NFTY-STR RCVP Network Packet

Transcription

1 NFTY-STR RCVP Network Packet Roni Kapitulnik, NFTY-STR RCVP NFTY-STR LLTI RCVP Network 1

2 Table of Contents Welcome to the RCVP Network.. 3 Who Am I?... 4 Who Are You?. 5 Terms to Know... 6 Being a Lifelong Leader Being a Good Board Member... 8 Services! Three Types of Services. 9 The Times of Services and the Prayers that Accompany Them Torah Service Outline Writing a D var Torah Havdalah Service Outline. 15 Choreography Who Can Help Plan Services? The Flowchart of Services Programming.. 19 NFTY Study Theme.. 20 Our Jewish Identities 21 Opportunities in NFTY for YOU! Resources Conclusion. 26 2

3 Welcome to the RCVP Network!!! Shalom NFTY-STR RCVPs!!! Mazel tov on your election to be the RCVP of your board for this upcoming year I can t wait to work with all of you and see what we can do together! Being elected for a leadership position is a very exciting opportunity, and one that you should be so proud of yourself for. The rst step of being on board is knowing what your responsibilities are, and what resources you have at your disposal to carry out those responsibilities. Hopefully, this packet should help you do just that! The time that we have together as a network to go over the packet and to discuss what it truly means to be an RCVP will hopefully build a strong foundation for all of us- a foundation that will help us in achieving everything we want to do as a network. Before we begin, I would like to give you a little information about myself. My name is Roni Kapitulnik, I am 16 years old, and I am a proud member of JUiCY in Palm Beach Gardens, FL. I was born in Israel, and moved here when I was three years old. I am currently a junior in the International Baccalaureate (IB) program at Suncoast High School. At school, I am the recording secretary for the debate team, an editor on the yearbook staff, and the president of the Jewish Student Connection club. I love to travel (if you re interested, ask me about my trip last summer!), eat lots of Jewish foods such as bagels and latkes, watch a LOT of T.V. (Grey s Anatomy, How I Met Your Mother, How to Get Away with Murder, Scandal, Parks and Rec, etc). read books such as Harry Potter and All the Light We Cannot See, and being Jewish! For me, Judaism is not just my religion, but also my way of life. Over the years, my Jewish identity has evolved through my experiences at my temple, in Israel, and at NFTY. I believe that our high school years are the ones where we really truly grow, develop, and con rm our Jewish identities, and because of that, I am so proud of everyone sitting in this room, and everyone here at LLTI. Being a leader in your TYG is one very important step in helping you become a person with strong leadership abilities and a strong Jewish identity. I hope that our time working together as a network will be another stage in our development of our own Jewish identities I look forward to working with all of you and seeing what we will be able to do! B ahava, Roni Kapitulnik, NFTY-STR RCVP (561)

4 Who Am I? Name : Roni Kapitulnik Age : 16 Birthday : May 4, 1999 Temple Youth Group : JUiCY in Palm Beach Gardens Favorite Color : Blueish purple School : Suncoast High School Favorite TV Show : Too many to choose from Favorite Prayer : Hashkiveinu Favorite Food(s) : Chocolate Ice Cream, Mashed Potatoes, Dark Chocolate Covered Almonds, Chicken Fried Rice, and Guacamole Favorite Hobby: Traveling Favorite Musical: Hamilton Favorite Jewish Food : Latkes with Sour Cream Favorite Animal: Elephants! Coffee or Tea : Coffee Chipotle or Moe s : Chipotle Dunkin Donuts or Starbucks : Starbucks Number of siblings : Three (One of them is my identical twin sister named Tom- yes, she s a girl and no, it s not short for anything) 4

5 Who Are You? Name: Age: Birthday: TYG: Favorite Color: School: Favorite TV Show: Favorite Prayer: Favorite Food: Favorite Jewish Food: Latkes with Sour Cream or Applesauce: Coffee or Tea: Chipotle or Moe s: Dunkin Donuts or Starbucks: Phone Number: Facebook Name: Instagram Username: 5

