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Home > Lifelong Learning > Teen Program (8th-12th Grade)

Teen Program (8th-12th Grade)

The Teen Program Calendar is visible to logged-in CBS Members only.

Teen Program

Congregation Beth Shalom aims to engage teens and keep them involved in Jewish life through a wide variety of social opportunities, Shabbat and Holiday experiences, formal and informal learning opportunities, and opportunities to work or volunteer with our youth.  We strive to meet the needs of different teens in our community by offering experiences that cater towards all different interests, skills, and learning styles.

 

Flexible pricing as follows for the 2025-2026 academic year. CBS believes that Jewish education should be accessible to all. The synagogue’s budget offsets the cost of  Teen Learning to keep it affordable, reflected in the “standard tuition.” The actual cost to educate each child, retain excellent teachers, and provide quality, innovative programming is higher than the standard tuition, reflected in the “unsubsidized tuition.” Members who are willing and able to are invited to pay the unsubsidized tuition or make a tax exempt donation. Standard fee rates are available to members of CBS. Non-members kindly pay the unsubsidized rate. As always, we want our Teen Programs to be open and welcoming to all, and scholarship funds will be available to anyone who might need some financial assistance. To discuss financial assistance or if you are interested in becoming members, please contact our membership director.

Learning Opportunities for 2025-26

Tuesday Learning: Each Tuesday teens are invited to join their peers in person from 6:30pm-8:00pm. The program starts with dinner. A variety of 6 week courses are offered including high level text study, Israeli television shows, and more. 

Session A:
9/9, 9/16, 9/30, 10/21, 10/28, 11/4

Option 1: Tzitzit Workshop with Gilah Barker (CBS B’nai Mitzvah Coordinator)

How do we get from the commandment "they shall put tzitzit on the corners of their garments" to the variety (or standardization) we see today? What do tzitzit represent in different Jewish traditions? What's with the blue strings, and why do only some people wear them? Take a deep dive into the laws of tzitzit while tying your own!

Option 2: Gender in the Torah with Gabriela Marquis

In this session we would explore the way gender/sex is constructed in genesis with a particular emphasis on non-normative gender constructions. The class would also examine expressions of gender throughout the Torah such as how the Torah presents matriarchs/patriarchs and particular people such as Joseph who may have non-normative gender expressions.

Session B:
11/11, 11/18, 12/2, 12/9, 12/16

Option 1: Hope and Resilience in Jewish Texts with Beth Huppin

Explore and discuss Jewish texts that point to ways in which hope and resilience have sustained the Jewish people through difficult times.  What are some practical ways to maintain hope and what practices contribute to the resilience of the Jewish people over these many centuries?  Jewish texts will be the basis of these discussions. 

Option 2: Israel as a Melting Pot with Shira Eldar (CBS Shinshinit 25-26)

Israel is a melting pot! Let’s learn about different cultures, traditions, religions, and more found in this small country. We will learn through music, food, stories, and more.

Session C:
1/6, 1/13, 1/20, 1/27, 2/3, 2/20

Option 1: The Jewish Calendar with Rabbi Rose

Why does the Jewish calendar sometimes add a leap month (instead of a leap day, like the secular calendar)?  Why do Passover and Easter usually (but not always!) fall at the same time? Why is there a special blessing over the sun that’s only recited once every 28 years? Join Rabbi Rose to explore these and other intricacies of the Jewish calendar.

Option 2: Israeli Dancing with Rachel Wachtel

Get ready for a fun and active class! We will learn Israeli dances both old and new and explore different styles of Israeli dancing including line dances, circle dances, and partner dances.  No dance experience necessary; we will learn all the steps together and you will leaving knowing the mayim step, Yemenite step, and lots more.

Session D:
2/24, 3/3, 3/10, 3/17, 3/24, 3/31

Option 1: Being Jewish Today with Rabbi Borodin

Each week we will explore a different aspect of Judaism today: Jewish values, Jewish relevance today, Jewish objects, safety for Jews, navigating what is taking place in the land of Israel and what people want you to believe about it, God and Jewish law.

Option 2: Passover and Creative Writing with Rabbi Greenspan

More info coming soon!

Session E:
4/14, 4/21, 4/28, 5/5, 5/12, 5/19

 

Option 1: Philosophical Interpretation of Scripture with Marc Cohen

In this class we will study texts by Jewish philosophers, focusing on how the philosophers interpret Scripture—philosophers including Maimonides, Spinoza, and also contemporary philosophers like David Hartman.

Option 2: The Israel National Trail with Shira Eldar (CBS Shinshinit)

We will follow the Israel National Trail and along the way learn all about different places, cities, bodies of water, and more, all throughout Israel. Students will also leave this class able to identify, on a map: Gaza, The West Bank, the countries that border Israel, and more.

