connection between the prayer and the participant. Very few people know why they pray or what they pray for. Take the opportunity to either explain what each prayer means or do an interactive or enlightening program/mixer within the service that creates a connection between and participant and the meaning of the prayer. You have the opportunity to redefine how and why people pray. 2) Decide how to best communicate that message: it can be through discussion, activities, or simply highlighting a part of the service not usually talked about. You can change the setting, method of prayer, or incorporate discussion throughout service. Any means of impacting is acceptable as long as you stay true to the prayer itself and the message. ● Know your audience: Who are you talking to? What are they interested in? What is their attention span? Are they going to our service voluntarily? How do they communicate with each other?

5 ○ If this is a service for younger kids (5th grade and younger), you’re going to want to make the service nice and short. Most of the younger kids can’t keep direct attention at one thing for very long. Make your service interactive, make it appealing to young children. Prayers with different melodies, stories from the Torah, anything that will keep their attention but still hold onto the meaning of a service. ○ If this is a “youth-led” service for a congregation, you want to do your best to keep it traditional and not deviate too much from what is common. Incorporating new elements is always encouraged, but remember that this probably involves the older community who are used to traditional services. We want to give them a fun experience, but we don’t want to overwhelm them with our new fangled prayer techniques. Work with your clergy to make sure there is a good balance between new and traditional! ○ If this is a service for NFTYites, there is a lot of freedom and open elements that you can incorporate. NFTY Melodies and other types of new melodies are always popular. Having themes during services sometimes gives you something to connect the service back to and can make the service more fun! One very important and difficult aspect of NFTY services is keeping the tradition. Yes our goal is to make services engaging and fun but at the same time we are a part of a Reform Jewish Youth Movement, services has certain aspects about them that must remain holy and respected. Finding the line between creative and traditional is our jobs as RCVP, and also our biggest challenge. Don’t forget that it is still a spiritual experience and that the overarching goal for all services is to create a meaningful religious experience for the participants. 3) Build the rest of the service around this experience. Services are rarely one prayer. They are a combination of prayers. Use any means necessary to create additional experiences and set the mood for the message. Use music that will interest and excite the congregation. Readings are a great way to break up music as well. ● Give opportunity for Leadership: Whether you’re leading a service in front of OV or your TYG, know the strengths and skills of your peers. If there are musicians, be creative and incorporate their music. If you know some people like to be up in front of everyone, give them English or Hebrew prayers to lead, if you know some people are shy but wouldn’t mind participating, let them light candles or undress the Torah. Become familiar with your audience and know how to engage them even more than just executing a good service. ● Working with Songleaders: A songleader’s job is to be flexible, but it is still very important to have clear expectations and for the songleaders to know your clear expectations. If you know someone who is musical, encourage them to become a songleader. It’s a great way to access Judaism in a different way. IMPORTANT REMINDER!!!! If you make a mistake, don’t be scared to laugh at yourself, you’re not perfect, I promise you the participants have made the same mistakes and they will be laughing with you. Be comfortable, services aren’t only a time for participants to decompress and reflect, it’s also yours. Service cheat sheet: : Morning prayer, thanking God for waking up in the morning. Nissim B’chol Yom: “Daily miracles”, as we begin the day we thank God for the daily miracles that make it so we can be here healthy. Barchu: The “Call to Worship”

6 Yotzeir: Morning Prayer, celebrates the creation of light. Ma’ariv Aravim: Evening Prayer, celebrates the creation of evening. : Morning prayer, expresses thanks to God for the love God gives us. : Evening prayer, expresses thanks to God for the Torah. Shema: This prayer, which many think of as the holiest prayer, reminds us that God is One. V’ahavtah: A prayer following the Shema about loving God, it shows the commandments we must follow to show our love. Mi Chamocha: Our “redemption” song that was sung after being freed from the land of Egypt. It reminds us how holy God is. : Thanks God for protecting us and watching over us as night falls. : Set of 18 prayers (plus Sim Shalom and silent prayer), a central part of the service that contains the bulk of prayer and petition to God. 1. Avot 7. Geulah 13. Tzadikim 2. G’vurot 8. Refuah 14. Y’rushalayim 3. K’dushah 9. Birkat Hashanim 15. Y’shuah 4. Binah 10. Cheirut 16. T’fillah 5. Teshuvah 11. Mishpat 17. Avodah 6. Selichah 12. Al HaRishah 18. Hodaah : We are the “chosen” people and have a unique destiny, and we pray for a better future. Mourner’s : We say this prayer to remember those who have passed away. The direct translation of the prayer does not mention death, but is a prayer that declares God’s glory, and ends with a prayer for peace.

