HOT OFF THE PRESS: 2011-12 Education Calendar for Kesher, Mishpacha, Hebrew Tutoring and Temple Teen Night! Click here for details.

Temple Teen Night (TTN) for Pre & Post B’nai Mitzvah Students in grades 7 - 11
Meets two Wednesday nights each month from 6:30 - 8:00 pm

Temple Teen Night invites all 7 - 11 graders to a night filled with schmoozing, learning, eating and connecting with other Jewish teens. Confirmation class is for grades 10th and 11th, while 7th - 9th graders choose one course from the electives offered to study for the year; 8th graders choose from all electives offered. During the year, TTN experiences include guest speakers and are open to the community.

7th & 8th Grade Electives

• Each One of Us: Betzelem Elohim(in God's image): Teacher Stephanie Phillips will explore tolerance in today's society and lessons from the past. Discussions on righteousness and tolerance will be emphasized by using Holocaust Survivors, a variety of movies and life's experiences.
  
• Our Jewish Identity in the World: Teacher Andy Stillman will guide the students through examination of Jewish impact on world events and how we, as a People, have helped shape the modern world. Class will include both organized and free-flowing discussions on morals and ethical topics (e.g. genetic screening, animal research, the Manhattan Project, etc) as well as an examination of current events related to Israel and the Jewish people around the world (e.g. Media portrayal of Judaism and how this might impact security of the Jewish people.)
  
• Storahtelling with Jonathan Bubis

8th & 9th Grade Electives

• So, You Think You Can Lead?: Or Ami High School Youth Advisor, Michelle Westmiller, teaches this elective which will help teens learn valuable skills for being a leader in the community. Teens will learn what makes a good leader, learn from their experience leading their peers and learn from each other about how to stand from the crowd.
• Comparative Religion: Marty Mechanick will explore with the teens the children of Abraham through discussions of the three Abrahamic religions: Judaism, Christianity and Islam. The principles and history of each will be discussed, comparing the differences and similarities of all three ancient faiths. Marty will provide the teens with an overview of Reform Judaism, as well.

CONFIRMATION CLASS: 10th & 11th grade teens

Led by Rabbi Paul Kipnes, Confirmation allows motivated teenagers to “confirm” their connection to Judaism through engaging discussion and debate. Rabbi Kipnes engages students in discussions on hot, contemporary topics, using Jewish texts and traditions to provide a value-based framework through which to understand the modern issue. Eleventh grade students completing the program will participate in a moving Service of Confirmation in the fall of their senior year of High School.