Triple T: Tracks for Temple Teens

Brand new program for 7^th – 12^th Grades

Triple T, or Tracks for Temple Teens, links our teens with other teens who share similar interests. By weaving together social connections, interest-based groupings and meaningful Jewish content, Triple T youth will remain connected to Judaism and to each other for many years to come. When 7th through 12th graders participate in Triple T, they learn about Jewish life by actively experiencing it.

Madrichim In Training (MITs) are eighth graders ONLY who apply to be Madrichim (teaching assistants) and are accepted into the program. 8th grader MITs will be placed in the classroom as a teacher’s assistant, AND they hang with Rabbinic Intern Jonathan Rothstein-Fisch twice a month to learn the leadership and teaching skills necessary to become a Madrich the following year. Several fun offsite visits are planned; building community among eighth graders is emphasized and nurtured. 8^th graders who would like to be teacher’s assistants MUST be enrolled and attend the MITs track. MITs can receive community service credit for their work in the classrooms (Wednesdays and some Sundays for offsite vists). To apply to be a Madrichim in Training (8th grade) please use this application.

Madrichim are 9^th through 12^th grade teaching assistants, who help teach and mentor younger students in Kesher, Mishpacha, or Hebrew Tutoring classrooms. Senior Madrichim (10^th-12^th graders) are paired with MITs and 9^th graders in our Madrichim buddy system to encourage connections and mentorship among the teens.  Madrichim meet as a whole group for additional sessions with Rabbi Paul, Rabbi Julia, a lead teacher, and a leadership development specialist. Madrichim can receive community service credit for their work (Classroom experiences: Monday/Tuesday/Wednesday 4:00-6:00 or Sunday (9:00-11:30 am), and four weekday evening training sessions with Rabbi Paul and Rabbi Julia). To apply to be a Madrichim (9th - 12th grade) please use this application.

VolunTEENS create social action projects in the community and lead congregant families in these projects. In conjunction with the Or Ami Center for Tikkun Olam, VolunTEENS explore Jewish values that underlie our commitment to repair the world. VolunTEENS can choose to receive community service credit for their work (Tuesdays and some Sundays for offsite social action programs).

Future Coaches provides training for sports-loving teens who want to share their love of sports with others. Mentored by congregant athletes and coaches, Future Coaches learn coaching and leadership skills as well as the Jewish values that underpin successful coaching and leadership experiences. Future Coaches lead 3-4 sports clinics 
for at-risk youth. Future Coaches can choose to receive community service credit for their sports clinics (Tuesdays and some Saturdays for Sports Clinics).

JEWtube engages teens through the medium of filmmaking. Mentored by congregant writers, directors and tv/movie industry players, participants learn about short film creation and explore the Jewish ideas which inform their chosen topic. JEWtube teens will create a film about a Jewish subject (Mondays).

The Holocaust and Tolerance gathers teens to explore the historical reality of the Holocaust. In a safe, reflective environment, using movies, discussions and first-hand accounts, teens consider the moral lessons the Holocaust teaches about tolerance and humanity. Participants become the first line of defense against Holocaust-deniers (Tuesdays).

eSCHMOOZE guides teens through the multifaceted process of developing Jewish-themed social media. Mentored by congregant content writers, web designers and graphic artists, eSchmooze explore how technology can be a powerful tool for communicating a message and for teaching significant ideas. Participants create and expand Or Ami’s youth-oriented webpages and eNewsletter (Mondays).

Torah TMZ (What your Kesher/Mishpacha teacher never taught you about the Torah) leads teens to explore the Torah in their own way. Teens will uncover the racy, dicey, sexy, dramatic and magical stories in the Torah through creative study and discussions. Several offsite visits further their exploration of these themes in Torah (Wednesdays and some Sundays for offsite visits).

LoMPTY, our high school youth group, provides leadership development and social encounters with Jewish teens from all over Southern California. LoMPTY (meaning “Light of My People Temple Youth”) activities range from social action and community service to weekend retreats to LoMPTY Lounge Nights in the Erica Crystal Patterson Youth Lounge (check calendar/website for upcoming events).

SoMPTY (Spark of My People Temple Youth), our junior youth group for 7^th and 8^th graders is a taste of what is to come when joining LoMPTY in high school. Find out more with our social events, hanging with other Jewish teens and a big sibling to really learn what it is all about. SoMPTYites must also be enrolled in another track to participate in SoMPTY programs and events (check calendar/website for upcoming events, additional cost depending on the program).

Confirmation is re-envisioned as the culmination of a teen’s involvement in the Tracks for Temple Teens. In addition to participating in a Triple T Track, 11th and 12th graders go out for dinner once monthly with Rabbi Paul and Rabbi Julia for discussions on contemporary topics. Those 12th graders who participate in a Track, attend the five Triple T experiences (see below), and come to the monthly Confirmation class with the Rabbis, will be invited to participate in the culminating Confirmation service (Wednesdays).

Los Angeles Hebrew High School (LAHHS) focuses on deeper Jewish learning including conversational He- brew, Jewish ethics and Israel and Zionism. Separate tuition required for this community program. 
See www.lahhs.org for more information.

NOTE: Students may participate in one or more Tracks for Temple Teens for the same single payment of tuition. All Triple T participants also meet up for five Triple T experiences:

Triple T Retreat: All 7^th-12^th graders spend the weekend at Camp Alonim in Simi Valley (October 25-27) (Additional Tuition)

T.G.I.S: Thank God It’s Shabbat, 2 teen-led creative services for Shabbat (February 7, 7:30-9:00 pm) and for Havdalah (May 10, 6:30-9:00 pm)

J.US.T: Just Us Teens, 2 exciting teen-oriented programming (December 4 and March 12, 6:30-8:00 pm)