6 Terms to Know As your regional RCVP, I want to make sure that we are all on the same page in regards to what NFTY is, as well as what different abbreviations mean and the de nition of words that we use during discussion. NFTY- North American Federation of Temple Youth (the organized youth movement of Reform Judaism in North America) URJ- Union for Reform Judaism STR- Southern Tropical Region (this is our region, and is one of the 19 regions that are a part of NFTY) TYG- Temple Youth Group PVP- Programming Vice President SAVP- Social Action Vice President RCVP- Religious and Cultural Vice President (or Really Cool and Very Perfect!!! aka us) CVP- Communication Vice President MVP- Membership Vice President Asefah- a board meeting with Regional and General Board Kutz- the leadership camp of the URJ 6

7 Being a Lifelong Leader 1) You do not need a title to be a leader. 2) Just because you have power doesn t mean you have to use it. 3) Be yourself - being comfortable with who you are encourages others to do the same. 4) Remember the fishbowl - everything you do is distorted and magni ed remember the following to keep any harm from happening: a. Be inclusive. b. Watch your language- don t curse or gossip about others. c. Confidentiality is paramount. d. Lead by example. 5) Only act when you are sure of what you are doing. This means anything from quieting a room, writing a program, or leading a meeting. Ask first. 6) Push yourself and those around you to be the best possible. Make it WOW! 7) Utilize the resources (and people) given to you. 8) Be proactive- offer to help and to lead. If you think something can be done better, suggest (appropriately) ways to change it. 9) Always put 110% effort- if you don t, no one will. 10) BE FLEXIBLE!!!!!!!!!!!!! 11) Be enthusiastic and engaging and believe in your actions!!! 7

8 Being a Good Board Member No matter what position you hold, there are certain responsibilities that all TYG board members have and are held responsible for. 1) Attend and participate actively in as many board meetings as possible. 2) Attend and participate in as many TYG events as possible. 3) Be a leader at all times (remember the fishbowl effect). 4) Assist getting new members involved and engage all participants in events. 5) Help other board members with whatever they need- the success of the TYG is most important. 6) Maintain good working relationships with all members of the board. 7) Some things at board meetings are confidential- respect that. 8) Treat fellow board members with respect. 9) Don t procrastinate - be accountable and stay organized. 10) Breathe, relax, HAVE FUN. In addition to those, a huge part of having a successful TYG is having a board that knows how to work together well. As the RCVP, you are often considered to be the most mature and responsible person on your board. It is up to you to not only lead services and be a good Jewish role model, but to also be an approachable person who can be con ded in. A board needs to work together well in order to succeed, and you (as a board member) have an equal role and responsibility in that. 8

9 Services!! Services are one of the most important aspects of being an RCVP; they are a memorable experience that allow people to take Judaism and connect it to their daily lives. The services that you will create will have the power to move people and to really form connections between the congregation and God and Judaism. This part of the packet is going to cover everything you need to know about services: the different types of services, the choreography, key factors that go into putting together the services, and more!!! The Three Types of Services There are three different types of services: Traditional, Thematic, and Experimental. Option #1: Traditional As the name of these services denotes, this is a traditional service, and what you will probably nd at a typical Friday night service. Planning these services is pretty straightforward: sit down with a Mishkan Te lah (and hopefully some collaborators) and make your way through the order of the prayers, deciding on what tunes would be appropriate to use, when to speak in English and when in Hebrew, and what readings you would like to include. Option #2: Thematic For these services (found often in NFTY and at Kutz) the rst and most important step is to choose your theme (e.g. Nature, Israel, meditation, the Beatles, love ). Once you nd a theme, try and nd where it ts in to your prayers, melodies, and readings, as well as any activities that you might want to do during the service. Be creative!!! 9

10 Option #3: Experimental These services are your opportunity to have a lasting impact on everyone involved. We as RCVP s are given free reign to be creative, and decide what we want people to get out of the service. It is the time to go crazy, do something completely new, and challenge traditional prayer. Anything can be interpreted as a prayer, so decide what message or experience you want your audience to have, and build a spiritual experience around it. The Times of Services and the Prayers that Accompany Them Adapted from Aaron Torop and Haley Dennis This next page has a very comprehensive chart of what prayers are used at which times. Please feel free to use this chart: it helped me so much when I was planning services, and I hope it can help you too :) (and at the end of the service, there just might be an oneg) 10