Tuition Pricing for 2025-2026

Option

Standard Tuition 

Unsubsidized Tuition 

USY Dues

$130

$165

Single 6-week session of Teen Learning

$225

$280

All Tuesday evening learning (five 6-week sessions)

$955

$1,195

Teen program bundle (all teen learning
sessions and USY dues)

$1,050

$1,315

Standard tuition rate is offered to CBS members only. Non-members, please kindly pay the unsubsidized rate.

Annual Teen Trip

Thank you to the SAMIS Foundation for their generous support of this program.
Learn more about the SAMIS foundation here.

Additionally, we are thrilled to continue to offer the following opportunities. All of the opportunities are available for CBS members and nonmembers.  If you have any questions or comments about our teen program, please get in touch with Rachel Wachtel, CBS Education and Youth Director. 

 

Shabbat and Holidays

Youth Minyan

At Congregation Beth Shalom’s Youth Minyan, post B’nai Mitzvah teens participate in this no adults allowed service that is led by teens. Youth Minyan gives them the opportunity to practice their synagogue skills, pray with their peers, and socialize over a delicious meal. Youth Minyan will meet 6-8 times in the 2025-2026 school year. Dates are: 9/13, 10/18, 11/22, 1/10, 2/28, 3/28, 5/16. We meet from 10:30-12:30 in the Beit Midrash.

Teen Holiday Experiences: Approximately 4 times each year teens will be invited to participate in a Jewish Holiday experience along with one of the Rabbis or Educators at Congregation Beth Shalom. Some examples may include: a Hannukah Party, dinner in the sukkah, Havdallah on the beach, and more.

Community Involvement


Ozerim Program- It's time to apply! Applications due 8/18

8th-12th graders work in our preK-5th grade religious school as special needs aides, teaching assistants, Hebrew tutors, and more.  Congregation Beth Shalom loves its ozerim! Ozerim bring energy, ideas and sparkle to the religious school and our students, parents, and teachers alike. We hope you will find a role at the CBS religious school that fits your schedule and interests!  This application is both for new ozerim and also returning ozerim. Complete the Ozerim Program Application here:  https://www.bethshalomseattle.org/form/ozerim-application-2025-2026.html

Tell us about you!
This is the first part of the application and it is used to collect information about the teen applying to work as an ozer/ozeret. 

If you are logged in to your ShulCloud account, parts of this section of the form will fill automatically with information from your account. If you need to make any changes, you can enter the new information into this form, and your account information will be updated when the form is submitted.

School hours are as follows. Please note that specific hours for each position may vary.

What roles are you interested in?
Read about each ozer/ozeret opportunity and mark your interest in each.  You may not get your first choice; we do our best to match everyone's skills and interests with their positions.

Ozerim Job Descriptions

Sunday Only Positions 9:30 am - 12:30 pm

Teacher’s Assistant - PreK-2nd graders

Work in a classroom with a talented teacher as your mentor while developing your leadership and class management skills. Typical assignments include: helping serve snack, coaching Hebrew and T’fillot (prayers), reading stories, and leading activities. 

Hebrew Reading Team Member  - works with 1s-5th graders

The Hebrew Reading Team visits each 1-5 class to work with students one-on-one and in small groups to improve their Hebrew reading and confidence. Members of the Hebrew Reading Team will receive training specific to teaching Hebrew reading. Strong Hebrew reading and t’fillah skills required. 

 

Floating Ozer  - works with preK-5th graders

The Floating Ozer covers for ozerim who are absent; assists with special programs like the Purim Carnival; and jumps in to help with whatever is needed.  This is a great role for someone who may have schedule conflicts throughout the year and may not be able to attend each session, or someone who wants to work in different roles with different age groups. 

 

Special Needs Aide - Assigned as needed

Mentor and support children with special needs in CBS’s religious school. You will be offered training for the skills needed to provide special needs students with individualized support.

 

Sunday Office and Snack Ozer

Help to ensure the smooth running of the school by helping to manage logistics. Tasks include greeting people at the door; distributing flyers; making photocopies; sorting supplies; organizing; filming and photographing classes in action; and preparing snack. You will work closely with the Director of Education to learn first-hand what it takes to make everything happen.

 

Saturday Morning Positions - 9:45 am-12:30 pm 

Teacher’s Assistant - 6th and 7th graders

Work in a classroom with a talented teacher as your mentor while developing your leadership and class management skills. Typical assignments include: helping serve snack, coaching Hebrew and T’fillot (prayers), and assisting guest teachers.

 

Kids Kehilla Ozer - 5-11 year olds- 1 Shabbat each Month

Work with our kids service leader at the Shabbat service for 5-11 year olds. Assist in taking attendance, managing materials, helping to lead songs, and classroom management.

Shabbat Babysitting Ozer- all ages
work with the shinshin to provide a fun and safe place for children to play during services.

Tuesday Afternoon 4:30-6:30pm  

Teacher’s Assistant for Prozdor- 6th and 7th graders

Teacher's Assistant for k-2nd grade Tuesday Class (new this year)

Work with your assigned classroom teacher and students to offer coaching in Hebrew and T’fillot (prayers) and assist with elective courses.

