The nature of my work connects me with many Jewish teens, mostly in the Reform Movement (which readers will know I've formally left after years of tolerating its unabashed efforts to preach hard-leftism.)
I found out just in casual conversation with young friend that the NJ - NYC regional chapter of Reform Jewish Teens (NFTY-GER) has on its student-run board a "Green" chair.
A Green chair?
And I'm sure this is not the only region to have such a position.
After telling the wife about this, she says, "There's nothing wrong with being green." And she's right, there isn't. But, in my opinion, there's something very wrong about believing in the necessity for a Green chair in a religious organization.
According to the NFTY-GER chair position application, the job description of the Green chair is this:
One person who will work with the Social Action VP. This person will be responsible for assisting in the SAVP in ensuring that all recyclables are kept organized and separated throughout the event until they can be equally distributed and brought to homes that can recycle them since Camp Harlam does not recycle in its off-season. This person will also be responsible for helping the SAVP in fundraising efforts and publicity of causes during and after the event (ex. signing petitions).
1. What previous experience do you have in fundraising and publicity?
2. What new ideas do you have to make the recycling efforts easier at Camp Harlam and/or ideas on how to make NFTY-GER a more eco-friendly community?
3. What other ideas do you have to increase awareness, advocacy, and action at events involving causes beyond the environment?
I still don't understand. There already exists a Social Action VP, whose job is to ... well, basically advocate for liberalism and left-wing/Democrat political positions. Why does there need to be an additional position for someone to obsess with recycling at Camp Harlam (a camp owned by the Reform movement located in eastern PA)? And, if there already is a Social Action VP, why is the Green chair required to advocate for causes beyond the environment, as specified in question #3?
Aren't there much more important social and/or religious issues that the Reform Movement's teen organizations can establish positions for? Why not a "Hate Crime and Islamic Terrorism chair"? The year 2010 has seen an increased number of hate crimes against Jews. This report in today's NY Post discloses New York State's latest hate crime trends:
ALBANY -- Hate crimes across New York state jumped 14 percent in 2009, led by an increase in attacks on Jews and Jewish institutions, state records released yesterday show. ...
Anti-Semitic incidents, which made up 37 percent of the reported hate crimes, were up 15 percent in one year, from 219 in 2008 to 251 in 2009.
To be fair, the number anti-Muslim hate crimes also increased ... from 8 to 11. (Yes, you read that right: eleven anti-Muslim hate crimes in all of New York. All while the mainstream news media bellyaches about the epidemic of Islamophobia!)
Many of these hate crimes, no doubt, were at the hands of Muslims. And in the Middle East, teens and small children are indoctrinated to hate Jews and kill them. Wouldn't Jewish teens be interested in learning how young kids are taught songs about shedding their own blood in the pursuit of murdering Jews (via Palestinian Media Watch):
Wouldn't a chairperson focusing on this disturbing and ubiquitous trend be vital and informative?
But no, someone in the Reform Movement (at least in the NJ-NYC region) thought that the Social Action VP position wasn't enough to help them indoctrinate teens with liberal/Democrat politics, so they created the Green chair to help her out.
Look, I was part of this organization when I was a teen. It helped me stay in touch with my religion during those formative years. I had made tons of friends there, and are still in regular contact with many today.
But a Green chair is, in my opinion, a highly superfluous position. But it certainly sheds further light on exactly where the Reform Jewish movement puts its focus.
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