2018-2019 TEEN PACKET and REGISTRATION FORM

Complete details on all programs are included in THE BROCHURE

KESHER HADASH with Cantor Eric. Grades 8 - 12. Our synagogue's co-ed youth group is called Kesher Hadash (New Connections). Teens have the opportunity to connect once a month by engaging in fun, informal events such as social action, holiday experiences, trips, and more. Contact Cantor Eric at cantoreric@rsns.org for more information.

     BETTER TOGETHER with Cantor Eric and Solomon Hoffman.  Members Only: Grades 10 – 12 with Adult Senior Residents of North Shore Towers.

Teens and seniors will engage in a sharing of perspectives, experiences, opinions and wisdom on a different social justice topic each month. They will utilize a curriculum created by renowned educator and former executive of Avoda Arts, Deb Krivoy. Seniors and teens will also collaborate on a culminating final project to be presented at our annual congregational meeting in June. Dinner is included. RSNS gratefully acknowledges Legacy Heritage for inviting our synagogue to participate in its Better Together program.

Sundays, 5:00 – 7:00PM  Dates: Student orientation at RSNS, 9/12 from 6:00 – 7:00PM

Students and Adult Seniors: Sundays, 5:00 – 7:00PM at North Shore Towers, 10/21, 11/18 (7-9PM), 12/9, 1/13, 2/10, 3/10, 4/14, 5/19.  Final presentation at RSNS’ Congregational meeting 6/2/19 at 5:00PM

     SPIRITUAL MENTORSHIP with Solomon. Grades 8 - 12

We are excited to offer a spiritual mentorship program for teens at RSNS. Educator Solomon Hoffman (solomon@rsns.org) will mentor and Rabbi Jodie (rabbijodie@rsns.org) will supervise the program.

Spiritual mentorship is an opportunity to explore personal experiences and challenges through the lens of Jewish texts and teachings. During individual meetings, we will explore how to find holiness and faith in both difficult and joyous moments. This is not therapy or counseling. Instead of focusing on solving problems, we’ll look to Jewish sources as a perspective on the challenges and transitions of the teenage years. Solomon meets with each participant over coffee/frozen yogurt.

     Rosh Hodesh: with Rabbi Jodie, Grades 8 – 12, Tuesdays, 6:30 – 8:00pm, once a month.

This program is based on the Jewish tradition of women’s New Moon celebrations to build self-esteem, Jewish identity, leadership skills, and friendship networks of adolescent girls. The monthly meetings provide a supportive environment where girls explore the social and cultural issues they encounter as they become adults and derive their own authentic Jewish values in response to the challenges they face. The small groups are designed to provide a celebratory, empowering setting in which girls can support each other in growing and learning, while having lots of fun. The program’s success is due, in part, to the participatory mixture of discussing issues, traditions, and role models, as well as making crafts, writing stories, rejoicing with song and dance, socializing, and munching.

     Boys Group (aka “Bro’s Hodesh”) with Cantor Eric: Grades 8 - 12, Tuesdays, 6:30 – 8:00pm

Being a guy is not always so simple. In this boys-only group, we’ll take an opportunity to explore what being a man – more specifically, a Jewish man – means, and what we can learn about ourselves and each other. Through activities, games, popular culture, food, discussions, and group experiences, we’ll take this opportunity to just be guys.

     Madrichim: coordinated by Rabbi Jodie. Post-Kadima Year – 12^th Grade

Madrichim (Aides) are given assignments which include assisting in a classroom, or in the office, Hebrew tutoring, or working one-on-one with students. During training sessions Madrichim enhance their Synagogue School experience through continued learning about Judaism, leadership, Jewish education, professional conduct and teaching techniques. Madrichim have the option of working Tuesday and/or Thursday 4:00 - 6:30pm, once a month on Friday 6:00 - 8:30pm, and/or Saturdays 9:00 - 11:00am. Madrichim can be paid or earn community service hours. Learning sessions are 9/7 at 7:00 pm, and 11/14, 1/16, 3/22, 5/8 from 6:30 - 7:30pm. Members Only.

     Adopt-a-Survivor: with Rabbi Jodie. Post-Kadima Year

This program was established by Irving Roth, director of the Holocaust Resource Center at Temple Judea of Manhasset. Mr. Roth has organized a network of Holocaust survivors to serve as “adoptees” for our eighth grade students. These connections provide a vital link to the events of the Holocaust in a time when there are fewer survivors living to tell their own stories. The process begins with conversations between survivor and adopter. Through a series of meetings held at RSNS under Rabbi Jodie’s supervision, the students become “surrogate survivors,” committed to learning and re-telling their survivors’ stories to the next generation. Students in this program agree to speak about their survivors in the year 2045, the 100^th anniversary of the camps’ liberation. The initial session consists of a formal educational piece to provide students with general background information. In subsequent sessions, students meet the survivors and talk with them in detail. Finally, students present their survivors’ stories to the Synagogue School and during RSNS’ Yom HaShoah (Holocaust Memorial) service.

Parents are welcome, but not required to attend, and take turns providing food for each session. (Usually once a month on Wednesday, check the date for exact dates.)