Hebrew chai
Jewish Education continues for our post B-Mitzvah students on Wednesday Nights with Hebrew CHAI. TOgether, students in grades 8-12 will explore our world through the lens of our Jewish wisdom tradition, learning to apply our most ancient texts to the most current moments. Through deeper engagement with Jewish texts, creative Torah study, and the application of Jewish ethics to TV, movies, and social media. In Hebrew CHAI, we emphasize the reality and experience of the LIFE of the Jewish teenager.
As we honor our commitment to engage our community with a modern spiritual, educational, and social Jewish experience that uplifts our lives, our teen learning program, Hebrew CHAI will be a springboard for inquiry and communication as teens to continue exploring their personal Jewish identities while also connecting to their local, national, and worldwide Jewish community.
Wednesday nights will begin with dinner together in the Social Hall, followed by an introductory experience before the main lesson for the evening. Classes will be taught by Director of Education, Julee Levine, along with Rabbi Sharff, Rabbi Berezin, and Cantor Alexander. From time to time, we will also bring in guest educators and representatives from various organizations.
Over the course of the year, we will share four B'Yachad (together) experiences with the teens from Beth El Synagogue. On these evenings, we will learn together in hte community, connecting our learning to Jewish texts and traditions as we engage and volunteer in meaningful ways. Service Learning hours will be available to those who participate in these evenings. B'Yachad dates: September 10, December 10, February 18, & April 29.
We are also very excited to offer the Teen Mental Health First Aid (TMHFA) training to our teens. Through the generosity of hte Lazier L. and Harriet B. Singer Memorial Fund for Youth, the Esther K. Newman Memorial Fund, and the Gordman Giving Foundation, we will offer this training to studetns in Hebrew CHAI. Teen Mental Health First Aid (TMHFA) teaches teens how to identify, understand, and respond to signs of mental health and substance use challenges among their friends and peers. Upon completion of the course, students will be better prepared to provide support for their peers as well as better cope with mental health challenges themselves - and get assistance from a trusted adult. TMHFA dates: October 22, October 29, November 5, November 19, December 3, & December 17.
For more information about Hebrew CHAI, please contact our Education Administrative Assistant Ilana Linthicum.
Community opportunities for teens
Locally our teens have the opportunity to participate in the Annual B’nai B’rith Bible Quiz in December.
The B’nai B’rith Bible Quiz has been a tradition for decades and an event that high school students and the community has eagerly anticipated. Last year the format and subject was updated significantly to add new interest and attract more participants - which it did!
Stay tuned for more detail - information will be shared here once the 2025 date and topic is selected.
teens travel with temple israel
An important part of our teen engagement programming is the opportunity to travel with other teens.
Stay tuned for more details!
If you have further questions, please be in touch with Ilana!