As NFTY-TOR’s Regional Director, I am constantly amazed at many incredible young leaders in our community. Teens are often the best kinds of leaders- open to new ideas, flexible to change, friendly, willing to be silly and to experiment! That is why our last NFTY-TOR event of the year will be so special as we elect our new NFTY-TOR regional board, honor our seniors and celebrate with a FUN AND WACKY Dr. Seuss social (after our NFTY Prom, of course!)
“I applied to be a 2015 Jackofsky fellow as a shy, socially awkward, and insecure sophomore. Two years ago, I had no idea what my NFTY journey had in store for me but I am confident that the experience of being a fellow was what set me on my current path. Throughout the entire process of applying, being selected, meeting the other fellows from NFTY-TOR & NFTY-So, and being mentored by a current regional leader; I began to realize my own potential of becoming a leader. Being selected as a Jackofsky Fellow gave me the confidence to recognize my own abilities while knowing others supported and believed in me. That opportunity served as a catalyst for my NFTY leadership journey that has taken me far beyond what I could have anticipated.” Maddie Newman, Current NFTY-TOR President and past NFTY-TOR Social Action Vice President
The 2017 fellows, featured below, are unparalleled in their willingness to take on leadership roles as young members of NFTY. During Spring Kallah they will have the chance to lead their peers in a short program that they will design with a peer-mentor in the region to share highlights of their NFTY Convention experience. Join us to learn from and have a thrilling weekend with these incredible teen leaders at Spring Kallah, by registering here.
Maya Deol (TABSY, freshman)
Maya Deol was absolutely ecstatic about being a Jackofsky fellow at NFTY Convention. She lives in Austin, Texas and goes to Temple Beth Shalom. She is a member of the temple choir, an avid learner in the teen Sunday school classes, and a board member of her TYG, TABSY. She loves NFTY with a passion, and hopes to become a leader in her region over the next few years. Her Judaism is one of the most important things in her life.
Samantha Simon (FWFTY, freshman)
Samantha Simon is 14 years old from Beth-El Congregation in Fort Worth, TX. She plays volleyball on the freshman team for her high school, plays piano, and sings in her free time. She is active in NFTY, and the Freshman Representative on FWFTY Board. She played an active role in helping to plan NFTY-TOR’s Winter Conclave, which her congregation hosted on January 27-29, 2017. She has attended Greene Family Camp every year since she was seven years old, and is excited to go back for Kibbutz this year. This past June, she volunteered as a camp counselor at Camp Impact, a camp for homeless and underprivileged children, and will return this June. Samantha was excited to attend NFTY Convention in Chicago this year and is looking forward to improving NFTY as much as possible as a Jackofsky fellow.
Zoey Weinstein (HOUSTY, sophomore)
Zoey Weinstein is from Houston Texas and is a sophomore. She is a member of NFTY-TOR, president of her TYG, HOUSTY, as well as a regional songleader. Her second home is Greene Family Camp in Bruceville Texas! In her free time, Zoey plays guitar, bass, ukulele and does musical theatre. Zoey is super excited to be a fellow and loved seeing everyone in Chicago!
Hannah Bender (NoTTY, sophomore)
Hannah Bender is very excited to be involved in the Jackofsky Fellowship. She attends Keller High School and is involved in debate and band. She is active at her temple with confirmation and as acting Social Action Vice President on her TYG board, NoTTY. She is looking forward to being more involved in her region as well as with NFTY as a whole.
Benjamin Kressbach (SAFTY, freshman)
Benjamin Kressbach is from San Antonio, TX. He is a freshman at Brandeis High School and enjoys participating in various extracurricular activities such as band and woodshop. He belongs to SAFTY and enjoys being a part of NFTY, especially NFTY-TOR. He feels that NFTY provides a home away from home, and feels at home at every event he attends.
Jonathan Kressbach (SAFTY, freshman)
Jonathan is a Freshman from San Antonio, Texas. He is currently the Social Action Vice President of SAFTY, and has been in love with NFTY since his first event – Spring Kallah in 2016. Jonathan is very involved with band, and loves the way it opens up opportunities to have positive experiences with others, just like NFTY. In addition to the positive experiences brought by NFTY, Jonathan enjoys reading, video games, and just spending time with his friends.
NFTY-So’s 2017 Jackofsky fellow is Hayden Robinson. He is a Freshman in BIRTY in Birmingham, AL.
More about The Jackofsky Emerging Leaders Fellowship:
In honor of Rabbi Laurence ‘Jake’ Jackofsky, and his 27 years as Southwest regional leader of the Union of American Hebrew Congregations-now the Union for Reform Judaism, the Lawrence Jackofsky Scholarship Fund was established. In 2015, The Jackofsky Emerging Teen Leaders Fellowship was established for the NFTY Texas Oklahoma Region (NFTY-TOR) and NFTY Southern (NFTY-So) to provide young leaders with an opportunity to attend NFTY Convention, strengthen leadership skills, and build a network across the movement. To donate to the Laurence Jackofsky Fund, please mail a donation check (made out to Union for Reform Judaism) to:
Congregation Beth Israel
Attn: Mindy Michaels
3901 Shoal Creek Blvd.
Austin, TX 78756