Temple Judea is committed to providing our 8-12th grade students a fun and engaging way to continue their Jewish education in a way that will inspire a personal connection to Judaism. Students who attend Wednesday learning will meet for dinner at the Temple from 6-6:30pm, followed by grade-appropriate learning designed to help our teens explore how to put their Jewish values to work in the real world.
Our Confirmation program supports our teens as they begin making those choices for themselves. Students can become eligible to become Confirmands between 10th and 12th grade, as long as they have actively participated in at least three programs from 8th grade onward. We celebrate these students and their Jewish journeys at a peer-led Shabbat service on May 17. Confirmands will meet periodically to learn in community and plan this special service on the following dates:
Meeting on JTJ Wednesday evenings, students have the hands-on opportunity to learn about all sides of values-based giving in a fun community of peers! After spending a year engaged in tzedek - justice work and learning about non-profits like Gentle Barn - our teens will participate in the other side of tzedakah by forming a Teen Tzedakah Board. Students will experience both the challenges and thrills of giving money away to support issues close to their hearts.
The Teen Tzedakah Board will:
Past boards have fundraised and donated thousands of dollars to worthy organizations!
We are extremely excited to announce a new partnership with American Jewish University (AJU) that will allow our 9th-12th grade students to take classes that will earn them college credit! The course will be worth 3 general education credits, which students can apply to their intended college or university. These courses have a strict attendance requirement. Classes will be held on JTJ Wednesday evenings from 6:30 - 8 pm at Temple Judea. After free registration through Temple Judea enrollment, we will provide a direct link to AJU for registration and tuition payment (and financial assistance requests), which are handled directly through AJU.
In this class, taught predominantly by Rabbi Rosenstein, students will explore the foundations of what it means to be together in community, during both good and challenging times. Using the story about maklochet l’shem shemayim (“argument for the sake of heaven”), students will explore a variety of philosophies and methods tied to creating and engaging in community. Students will also explore skills needed to engage positively and productively with other community members, including understanding our strengths and triggers, attuned listening, and learning how to achieve a “win-win” feeling at the end of a discussion. The ultimate goal is for students to develop both an understanding of the study of Talmud, as well as how they might utilize the skills and strategies they have learned in real-life difficult conversations.
