Teen Programming at Beth Shalom

Schmoozing, learning, teaching, traveling, volunteering: What interests your teen?

At Beth Shalom, we take a buffet approach to teen programming. Teens can choose from the offerings according to their interests and calendars without having to commit to anything long term. They can sample or gorge, or something in between, but are encouraged to try everything at least once! The cost of participation in all teen programs is included in the $100 teen fee (per teen), assessed as part of your family's annual contribution. Some events may incur additional costs, which families will pay directly to the vendor whenever possible. While development of programming is ongoing, current options include: Madrichim, Mitzvah Corps, Jr. and Sr. BeShTY (our temple youth groups), and NFTY. 

Please use the links below to jump to your area of interest.

The Madrichim Program
Teens serve as teacher assistants in the Religious School on Sundays and/or on Tuesdays. They can assist with Judaics, Hebrew, art, music, Tefillah, cooking and so much more. This is a great opportunity for teens to flex their knowledge and act as role models, while accruing valuable volunteer hours. To find our more, contact Rabbi Edery.

The Mitzvah Corps
Teens contribute their talents to the school outside of the classroom, including helping plan and execute special celebrations (holiday carnivals, plays and special Shabbat services), photographing school events, writing articles for the temple newsletter, and so much more. The school cannot run without Mitzvah Corps' critical contributions! To find our more, contact Rabbi Edery.

Jr. BeShTY
This youth group, for middle school students (6th-8th grades), fosters ties between teens through monthly outings and gatherings. Past events have included: Raleighwood Cinema Grill, Comedy Works followed by pizza dinner, Carolina Hurricanes games, rock climbing, a lock-in and an end of year pool party. Jr. BeShTY is led by a professional advisor, who plans and chaperones all events. To find out more, contact Allison Mitteer, the Jr. BeShTY Advisor.

Check out some photos of our Jr. BeShTY members making graham cracker sukkahs at our 2021 Sukkot event below!

Sr. BeShTY

This youth group, for high school students (9th-12th grades), is advisor and student board led. Elected board members meet monthly to select and plan events, which include social gatherings, fundraisers and mitzvah projects. Typically, there are two to three events per month, with at least one including a religious component. Past events have included: attending the NC State Fair, trick-or-treating for canned goods, Carolina Hurricanes games, and a big, end-of-year trip. All events are chaperoned by the professional advisor. To find out more, contact the office.

NFTY Events
Every year, Beth Shalom teens attend regional events of the North American Federation of Temple Youth, forging friendships with other Jewish teens and deepening their Jewish identities. For information on upcoming events, please check the calendar.