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12 Torah Service Outline The Torah service is a very structured part of the service: there is pretty much no editing to be done to the this service. While we love and encourage creativity in NFTY, and you are ALWAYS welcomed to be creative, this is the part in your service where a very structured format is most typically followed. 1. When we Remove the Torah from the Ark: a. Ein Chamocha b. Av HaRachamim c. Ki Mitzion 2. The Person Standing on the Bimah with the Torah: a. Baruch Shenatan b. Shema 3. Time to Read the Torah: a. The blessing before reading the Torah b. The Torah reading c. The blessing after reading the Torah d. Repeat those three steps for as many Aliyot as you have e. Hagbah: The open Torah is lifted while singing V zot HaTorah f. The Hagbah sits and the Glilah dresses the Torah in the opposite way it was undressed 4. We Return the Torah to the Ark a. Y hal lu b. Hodo Al Eretz c. Eitz Chayim Hi When you are planning a Torah service, it is important that you consider who will get the honors: being called up for an Aliyah, reading the Torah portion, the 12

13 Hagbah, and the Glilah. It is up to your discretion who gets these honors (maybe based off the theme of the event?) but don t forget to be INCLUSIVE of all NFTYites, as much as you can. Writing a D var Torah Writing a D var Torah can be tough sometimes- there are many portions in the Torah that can be hard to understand or dif cult to apply to our own lives. These 8 easy steps, also found on the NFTY website, will hopefully make writing your D var a fun and meaningful experience. 1. Read the Torah portion: While this may seem like a no brainer, you would be surprised at how important this step really is. Many of the best d vars that you will hear or write yourself are going to focus on the small details of the portion- a word here, a phrase there. There s a reason why we read the Torah each year: it s because there will ALWAYS be something new for us to discover. 2. Read the commentaries: Following this step will allow you to not only nd a range of topics that can be used and interpreted for your d var, but also help you nd a range of opinions and interpretations. You can really decide which commentaries and interpretations speak to you, and having these opinions will make it easier to narrow down your topic. 3. Find your focus: Finding something that is meaningful to YOU in your portion is what will ultimately make it meaningful for others as well. Use your knowledge of the portion gained through reading the Torah and the commentaries to nd your focus. It s ok to take risks here- making a connection between the Torah and something unexpected (such as Harry Potter) will only help to build and develop your focus. 4. Make an outline: Before you start writing, ALWAYS make an outline (I make one every time I start writing ANYTHING). Having this outline will allow you to 13

14 narrow down your focus, decide the ow of your d var, and nd out where your speech is actually going to go. 5. Write the d var: There s a great trick developed by ancient rabbis called PaRDeS (origin of the word: paradise) that might be able to help you write. The P stands for P shat or summary. This gives the people hearing your d var some context of what is happening. If your parsha happens to fall in the books of Vayikra or B Midbar, your portion might be full of miscellaneous laws. Don t be afraid to say My Torah portion basically contains a whole bunch of laws about sacri ces. Boom. Summarized. Next we get to the R, Remez or clue. This is where you set up what it is that you re going to talk about and identify the clue that points to the lesson you are going to share. After that we have the D, Drash or interpretation. This is where all of your research and thinking comes in and you share the explanations that lead up to your main lesson. Last is the S, Sod or secret insight. This is where you reveal the important message that you have found hidden in the text. Everything comes together and you imagine the people of the congregation s minds explode from the amazing insight that you just revealed to them about humanity and the universe. 6. Have someone (or multiple someones) look over your d var: Asking people for help with grammar and phrasing can be useful in order to have your d var sound correct and polished. No matter what input you get, remember that the nal say in all changes is yours. If you like what they ve done, change it. If not, then don t. This is YOUR D var Torah, and the nal decisions do come down to YOU. 7. Practice: PRACTICE PRACTICE PRACTICE 8. Give your D var Torah: Someone once told me that it doesn t matter if you re running a service and everything is going wrong: once you get up on that bimah and give your d var, you re going to feel like you re on the top of the world. This is your moment!!!! Enjoy it!!!! 14