7

Friday Night Service Outline

Liturgy Key / Point Read / Sung Cue / Notes Opening Candle blessings Kabshab kabshab Ma’ariv Aravim Ahavat Olam Shema / V’ahavta Geulah Mi Chamocha Hashkiveinu V’shamru Adonai S’fatai Avot v’Imahot Rest of Amidah Shalom Rav Silent Prayer, Yih’yu L’ratzon Mi Shebeirach Aleinu Mourner’s Kaddish Closing

8 BASIC MORNING SERVICE (* *) Modeh/Modah Ani Mah Tovu Elohai N’shamah Nisim B’chol Yom Blessing for the study of Torah Chatzi Kaddish Bar’chu Yotzeir Or Ahavah Rabbah Sh’ma V’ahavta Mi Chamochah Amidah *Yismechu Sim Shalom Silent Prayer Yih’yu L’ratzon or Oseh Shalom ** (Shabbat morning, afternoon, and Mon/Thurs morning) Aleinu Mourner’s Kaddish Closing Song

9 STANDARD TORAH SERVICE Torah is traditionally read on Monday, Thursday, Saturday afternoon, and Saturday morning services. The process of a Torah service can get confusing and different places have different traditions so there is no shame in asking clergy or adult staff for help. This is a general outline that includes what is done when the Torah is taken out, walked around, held, unwrapped, and returned: TAKING THE TORAH FROM THE ARK -Ein Kamocha -Ki Mitziyon / Baruch Shenatan -Sh’ma / Echad -Gadlu L’Adonai HAKAFOT (walking around the congregation with the Torah) -Romemu -Ki Mitziyon -Sweet as Honey -Al Shloshah D’varim TORAH IS UNDRESSED TORAH READING -Call up person who has the honor of the Aliyah and the reader -Blessing before reading Torah -Torah Reading -Blessing after reading Torah -Blessing before…etc for as many aliyot as necessary -Before the last aliyah, a Mi Shebeirach can be offered HAGBAH AND G’LILAH -Hagbah (Pick someone strong! The Torah is lifted while singing V’zot HaTorah. Open the scroll so that the congregation can see about 3 columns of text) -G’lilah (The magbiah/magbihah - person who lifts the Torah - sits and the golel/golelet - person who dresses the Torah - redresses the Torah in the opposite way it was undressed) RETURNING THE TORAH -Y’hal’lu -Hodo Al Eretz -Eitz Chayim Hi/Tree of Life D’VAR TORAH or TEXT STUDY -and you’re done. Move onto Aleinu and close the service.

10 BASIC EVENING SERVICE (*SHABBAT *) Opening Song *Kabalat Shabbat: Psalms 95-99, 29, L’Chah Dodi (verses 1, 2 ,5 and 9), Psalms 92-93, *Shalom Aleichem Chatzi Kaddish (On weekdays, sometimes skipped for time) Bar’chu Ahavat Olam Sh’ma V’ahavta Mi Chamochah Hashkiveinu *V’shamru Amidah Shalom Rav Silent Prayer Yih’yu L’ratzon or Oseh Shalom Mi Shebeirach Aleinu Mourner’s Kaddish Closing Song

