The Kagan’s Have Left the Building Temple

“Life is a series of hello’s and goodbye’s.  I’m afraid it’s time for goodbye again.”  Billy Joel

Earlier this summer, after six years at Temple Ner Tamid in Bloomfield, NJ, Amy and I resigned as Youth Group Advisors (Senior and Junior).  The primary reason for this action was our need (and desire) to spend more of our non-work time with Sophie, 5, and Noah, 2.  Bottom line—while we LOVE spending time with, and touching the lives of, the teens we have had the pleasure to serve, we don’t want to miss this important and fun time in the lives of our own children.

This decision certainly wasn’t easy, capping a journey that began for me more than 30 years ago when I joined Sinai Temple Youth Group in Michigan City, IN, and, for Amy, slightly more recently when she affiliated with Beth Chaim in Princeton Junction, NJ.  Since those auspicious beginnings, we both have spent countless hours planning or managing programs, chaperoning at events, counselling teens, and wrapping ourselves in the joys of the North American Federation of Temple Youth (NFTY). 

In finding outlets as adults for our love of youth grouping and Judaism, we have been extraordinarily blessed.  I served as youth group advisor at Oak Park Temple in Chicago for 14 years while Amy served as NFTY-GER advisor for four years before we teamed up for six years at Ner Tamid in New Jersey.  These experiences enabled us to give back to hundreds of Jewish teenagers the support, encouragement and love we were fortunate to find ourselves.  And it also allowed us to introduce our kids to it.  Sophie loves song sessions, and Noah even experienced his first regional friendship circle in April by wandering out into the middle of it, not at all intimidated by participating with 200 teens.

Luckily for us, we still have a strong connection to the movement and the teens that define it through our work with the Kutz Camp.  I first found that magical place in 1983, and have spent at least parts of 10 summers there, returning after a long hiatus in 2004 to teach leadership and meet (and fall in love with) Amy.  I will continue to serve as a Camp Committee Vice Chair, while also serving on Faculty.  This summer, Amy again served on the Wellness Team, assisting our entire community to be healthy, engaged, and productive while at camp. 

Before closing, some well-deserved thank you’s:

n  To the “instigators” or “facilitators”, those who got us involved in various ways:  Joe Prass in Chicago, and Lee Karrow and Maurie Stern in Oak Park.  Rex Perlmeter/Rachel Hertzman in Bloomfield.

n  To the clergy teams we worked with and learned from:  Rabbi Gary Gerson, Cantors Alane Katzew and Julie Yugend Green in Oak Park; Rabbi Steve Kushner and Cantor Meredith Greenberg in Bloomfield.

n  To the NFTY regional advisors we had the pleasure to collaborate with:  Joe Prass, Ken Heinrich, Dave Locketz, Barbara Rooks, Isaac Saposnik, Amanda Meyer (Radman) and Beth Avner (Rodin) in Chicago.  Miriam Fink and Pam Schuller in New Jersey.

n  To the other TYG advisors we worked with:  You are too numerous to count and identify.  Hopefully, you know who you are AND how much you inspired us to be better each and every day.

n  To the families who trusted us with your children:  We knew that, whether we were in the temple watching a movie or traveling cross-country to NFTY Convention, we were more than just “in loco parentis”…we were committed to making sure that each teen was safe, happy and meaningfully engaged.  Special shout-out to the Wainers who not only trusted us with their children, but made us part of their family.

n  Extra-special shout-out to Traci Stratford and Jessie Wainer:  You know why.

n  To Melissa Frey, Director at the URJ Kutz Camp, with whom we continue to work, as well as love and respect.  Keep making magic, and we’ll be right by your side giving you whatever you need.

After so many years as a youth group advisor, this “saying goodbye” thing is incredibly hard.  We have been so very lucky to serve the Jewish community in so many ways, and we will miss our time with you all tremendously.  Is this the final chapter for us?  We certainly hope not, and will absolutely look for ways to contribute in ways large and small.  (Hint:  If you need us, reach out!)

NFTY, NFTY-GER, NFTY-CAR, OPTY, SNoTTY, NuTTY are more than just acronyms.  They are a fundamental part of the Kagan lexicon, and a vital part of our soul.

L’hitraot!

Update on the Kagan’s: New Year’s Edition

Happy New Year to all of our family and friends…with the new year upon us, we thought it would be a good time to let you know what’s up with us.  Hard to believe we’re already a third of the way through winter—the weather has been downright balmy here, with New Year’s Day temps in the mid-50s.  Winter comes to visit this week with highs in the 20s, but we haven’t seen snow since that freak storm in October.

Let’s start this update with everyone’s favorite character, Miss Sophie, who is just seven weeks away from her second birthday (how is THAT possible?).  She’s learning lots of new words and getting lots of teeth and generally charming the pants of all who meet her.  It’s been lots of fun watching her learn new things and we look forward to her many upcoming discoveries.

Amy’s new job is going well, though her quieter gig in suburbia hasn’t turned out as quiet as she expected.  But, as always, she has handled everything with her trademark grace and good humor.  She’s still on the board of the Westfield Welcome Club, and will likely continue her post into the next term.  As for the summer, she has applied to once again spend it in Warwick, NY, at the Kutz Camp as the Inclusion Coordinator for the Mitzvah Corps program working with kids on the autism spectrum. We still are working together on the two youth groups (6^th-8^th grades and 9^th-12^th grades) at Temple Ner Tamid in Bloomfield.  We continue to enjoy this work, and hope that we are making a significant contribution to the community.