15 Havdalah Service Outline Havdalah is a Hebrew word meaning division or separation and it s the name of this ceremony that formally ends Shabbat. During Havdalah, we separate Shabbat from the rest of the week, a holy day from the normal ones. This is the way we remember Shabbat- every action that we do during the Havdalah service is meant to say goodbye to Shabbat and to bring in the new week. The order of the Havdalah service is as followed: 1. Blessing over the wine lift the cup during the blessing, but do not drink the wine. This blesses the Havdalah ceremony and symbolizes the goodness and sweetness of Shabbat and our lives in the coming week. 2. Blessing over the spices lift the spice box during the blessing. Some congregations prefer to pass around the spice box so that everyone will be able to smell the spices. We do this because on Shabbat, you are supposed to have an extra soul, and we say goodbye to this extra soul every week until Shabbat comes again. The spices help revive us so we can begin the week enlivened with the sweet smell of Shabbat. 3. Blessing over the candles lift the candle during the blessing. The candle symbolizes the idea that all things are intertwined (God, the world and the Jewish people). While the candle is held up, many people raise their hands towards the ames so that they are able to see the separation of Shabbat and the weekdays, light from dark, on their hands. 4. The Havdalah blessing after the blessing, we extinguish the ame in the wine. This blessing is used to distinguish Shabbat from the rest of the week, the holy from the ordinary/mundane. The belief is that the longer the sizzle, the sweeter the upcoming week. 5. Sing Eliyahu hanavi and Shavua Tov. This re ects our hope for an era when all days will be like Shabbat, and celebrates the beginning of a new week. 15

16 Choreography Adapted from Aaron Torop Services can be very intimidating- when to stand, when to sit, what to do, and as the leader of services, people will often look to you to see what choreography you are doing (and then follow). Below I have outlined NFTY s general practices of movement during prayer- but then again, as the RCVP, you have to ability to decide what you want to do. None of these are set in stone, and depending on the mood or setting they might change. Whenever we stand (unless otherwise noted) Jews face East OR the OPEN Ark (an open ark takes precedence). Lecha Dodi: D uring the verse beginning with Boi v shalom we rise and face the entrance, bowing each time we say, boi, to the left and then to the right. Chatzi Kaddish : the prayer leader typically begins chanting, with the congregation joining in with amen and from b chayeichon all the way to yitbarach and nally from tushb chata through the end. Barchu : The root of Barchu is the same root as knee, indicating a bow. The prayer leader bends at the knees and bows on barchu et and is standing up on Adonai. THEN the congregation responds with a bending-knee-then-bow on baruch and up on Adonai. Take note that it is a call and response, as is the bowing. In NFTY-STR it is customary that we either rise or remain sitting and cover our eyes for the Shema in order to focus in on one of the most important teachings in Judaism. The V ahavta is chanted either sitting or standing, depending on what the prayer leader decides to do. Amidah translates to standing. During Adonai s fatai it is customary to take three steps backwards, and then three steps forward, signifying walking out of our world into the realm of holiness. We bow ONLY during the Avot (at the beginning and end) and NEVER during the G vurot. During the Kedushah we rise on our toes three times as we say Kadosh, Kadosh, Kadosh. We rise during the Torah Service from when the Torah is removed from the ark until it is resting on the reader's table or podium, and again during Hagbah. 16

17 There are also certain Parashiyot for which we stand as they are read, such as the Ten Commandments and the Song of the Sea. We stand for the Aleinu. The very words of this prayer tell us what to do: va-anachnu (and we) korim (bend [at the knees]) u-mish-tachavim (and bow down) u-modim (and give thanks), and then we then raise ourselves back up. We also stand for the Mourner's Kaddish. T oday we all stand together as one community stand in order to not single out the mourners, and to say Kaddish for those who do not have someone to say Kaddish for them. Who Can Help Plan Services? As the RCVP, you have many people who would be more than willing to help you create, plan, and execute services. You will also be expected to work well with all of those people; for example, if planning a teen-led Friday night service, you will be the representative of your TYG that the clergy will know and will work with. Service planning is not something that you should try to do on your own. Collaborating with the following people will help you create a better, more cohesive, and overall more fun service experience. The Clergy : Most clergy are ecstatic when they see the involvement of young people at their temple. If you reach out to your rabbi and cantor (the two people at your temple who have by far the MOST experience with planning services), they are sure to help you put together an amazing service. They can also help you nd a balance between incorporating NFTY into the essence of your traditional temple services. The Songleaders : Songleaders are an incredible resource to help you plan services. They are the ones that you can consult with on the different song tunes, and the ones who (through song) will help you sent the appropriate tone for your service. 17

18 Your Fellow RCVP s: You have an amazing resource in your fellow RCVPs. The people sitting around you are the ones who you should always reach out to, not only for service planning but also for programming. Me! I want all of you to know that I will always be available to help you with whatever you need, Jewish-related or not. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE don t hesitate to reach out to me for any type of help; I promise that you will always be greeted with enthusiasm and a smile :) The most important thing to remember is that each and every person can be used (by you) as a resource. Every NFTYite has experienced a service, and therefore has their own opinions about services. Adults other than clergy also have experience and opinions about services, and can always be asked for help. Don t be afraid to ask- people want their opinions heard and to be included in the AMAZING process of planning a service. The Flowchart of Services This owchart represents my approach of the steps I take when planning a service. This might work for you, and it might not. But it could be a helpful tool in giving you a place to start planning. Enjoy! 18