 
Teacher's Assistant for 3rd-5th Grade Hebrew and Prayer 

Teacher's Assistant for 3rd-5th Grade PoP (torah and text study class)

Tuesday Evening 6pm-8pm

Teen Learning Ozer

Help prepare dinner for teen learning by helping to bring food to the annex; setting up for dinner; taking attendance; and keeping the classroom supplies in the annex neat and well stocked. The position also includes helping any students joining via Zoom participate in class as well.

We are looking for some ozerim to work in our High Holiday Programming. Let us know if you are interested and we will follow up with more information.
Would you like to have your name and contact information shared with CBS parents that are looking for babysitters?
Parents/Guardians and Emergency Information
Please help us ensure that our records are up to date.
In case of an emergency we will first try to get in touch with a parent or guardian. If they are not available please let us know who you would like us to contact
Please provide at least one other method of contact (Home Phone, email) for the emergency contact.
Tell us about your experience. 
Please answer these questions honestly and thoughtfully, in as much detail as you can.

Knowing a little more about you will help us to create a program that will fill as many needs as possible and place you in a situation that best aligns with your personality, experiences, knowledge, strengths, challenges and the needs of our Religious School. 
Do you play guitar? Like leading ice breakers? Passionate about drama, love leading art projects? etc.
The following questions are only for new ozerim (returning ozerim can skip these questions)
Only for returning Ozerim
Please share two things that you would like to work on this year as an ozer.

1. in your work in the classroom (examples include: working on classroom management skills, working on communication with your teacher, working on teaching a lesson of your own, working on playing games with the students during recess, etc.).

2. on the logistics side (examples include: responding to emails and whatsapp messages, completing tasks like progress reports by the deadline, getting to school early to setup, making sure to stay after class to clean up, letting Rachel know when you will be absent, etc.).
 
Policies
Please read the policies below and initial after each to indicate that you have read it and agree to follow it.

General Expectations

  • Ozerim will be reliable and dependable, serve as a role model to our students, and have a positive attitude.
  • Ozerim are expected to follow the guidelines and direction of their teachers.
  • Ozerim are expected to arrive 30 minutes before their assigned start time and check in and be in the classroom by the assigned time to meet the teacher/supervisor and assist with classroom set up.
  • Ozerim are expected to stay until the last student in their class has been picked up and the classroom has been cleaned up for the day.
  • Ozerim should always dress appropriately and act professionally.
  • Ozerim should keep cell phones silenced and away while working. Ozerim who struggle with this requirement will be asked to leave their phone in the religious school office.
  • Ozerim working on Shabbat and Holiday are expected to observe Shabbat and holidays while at CBS. This includes refraining from using technology while in the synagogue. If you have questions about Shabbat and Holiday practices, please ask!
  • All classroom ozerim will be responsible for posting the classroom agreements at the beginning of class, taking them down and storing them at the end of class, and picking up and returning snack for their classroom.
Attendance
  • Teachers and students rely on ozerim. Ozerim should therefore attend as many class sessions as possible and miss only when absolutely necessary. If necessary, substitutes can be found. We encourage participation in USY events and understand that some class sessions may be missed due to participation in USY Regional programming. Exceptions will be made for students who are studying in Israel for part of the school year. If you cannot attend at least 80% of the sessions, please apply for a floating position.
  • Notify your teacher and the Education Director of all absences at least 2 weeks in advance (illness/emergency excluded) and attend to finding your own substitute.
Training and Meetings
  • Ozerim must attend 2 mandatory training sessions at the beginning of the school year or arrange for a substitute training if necessary, pending approval of Director of Education. Trainings will be in the afternoon/evening of September 2nd and 3rd- mark your calendars now.
  • Ozerim will attend monthly, mandatory Ozerim meetings over the course of the year (usually one Sunday each month from 12:30 pm-1:30 pm). A schedule will be provided at the start of year. Sessions will focus on leadership, classroom management techniques, child development, and much more.
  • Ozerim are encouraged (but not required) to participate in monthly Religious School staff meetings (Usually one Sunday each month from 12:30-1:30pm).
Please choose the option that applies to you:
 
Please type your first and last name in the box above to sign.
Please type your first and last name in the box above to sign.

B’nai Mitzvah Tutoring: The best way to learn is to teach. 8th-12th graders are invited to work as B’nai Mitzvah tutors. This provides them with a good source of income and aids them in developing skills of patience, discipline, schedule keeping, and professionalism. Typically tutors work one-on-one with learners, this year we are working to set up an option for teens to tutor as a group and build confidence and skills so that they feel more comfortable tutoring one-on-one in the future.  Teens must complete the tutor training process (it is now part of Tuesday teen learning) before they may begin tutoring.

Teen Volunteer Opportunities:

Teens are invited to join us on to help out at the CBS Purim Carnival and other CBS events

 

Wed, August 20 2025 26 Av 5785