As for Jeffrey, 2011 was a great year overall.  On the sweat level, this was my best running year ever, completing more than 900 miles, 50 miles farther than my previous best.  Though I won’t be putting my running shoes away, I can say with great certainty that 902 miles will be a record that will be cherished but unbroken.

On the work front, things are going superbly at KPMG, where I am well into my fourth year there.  Many challenges and opportunities, and I am very blessed to be able to work with such smart, passionate people.  We are making lots of good things happen, and, even more importantly, I am learning much each and every day.

I’m also proud to report that the leadership of the Kutz Camp (where I have served as participant, staff, faculty, and alumni event co-chair, and where Amy and I met in 2004) has tapped me to serve as Vice-Chair, Marketing and Recruitment, of the Camp Committee.  It’s both a tremendous honor and a wonderful opportunity to give back a fraction of what I have been given by the many incredible people I have encountered there.  As with Amy, I am hoping to be back there for Summer 2012, serving again as faculty and staff husband.  Thanks to Melissa, Mike, Kelly, Lisa and others for all of their great work in creating such a warm and inspiring environment.

Finally, several of our friends have gotten married or engaged recently (Abbye and Shawn, Lisa and John, Beth and Sam, and Lisa and Dave)…congrats to all of you, and we wish you many years of the joy and love that Amy and I have been so fortunate to find and/or make.  Also, best wishes to Brielle and Vincent on the birth of their first child, and Edye and Dave on the birth of their twin girls.

Summer 2011 Edition

Hard to believe we're quickly approaching the two-thirds point of the Summer of 2011, but it's a fact.  True to form, the Kagan's have been busy the last few months:

As the school year wound down for Amy, she scored big in the new jobs department, accepting a job with the Clinton (NJ) school system as a school social worker for grades PreK-8.  Returning to a public school setting was high on her list of goals, so she was excited for the new opportunity.  She will miss her pals at IEP, and is looking forward to the adventures ahead.  Having locked that in, Amy (and Sophie) left for the Kutz Camp in Warwick, NY.  Amy spent four summers at Kutz (2001-2004) in her role as Regional Advisor for NFTY's Garden Empire Region, with the highlight CLEARLY meeting Jeffrey in 2004.  This year, she was the Inclusion Coordinator for the camp's Mitzvah Corps program, which paired high school students with teens on the autistic spectrum.  This is quite an impressive program, and Amy's enjoyed it very much.  Returning from camp on July 20, Amy worked the morning of July 21 at her new gig, and then she and Sophie left again on July 23 for a week at the beach in Rehoboth (Delaware) with various members of her family.  Much of August looks to be spent relaxing at the Westfield Pool and charging her batteries for the new school year.

Sophie has had quite the summer as well.  No question that she was the star of the show at Kutz, making friends with everyone there, and having her picture taken more than the cast of Jersey Shore (see Facebook for the many pictures...shout-outs to Avra, Heather, Karen, Seth and others for their photographic contributions).  Her time at in Rehoboth clearly demonstrates that she loves the sand (and dirt) and the ocean; we hope that will translate to the pool as well, and she took some first steps in that direction thanks to Trish and the lifeguards at Kutz.  She misses her friends from daycare, and will be back there the last week of August.  On her "new tricks" list will be the word "momma" (she says it to Amy, but also as a substitute for "more"), her fist bump, and her impressive display in response to "where's your belly?".  Definitely talking prodigy.

Jeffrey has also had much fun this summer.  His time at Kutz was mildly interrupted by planning season at work, but he managed to enjoy his time there nonetheless.  As in 2004, he was on faculty for the week, teaching Marketing and Leadership (separately) to the participants.  Between classes, he enjoyed the camp life and all of the friends--new and old--with whom he spent time.  Shout-outs to Craig and Rachel, Lisa, Karen, Melissa, Les, Nathan, Billy (and Charlie), Roey, Danielle, Seth, Matt and other denizens of the late-night porch crew--much fun associated with "babysitting".  In addition to his responsibilities this summer (for more on the impact of Kutz, see my blog here), he has also graciously and humbly accepted an offer to continue serving on the Kutz Camp Committee.  And he has also agreed to serve on the formation behind the Reform Youth Professionals Association...many rewarding activities ahead! 

Passing on the opportunity to go to Rehoboth, he spent some quiet time with Karlee, his favorite treadmill, and even a new movie theater (wow...they still have movie theaters?!).  August will be spent with friends and family, and then September will bring a Bar Mitzvah, a wedding, the return of SNoTTY, a birthday, and even the New Year. 

Oh, and Jeffrey's work is going well with lots of projects and initiatives (and some outstandingly smart people to work with!).

Before closing, we want to send some positive mental energy to a few family members who are ailing...we love you and wish you well as you conquer your various infirmities, and we look forward to seeing you all soon.

As always, we want news from you as well, and would love to have you visit us soon.  For now, know that we are doing well, and enjoying our copious blessings.  All the best to you all.