Jump for Joy March 22

Matt Prell
Newsletter Editor
Winter 2015
Jump for Joy March 22
by Noah Gordon
On March 22, 2015 Jr. SHAFTY and Sr. SHAFTY took on a
very nice social action project for kids that were either
visually impaired or had a problem with their brain which
caused them to lose their eyesight. Both youth groups had
the opportunity to meet a 7 year old boy named Vincent,
who is blind. He showed us something some of us had
probably never seen before. He wrote our names in Braille.
We made tactile boards for kids that were also blind like
him. We used a board with holes and many objects such as
Slinkies, beads, bells, sponges, etc. for the teachers to use
during their learning sessions. The hope of doing all of this is
that they will be able to gain “their sight” in a way that those
of us with perfect vision can’t imagine. After this very kind
mitzvah both groups went over to Skyzone in Levittown and
had a blast. We played dodge ball while bouncing up and
down, jumped in the foam pit, sky slammed, and free
jumped. For the most part both groups were having a lot of
fun but at the same time feeling happy that they helped such
a noble cause. Doing things like this is what makes SHAFTY a
good example of helpful, kind, fun, and ecstatic with energy.
Winter 2015
An Overnight Stay at the Bowling Alley January 31-February 1
by Daniel Levy
This year midnight bowling was a blast. After our delicious Chinese dinner at Shir Ami, we participated in
some very funny mixers so that we could meet some new people. Our program began in a pseudo boxing
match between Isaac Kravatz and myself. Isaac portrayed God and I was representing the people of Israel.
We showed that every day you fight with God and fate but no matter what comes up you have to keep
fighting. After the "fight" everyone participated in bonding programs, such as trivia games, searching for
M&Ms in a bowl of whipped cream while blindfolded and hands tied behind backs, playing soccer with
different size balls and goals, and water pong using different size balls and cups… which got very competitive! During the programs, everyone had to learn how work together and how to have fun while
facing sometimes difficult and sometimes impossible challenges. During water pong, some people couldn't
even get one ping pong ball into the cup so the players had to work together to win against an opponent.
After playing our fun games a beautiful Havadalah service, we got on a bus and headed to Brunswick Zone
where we bowled from 12am to 3am. What a crazy night!!!! During the night the bowling pros really showed
off. There were strikes left and right; many did their best touchdown dance after bowling well and it was
absolutely hilarious. I am looking forward to next year’s Midnight Bowling as it is my favorite event. Hope
you’ll want to join the fun!
Winter 2015
NFTY! February 13-15
by Hailey Rosenfield
A Trip to a Mountain December 13
by Matt Prell
The cold winter night was greeted by the blazing fire on the hibachi cook
top at Mt. Fuji. Gathering around the talented chef, Sr. Shafty sat and
watched in awe as the Asian artist bounced an egg on his spatula, a feat
none of us could accomplish. As the chef prepared the vegetables, he
set the onions up into a little tower, poured some liquid out of a bottle
into the hole in the top of the onion stack, and suddenly fire was burning
from the top, creating a little and delicious volcano. Of course no
hibachi show is complete without the annual catching of the food. This
time, the chef flung shrimp at us and, to our own disappointment, mostly
landed on the floor. By the time the main course was ready, we had an
option of beef, shrimp, and chicken. Most of us there chose beef, but
some chose shrimp. The food was too good, and all the plates were
cleared in the matter of minutes. By the time deserts rolled out, the chef
had already sprayed the cook top with little fireman pee (it was just
water) and cleaned it off. The deserts were delicious as well, but most
were left unfinished because we were all full from the food. A little
warm fire of our own was left in our fascinated and delighted hearts in
this cold winter night.
Over President’s Day weekend, I was given the opportunity to
attend the North American
Federation of Temple Youth’s National Convention in Atlanta,
Georgia along with 1,300 other
Jewish teenagers from across
North America. Although
attending multiple regional NFTY
events, this experience was unlike
anything I have ever experienced
in the past. It was incredible to sit
with over one thousand Jews for a
Shabbat dinner and have every
single person in the room know
the exact same melodies to songs.
We were honored to have many
keynote speakers come and
present such as a Virginia Tech
shooting survivor and a
Massachusetts State Senator who
started the first White House
Passover seder. Saturday
afternoon, we were able to walk
across to the hotel where BBYO,
another youth organization, was
having their convention. This meet
up was the biggest recorded youth
summit meeting recorded with
over 3,500 Jewish teenagers in one
room. Bringing these similar
organizations together really
shows that we are stronger
together and can do so much as a
team. I also learned many
leadership skills, which I plan to
take back and use with SHAFTY
and I experienced many fun and
interesting programs that could be
used in our temple youth group.
Overall, this once-in-a-lifetime
experience is something I will
never be able to forget.
