What does FZY mean to me?

Todays blog is not abut how I propose to change the movement, instead it is focused on how the movement has changed me in the seven years I have been involved for. Let me start in 2005 when i participated in my first chavurot meeting. Having not known what to expect I found myself to be quite shy. I was intimidated by people who knew each other from before hand when I had very few friends there. The main reason for going to that chavurot initially was the name FZY. it was a camp that I wanted to attend and by being a member I was told I would be guaranteed a spot on camp.

In that summer I participated on Ofek '04 and it was the first time I had been encouraged to voice my opinion and be outspoken, it felt good! I continued my journey as a chanich to tour and every year I grew in confidence. FZY was the first place that I was able to express my opinion without being judged or told I was wrong. In 2004 I was struggling with self belief and my lack of confidence in myself was effecting my behaviour as well as my school work and social life. FZY gave me the opportunity to turn that around and for that I am truly grateful.

Year Course was the first time that FZY really made an impression on the path of my life. Being in Israel for nine months gave me a passion to make a change. I wanted to help make a change for the chanichim that found themselves in the same position as me. Leading camp post year course was what I believed to be the most rewarding summer of my life and it inspired me to repeat the act a year later.

I was elected onto the Mazkirut and this created me with the opportunity to really delve deep into the workings of FZY and allowed me to continue my involvement to the highest level. The year 2011 provided me with the greatest summer of my entire life. It was not only fun but also challenging, inspiring and the most rewarding experience of my life to date. Taking tour was an highlight of my life. Simply having a connection with my chanichim was enough to make me so proud of them throughout tour in the manner in which they approached every challenge they had over the month. Tour was the moment I confirmed to myself my reasons for running for Mazkir.

I, Harry Jardine, the insecure young boy from Radlett, was able to inspire and lead 43 chanichim to better their knowledge and make a difference for Israel and the Jewish communities in the UK. Even typing it out makes me so proud to be part of a movement that gives the opportunity to everyone. It doesn't discriminate and it provides support where necessary. FZY is more than a youth movement to me. When I joined FZY it felt like a family and I believe I am the right person to connect our members together and become that family that always supported me. Without FZY i would be half the man I am today.

Aliyah Nimsheket

Aliyah Nimsheket is more than just the act of moving to Israel, it the continual support of the nation once having moved there. The decision to move to Israel is a difficult and challenging one. To simply pack up ones possessions and leave the home that they have grown up in, is never going to be easy. FZY as a Zionist organisation obviously can play a huge role in the decision. Within FZY many members have made aliyah and fulfilled their Zionist dreams, however many have not. It is important that FZY continues to promote aliyah nimsheket.

This does not mean that anyone who does not have the desire to make aliyah is not accepted in the movement. I am a firm believer in choice, however I do believe it is important that choices are well informed. FZY has a duty to members that are considering aliyah, this duty is to provide them with the most accurate and relevant information available. FZY already has this information available in the form of our Olim, and although the topic of Olim is covered on tours, occasionally, as well as on year course, it is rare for our members in the UK at universities to have the opportunity to explore these options. Using the already present database of Olim information I as mazkir will set up educational days around different universities to help give all the information about aliyah to those who may be considering it, by involving members in Israel via Skype.

As well as this I believe that the continual support of the state of Israel after aliyah can be achieved with the help of our movement. As we are all aware many FZY members are currently serving in the IDF and FZY also has a duty to support them. Packing boxes, writing letters and sending reminders of home is a great way of making our members still feel part of FZY and will illustrate a system of support for those who need it. The process is cyclic as those that leave the army can then become part of the support system for future soldiers.

At the end of the day Aliyah is an exceptionally difficult decision and not one to be made lightly, that is why I believe that FZY can not only help with the making of the decision but also support it for years to come.

Tzedakah

When I was on Kesher 05, as a chanich, FZY were selling MIA wristbands. The initiative was aimed to bring attention to the situation and raise awareness of the struggle that the families of the MIA soldiers face. By bringing back these wristbands we can reinvent a campaign to raise awareness and support for these families. This is an important initiative to FZY as it is a symbol of zionism. The MIA soldiers dedicated themselves to protecting their country and their families deserve the closure of knowing either way about their loved ones.

FZY official charity is the Ethiopian Bar Mitzvah Fund. I believe that it is important for FZY to continue to support the UJIA in the project. Ethiopian Bar Mitzvah Clubs are currently being supported by FZY with members helping out with the educational rational. The value that this gives to FZY is two-fold. As well as working to support the charity we also promote our movement at an age that is essential for FZY to be acknowledged. By helping at a critical and important stage of young peoples lives FZY can create a core group of chanichim that are growing up through the movement. 

Tzedakah in FZY is more than raising money, it is about being righteous and providing an example for the rest of the community to follow. This can be created by continuing the good work that the FZY mitzvah day already provides within our communities. As well as mitzvah day FZY can also provide activities of volunteering for all ages. It is very unusual for our members to have their own placements and FZY can use connections within the jewish communities to provide our members with this opportunity. Creating a positive outsider opinion of FZY and also providing our members with experiences that are unrivaled. 