11 BASIC HAVDALLAH Havdallah is a Hebrew word meaning “division” or “separation” and it’s the name of this ritual that formally ends Shabbat, “separating” it from the beginning of the new week. The basis for Havdallah comes from the fourth of the Ten Commandments: “Remember the Sabbath day to sanctify it” (Exodus 20:8). The Rabbis decided that “remembering” Shabbat required “sanctifying it” at both its beginning (Kiddush) and its end (Havdallah) LIGHT CANDLE BLESSING OVER THE WINE (Sanctifies the Havdallah ceremony and symbolizes the goodness and sweetness of Shabbat and our lives in the coming week) -lift the cup during the blessing BLESSING OVER THE SPICES (On Shabbat, you are supposed to have an extra soul, and we say goodbye to this extra soul until next Shabbat. The spices help revive us so you can begin the week refreshed and enlivened. We can also carry the sweet smell of Shabbat with us during the week) -lift the spice box during the blessing. BLESSING OVER THE CANDLES (The candle symbolizes the idea that all things are intertwined. Many people hold up their hands to the light during this blessing to see the separations between the light and the shadows reflected in their fingernails) -lift the candle during the blessing THE HAVDALLAH BLESSING (This blessing is used to distinguish Shabbat from the rest of the week, the holy from the ordinary/mundane) -after this and taking a sip of wine, extinguish candle in the remaining wine. SING ELIYAHU HANAVI (This reflects our hope for the Messianic era, a time when all days will be like Shabbat) SING SHAVUA TOV

12 OUTLINE OF A GOOD D’VAR TORAH Adapted from Rabbi Michael S. Friedman

A good d’var Torah includes four steps, which are embodied in the word pardes (because every service is a party).

PaRDeS = P’shat (summary) Remez (clue) Drash (interpretation) Sod (secret insight) I. Introduction – 2 sentences that introduce your parasha and the main theme.

II. Summary (P’shat) of the parasha in your own words.

III. What is the part of the Parasha (Remez) you want to teach us about? A. Interesting or problematic verse. B. Action by one of the characters. C. Question raised indirectly by the text.

IV. What is the main message (Drash) of your Torah portion that you want to communicate to us? A. How does this relate to our lives? B. Give some examples to illustrate your point: 1. World events or popular culture. 2. Your own life. 3. Family or friends.

V.How can this parasha give us insight (Sod) on what it means to be a Jew or ahuman being? (If it doesn’t have any meaning to us, don’t pick that part of the parashah!)

13 NFTY Program Format is very useful… Program Title Event where program will be held Date of Program Author(s) Touchstone Text: some piece of text that embodies the lesson of your program Goals: ● The big picture, The end game ● What you can’t measure after the program ● PPs will feel/believe/think Objectives: ● Stepping stones to reach your goals ● What you can prove to be different because of your program ● A very achievable and tangible outcome ● PPs will use/do/read/study/other solid tangible actions Materials: ● List everything you will need ● Literally everything ● Include amount ● Specify color, size, brand, etc. People: ● You are probably the Program Leader (PL) ● You might need some Group Leaders (GL) ● Write how many participants (PPs) your program needs Space Needed: a specific room or area that can be reserved ahead of time Time Table: 00:00-00:10 - tiny description on first time frame (from 0 to 10 minutes here) 00:10-00:20 - tiny description on next time frame (from 10 to 20 minutes here) Detailed Procedure: 00:00-00:10 - super detailed explanation of what will happen on first time frame (from 0 to 10 minutes here). This could be a script for GL, letting the GL know to refer to appendix whatever, or just guidelines of what should take place. 00:10-00:20 - super detailed explanation of what will happen on first time frame (from 10 to 20 minutes here). This could be a script for GL, letting the GL know to refer to appendix whatever, or just guidelines of what should take place.

(Insert Page Break before each Appendix)

14 Appendix A: You might want an appendix or two to help run the program. These could be rules to a game, recipes, readings, questions, really anything….like maybe a list of you need to fit somewhere in your network packet…

15 Group Leading 101 Before the Program ● Acquire the full program format in advance. ● Spend some quality time reading over the program format taking special note of the goals and objectives. ● Look over all of the background information provided. ● Take some extra time to get to know the subject. ● Have a clear understanding of key questions to be addressed and any points that may be tricky. ● Ask the program leader any questions about the program before it starts. ● Do not plan to fake anything. Initiating Discussion ● Involve everyone in the group. ● Seat people in a way that makes each person visible (circles work well) unless directed otherwise (some programs may emphasize anonymity by obstructing people’s views of each other). ● Seat everyone on the same level (i.e. all on chairs, or all on the floor. If you have someone in a ● wheelchair, then everyone should be on chairs), unless directed otherwise. ● Invite everyone to join. ● Ask questions either from or based on the program format and/or topic as directed by the program leaders. ● Address questions to the group at large before questioning individuals. ● Do not put people on the spot. ● Ask open-ended questions rather than those requiring one-word answers. ● Ask questions which circle around the main point, allowing participants to discover the answers on their own. Maintaining Discussion ● Play off other people’s comments: “What do you think about what he/she said?” “Do you agree?”

