What is NFTY?

NFTY is the youth branch of the Reform Jewish Movement in North America. It is home to all teens that wish to participate in Reform Jewish life and explore their Jewish identity. NFTY SoCal is one of 19 regions that make up NFTY, and it stretches from San Diego to San Luis Obispo. We bring together Reform Jewish teens throughout the year for learning, worship and fun. NFTY strives to be a holy community that fosters exploration of Reform Jewish identity, individuality, personal maturity and global awareness.

What is Social Justice Kallah?

Social Justice Kallah is a unique, meaningful NFTY weekend retreat that brings together teens from all over the region to take part in social action programming and off-site activities. This year, Social Justice Kallah is hosted in Santa Barbara at Congregation B’nai B’rith February 28 – March 2, 2014.

What does being a “Host Home” entail?

-Providing physical space for teens to layout sleeping bags, store belongings and access a full bathroom.

-Driving teens to and from the event.

-Providing adult supervision at home whenever teens are present in the house.

-Providing breakfast Saturday and Sunday morning.

-Reviewing the NFTY B’rit K’hilah (Code of Conduct) and ensure that teens abide by these rules in your home.

-Attending a host family informational meeting prior to the event.

Do I need to provide a bed for each teen?

No. The teens bring sleeping bags, pillows, linens, etc., and only require floor space. Couches or beds are great if available, but not necessary.

Is it ok to set boundaries for the teens in my home?

Yes. Please let your teens know where they can and cannot be in your home, and what they can and cannot do. It is perfectly fine to restrict them to one specific bathroom, or require quiet hours and other similar rules.

What should I feed them?

You should plan to feed your visiting teens breakfast Saturday and Sunday morning.  Feel free to keep these meals as simple as you would like. Although unnecessary, it is a nice treat for the teens to have some snack food when they return for the night.

I live next door to another host family. Can we just combine the houses in the evening?

No. There is no combining of host homes in the evenings. After programming is over and the teens have returned to your home, they must stay there until you bring them back to the event the next morning.

Do I have to be home while the teens are there?

Yes. Whenever the teens are present in the home, an adult member of the host family must be present.

I have a son and a daughter in high school – can they each host friends?

No. NFTY provides only single sex housing arrangements. Please choose which of the siblings will host their peers and we will be happy to find a host home for the sibling(s) of the other sex.

How do I know if one of the teens in my home has an allergy or medical concern?

During the pre-event meeting, you will receive a list of the teens staying in your house. If there are any food restrictions or allergies beyond vegetarians or lactose intolerance, we will contact you ahead of time with details. We also ask that you do not give your teens any medication, including over-the-counter meds, without first calling NFTY staff to ensure that the teen has permission to take it. Teens have been asked about animal allergies and will not be placed in your home if you have a pet that would disturb an allergy. You will also receive NFTY staff contact information, in case there are any questions or concerns throughout the weekend.

When are the pick-up and drop-off times?

Friday pickup at CBB: 10:00pm (we will have a meeting with all hosts at this time, dismissal will be 10:30pm)
Saturday dropoff at CBB: 9am
Saturday pickup (off-site location TBA): 10:00pm
Sunday dropoff at CBB: 9am

Who can I contact?

Spencer Hirsch and Ben Mazur will both be available before and during the event. Spencer Hirsch is the NFTY SoCal Regional Advisor, and he can be reached at nftysocal@urj.org or at (206) 351-9530. Ben Mazur is the Congregation B’nai B’rith Youth and Education Manager, and he can be reached at bmazur@cbbsb.org or at (704) 771-6293.