As Mazkir I would encourage support for the work Olim member Keren Hajioff is currently doing in Israel. The initiative is to support IDF soldier by writing them letters expressing our appreciation for the work they do and the risks they take. Keren who is currently serving in Israel is training soldiers in using different equipment. The support that previous letters from FZY have given to soldiers is remarkable and I believe that this small sign of appreciation really benefits those going through tough times in training and unfortunately combat. That is why I see the project to be worthwhile and a necessity for participation by FZY.

Tzedakah is an important part of zionism and the manner in which we conduct ourselves will be an example to the rest of the community and different cultures sharing the land of the UK. FZY already illustrates commitment and as Mazkir I will strive not only to uphold the reputation but advance it. 

Tour

The highlight of most GCSE students year is the summer. Once the hardship of exams has ended a large number of British youths flee from parents and embark on the journey of their lives. Tour is a month away from parents where chanichim have the ability to develop as individuals. FZY in recent years has dominated the Israel Summer tour market by consistently filling the maximum allowance of 12 tours.

FZY have always been ahead of the game when it comes to operating tours and this is again shown this year by the development of speciality week. The movement team have designed along with our sister movement Young Judaea opportunities that have never been available before. The aim of speciality week is to provide chanichim with an experience they will never forget. There are other advantages to the new format of tour. First by separating tours for a short period of time FZY chanichim have the ability to build links with other members of other tour groups. This creates a larger group of FZY chanichim and promotes friendship between tours rather than a competition, no matter how much is in jest. As well as connecting British chanichim to other British chanichim the new program also allows interaction with American chanichim from Young Judaea. This hopefully will create transatlantic relations and can help fuel the demand for our Kedma summer program Hanhaga.

This is the first year this format has been implemented and more will be known about the success post the summer. However with the large amount of variety and being the only organisation to offer such a program it can be sure that this summer will once again be a successful one with respect to Israel Tour. As Mazkir I would use the information and feedback given after this summer to analyze the opinions of not only those participating but also of the madrichim and see the difficulties they faced. If the feedback is positive, as expected, I would look into introducing more tracks and options such as a Photography track that allows chanichim to witness some of the most breathtaking views Israel has to offer, As well as a Culinary track which creates the opportunity for chanichim to learn about not only Israeli cuisine but also the produce from the region.

The changes to the program, in my opinion, illustrate FZY's desire to provide the greatest opportunity for chanichim to enjoy their time in Israel, in the safest possible way. To me, that is what is important, having chanichim connecting to the land and having fun.

Hope everyone has a great Shabbat and I will be back on Saturday, post Shabbat

Shabbat Shalom.

Magen

In FZY we stress the importance of Magen initiatives. By this we mean activism throughout the movement to promote honest and fair representations of Israel. Unfortunately we live in a troubling age where the safety of Israeli citizens is at constant risk.

Within FZY we have had different initiatives to help raise awareness about current and recent issues surrounding the safety of Israel. These have included the Sderot hoodies, as well as an MIA campaign for those soldiers who have yet to be returned from kidnapping whilst on duty with the IDF. FZY provides a platform for the youth to formulate opinions on the situation that Israel currently faces. The development of these opinions was very apparent this year at the release of Gilad Shalit. It only took a quick look onto Facebook the day of the release and it was obvious the FZY had succeeded in at least one of our initiatives. The sheer number of chanichim and bogrim that found themselves ecstatic and relieved for the Shalit family after there 5 year ordeal was truly inspiring. The feelings were reflected in the status updates as well as photos from all stages of our movement. This shows the manner in which our madrichim educate when given the appropriate opportunities.

Although Gilad was release there are still MIA's and there families waiting for closure about the situation their loved ones are in. FZY has a responsibility to raise awareness. If I am elected Mazkir I will strive to continue the good work of the previous movement teams and Mazkirut to raise awareness about the situation surrounding the MIA's and Sderot. As well as this I believe there is a potential to bring many jewish youth movements together by producing an MIA handbook peula. By this I mean an activity in which all MIA's are educated about and the stories learnt, in order to remember those that are still missing and waiting to be returned home, dead or alive.

Magen is more than just the MIA's and Sderot, it is the protection of the state of Israel, it is one of the major building bricks in Zionism and it is not biased. I believe that in order for FZY to have a strong movement that illustrates commitment to a greater cause in Israel it is important to educate about both sides of the story. Defending Israel is more than just backing every decision, it is critical analysis of legislation and actions that take place and understanding the reasons behind them. In order for our movement to have well educated members it is important for FZY to cover all sides of any particular situation. That is why I believe in the continuation of such experiences as meeting the Arab-Israeli community on Summer Tour as well as experiencing Druze hospitality and Bedouin Tents. I also believe it is possible for FZY to produce our own domestic inter-faith activities creating respect amongst local communities and providing a stage to show that peace is the only possible situation worth thinking about.