19 Programming Programming is another important part of being an RCVP! It is YOUR job to work with your PVP in order to try and incorporate Judaism into every program or event that your TYG runs! But don t worry! Here are some key points that will help you bring Judaism to everything you do :) What is the program about? As an RCVP, you will probably run a few programs a year that are based on Israel or the Jewish holidays. When you write these programs, try to keep in mind what people like the most about that topic, and what would be a fun or innovative way to program it? What type of program should it be? The beauty of programming is that you have the freedom to create an innovative and fun program that still relates to Judaism. Remember: programming is your way to teach your TYG about Judaism in a more subtle (and sometimes more fun) way than services. Work together with your PVP to create these programs! What if the program isn t centered around Israel or Jewish holidays (programs that are EXPLICITLY Jewish versus those that are IMPLICITLY Jewish)? : That is OK! Not every program that you ll write is going to be about those two topics; your job is to come up with ways to tie Jewish values or customs into a program that isn t traditionally Jewish. For example, maybe tie in a Jewish lesson to a program that isn t traditionally Jewish (a social action program could have the Jewish values of Tikkun Olam tied in). MOST IMPORTANTLY: HAVE FUN!!! This is your chance to engage your TYG in Judaism without having a service. Share your love for Israeli culture, teachings, food, holidays, etc. through your programming. You are not expected to know how to program perfectly- that is why you have a PVP on your board who will be more than happy to help you out. 19

20 NFTY Study Theme (and How to Incorporate it into your TYG Programming) In previous years, at NFTY Veida or NFTY Convention, the delegates of all of the NFTY regions come together to vote on a study theme that unites the entirety of NFTY as a whole. Each region is meant to take the study theme and incorporate it in some of their programs, services, social action initiatives, etc., so that while each region is diverse and does different activities, we are all still united through what we are studying. This past year, our study theme has been Hineini, (Here I Am). Through the study of this theme, all NFTY participants were meant to learn about themselves and how to be fully present in the activities that they do. Our past Winter Regional theme, Know Who You STR, was based on the study theme of Hineini; the majority of the programs, services, and mixers were all meant to help participants nd themselves and learn about who they are, in order to be fully present. Some past NFTY study themes include: Kol Ha Yehudim Ba Olam (All of the Jews of the World) ( ) Con ict at Home and Abroad: Striving for Insight ( ) Interreligious Understanding: Hearing God s Presence ( ) Taking the Reform Jewish Journey: Embracing Tradition and Exploring Innovation ( ) P Kichut Eineinu: Opening our Eyes to Zionism ( ) Tihyei Shoefeit L Atzmecha: You Will Be a Judge for Yourself ( ) V ahavta L rei-acha Kamocha: Love Thy Neighbor as Yourself ( ) At this year s Veida, no study theme proposal was submitted, and therefore, no study theme was chosen. At this time, a study theme for the year has still not been decided on. 20

21 Our Jewish Identities One of my goals for this upcoming year, and one that I ran on as a candidate for RCVP, is creating a place, programming, and services that will help NFTYites build and develop their own Jewish identities. Growing up, my own Jewish identity kept growing and evolving through each Jewish experience that I had; without my experience, I wouldn t have the beliefs or ideas that I have today. Here are some fun facts: Google de nes a jewish identity as the objective or subjective state of perceiving oneself as a Jew and as relating to being Jewish. Under a broader de nition, Jewish identity does not depend on whether a person is regarded as a Jew by others, or by an external set of religious, or legal, or sociological norms. The Jerusalem Post says, Jews from different parts of the world have different attitudes, outlooks and cultures, yet share a common Jewish humanity and heritage. In the context of Jewish identity this may manifest itself in one of two ways. 1) I have Jewish DNA from a distant ancestor, with whom I feel a great af nity so I am Jewish. 2) I love things Jewish, so I am Jewish. The Pew Research Center states When asked whether being Jewish is mainly a matter of religion, ancestry or culture, six-in-ten (62%) cite either ancestry or culture (or a combination of the two). Fewer than one-in- ve (15%) say being Jewish is mainly a matter of religion. About a quarter of Jews (23%) say being Jewish is a matter of religion as well as ancestry and/or culture. What does it mean to be a Jew? To have a Jewish identity? How can we (as a network of RCVPs) help people discover what being Jewish means to them? What experiences can we create for them (and for ourselves) that will aid in the development of our Jewish identities? 21