● Maintain order: ● Allow only one person to talk at a time. ● Make it clear that each person’s comments are worth hearing. ● Encourage those who are less inclined to talk with validating phrases, like “great point!” or “thank you for that!” and make sure they are not interrupted. ● Keep the discussion focused on the topic at hand. ● Keep things moving in the intended direction by using the provided discussion questions and linking back to the goals and objectives. ● Allow the group to dwell on a point if they find it interesting, but avoid tangents. ● Maintain objectivity. The group should not know your opinion because you are there to facilitate rather than be the discussion. ● When necessary, play devil’s advocate. ● Ask follow up questions to make sure people’s viewpoints are understood. ● Summarize main points at intervals to ensure people are following the progression of the concept. ● Give brief feedback on good comments: ● “That’s interesting.” ● “That’s helpful.” How to Handle Possible Issues

16 ● A lull in the conversation ● Ask another question (be prepared with several). ● Summarize and/or repeat points that were already made. ● Someone tries to take over the discussion ● Let him/her go if the point is on track. ● Jump in after the comment is made to reestablish control. ● “That’s a great point, thank you!” ● “Does someone else have something to say?” ● People do not participate in the discussion at all ● Don’t take it personally. ● Remember that some people gain a great deal from listening. ● Ask more directed questions. ● Find a relevant sub-topic which may interest participants, as long as it does not conflict with the purpose of the discussion and program. ● Try to make points relevant to their lives. Discipline Problems If a person is disruptive:

● Ignore him/her if possible; try not to give the disruptive person your attention. ● Ask a question to involve him/her in the conversation. ● Use positive reinforcement for good answers. If they continue, follow these steps:

1. LOOK – Give a stern look so the person knows you have your eye on him/her. 2. TOUCH – Find a way to touch the person’s shoulder while continuing to lead in order to show you are unwilling to let him/her interrupt the group. 3. SPEAK – Address his/her behavior directly, but do not make threats. If these solutions do not work, you may get help from an adult ask the person to leave but do not send the person away unsupervised.

Wrapping-up Discussion: Tying Everything Together ● Summarize main points, emphasizing those which the group made. ● Connect points to the discussion questions and objectives listed in the program format. ● Add points which are part of the goal but may not come out during the discussion. ● Don’t forget to thank the group for their participation!

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Holidays:

Holiday Date Celebrates

Rosh Hashanah Sep. 22, 2017 Jewish New Year

Yom Kippur Sep. 30, 2017 Day of Atonement

Sukkot Oct. 5-11, 2017 Feast of Tabernacles

Simchat Torah Oct. 12, 2017 Celebration of Torah

Chanukah Dec. 13-20, 2017 (1st candle - 12th) Festival of Lights

Purim Mar. 1, 2018 Reading the Book of Esther

Pesach Mar. 31- Apr. 6, 2018 Passover (seders on Mar. 31 and Apr. 1)

Yom HaShoah April 11, 2018 Holocaust Memorial Day

Yom HaZikaron April 17, 2018 Israeli Memorial Day

Yom HaAtzma’ut April 18, 2018 Israeli Independence Day

Shavuot May 20, 2018 Giving of the Torah *Holidays begin on the night before the date written here*

18 Relationships: You have 6 key relationships that will pertain specifically to your vice presidency this year: 1. With your advisor-- It’s important to learn how to effectively work with you advisor, if you have a good relationship with them they can help you and help your TYG become stronger 2. With your Rabbis-- as RCVPs, you especially will be working a lot with your Rabbis. They know a lot (they went to rabbi school for 5 years), and understand what we’re trying to do. Let them help. 3. With your TYG board-- You’re bringing 110% and you want everyone else to bring just as much effort, so try to have friendly relationships. If not possible, just be nice. 4. With me-- a huge part of my job is to be a resource to all of you. If you ever need help with anything, hit me up! 5. With each other-- I want our network to utilize not only local resources and me but also each other! We all have great ideas that can work in different ways in different TYGs. 6. With your parents-- Your parents are the reason you’re here. Don’t forget to thank them for everything they do!