A Youth Movement?

FZY is an organization that spans across many age groups and many different backgrounds. Our members are diverse, not only in thought but also in needs. The role of FZY, in my view, is to provide the stage to voice opinions whilst supporting the needs of members. 

FZY officially went younger and opened the doors to chanichim of age 12 and above. Although there is not a camp for this age group, weekly activities organized by the  movement team at the time created the opportunity for an expansion in our member base. The original ofarim challenge was to engage the age group whilst creating an FZY atmosphere that lead to a natural progression into camps and further into passionate and active members of our movement. 

It is clear, from the past, that successful movements have a core of chanichim that have grown up within the movement and created connections with the ideology. A prime example of these core groups are the chavurot. The chavurot, that are still successful in the North and Essex, have provided the platform for young members to feel involved and have great experiences. However in London these chavurot have unfortunately disintegrated. Regrettably this has resulted in a lack of opportunities for young members from London to grow a strong bond with our movement. 

The ofarim program is still new to FZY and despite lack of interest, I still believe there is an opportunity to provide social and educational programs for the age group. FZY can still play a major role in todays younger community. FZY can provide the right support system for our ofarim during difficult times such as bar/bat mitzvah. Peer support is an important part of our chanichim lives and I personally believe that FZY has the structure to encourage a support network between all of the different age groups within the movement. 

FZY is a youth movement, to me this means interaction with the youth of today throughout the year. FZY is an organization that strives to get the most out of our members whilst providing an environment in which people feel comfortable to express themselves as who they really are. By providing support systems FZY can create links between all the age groups and create a core group of members. This can only help with the development of the movement.

A Year ON!

The subject of year course has many different aspects to it and I hope to address all of them within this blog.  First I want to explain what year course did for me and the benefit it gives members. When I participated in year course 08-09 I was a young immature boy who had never been away from his parents for longer than a month and that was on tour. I was embarking on 9 whole months away and I was nervous, upset and excited simultaneously. I knew many people going on year course with me but this didn't help me feel less alone.

These feelings that I experienced are completely normal at the beginning of year course and everyone feels these emotions in one way or another. So how can FZY help? The management of expectations is something that FZY have developed over the last few years and I personally believe it can be developed further. I intend to introduce a buddy system for the prospective year coursers. By this I mean that everyone participating in year course is allocated a buddy, either someone who is currently on year course or members of the bogrim. These buddies are there to answer any questions and provide any support that is needed. As well as this the buddies can also be used as a web based support whilst participants are in Israel. Why introduce a buddy system of bogrim? FZY is a youth movement, personally I believe that as a youth movement we should be connecting all stages of FZY. By creating links whilst on year course we can develop them on return and help returning bogrim to feel association with the movement having been away from the UK for a year. As well as this many people get upset and depressed when returning from year course, I know I did, the buddies again can be there for support and advice on dealing with this problem. Again strengthening the links between age groups in the movement.  

The gap year industry as a whole has suffered a major set back with the rise in tuition fees and this is a major challenge for FZY. Due to the rise in price of tuition year course numbers have taken a serious hit. Although this current year course can be considered as an anomaly that doesn't mean that the numbers will instantly increase back up to the heights of previous years. Financially it is very difficult times and this has a major effect on our numbers. However by maintaining the price of year course FZY will illustrate a desire to provide the most diverse and the best year course program available. 

So what can FZY do to repair this decrease in numbers? First I believe that currently the role of Year Course Recruiter is vital in the office, as it is the first stage of going on year course. The FZY recruiter needs to be passionate and approachable much like our previous recruiters Ben King-Scott, Emma Nagli and of course Dena Addlestone. However just having the Year Course Recruiter working on the prospective participants is simply not enough. If I were to be elected Mazkir I would continue to promote year course in schools with high numbers of jewish students. Therefore not only should FZY visit jewish schools but also institutions such as HABS or Manchester High School. Not only should this be the job of the Year Course Recruiter but also it should be assisted by members of the bogrim who have personal connections with these schools. The marathon of phone calls that are required to be made should be assisted by bogrim, especially tour madrichim. Post tour the connection of madrichim with their chanichim is an exceptionally strong bond, everyone remembers their tour leaders. This means that as the involvement of the tour leader, in kedma activities, does not end post tour the involvement of madrichim in the recruitment process is vital. For a future participant of year course to receive a call from someone they are familiar with is a huge icebreaker and allows a more open conversation about the reasons to go on year course and the doubt and concerns that may be present in the minds of the chanichim. 

Year Course was the best decision of my entire life as it allowed me to grow into the person I am today. I made friends for life and learnt more about what israel really means to me. The feeling of surrounding oneself within israeli culture and society is one that I will remember forever and recommend to anyone.