NAwTY
NEWS
In
December, the senior youth group, NAwTY (Naples Awesome Temple Youth)
Group put together a truly magnificent Shabbat Service. This service
served as a way for the older and younger members of the community to
come together to showcase their thoughtfulness, intelligence, and
diversity. Our RCVP, Religious and Cultural Vice President, Rebecca
Stern coordinated the services collecting various readings from our
youth groupers. In addition, Evan Weiss and Felicia Lilien served as
our songleaders. Jeff Haut even played Hatikvah for us on the trumpet.
It was a magical night in which the talent and insight of our young
people shone.
Here
are just some excerpts from this amazing service:
“The
theme for tonight’s service is “What the prayers mean to us”. Prayers
are easy to say, and often not fully absorbed. What does it mean to each
and every one of us here this evening to recite traditional Shabbat
prayers that have been said countless times over the years? As each
prayer is read tonight, attempt to find meaning within your heart. Reach
to the depths of your soul to discover the true value of each prayer in
accordance with your daily lives. Only then, will you find the genuine
significance of the prayers read.”
--Rebecca Stern
“To me
love comes in many forms. It can be selfless unconditional devotion to
only one other person on this earth. It can be passion for something you
never knew was in you. It’s having been walking up to each other’s faces
for over sixty years and you are both still happy. It’s a mother’s touch
that will always give you hope and a father’s strength that will always
keep you safe. Love is having the need for friends, sharing with each
other and always being there….Human love is the goodness we have all
been given, in the image of our God. Unending is God’s love for God’s
people. Everlasting is our love for one another.
--Courtney Faunce, Adaptation of Ahavat Olam—“Everlasting Love”
“A lot
of people feel anxiety in their lives…It is in these times of anxiety
that we turn to God to strengthen us and ask God to banish our fears.
We shouldn’t be afraid, for God is with us. He will give us strength and
uphold us through our trying times with His powers of righteousness.”
-Pammie Shapiro
“Thanksgiving is one day a year that everyone enjoys…We give thanks for
who we are, what we live with, and for everything good in our lives.
In this prayer we do just that. We give thanks to God for his wonderful
works and our blessings we have all reached. But while reading this
prayer, let us think of those who may not be as fortunate as we are…Many
of us take for granted the gifts that we have, myself included. Not
until we finally realize how lucky we are, can we understand this
prayer.
--Ryan Tarnow
“I
rest my fate
Upon
heavens gate
And on
heavens gate it is resting
I bide
my time
Though
the Clock does chime,
But
the Nightingale keeps singing
The
earth has trembled,
The
skies have split,
The
seas have spilled overflowing
But
for all the days of my life,
The
Nightingale kept singing…….
My
task is this, to send you bliss, to let you know life will go on...
My
love is true,
Through and through,
And
that’s why I keep singing…
My
soul soars
Behind
closed doors.
But
now my heart is mourning…But my soul always keeps singing”
-Excerpt from an original poem on Peace by Sari
Faye
“It is
written, (Psalm 46:1), “God is my refuge and my strength: a very present
help in time of trouble.”
Lately
in life I have been experiencing some unfortunate problems…No matter
what happened God was always there for me, I could always go to God.
God was always there to listen and never to judge…God will always be
there for you to get you through. So when you are really stuck on
something, take a moment, whether for yourself or for your family and
friends and just close your eyes and
pray.
--Erika Dunayer
