Teen Programs

Our teen programs are developed to appeal to a diverse group of teens at the synagogue providing four main avenues for teens to get involved, lead, learn, build community and make a difference.

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Scroll down or click on one of these links to learn more about:

Limud ~ Learning

Manhigut ~ Leadership

Havurah ~ Social Engagement

Tikkun Olam/Tzedek Hevrati ~ Repairing the World/Social Justice

We are guided by the insights of Generation Now: Understanding and Engaging Jewish Teens Today, a broad study of Generation Z and what is important and motivating to them. We are also guided by our own teens, and what inspires, excites, and enriches them.

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For more information, please contact Rabbi Val Lieber.

~ Limud ~
Learning

Bogrim Class meets every Monday 6:00-7:45pm.
Led by Moran Lantner and Rabbi Val Lieber.

BOGRIM

Bogrim (meaning "mature") helps students hone and articulate their Jewish sense of self. Teens are challenged to think about deep Jewish ideas like our place in history, responsibility to one another, being powerful while being victims of anti-semitism, and much more. Teens tackle these concepts through fun, accessible entry points.

In the 2023-2024 year we will explore Judaism through film & tv, art, meditation and movement, Tanakh study, poetry and music. These are effective ways to learn about complex issues in a way teens find enjoyable after a long day at school.

Each Monday we begin with dinner and socializing which is incredibly important for building community and friendships; because while many of the teens know each other from Hebrew School and synagogue, our students attend several different public and private schools.

Yearly tuition 2023-2024: $900

Register for Bogrim here

 

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There are many other programs in which our students participate outside of Kane Street including

The Shalom Hartman Institute’s Teen Fellowship is an  opportunity for Jewish high schoolers in grades 10-12 to cultivate their Jewish identities and worldviews. Participants study with preeminent Hartman Institute scholars, contemplate fundamental Jewish questions, and join a community of insightful and motivated peers and mentors from across North America. The program is largely online and students meet up for weekends twice a year.

The JTS Ivry Prozdor Teen Learning Program meets Sundays at the seminary campus in Morningside Heights, bringing together a diverse group of teens  from the metro area to access classical Jewish texts, improve their Hebrew, and find contemporary meaning in the concepts and values of Jewish tradition. Students in grades 8-12 are guided by dedicated faculty, students are encouraged to ask the questions that matter to them and develop answers that speak authentically to them as young Jews in the 21st century.

HaZamir Brooklyn is one of 36 chapters of Jewish teen choirs across the United States where musically talented teens learn choral music at the highest level and perform. The Brooklyn chapter rehearses weekly at Congregation Beth Elohim. Once a year the chapters gather and perform at Carnegie Hall.

Coming soon are more teen learning programs
from Hadar
from Luria Academy
 

~ Manhigut ~
Leadership

Madrichim means "counselor" or "someone who shows the way." In the Madrichim program teens have a chance to grow their skills and knowledge and be guides to younger children, showing them the way into Judaism.

More specifically, the Madrichim gives students in Grades 7-12 the opportunity to lead and assist in the Hebrew School and Shabbat youth services. Rabbi Val supervises this robust program with help this year from rabbinic intern, Iliana Brodsky

This year we have 21 Madrichim working on weekday afternoons weekly assisting teachers in classes from Pre-K through Grade 6. Many Madrichim also meet one-on-one with students who need individual Hebrew help. They provide extra help during craft activities and are excellent role models for younger children. One Madricha even leads a Jewish meditation elective for kids Grades 3-6. Six students are Shabbat Madrichim assisting Rabbi Val Lieber at Minyan Noar, the weekly service for Grades 3-6.

These students get training and guidance, plus–once they’re 14–they get paid. Many of them go on to work as CITs and counselors in summer camp and Rabbi Val provides references for them for high school, college and job applications.

Some students find seeing Hebrew School from the inside stirs them to appreciate their own learning in past years more highly. Leading as Madrichim may spark renewed pride in Jewish identity and affirmation of commitment to ongoing Jewish learning.

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Several post-B'nai Mitzvah students lead in the main sanctuary service from time to time during Grades 8-12. Some students lead the Torah and Musaf service; others chant Torah and Haftarah. Some students reprise the Haftarah portion they chanted at B'nai Mitzvah. Cantor Sarah Myerson guides teens in building their prayer and leyning skills.

Click here to apply for the Madrichim Program

~ Havurah ~
Social Engagement

Our BBYO youth group chapter meets every Tuesday evening during the school year and also has special events some weekends and conventions a few times a year. Our BBYO chapter Yalla holds most events together with the chapter from Park Slope Jewish Center, Mellech, because many of them know each other from school and other activities. They meet at Kane Street Synagogue, Park Slope Jewish Center and around the neighborhood. This year has been an outstanding year so far with 15 to 20 students attending some events and 12 very active teens.

BBYO is primarily social, and that is very important for teens. Jewish content and leadership opportunities are also a part of the program. Some of the recent events held include a karaoke nght, bubble tea meet-up, discussion of Anti-semitism, Hanukkah party, cake decorating competition, Winter regional convention - at which our chapter claimed the spirit award for the second year in a row!

BBYO is an international youth movement founded in 1941. Our chapter Yalla was founded by teens in the congregation in 2018. BBYO is open to students entering 8th grade through the completion of 12th grade. Membership costs $249 and covers all 5 years. BBYO also offers summer experiences.

Four students from our chapter attended the 2023 international Convention in Dallas where Jewish teens from across the world met up and learned from guests including Second Gentleman, Doug Emhoff, Jodi Kantor of the NY Times, Deborah Lipstadt, actors, athletes and business-people.

For more information:

• About Kane Street's BBYO chapter: "Yalla BBYO"
• BBYO's Big Apple Region (of which we are a part)
• BBYO International
• Becoming a member of BBYO
• Summer Programs

~ Tikkun Olam / Tzedek Hevrati ~
Repairing the World / Social Justice

In the fall of 2023 we are thrilled to launch JYCM - a new chapter/kvutzah of the growing Jewish Youth Climate Movement under the aegis of Adamah. Our new chapter is jointly organized with the teens of Park Slope Jewish Center and Hannah Senesh Community Day School. It is open to all teens. We kick off our kvutzah with introductions during our teen High Holy Day services with our first event on Sukkot afternoon in Prospect Park. This event will be led by teens on the leadership board of JYCM and will include a nature walk, text study and organizing. For more information, please contact Rabbi Val

JYCM is very teen-led and gives teens excellent opportunities to build leadership skills along with providing a critical venue to help remake our world.
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We collaborate with Repair The World Brooklyn in two main ways to direct our teens toward tikkun olam:  
1) Several of our teens have been trained as members of the Teen Service Corps for a season. The Teen Service Corps is a 3-6 week service learning program in Manhattan and Brooklyn. Throughout the program rising 9th through 12th graders create an amazing teen community of change-makers, learn about social justice through a Jewish and interfaith lens, and volunteer to make NYC a more equitable place for all!

 During the year, Repair The World gathers teens from Manhattan and Brookly for a monthly teen program. We have held one event here so far (in the Sukkah) and hope to hold more. When the activities are not held here, we direct our students to the location.

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Our synagogue's Tzedek Committee welcomes teens to participate in our ongoing work in these four areas: immigration, environmental justice, racial justice and homelessness.

For more information: www.werepair.org/communities/brooklyn