What is LEFTY?
Sign up for LEFTY for the 2012-2013 School Year!
LEFTY (Lexington Federation of Temple Youth) is Temple Isaiah’s adolescent youth group, serving teens in grades 8 through 12. LEFTY strives to make the teachings of Judaism a functioning part of the social outlook of all its members as well as to promote an understanding and practice of the values and traditions of Judaism. LEFTY’s main goal is to provide a venue for Jewish youth to meet, develop friendships, and learn in a Jewish setting.
LEFTY is one of the largest and most active youth groups in NFTY-NE, the Northeast Region of the North American Federation of Temple Youth. NFTY-NE holds regional events throughout the year that meet the social, educational, and spiritual needs of its members. There are approximately 70 youth groups in NFTY-NE. For more info on NFTY go to www.nfty.org. Please note that NFTY-NE Events are only for 9th -12th Graders.
Below is sampling of our local events in addition to some of the incredible regional events.
- Freshman Kidnap (Our Traditional Opening Event)
- High Holiday Food Drive
- LEFTY Shul-In
- Mazon Dinner
- Creative Service
- Purim Carnival
- Mitzvah Day
- Grade Events
- Final Event
- Regional Events: Dances, Conclavettes, Institutes, Winter Wonderland, Shul-ins…
It is extremely difficult to put down on paper the vibrant spirit of LEFTY. We are fortunate enough to have a community in which all members are fully welcome and feel they can play an important role. LEFTY is entirely teen-run under my guidance. LEFTY strives to reach out to all adolescents in the Temple Isaiah and greater Lexington community, and our members are an enthusiastic, caring, friendly, and welcoming group.
LEFTY looks forward to welcoming Temple Isaiah's 8th graders into its community next year. 8th graders will be able to join LEFTY (at a reduced membership fee) and will be welcome to attend LEFTY events.
Please sign up for LEFTY through our online HS registration process. Once you sign up then Alicia McGee will be in touch with more details.
Questions about LEFTY? Contact Alicia McGee, LEFTY's Advisor, at amcgee@templeisaiah.net
NFTY & NFTY-NE
For almost seventy years, the North American Federation of Temple Youth (NFTY) has offered thousands of young people the opportunity to explore and live Reform Judaism.
Today, over 750 Reform congregations throughout North America sponsor Temple Youth Groups, bringing the NFTY experience to more than 10,000 high school-age young people in grades 9 thru 12. Through involvement opportunities offered by congregations, our 19 NFTY regions, and on the North American level, NFTYites strive to forge an identity in consonance with the goals and values of Reform Judaism. LEFTY is part of NFTY-NE, the Northeast region of NFTY.
NFTY-NE brings together Reform Jewish Teens from Upstate New York, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, and Montreal, Canada. Our members come together at many times during the year for learning, fun, worship, community service, and fellowship to help young Jewish adults throughout the region build and strengthen lifetime ties with each other and Reform Judaism.
Stemming from a historic tradition of both Jewish and non-Jewish European youth movements, the North American Federation of Temple Youth (otherwise known as “NFTY”) is the Reform Jewish religious youth movement that fosters leadership at the national, regional and congregational level. It is advised by a set of adult Jewish youth professionals. Comprised of over 750 local synagogue youth groups, NFTY also functions as a youth organization, an affiliate of the Union for Reform Judaism (URJ), as well as a program of the Union for Reform Judaism. There is a healthy balance between those aspects of NFTY that are youth-led and those that are directed by its adult advisors.
Whether functioning as an organization, program, or youth movement, NFTY is a Reform Jewish community for high school students. NFTYites forge and build friendships, lifelong Reform Jewish identities, and leadership skills through community building, worship, social action, and experiential youth-led Jewish educational programming. Many NFTYites serve as NFTY leaders on the local TYG, regional, and even North American levels. Many NFTY Leaders continue on to become both lay and professional leaders of the Reform Jewish Movement.