Our Teen Programs are focused on empowering our students to become passionate and creative leaders and role models. Our programs create lasting memories and prepare our teens for the future.
Religious School Social Media
Teen Programs
Teen Night Programs
Learn more about our 8th-12th grade programs: Tzedek League, Teen Philanthropic Committee and Teen Leadership Council
Teen Trips
For more information on our 8th Grade Trip to New Orleans & our 8th Grade Civil Rights Journey
Teen High Holy Days
Start the Jewish new year off by taking a leadership role in our Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur services and lead an iyyun (prayer reflection). Over the summer teens will work with Temple clergy and staff to prepare for the High Holy Days, gain a better understanding of a particular prayer and craft their short piece. Teens will present iyyunim during the services to help teens and families connect to the prayers.
Teen Philanthropic Committee
This program is a full-year commitment to take a leadership role in determining where $10,000 of Emanu-El’s yearly philanthropic funds are allocated. From choosing an issue area and learning how to come to consensus, to creating an RFP and administering a grants process with presentations and follow up, these teens work hard to represent Emanu-El to potential grantees and the chosen organizational recipient. This educational process includes exploration of everyone’s Jewish identity and consideration of important values that guide decision-making in day-to-day life This program is open to 8th-12th graders.
Teen Leadership Council
The Teen Leadership Council (TLC) takes the reins on teen social programming and mitzvah projects (including Midnight Run) and works closely with Teen Advisor Emma Kate Lindsay and me in planning trips and offsite social gatherings. All programs they plan are open to Emanu-El teens in 8th-12th grades.
Calling Generations
Calling Generations is our way to connect teens with the deep history and legacy of Emanu-El’s community. Participating teens are matched with a senior adult Temple member for weekly phone calls, with suggested discussion ranging from sports to movies to food. Some of these incredible intergenerational relationships follow through all 4 years of high school and beyond! Some even go as far as to meet for lunch once a month.! This year we’re expanding the program to include opportunities for teens and calling partners to work together on in-persona service projects. This program is open to 8th-12th graders.
Tough Topics
Tough Topics is a new focus for the Social Justice Discussion Group in 2023-24. At these in-person meetings teens will have opportunities for facilitated discussion of social justice issues, Anti Semitism, and other topics of interest. Teen co-chairs will help determine topics and design opportunities for meaningful conversations where teens are able to ask questions and express multiple perspectives in a safe/brave space. If your teen has a passion for tough questions and leading conversations, I would love to meet and hear about what’s important to them. This program is open to all 8th-12th graders.
Emanu-Wellness
Emanu-Wellness is the newest drop-in program for Emanu-El teens! This occasional program offers a brave space where teens can work on active listening skills, fill their resiliency toolboxes, and have peer-to-peer conversations around self-care and adolescent well-being from a Jewish perspective. Our aim is to provide a completely non-judgmental experience where teens can support each other emotionally and mentally and benefit from the guidance of supportive adults, including clergy. Emanu-Wellness programs are open to all 8th-12th graders.
Confirmation
Confirmation is the highest level of formal Religious School instruction. This monthly class taught by Rabbi Davidson explores questions of Jewish identity: specifically, our relationship to God, Torah, and the land, people, and state of Israel. Even if your teen did not continue in Religious School after B’nei Mitzvah, we welcome them into these conversations. The curriculum is informal and discussion-based and culminates in a service of Confirmation on the festival of Shavuot in June. The class writes the service, which offers everyone an opportunity to express their thoughts on the topics covered during the year. Confirmation is open to students in 9th or 10th grade only.
A-TEEM
A-TEEM is our Religious School’s madrichim (teachers’ aide) program.. From being in classrooms to counting Tzedakah, these teens play a large role in helping our Religious School thrive! We meet before starting our day to check in, go over the schedule for the day, and review progress on personal goals for the year. A-TEEMers work on Sunday mornings from 9:00am-12:00pm or Monday evenings 4:00pm-6:00pm. Teens have the option to be paid for their time or put their hours towards community service. Formal full-time A-TEEM is a 9th-12th grade offering, however we are hoping to have “A-TEEM in Training” as one of our options for our 8th graders.
College & Boarding School Connections
Our College and Boarding School Connection programs serves as a resource for our college-aged students so they know that Emanu-El remains a home for them no matter where they are. Give us your child’s school address and we will send them holiday-themed care packages throughout the year to offer them a little taste of home and remind them that they are missed. We also regularly come together in person with our College Connection group over winter and summer breaks, facilitating ongoing relationships with Emanu-El staff and clergy
