temple beth shalom livingston, NJ A Note from youth programs Rabbi Spector: for Grades 4-12

Dear Parent: A popular quotation from the Talmud teaches that “our world only exists for the sake of children running around the school Youth Programs house.” It is in this spirit that our community invites your child to Contact Information engage with our Jewish tradition through our informal educational For more information about programming. At Temple Beth USY, , El Al, or TExT, Shalom, we take great pride in the please contact: sense of vibrancy and excitement that our youth community brings [email protected] to our synagogue. We invite you [email protected] to read through this brochure and [email protected] use it as a resource for helping to [email protected] plan the next step in your child’s Jewish journey.

B’Shalom, Rabbi Geoffrey Spector Rabbi Geoffrey Spector For More Information, Leah Beker, please contact our office at Director of Education 973-992-3600 and Lifelong Learning High School YouthUSY: Group, 9th-12th Grade our youth Programs:kadima: EL AL: 6th-8th Grade Youth Group 4th-5th Grade Youth Group

USY, , is the international organization for Conservative Jewish high school students. The Livingston USY chapter is run by a group of peer- elected leaders who plan a variety of social, fundraising, and religious activities. USYers also may attend regional events, including dances and conventions, and have the opportunity to travel to the annual International Convention. USY also Kadima is the international Conservative Jewish youth offers exciting summer travel programs, which include teen organization for preteens. Membership in Kadima tours in , , and . entitles our children to participate in monthly chapter El Al offers semi-monthly social and group bonding events, as well as events sponsored throughout experiences that introduce our children to the idea of northern by the Hagalil region. youth group participation.

xT): confirmation class: 10th grade Teen Leadership:11th-12th Grade Temple Experience for Teens8th-9th (TE Grade

Our Confirmation program, under the direction of Participants in our Teen Leadership program commit to our senior rabbi, meets weekly to explore a number of attending 14 sessions over a two-year period in which they TExT is a unique, bimonthly program that offers a variety topics related to Jewish life. The group takes an annual learn about the greater Jewish community and participate of presentations relevant to contemporary teens. The trip together and then the culmination of their studies in Jewish service learning. Past experiences have included programming includes: physical and mental self-defense, life is the Confirmation service, which takes place on the packing food for homebound seniors, visits to the local after death, anger, drugs, sex, bullying, and the power of words, first day of Shavuot. Jewish senior center, and participating in J-SERVE with meditation, and more. At the end of the year, teens enjoy a our local . Participants who complete the fully paid trip, such as a Broadway show or Great Adventure. two-year program receive a certificate in Jewish Communal TExT welcomes synagogue members and non-members. Leadership from the synagogue.