Youth Department
Beth Shalom offers a thriving, successful youth program! Our programs focus on our core values of Jewish Learning, Israel, Social Activism, and building Jewish Identity. We also provide incredible opportunities for socializing and having fun with other Jewish youth. We are affiliated with the Pinwheel (Pacific Northwest) Region of United Synagogue Youth. Our USY chapter regularly elects and appoints officers to the USY Regional Board and Regional General Board. For more information about our region please visit www.pinwheelusy.org.
Check back in September for the 5772 Youth Department Calendar.
We currently offer four different youth groups, based upon grade level. If you'd like to learn more about these programs, please contact the advisors listed below:
USY (United Synagogue Youth): 9th-12th graders. Meets 3-4 times a month, including monthly board meeting, monthly Youth Minyan, chapter events, and participation in regionally and internationally sponsored USY programs including Camp Pinwheel, Kinnus, International Convention, Spring Kinnus, and USY Regional Convention. We also host the annual "Into the Night" event, which brings in teens from all over the Pacific Northwest.
KADIMA: 6th-8th graders. Meets 1-2 times per month, including social, educational, and religious programs. Participates in annual Kadima Kinnus at Camp Solomon Schechter and Spring Kadima Kinnus at varying locations in the Pacific Northwest.
CHAVERIM: 4th-5th graders. Meets once per month. Focus is on social and religious programs.
MATANOT: 2nd-3rd graders. This youth group meets once per month. Focus is on social and religious programs.
For overall youth department questions, please contact Irit Eliav, Director of Education, at (206) 524-0075 x2503 or use our contact form.
Upcoming events
Check back in September for the 5772 Youth Department Calendar or visit the USY website: www.pinwheelusy.org for regional USY events.
Youth Commission: Our youth commission is a group of parents and other adults committed to our youth, who meet regularly to discuss issues facing the youth groups and brainstorm ways to make them even stronger. The members attend approximately one meeting every other month and assist in youth group events occasionally, as needed. If you are interested in working on behalf of our youth, please contact Sam Perlin, Youth Commission Chair, at (206) 524-7847.  
***********************************************************************************************************************************
Conservative Jewish leadership is currently undertaking a major collaborative process to redesign learning opportunities for children from pre-school through adolescence. To inform this process, we want to hear about:
Your children's educational experiences in Conservative synagogues, Schechter Day Schools, Camp Ramah and/or USY. What worked well? What didn't? What would you change? To assist us with a survey relating to your children, please click on this link:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/NRSFMNY
We are also interested in learning about the Conservative educational experiences of adults 18 years and older who have participated in Conservative schools, Schechter Day Schools, Camp Ramah and/or youth groups. To assist with a survey relating to your own experience, please click on this link:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/ZJKMSZNUSCJSurv
(Legally, we cannot survey minors without their parents’ permission; hence the cut-off age.)
All responses will be strictly confidential. In order for your responses to be included in the planning process, please complete the survey as soon as possible, immediately if you can.
Thank you for your involvement in this process which will help lead to even more engaging and effective educational programs for Conservative Jewish children, youth and families in the future.
Rabbi Steven Wernick, Executive Vice President and CEO
Dr. Joyce Raynor, Chair, Jewish Education Panel
Temma Kingsley, Chair, Jewish Education Council |
