OUR AMAZING STAFF have planned an exciting year for everyone. Read on to learn about each of our programs!

Eitan Bloostein	Julia Spiegel
Director of Youth and Teen Engagement	Jr. Youth Advisor

Our Youth Activities Committee co-chairs are Melissa Patz and Bess Weiskopf.

Jr. Needham USY

Jr. Needham USY is our 6th-8th grade social community. At its center is a small group of committed 6th-8th graders, the Temple Aliyah Youth Leaders (TAYLs), who work together with their advisor to build community through peer engagement and planning events for the entire Jr. Needham USY community. Keep an eye out for the TAYLs and Jr. Needham USY events!

Advisor: Julia Spiegel julia@templealiyah.com

Sr. Needham USY

Sr. Needham USY is our high school social community. Leading this community is our Sr. Needham USY Board.  The Board work with their advisor to engage with and build a thriving teen community. They do this through one-on-one conversations with their peers and by hosting Sr. Needham USY events. Keep an eye out for the Board and Sr. Needham USY events!

Advisor: Eitan Bloostein eitanbloostein@templealiyah.com

Yallah Aliyah - 8^th - 12^th Grade Courses

Our 8th-12th grade courses are informal educational experiences for teens.They include TACOS, TACOS2, Madrichim, and Teen Talk.

Yallah Aliyah is a partnership between Y@TA and Mercaz Aliyah.  Our programs provide opportunities for Jewish learning in a fun social environment. They include TACOS, TACOS2, Madrichim, and Teen Tuesdays.

Teen Talk 

Each Monday, teens can meet their friends for dinner and an hour of informal course study.  This year, we will offer courses on How to Be Jewish After Your Bar/Bat Mitzvah, and on local antisemitism. Both of these courses will be taught by Eitan Bloostein and Wilma Poyser.

TACOS (Temple Aliyah Community Opportunities and Service)

In our TACOS program, students in grades 9-12 meet with their advisor at a service site two Sundays a month to perform volunteer work.TACOS students also help out with synagogue-wide events throughout the year, such as Hannukah Happening and the Purim Carnival. In the past, the TACOS students have visited with the elderly residents of Coleman House, and prepared dinners both for the Temple Aliyah Hesed Committee and Family Promise. This year, the TACOS will focus on the Environment and food Insecurity and are ready to take on the challenge of farming and virtual volunteering! Temple Aliyah membership is not required to participate.

TACOS2

This year we will be offering two TACOS tracks: TACOS for students in grades 9-12 and TACOS2 for students in grades 7-8. This year, TACOS2 will focus on the issues of Environment and Food Insecurity. Over the course of the program, students will visit local sites and work online to perform their service.