Our reimagined youth programming, now known collectively as Youth At Temple Aliyah ([email protected]), engages the youth and teens of Temple Aliyah (2nd – 12th grade) in order to enrich their Jewish identities and their connection to our congregation. Through leadership opportunities, participation in United Synagogue Youth (USY), social action initiatives, and education, we cultivate experiences that foster a sense of belonging in the greater Jewish community.
OUR AMAZING STAFF have planned an exciting year for everyone. Read on to learn about each of our programs!
Alex Maslow Director of Youth Engagement |
Didu Kalmanovsky Sr. [email protected] advisor |
 David Solkowitz Jr. [email protected] advisor |
Wilma Sack-Poyer Kochavim/Kadima advisor |
Our Youth Committee co-chairs are Melissa Patz & Bess Weiskopf.
Click here for a complete calendar of our youth activities.
Here are some photos of our kids engaged in their activities.
For our older kids:
So You Had Your Bar/ Bat Mitzvah, Now What???
Temple Aliyah 8th-12th Grade Programs
Jewish Learning and Leadership Programs:
TACOS Membership (Gr. 8-12)
TACOS (Temple Aliyah Community Opportunities and Service) is part of the TELEM community service program of the Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Boston (JCRC). TACOS meets twice a month – once at Temple Aliyah for leadership training and social activities, and once at a service site chosen with group input. TACOS participants can earn up to 30 community service hours for Pollard and Needham High School. Fees cover USY membership for all TACOS, and dinner is provided at the meetings. Opening program is October 22nd at 6 pm, with a special presentation by the JCRC. ($54/year – meets twice a month). Sign up for TACOS here. And more about TACOS, including the full schedule for the year, can be found here.
NEW! Israel Seminar (Gr. 8-12)
In January and February, we will be offering a six-week Israel seminar for interested teens in celebration of the 70th anniversary of the founding of the state of Israel. Topics will include Israel’s history, culture, and food. There will also be two supplementary sessions for 11th and 12th graders discussing Israel advocacy on campus. More information to come soon! ($54/ 6 sessions or $36 for students in TACOS).
Conversational Hebrew Class (Gr. 8-12)
Join Rina for an hour a week of conversational Hebrew. Students of varying levels of Hebrew background are invited to participate in opportunities to speak, read, write, and listen to Hebrew through a variety of mediums. Contact [email protected] for more information. ($360/year; meets Thursdays 4:45-5:45).
NEW! Rosh Hodesh and Shevet Achim Groups (Gr. 8-9)
Sign up for our 8th-9th grade men’s and women’s group. Based on the curriculum of Moving Tradition’s Rosh Hodesh (females) and Shevet Achim (males), these groups will meet monthly to discuss topics of relevance for ages 13-16. Hang out with friends, nosh, and chat. Each group needs a minimum of 6 participants in order to run. Email [email protected] if you are interested in joining! ($54/year)
USY Membership (Gr. 6-12)
Participate in the largest international Conservative Jewish youth group! Members are eligible to attend local events such as weekend retreats, dances and Red Sox games, national events such as International Convention and USY on Wheels bus tours, and international programs such as USY Pilgrimage trips to Israel. Opening program is October 1st at LAUNCH Trampoline Park. Sign up here ($36/year).
Madrichim Program (Gr. 8-12) (1-3 days a week)
Teens enrolled in the Madrichim program work as Mercaz Aliyah classroom aides and with the age they prefer (grades K-7) on the day they prefer (Sunday, Monday or Thursday). Class hours count towards community service hours. Madrichim are invited to the youth lounge for pizza and training with Jonathan once a month, and teachers’ meetings twice a year. For more info contact Alisa Levine.
Teen Engagement Fellowship (TEF)
In the spring, students may apply for the Teen Engagement Fellowship, a paid fellowship for the coming school year. This year’s TEFs are Jordan Bearak ‘18, Ari Carp ‘20, Haley Schwabel ‘20, and Adam Wener ’20. These four talented students are being trained in leadership and engagement and are charged with planning events with and for their peers during the year. Feel free to reach out to the TEFs to plan your favorite program or event! Feel free to contact them through Kayla at [email protected].
Volunteer Opportunities:
Babysitter’s Club (Gr. 8-12) (1-2 times a month)
Volunteer on Shabbat evening or morning or at Temple Tots and TAK26 programming to supervise children ages 2+ and meet with families who are looking for babysitters in the community. Sign up here.
Beyond the Mitzvah Project:
Holiday Help:
Sukkah building on October 1st
Purim Carnival on March 4th
Office/Library Help:
Help in the office or library, hours can varyweek to week.
Keep in touch:
All teens are welcome to come to bi-monthly Board meetings to contribute ideas for programming or just to hang out and schmooze in the Youth Lounge. You can find us on Facebook at [email protected].
United Synagogue Youth (USY) and KADIMA are the official youth organizations of the Conservative Movement, and are sponsored by the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism (USCJ). USY was formed in 1951 and includes thousands of high-school-aged members around the world.
Temple Aliyah is a member of NERUSY-the New England Regional USY. NERUSY encompasses chapters from Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New Hampshire,Vermont and Maine. NERUSY is one of the largest regions of USY! NERUSY sponsors many regional events including dances and social events as well as leadership development training and conventions and an annual Tikkun Olam outing to a Red Sox game at Fenway Park. Teens are welcome to attend Regional Lounge Nights to socialize with other area teens at the regional office located at Temple Emanuel in Newton, MA.
Want to join USY now? Click here to join online!
For Younger Kids:
KADIMA
Children in grades 4 - 5 are part of KADIMA. In Kadima, we like to mix it up with food, friends and fun. Most Kadima programs occur on Sunday afternoons from 12:30- 2:00 PM and include a light lunch. This past year we visited the Corn Maze at Hanson's Farm, discovered 100 things to do with Dreidles and played mini-golf with Mr. Litchman. For more information, contact Kayla. For photos of some of our Kadima and Kochavim kids, click here.
KOCHAVIM
Our Youth Group for kids in grades 2 & 3 is Kochavim, or "Stars." We offer monthly activities throughout the year generally on Sunday afternoons from 12:30:00 to 2:00. Kochavim is the perfect introduction to the fun that awaits in the future years. For more information, please be in touch with Kayla. For photos of some of our Kadima and Kochavim kids, click here.
TAK26
TA-K26 is Temple Aliyah's community of families with children in kindergarten through grade 6. Our families have children who attend Jewish day schools, independent schools, and public schools. Together with Temple Aliyah staff, we host programs designed to create social connections, celebrate Jewish family life, and have fun. TA-K26 is a wonderful way for kids and parents to meet new families and experience Jewish learning side-by-side. All families are welcome and encouraged to invite new families to any of our events!
TAK26 has its own page, complete with calendar of events ofr the year! If you have any questions, contact committee chair Karen Kajmo.
TEMPLE TOTS
Our youth programming at Temple Aliyah goes all the way back to infants and toddlers! Programs are organized by parents with young children, and led by our Shabbat Educator, Devora Rohr. We work closely with Temple Aliyah's Director of Early Education, Debbi Fendell, who also leads our innovative Gan Aliyah Preschool. We have our own Temple Tots web page, with links to descriptions of many of the programs offered. Email our Temple Tots co-chairs Sarah Burns or Amy Schulman.
