Now don’t get me wrong, 2013 wasn’t completely miserable, not at all. In fact, the “threes rule” could also be said for good things occurring as well. After all, in 2013 I
1. Attended NFTY Convention: Every other year 800+ teens from all across North America join together for 5 days of learning, singing, praying, social action, and bonding. This past year’s Convention was in Los Angeles, and throughout the entire trip I was reminded how lucky I am to be a part of such a wonderfully dedicated and passionate youth movement.
2. Was elected President of my Temple Youth Group: Growing up in the suburbs as one of two Jews in my entire Kindergarten-8th grade experience, (the second Jew being my younger brother) I never would have imagined that I would be the one leading our youth group alongside one of my best friends. I remember my parents begging me to just give the youth group a try. I grudgingly went, and it wasn’t long before I was hooked. Thanks mom and dad!
3. Traveled to Israel as part of the NFTY delegation to the 25th Anniversary of Women of the Wall: This trip pretty much just fell in my lap. On September 24th my parents sat me down to tell me about this incredible opportunity, I officially became a delegate on September 27th, I renewed my passport on October 18th, and we left on October 31st. It all happened so quickly, and at times I still can’t believe it actually happened. I learned so much on this trip and met some really remarkable people. There will definitely be more about that in a future post.
Many, many, MANY more exciting and wonderful things have happened this year too. These were just the top highlights. I DID have a wonderful year and am so thankful for the people in my life that made it all happen.
Now on to the not-so-great stuff...
1. In April I found out that a baby in my synagogue had a brain tumor. She was a baby that I had babysat for on occasion and the daughter of one of our Rabbis. I’m changing her name for this post to protect the family’s identity. I’ll call her Joy....because she was such a happy and sweet and joyful little girl. Shortly after we found out about the tumor it was confirmed...cancer. This monster of a disease affects teens and adults too, and it’s absolutely heartbreaking in every case, but there is something outright WRONG when a 13 month old baby is fighting for her life. She hadn’t done anything to deserve it. Her parents hadn’t either. He is a RABBI for goodness sakes! So why G-d? Why? Joy died in July, one day before she would have been 16 months old. I have been racking my brain since April to figure out why bad things happen to good people, and I still cannot wrap my head around it. It’s unfair and it makes no sense. However, another Rabbi I have shared a profound interpretation regarding why this is so. Maybe I’ll share at a later date.
2. Less than 3 weeks after her death, my youth advisor sat my co-president and me down to talk. He could no longer work at Temple. He was informed he had to go on Friday, told us the following Tuesday, and by Thursday he had packed up the office. He wasn’t fired or anything scandalous, quite the contrary in fact. My synagogue tried really hard to keep him, but due to some unavoidable issues, he had to go.
**Note I know I’m being extremely vague about his reason for departure, but I assure you it was nothing sketchy. I just don’t want to invade his privacy.
When the rest of our board found out we had no advisor it seemed like the world had collapsed on top of us. We were supposed to host a regional event for 200 NFTY-TORites in January! Besides the fact that we needed an adult to hold us accountable, manage the money, and help with the technical aspects of the youth group, anyone who has ever been involved in NFTY (or any youth group for that matter) knows that the relationship you have with your advisor is a unique one. They are your mentors, your guides, your role models....and I had just lost mine.
3. My advisor’s abrupt departure was something I could not have predicted. However when Joy passed away in July, rumors started to spread regarding whether her father, one of our Rabbis, would return to the congregation. In late August I found out officially that he would not in be returning, and that he and his wife would be leaving the state to live closer to their families. Though it was not a shock to me that he was leaving, I was still extremely upset. (I mean obviously...it made the “Top Three Worst Moments of 2013” list) This was the man that ignited my love for songleading by GIVING me an old blue guitar of his. As a gift! That beautiful blue guitar is just one of the gifts that this sweet, caring man has brought me over the past four years, and I wish there was a way to show him how grateful I am to have had him in my life.
...and I guess that brings me to the end of this post. Sorry my first blog entry was so long folks, I just had a lot to get off my chest.
2013 sure had a lot of ups and downs. It was definitely an eventful year, but I am ready to put it behind me once and for all.
Are you there 2014? It’s me, Ally. I’m coming for you!
