RJ Blog

by Rabbi Joshua Strom Last Shabbat began the book of Sh’mot, the book we call Exodus. It is the seminal story of the Jewish people, of our freedom and redemption, the leaving of Egypt for the Promised Land of Israel. Two weeks ago, 10 of our teenage chalutzim, or pioneers (along with me and two other staffers from our congregation,  Hope and Linda) embarked on an Exodus of our own – the first Teen Exchange program between Temple Shaaray Tefila and our partner congregation in Haifa, Ohel Avraham and the Leo Baeck Education Center. But Exodus is the Greek translation [...]

I recently returned from the National Association of Temple Educators (NATE) conference. The theme of the conference was Project-Based Learning, a methodology in which participants go through a process of inquiry in response to a complex real-world question, problem, or challenge. Ron Berger, an expert on Project-Based Learning and keynote speaker, shared an example from his practice. His community discovered that some of their well water was contaminated. Instead of bringing in an outside testing service, Berger trained elementary students to do the testing themselves. Many issues emerged at the conference that have implications for the work of engaging youth, [...]

The Perks of Being a Wallflower, this season’s teen angst movie, illuminates the very real pressures of being a teenager. The teenage search for identity is interwoven so poignantly with the dislocation created by individual brokenness. Ironically, the scene of audience participation in a costumed presentation of the cult classic Rocky Horror Picture Show seems tame by comparison. A must-see movie for parents, teachers and others who interact with teens, Perks of Being a Wallflower reminds us that when it comes to kids, if we master the relationships, we motivate the teens. I felt that twice this past Sunday with [...]

by Rabbi Michael Mellen “I am outraged,” cried Jewish Ethics after reports that some religious figures in the United States suggest girls should not receive the HPV vaccine. “Really, c’mon,” the notable Jewish leader exclaimed, “this is all about preserving life, caring for children, and stopping a killer when you have the opportunity.” “But what about the sexual implications?” cried out one attendee at a recent speaking engagement. “Sexual implications?” replied Jewish Ethics, perplexed for a moment by the connection. “Oh, you mean that getting the HPV vaccine implies that girls and women may have sexual relations outside of marriage?” [...]

by Shirah Kraus As the conclusion draws closer, the 15-year-old aspiring cantor leading havdallah asks the circle of friends what we would bring back home with us. Everyone. The few vs. the many. Community. Connection. Love. Chocolate Moses. Friends. Social Action. Social justice. Babies and starfish. Questions. What happened here will not stay here. Even though this havdallah marks the end of Shabbat, the separation of the holy and the profane, the holiness of Shabbat is not confined to Shabbat. The holiness of Shabbat, the holiness of community, the holiness of learning will transcend this one weekend at Hebrew Union [...]

Here are a few tips to make the High Holy Days a little less foreign, and maybe even inspirational.

by Rabbi Benjamin David Once upon a time, you either went to camp or you didn’t. Such days are behind us. Growing up outside of Philadelphia, there were essentially two groups amongst my close-knit group of friends, a group populated by various cultural backgrounds, ethnicities, and religious affiliations. There were those who stayed at home, working, volunteering, or competing as part of our local swim team or basketball club. Then there were those of us who left for four weeks, maybe eight weeks, to experience the rhythm of summer in different terms. I was, am, and always will be a [...]

The B’nai Mitzvah Revolution is here! This major new initiative is one of several strategies the Reform Movement is launching to address critical concerns about why so many teens leave congregational life after their b’nai mitzvah, and, too often, take their parents out the door with them. We’re thrilled to announce the 14 Reform congregations across North America that were selected to participate in an innovative pilot program to more fully engage families, institute new methods of teaching and keep teens and their families engaged in their communities. With seed funding from the B’nai Mitzvah Revolution, a joint initiative of the [...]

Throughout Jewish life there are many benchmarks. Some are optional, and some come with tradition. The path I have taken has definitely been one of structure.

During Shabbat, we learn to take time: time to slow down, time to consider our role in the world, time to rest. Below, you’ll find suggestions for Shabbat activities for families with tweens and teens, but we want to know: How do you make Shabbat meaningful for your kids? Leave a comment on this post to let us know! Use our Jewish Parent Page resources to start a conversation with your teens about (an on!) Shabbat. These conversation topics and discussion questions. On this page, you’ll also find blessings, historical background, recipes, family activities and other creative ways to celebrate [...]

by Rabbi Barbara Symons and Rabbi Ron Symons We are writing to you in this special joint article from our modest room at URJ Camp Harlam, where we are now serving as faculty for two weeks of vibrant Jewish learning and living with 500 campers and another 200 staff in the beautiful Pocono Mountains. This is the seventh year that we have served at Harlam in this way. Our connections with URJ camping run deep. When Ron was entering 7th-9th grades, his parents sent him to the URJ Camp Eisner in Great Barrington, MA. As the child of a NYC [...]

by Rabbi Fred Guttman and Rabbi Andy Koren Here in Greensboro, N.C., we at Temple Emanuel have devoted much thought, time, and resources to youth engagement for more than a decade. The results have been impressive: We retain around 80% of our B’nai Mitzvah students though the end of 12th grade. Of those retained, some 75% will travel to Israel prior to graduation. Based upon our experiences, we’ve compiled a dozen suggestions as to how congregations can increase youth engagement.

Last week, I entered into the foundational part of our week at Camp Harlam – the chance to turn-off, tune-down, and take a little time during Shabbat – feeling a great sense of joy and accomplishment for what had happened in the last seven days. We saw successful trips out of camp to hike and play, awesome camp-outs, truly creative experiential Jewish learning activities, special services led by our Cornerstone Fellows, and so much more. But for me – and for other members of our professional staff – the real challenge doesn’t come in overseeing and helping to support the rest [...]

by Micol Zimmerman Burkeman If this were “Sesame Street,” C would be for cookie. If this were “School House Rock,” C would be for conjunction (what’s your function?). But within the Jewish community, C is – or should be! – for collaboration. Words like “collaboration,” “networking,” and “innovation” are dropped so much in both the for-profit and not-for-profit worlds that you would think you were actually living in an episode of “Sesame Street,” with Big Bird teaching Mr. Hooper all about the magic of collaboration. Yet clichés are clichés for a reason, and as the old cliché goes, “Two heads [...]