Igniting Excitement In Our Teens
By HOWARD GELBERD
The turbulence of adolescence,
the period between childhood and
adulthood, presents unlimited
opportunities for our Jewish
community.
Living under the gloom and
doom of "demographic studies,"
"continuity commissions" and
"survival studies," we need to take
a bold new look at a community of
searchers and questioners, a
community hungry to belong, to
connect, one looking for role
models: 13-18 year olds — Jewish
teens.
We have the life-giving answers,
but what we desperately need to
engage and convince them are
understanding, appropriate
strategies, positive/motivating/
relevant/safe formal and informal
environments for Jewish learning
and Jewish experiences.
Psychologists agree, these are
the years, 13-18, for building identity,
self esteem, self-worth and
self-respect.
During adolescence, teens
transition to their own emerging
identity and developing values
system. These will be the basis for
their own behaviors, choices and
decisions.
Our challenge, as a Jewish
community, in partnership with
parents, is to offer an attractive
Judaism, one that goes beyond the
"what am l" (doctor/lawyer/teacher)
and that "what I have" (car, clothes)
to the "who am I?" Can we make
Judaism attractive enough so teens
will integrate the values, the history,
the holidays and rituals, the sense
of peoplehood, God, and the depth
and passion of Jewish spirituality as
they choose who they are
becoming?
The choices of contemporary
American life are many. The
tensions and stresses of choosing
are manifested in the widespread
coping and escape mechanisms of
alcohol, drugs and suicide. Many
teens feel pressured and trapped
(by parents, grades, peer pressure,
career ... ).
tehaffilll
THE JEWISH NEWS
27676 Franklin Road
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December 11, 1992
12
Associate Publisher: Arthur M. Horwitz
Adviser: Harlene W. Appelman
We have avoided, having been
"scared-stiff' by the intimidating
emotional and behavior complexities
of teens, conducting serious
planning, providing appropriate
funding and implementing sufficient
highly effective formal and informal
Jewish educational experiences
delivered by the most relevant,
motivating, knowledgeable models.
We have not pushed our teens
effectively to their Jewish potential:
— in the motivation and
responsibility to choose and
do good
in the integration of Torah,
justice, compassion,
learning, acts of kindness,
truth, social responsibility
in the building of
relationships with
family/friends
— in developing faith, spirit,
prayer and a relationship
with God
— in Tikkun Olam (repairing
the world)
We have not convinced enough
parents of the absolute central
importance of Judaism in building
the identity — self-worth in their
own teen-agers. On what values
foundation will their teens deal with
their energies, drives, need to
belong; choose behaviors, choose
peers and dating partners and
nourish their souls?
Too many parents have
negative ambivalent feelings about
Jewish education for teens. "After
bar/bat mitzvah it's your choice" —
"Don't become too Jewish."
In this turbulent process of
identity formation, we need parents
as partners.
This questioning, searching,
challenging, cannot end at the
classroom door, the camp dining
room or on Masada.
Igniting the excitement of our
religion, of Israel, of our culture and
people, in our teens, will require
extraordinary levels of expertise and
enthusiasm in educators, parents,
rabbis and community leaders. It
will require involvement of the home
and the most positive, supportive,
stimulating formal and informal
Jewish educational environments we
can offer; such as the classroom,
camp, Israel (Israel is the best
Jewish educational laboratory for
teens. Experiencing Israel should be
the right of every Jewish teen-ager),
youth groups and other new
formats.
Howard Gelberd is executive
director, Agency for Jewish
Education.
Havdalah Memories Keep Flame Burning
By AMY WAGNER
As three stars appear over
the midnight blue lake, suddenly
400 campers appear from all
corners of the camp. Joined arm
in arm with their neighbors, they
encircle the Havdalah candle, the
lone spark in a sea of darkness.
Within moments, the masses
begin to chant the unforgettable
melodies of the Havdalah service.
Beginning with the Shecheyanu
and including the verse "Yesh od
shisha yamin od Shabbat": only
six more days until another
Shabbat, the ceremony
concludes with the embracing of
fellow campers and wishes for a
shevuah toy: a good week.
During my past nine
summers at Camp Ramah in
Canada, I have encountered this
scene numerous times, but every
Saturday evening of each
summer season, Havdalah is
anticipated nonetheless. I never
tire of these dramatic and
spiritual moments. Havadalah is
by far one of the most
motivational scenes of the Ramah
experience. The Havdalah service
intertwines in 20 minutes what
campers retain for a lifetime: a
strong sense of Judaism, a
commitment to the community,
and long-lasting friendships.
Even though the flame of the
candles is extinguished in the
Havdalah wine, the fire burns
continually in my heart. The
memories of emotional Ramah
Havdalah services serve as an
anchor for my Jewish values. The
flame constantly reminds me of
the persecution of Jews of the
past and the necessity of keeping
the flame of Judaism burning
brightly.
Amy Wagner is a junior at West
Bloomfield High School.
Holiday Puzzle
Answers On Page L-7.
6
7
8
10
11
14
12
5
16
DOWN
1. LATKES
3. CHANUKKAH MENORAH
4. DONUTS
5. CHANUKAH GELT
6. OIL
8. CANDLES
11. DREIDEL
12. PRESENTS
ACROSS
2. HOLY TEMPLE
7. HELLENISTS
9. JERUSALEM
10. SYRIAN-GREEK KING
12. MIRACLE
13. JUDAH
14. SYRIAN-GREEKS
16. EIGHT