C.I.T.Y. (Children of Israel Temple Youth) is the Augusta chapter of the North American Federation of Temple Youth (NFTY) and is part of the Southern Area Region (SAR) NFTY-SAR brings together Reform Jewish teens from northern Florida, Alabama, Georgia, as well as South Carolina and portions of North Carolina. Our members come together at multiple times during the year for learning, fun, worship, community service, and fellowship to help young Jewish people build and strengthen lifetime ties with each other and Reform Judaism.
We strive to provide meaningful and engaging youth experiences for teens. These experiences are created and built off of NFTY’s 13 Principles:
- TORAH – תורה
A commitment to God and Torah as a means of inter- and intra-personal fulfillment - THE JEWISH PEOPLE – AM YISRAEL – עם ישראל
The unity of the Jewish People - THE STATE OF ISRAEL – MEDINAT YISRAEL – מדינת ישראל
The centrality of the State of Israel to the strength and survival of the Jewish People - HEBREW – IVRIT – עברית
The importance of the Hebrew language as a vital component to the strength of the Jewish People - HISTORY – MIDOR L’DOR – מדור לדור
The recognition that in order to fully appreciate our present and ensure our future we must strive to understand our past - TO LEARN AND TO DO – NILMAD V’NA’ASEH – נלמד ונעשה
The necessity of lifelong Jewish learning and teaching as a foundation for our observance through a life of continual discovery of Jewish tradition, law and ethics - PLURALISM – KOL YEHUDIM – כל יהודים
The acceptance and encouragement of alternate modes of Jewish experience - SELF – TIKKUN MIDDOT – תיקון מידות
The understanding that we are to be a light unto the nations by fostering an environment where every individual can meet and exceed their potential as Jews and citizens of the world - JUSTICE – TZEDEK – צדק
The obligation to work for justice for all - COMMUNITY – KEHILAH – קהילה
The need for community to provide an outlet for the individual needs of all Jews - REPAIRING THE WORLD – TIKKUN OLAM – תיקון עולם
The obligation to repair the world - PARTNERSHIP – SHUTAFUT – שותפות
The need and desire to work together to foster each individual’s connection and commitment to ensuring the vibrancy of our movement; - FUN AND SPIRIT – KEF v’RUACH – כיף ורוח
The importance of fun and spirit as foundations of our movement;
For additional information contact: youthgroup@cciaugusta.org