JAKE HERSHENHOUSE
FOR YOUR 5777-5778
NFTY-CAR PRESIDENT
My Qualifications
Freshman Representative of
BJBESTY 2014/2015
Membership Vice President
of BJBESTY 2015/2016
BJBE Machonik 2013/2017
Culture Chair to the RCVP
2015/2016
Religious and Cultural Vice
President 2016/2017
Israeli Culture Club Vice
President 2015/2016
Israeli Culture Club President
2016/2017
President of Juggling Club
2016/2017 8 year OSRUI Camper
Camp CAR Counselor
2015/2017
L'taken Lobbyist 2015
Delegate at Veida 2016
JSA Activism Chair 2016/2017
Burger Day Charity Board
Member 2016/2017
Potbelly Sandwich Works
Employee 2016/2017
NFTY Participant 2014/2017
A little about me
Shalom NFTY Chicago! I am currently a junior at
Glenbrook South (Go Titans!). Besides NFTY, I involve
myself in activities such as juggling, Model United
Nations, Israeli Culture Club, JSA, machoniking at
BJBE, and making tasty sandwiches at Potbelly. I
have been a part of NFTY since the beginning of my
freshman year, and ever since then, I have been
absolutely hooked! To me, NFTY has become more
than a youth group and movement: it has become a
family, with each member bringing something unique
and integral to the table. I have always seen that
NFTY is trailblazing as well: going the extra mile to
protest injustice or act on the side of the righteous
while simultaneously honoring tradition in our
Judaism and its sanctity. NFTY values empowerment,
leadership, activism, community, inclusion, and fun. I
am running for NFTY-CAR President so that these
values and our mission can live on within the
organization and with us. Thank you, NFTY-CAR;
you have inspired me, believed in me, and shaped who
I am. Now, it’s my turn to give back to you!
Balancing Fun and Meaning
At any given event, we should strive to provide
an experience for participants that is fun,
engaging and consequential. An objective of
mine for the coming year would be to ensure
that a jam-packed event schedule is filled with
programming that excites and impacts. Working
towards creating better events, creates more
informed, more captivated, more elated
NFTYites. As a young movement, we should
seek empowerment; as a young group, we
should aim to smile.
Expanding Leadership
In programming, we have always preached about
being leaders, yet we seldom show that we can
actually walk the talk. So, the best way for us all
to follow through with our goal of empowering
ourselves is, as always, to practice, practice,
practice! At events, everything that we do is a
program andthe role of leader should not be
hoarded in the hands of a few but rather shared
with as many as possible. Group leading, helping
set up for programs, leading the birkat, and giving
announcements are easy, simple ways that more
NFTYites can learn by doing and, in turn, instill
our passion for leadership onto others. I want to
get everyone in on the action!
Expanding Networks
Our regional networks (comprised of TYG board
members) are imperative to successful events of
any size or shape, yet they have become
increasingly underutilized. Networks are perfect to
bounce ideas off of peers, and cultivate
a community around common interests. Networks
also ensure that there is no disconnect between
leadership and participant. NFTY-CAR's network
network can easily be revitalized so that both our
teens and our region can reach our maximum
potential. Networks emphasize truly that
leadership is not a one-man show.
~My BIG Points~
The SIONs: Vision,
Inclusion, and Passion.
The ITYs: Individuality,
Unity, and Opportunity.
Planning Ahead
NFTY678 is our development program for future
NFTYites. I have wished many a time that I could
have discovered the wonders of NFTY long before
high school. Because of this, I also wish to make
our NFTY678 more accessible to those who can
get involved early. Back in the day, NFTY used to
be a college youth group, yet over the years, we
have made it our own. As an organization, we
must invest in the future; therefore, we should
have more opportunities for the kinder to have a
meaningful NFTY experience throughout the
course of the year.
Expanding Community
NFTY is all about sharing the love. In the past,
we have partnered with various other youth
groups and faith communities and I would like to
maintain our streak. Our strength comes from
our diversity and our ability to reach out to
partner organizations (like Brightstar Church and
Children of Abraham) and both secular and
affiliated initiatives (like Inspiration Cafe, Feed
My Starving Children, or Bernie’s Book Bank, or
BBYO). Just as a participant can become part of
something larger than his/herself, so can NFTY.
Short and Sweet Events
NFTY-CAR is not confined to holding four
events per school year. We are able to break
down barriers and do more for NFTY,
ourselves and our community through small
“pop-up” events throughout the year. Because
we have the advantage of being one of the
smallest NFTY regions, it is not a hullabaloo to
get everyone together. So, these one-day
extravaganzas could serve as the perfect time
for experimentation with multi-organizational
partner events, themed or complex
programming, and even a TYG-led or networkled get together.