Photo by Daniel J. Lippitt
Song sessions brought all youth groups together.
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LESLEY PEARL STAFF WRITER
the help of her new
friends, Farmington
High School senior Sarah
Bricker scaled a 10-foot
wooden wall Saturday.
She was relieved when
she safely dropped to mud-
dy ground on the opposite
side.
"I was terrified, being lifted
up and tossed over (the wall).
But when the hands grabbed
out for me, to catch me, I knew
they wouldn't let me fall," Sarah
said.
The wall-climbing exercise
provided Sarah and about 35
other high-school students the
chance to trust virtual
strangers. It was one of the ac-
tivities comprising the sixth an-
nual Kornwise Weekend at
Camp Maas in Ortonville.
Although attendance was
slightly down from the 50-100
youths in past years, Kornwise
Weekend maintained its focus
— bringing students together
from youth groups of all Jewish
movements to learn, sing and
build community. B'nai Brith
Youth Organization, (BBYO),
Michigan State Temple Youth
(MSTY), Habonim and United
Synagogue Youth (USY) were
represented.
Discussions revolved around
similarities and differences in
thought and practice within the
various movements. Song ses-
sions punctuated the days and
evenings. Services were writ-
ten by the students.
Tova Dorfman, teen director
for the Agency for Jewish Edu-
cation (Kornwise coordinating
organization), was pleased with
the leadership and motivation
of the participants.
"We want the students to
work together in the future.
This is our future. They're mo-
tivated. They're brainstorming
how to live and work together,"
Ms. Dorfman said.
Suggested ideas from stu-
dents were more leadership and
training weekends to share in-
ter-movement strategies, an ac-
tive youth consortium for the
pooling of problems and ideas
and a similar weekend for
adults.
`They said they want to meet
like this more often, to do more
together rather than focus on
labels, stereotypes and compe-
tition between youth groups,"
Ms. Dorfman said.
Stan Beiner, AJE director in
Denver, Colo., helped plan the
weekend.
He views Kornwise as an ex-
cellent opportunity to strength-
en Jewish bonds.
"Jewish population studies
show two powerful influences
in teen life: trips to Israel and
youth group," Mr. Beiner said.
"A weekend like this has impact
because the participants learn
by doing, not by listening.
"Activities like these week-
ends create a setting where it
"They're
brainstorming
how to live and
work together."
Tova Dorfman
becomes cool and OK to be Jew-
ish. It's very affirming. You can
talk about Shabbat all you
want, but singing and doing it
creates the connection they
want to bring home."
Mr. Beiner said other cities
have created councils of Jewish
youth groups that meet to dis-
cuss issues Reform, Conserva-
tive and Orthodox can work on
together. Kornwise is the only
entire weekend nationally de-
voted to the goal of breaking
down barriers between move-
ments and building communi-
ty and leadership.
Charlie Walker, president of
Michigan State Temple Youth,
is a senior in high school. He
was saddened that Feb. 18-20
would be his only Kornwise ex-
perience as a camper, but looks
forward to returning as a coun-
selor.
"I can't put my finger on it,
what's so special about this
weekend. I love the discussions,
I love learning how other peo-
ple pray and practice their Ju-
daism," Charlie said. "It's a
small group, so it's a more inti-
mate event. It leaves a lot of
room for further discussions."
Attitudes like Charlie's aren't
uncommon.
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Programming director and
weekend facilitator Judy —
Avrushin participated in Ko- Lc.;
rnwise six years ago. She has c`-'
>-
helped staff it ever since.
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"Every year is different," Ms. <
Avrushin said. "I think the stu-
dents really do find new friends co
,
outside their youth groups. L.L.
They learn a lot, and they also
realize they all come from the 15
same stem." ID