here - The World Union for Progressive Judaism

Netzer Olami's International Conference - 2011
Chinuch on Camps – Netzerizing the sniffim!
Owner: LJY-Netzer (UK)
Supporting movement: NFTY (North American Federation of Temple Youth)
א"
עשת -ר"
צנ לש תימלועה הדיעוה
Issue: It is evident that on many Machanot within the sniffim, there is a lack of education about
Netzer Olami as a worldwide movement and the pillars and ideals of the movement. Considering
that each snif has agreed to be part of the wider community of Netzer Olami, each chanich within
each snif is therefore part of this community and should have the opportunity to learn about the
worldwide reform connections that Netzer can provide for them. Currently, Chanichim of all ages
have good knowledge of their respective snif but may not even know what Netzer Olami is or what
it stands for.
We feel that ‘Netzerizing’ the sniffim is crucial as a chanich in a snif who does not learn about
Netzer will miss opportunities that Netzer may offer such as a connection with Reform Jews from
all around the world and may participate in a programme such as Shnat Netzer without sufficient
knowledge of Netzer as a movement, and this would therefore put the participant at a disadvantage.
Proposal: It is therefore proposed that within each of our sniffim we implement more chinuch
sessions and peulot about Netzer Olami as an organisation. This would perhaps also result in an
increase in the number of Shnatties from smaller sniffim around the world where they lack
knowledge about the wider movement. This would potentially also result in the increase of
popularity of different programmes that the sniffim run such as NFTY’s EIE high school semester
programme in Israel or the Machon programme for Russians. With more knowledge about and
connections to Netzer, participants will be given more opportunities to live out their Zionist and
progressive Jewish identity, for example by spending time in Israel whilst learning and practicing
progressive Judaism.
Initiatives
1. Running one compulsory peulah for each age group on camp (at least once during the Summer
Machane) about the three pillars of Netzer; Progressive Judaism, Reform Zionism and Tikkun
Olam. This would be the responsibility of the madrichim for that particular shikva.
2. For the younger age groups, running peulot on ‘What is Netzer?’ Again, would be the
responsibility of the madrichim.
3. Have a ‘Netzer Evening’ event for the high school age groups in which graduates of the Shnat
programme would talk about their experience of being part of Netzer, as a way of leading into the
promotion of the Shnat Netzer programme and other programs that Netzer-Olami sponsors. If a
snif has not got any ex-Shnatties of its own then perhaps a video/Skype link could be set-up to
another snif where ex-Shnatties could then talk via Skype, of their experience with Netzer. The
organising of this would be down to the movement workers of the snif.
4. Producing some kind of Netzer information sheets, that can be accessed online and used as
resources for chinuch peulot. This would perhaps be a task for Shnatties whilst they were on
Machon or Etgar, or could come from the Netzer staff.
Costs: To be included in camp budget as resources may or may not be needed for peulot (for each
respective snif to work out). If there was a need for a member of the Netzer Olami staff or an ex-
Shnattie to travel somewhere for an information evening or event, then the costs would have to be
covered by the snif holding the event.
Conclusion: Each snif would need to appoint someone to take charge of this ‘Netzering’ initiative
during camp and to organise the running of the peulot or to help the madrichim to plan the
chinuch with the relevant resources and information. Implementing this style of chinuch on all
camps, in all sniffim, at least once a year would ensure a greater knowledge for Chanichim about
Netzer Olami and therefore would enable Chanichim to gain from this knowledge and be more
able and informed participants and madrichim. Oppurtunities for personal growth arise from the
‘Netzering’ process within each snif, and from being active in an international Netzer programme
such as EIE or Shnat helps Chanichim to become more informed about and involved with their
local progressive community.
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