Winter 2015
WINSTY! January 16-17
by Lauren Fleming
Pizza and Lasers January 24
During the weekend of January 16th-18th, SHAFTYites as well as over 100
other Jewish teens from Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware
participated in NFTY-PAR's WINSTY. WINSTY is a social action event that
was hosted at Temple Shaarai Shomayim in Lancaster this year. In addition
to having amazing services, a concert with Jewish rock star Michelle Citrin,
and spending time with all of their new and old NFTY friends, participants
collectively participated in over 600 hours of community service
throughout the Lancaster community. Service projects ranged from
cleaning a Boys and Girls Club to spending time with those in nursing
homes to packaging pajamas for leukemia patients in hospitals. Another
project that I was a part of us was the ARZA program which informed us
about the reform party ARZA that's part of the World Zionist Congress
and the ways in which we can spread the word about getting people to
vote to maintain a reform Jewish presence in Israel. In addition to all of
the amazing programming, participants stayed with members of Shaarai
Shomayim, which continued to make the weekend enjoyable. Overall,
WINSTY was both an incredibly fun and meaningful weekend for all who
attended.
by Ali Kazatsky
What happens when you take a bunch of
8th grade boys and send them to
Ultrazone laser tag? Hilarity is sure to
ensue. After stuffing our faces with pizza
and singing happy birthday to Aaron
Masters, the men of Jr. SHAFTY ran over
to Ultrazone to participate in a fierce
game of laser tag. Between games, the
boys squared off in the arcade winning
thousands of useless tickets among them.
Josh Silverstein was the day’s big winner, hitting the jackpot twice on one machine
and raking in hundreds of tickets on his
own. Though the prizes were dinky and
have probably all been lost or broken by
now, the guys had a blast spending the
afternoon together.
Winter 2015
JYK! December 5-7
by Ali Kazatsky
Junior Youth Kallah is an especially
exciting time for our 6th, 7th, and
8th graders. JYK is an opportunity
for those kids to attend an entire
weekend of mixers, social action
projects, and programming at
Camp Harlam. Back in December,
despite terribly rainy and cold
weather, our spirits were high as
we sang camp and NFTY songs,
learned about wrestling with G-d,
and painted bird houses to hang
on camp grounds. Bunk bonding
changed relationships and forged
new ones. We met junior NFTY
members from all over the region
and our SHAFTY kids can’t wait to go back to see their new friends
again next year!
Winter 2015
A Taste of Chalutzim
by Rick and Judith Silverman
Chalutzim was very busy this winter. Funplex is January
was a blast. The kids all enjoyed the go karts, the
motion simulator, arcades and much more. February
we ran the slopes worth a great group and snow tubed.
The kids and adults had lots of fun and came home
tired. March included a small group of kids painting
and enjoying ice cream. Beautiful work was created at
color me mine.
Purim Carnival March 3
by Sara Kniaz
The Purim carnival was a fun and entertaining
time for all Shir Ami members, especially SHAFTY.
Sr. SHAFTY runs a mini golf course every year for
the Purim visitors. After munching on
hamentashen, the kids could try their luck at mini
golf. The kids loved playing and winning shekels
with the support of the SHAFTY kids. This year was
extra special. All the SHAFTY kids dressed up in
costumes to celebrate the holiday. There was a
wide variety- Princess Esther to Olaf the Snowman
to a cowgirl, and everything in between. The
children definitely enjoyed the fun and goofy
costumes. This year's Purim carnival was a fun time
for all, from the visitors to the volunteers.
comic found on: http://www.gocomics.com/calvinandhobbes
Winter 2015
Winter Birthdays
December Birthdays:
Jamie Perera
Brady Klein
Hunter Klein
Taylor Kredo
Noah Haimes
Abigail Baram
Elizabeth Bonn
Ava Toren
Rachel Bocchieri
Ethan Borowsky
Hannah Millstein
Emma Berman
Marisa Kalafer
Marcus Buondonno
Justin Goldberger
Chelsea Ganzman
Alexis Michels
Logan Robinson
Evan Erman
Shayna Pellen
Noah Pellen
Justin Gold
Lena Sobol
Conner Weinberg
Zachary Saifer
Mya Bishop
Tyler Karp
Jake Karp
Etan Shemesh
Abbi Goldsman
Hannah Kravatz
Michael Mitgang
Katie Perera
March Birthdays:
Joshua Gross
Lily Haimes
Ryan Phillips
Jacob Green
Matthew Hirsh
Jake Kanoff
Sophie Kravatz
Alexis Fingerman
Zoe Shubin
Dylan Borowsky
Aaron Diefes
Elena Crowell
Cara Silverman
Alexandra Diefes
Abigail Vitcov
Jade McDonnell
Joshua Silverstein
Gregory Salisbury
Ashley Goldberg
Ian Salisbury
Cameron Dunn
Zachary Dunn
Rachel Nemez
Cameren Cooper
Corey Klevan
Madison Epstein
Danielle Schweidel
Ethan Haimovitz
Craig Klevan
Adam Mahtat
Hailey Goldberg
Chelsey Seigal
Lauren Flemming
January Birthdays:
Mia LaPat
Aaron Master
Jennifer Siegel
Mara Siegel
Jacob Backall
Brooke Hornstein
William Hassid
Adam Bayer
Marissa Cohen
Nathan Speert
Caden Smith
Joshua Ferri
Logan Saifer
Sydney Black
Evan Wicke
William Saltzman
Isabella Stein
February Birthdays:
Alison Ross
Emily Baram
Samantha Baram
Samy Bayer
Elizabeth Wolf
Jared Fleming
Sahne Wattenmaker Alexander Smith
Jordan Weissman
Justin Margoli
Jessica Firestone
Benjamin Fleming
Brandi Chesner
Matthew Prell
Lia Shubin
Grace Martino
Rebecca Lesser
Zachara Theil
Chance Lerner
Jacob Martino