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COLORWORKS STUDIO OF INTERIOR DESIGN

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GROWING PAINS page 103

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teen services coordina-
tor at the Agency for
Jewish Education.
NCSY has learned
that lesson. Headed by
Rabbi Tzali Freedman,
the local chapter of the
national Orthodox
youth movement went
from having 100 mem-
bers two years ago to
240 this year. The rea-
son for the jump in Rabbi Joshua Bennett leads a session during a NFTY
membership is that the gathering.
local chapter hired a
"It is hard to track who (of
part-time staff person for pro-
gramming and began opening those who attended the two
branches in public schools.
events) will go on to (senior) youth
"Input equals outcome. We are group," he said. "But it is hard to
putting more into outreach and argue with those numbers."
expansion," Rabbi Freedman
Ironically, while the adults are
said. "Kids are very impression- planning ways to draw in more
able. If you go out there and members, the teens seem obliv-
ious to the marketing efforts.
reach out, kids will respond."
Another marketing weapon They are coming, they say, to
appears to be younger leaders. find something that is missing in
The majority of teens respond their lives.
Devorah Freilich, a junior at
more to collegiate or post-colle-
Novi High School, sees her
giate leaders.
Several people leading the lo- BBYO involvement as a way to
cal youth efforts are barely be- blow off steam with friends.
yond the age the groups serve.
"Teen-agers are always under
Rick Goren, director of youth and a lot of pressure from parents
high- school activities at Temple and school," she said. "This is like
Israel, is 23; Mr. Mellen, coordi- a safe haven where I can go, re-
nator of teen services for Agency lax and be with friends and not
for Jewish education, is 26; Lori conform."
For Mitch Zeff, USY and
Brochman, Temple Beth El ju-
nior youth group adviser, is 22. Young Judaea events are safe
"I think it is because (the places where he "doesn't have to
teens) can relate better with the worry about saying the wrong
younger advisers," Mr. Goren thing."
"In school, kids hide their
said. "We haven't been out of
high school that long ourselves." (Jewish) identity," said the
Farmington Harrison High
School junior. "No one wants to
Youth groups
be different or be cast out of the
main group. Here everyone is the
have gone
same."
Others find youth-group
from geeky to
events and meetings to be a place
to meet all kinds of people. Aaron
acceptable.
Jackson of Okemos has made a
lot of friends from around the
The marketing target has state at regional NFTY events,
shifted as well. Now youth teens with whom he has a lot in
groups not only have to be ap- common.
pealing to their own members
`They are geeky, they are cool.
but also must have programs There are all kinds of people
which draw in junior youth- here. People here seem a lot more
group members, seventh- and well-rounded," he said.
eighth-grade students who will
And some find youth events to
have an element of spirituality
be future members.
In December, 102 eighth- they crave.
"I enjoy the religious aspect of
graders in Reform temples' ju-
nior youth groups attended a NFTY," said Nicole Scaglione, a
Sunday matinee of Miss Saigon sophomore at Roeper High
at the Masonic Temple in De- School in Birmingham. "Here it
troit, funded in part by the Fish- is OK to say a prayer or a bless-
er grant. Another 32 seventh- ing before you eat."
For others, like Aaron Starr,
and eighth-graders spent the
night at Camp Maas in Febru- the impact has been stronger.
The Troy Athens High School
ary.
"We have never done these student entered NFTY wanting
things before. They couldn't go to be a lawyer because he
to their older brothers and sis- thought it "would be a good way
ters to find out what it would be to make money."
As president of the state's
like. They had no idea what they
were getting into, but they NFTY region, he now is consid-
came," said AJE's Mr. Mellen, ering rabbinical school.
"I have learned that fulfill-
who also coordinates junior
ment
comes from family, people
youth-group activities for area
and faith, not things," he said. ❑
Reform temples.