22 Opportunities in NFTY for YOU! There are several programs that NFTY offers that I highly recommend (if you have the opportunity) to take advantage of. Share these with your youth advisor, your TYG members, Jewish friends- any person who goes through these is guaranteed to come out of the experience with better leadership skills, a wider perspective of the world, and lifelong friends. Here are some INCREDIBLE opportunities that you have access to: NFTY EIE : This is a semester-long program for Reform Jewish high school students in grades 10 to 12 during the school year. It offers an unparalleled opportunity to be immersed in the richness of the land, culture, people and history of Israel, all while earning high school and college credit. For more info, visit NFTY in Israel : This a summer program that sends NFTYites to Israel for either 4 or 6 weeks. This program allows NFTYites to explore Israel and all the country has to offer in an organized trip with fellow NFTYites from across the United States and Canada. In addition to traveling all around Israel, participants go to Prague, Warsaw and Krakow for one week. For more info, visit NFTY Mitzvah Corps : This program offers a diverse choice of short-term summer programs for rising 10th graders through college freshmen. Mitzvah Corp gives teens the opportunity to travel the world, build meaningful relationships with one another and their global peers, understand the complexities and challenges facing various communities, take action on issues they care about, and embrace the ways that Judaism empowers them to enact real change. Visit for more info. Shnat Netzer : This is an incredible and unique 10 month leadership training program for young adults (graduated from high school) in Israel that develops the skills and knowledge necessary for them to become madrichim (leaders) in 22

23 the movement. For more information visit: Binah : Binah is a weekend-long program held at HUC-Cincinnati that focuses on a theme, which participants to explore their Jewish identity while learning from and engaging with some of the most dedicated scholars and teachers of the Reform Movement. For more info, go to Kutz : Kutz is the URJ s summer camp that brings hundreds of talented and committed Reform Jewish teen leaders for a summer of fun, learning, and leadership training. For more info, go to L taken : L taken is a program is designed to expose you to a variety of public policy issues and explore the Jewish values that inform the Reform Movement s advocacy around these issues. For more info, go to Of course, the best way to really know if any of these programs are for you is to hear the testimonials of other people. If you want to nd out more, I would be more than happy to put you in contact with a STRite who has participated in one of those programs. 23

24 Resources Adapted from Haley Dennis This last part of my packet has all the resources that might be useful for the upcoming year. Utilize the resources; these are all meant to help you have a smoother and more successful year. The Union of Reform Judaism Religous Action Center Social Action and Judaism! 8&destinatio n=showitem REFORM BIRKAT HAMAZON Israel Religious Action Center Awesome torah commentary This is the website for Kutz Camp!!! Israeli News MORE Israeli News (YAY) quotes/ Helpful quotes for services This website gives you ENDLESS resources. From the program bank, to helpful religious and cultural information, It is a great website! Infomative site The American Israel Public Affairs Committee receive ten minutes torah SIGN UP! Another good Jewish site A calendar of all the Jewish holidays (big and small) for the upcoming year Example cue sheet from Fall Kallah on the next page: 24

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26 Conclusion Thank you all so much for being here with me!!!! I hope you ve enjoyed this experience as much as I have :) I know that I have an incredible group of RCVPs here, and I can t tell you how excited I am to work with each and every one of you in this upcoming year. If there is anything I want you to take from this weekend, it is these following things: You have already accomplished so much by taking the initiative and being elected to your TYG board. Be proud of yourself for that- your TYG chose YOU to represent them and lead them through everything Religious and Cultural for the upcoming year :) You have an incredible group of people here to help you out. Use this network to help further develop your ideas, programs, and services. I think I speak for all of us when I say that everyone will be more than willing to help each other out. You are not expected to be perfect - you are expected to try as hard as you can ( and there is a BIG difference between those two ). As long as you try your hardest, and you take pride in the things that you ve done, I know that you will be an incredible RCVP. Keep being amazing!!!!!! B ahava and B hatzlacha, Roni Kapitulnik :) 26