Another Busy Winter for RSY-Netzer
Wednesday, 11 January 2012
It may have been the school holidays and a time for many of us to get away or just relax, but RSY-Netzer have been busy over the last few weeks with Sheleg winter camp and the Machaneh Hadracha leadership seminar.Machaneh Hadracha
The Machaneh Hadracha leadership seminar is a chance for young people aged 15-16 to learn how to become leaders in their communities, synagogues, RSY-Netzer and in their own lives.
141 madatzim (trainee leaders) attended the residential event which featured sessions on dogma ishit (leading by example), creative leadership, dealing with challenging behaviour and what it means to be a leader.
It was also an opportunity to introduce the 'Kehilati' programme – where the madatzim are assigned a community to run an educational session.
Josh Dubell, RSY-Netzer Movement Worker said: "We had a fantastic, fun and thought provoking five days. It was unbelievable seeing the leaders of tomorrow honing their skills and learning from some of our most gifted bogrim (graduates of the movement)".
How Sheleg Helped Me Cut the Apron Strings
Jude Williams, Youth Department Director reflects on a new experience...
Suddenly I was the parent. After years of being a leader in a youth movement, working for the youth movement, even running these events; I was a parent of a participant. I sent my two eldest children to RSY-Netzer's Sheleg winter camp in December. How did it turn out?
Being the Director for the Youth Department means I know how Sheleg works. I know the leaders; I know the rush, the mayhem, the fun and laughter. But the decision to send my precious children to Sheleg was still incredibly challenging. On the one hand I could not wait for them to get involved in a youth movement. It had been so formative in my own Jewish life, that I have been grooming them for years in preparation for being on camp. On the other hand, sending my eight and nine year olds away for four nights and five days to be with other people's children was horrifying, in a way only other parents might imagine!
So what happened? They had the time of their lives. They were singing the Jewish songs, loving the leaders and best of all, slightly more able to handle life. All the positive Jewish reinforcements worked – lots of songs, fun activities, leaders being Jewish and cool. But interestingly, the being away from home, the disagreements, the different food, the tense moments where they had to deal with things by themselves and with the support of the leaders seems to have given them a new confidence in themselves.
Since they have been home, I haven’t had to ask quite so much for chores to be done, my oldest son has repeatedly made 'requests' rather than 'demands' for my time and attention and they have both begun to take a more sympathetic approach to their younger siblings. It turns out that I might have just started that important process of cutting the apron strings.
My kids' freedom is limited. They don't get to ride on their bikes around the woods for the day having adventures as I did at their age. But in RSY-Netzer they have found this wonderful way to gain some independence. And best of all, I know they are safe and well looked after. Thanks RSY-Netzer!
Find out more about RSY-Netzer and its programmes.
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