TEEN PROGRAMS

SCUSY: SONOMA COUNTY UNITED SYNAGOGUE YOUTH

Sonoma County United Synagogue Youth (SCUSY) is a program for our youth ages 14 through 18 sponsored by United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism. Congregation Beth Ami’s teens undertake a variety of fundraisers and tzedakah (charity) projects throughout the course of each year and plan and attend monthly social activities. Members of our award-winning chapter have many opportunities to participate in regional, national and international events, which are held in Northern California, across the nation, and elsewhere in the world. USY is a wonderful way for teens to connect with other Jewish teens and to enhance leadership and Judaic skills. We hope that you will give USY a try by stopping by. See you there! Visit the SCUSY website and www.usy.org!

USY is open to ALL youth in Sonoma County!  This includes Kadima (6-7^th graders), USY (9-12^th graders).

CHAVERIM TEEN PROGRAM

Chaverim is an exciting program for the Jewish teens of Sonoma County.It provides an outlet for 8th through 12th graders in the community. It is a unique opportunity for Jewish teenagers to get together for social and educational events that inspire involvement in Jewish life.

Chaverim continues to serve teens entering 8th grade through 12th from all five Sonoma County synagogues and the Jewish community at large. Our program provides a unique venue that inspires involvement in Jewish life. Students meet by grade level for weeknight dinner discussions, and are also encouraged to participate in other Jewish teen activities here and in the Bay area. Meetings provide the opportunity to experience social interaction and engaging discussions dealing with relevant emerging young adult issues as well as ethical topics – all through a Jewish lens.

Whether you can make all the sessions or just a few, membership in this program sets the stage to make a place for Judaism in your current life and in the future.

As one parent of a student recently said “We appreciate our kid’s sports and extracurricular activities. But really, most of them will only spend a few years in their young lives being in soccer or baseball or dancing or whatever it is that occupies their thoughts at the moment. They will spend their lives being Jewish, so let’s help them make Jewish engagement in life a habit.”

Newcomers are always welcome regardless of prior Jewish knowledge or experience.

Need more information?
Call Rick at (707) 477-9196 rick@jccsoco.org or (707) 823-3916
Rick Concoff, Director of Youth and Teen Programs
Rick Concoff, M.A., has been an educator and mentor for children of all ages including grade school, pre-teen and teen for over 35 years.

To be a member of Chaverim you do not have to be affiliated with a synagogue, you just need to be Jewish.

The birth of this program was inspired by Congregation Beth Ami’s long-respected Kehillah program and Congregation Shomrei Torah’s successful Tzaddikim program. The best of both programs have been brought together in a new format, bringing meaning and Jewish continuity to post B’nai Mitzvah students.

The program is overseen by Congregation Beth Ami’s Rabbi Mordecai Miller and Congregation Shomrei Torah’s Rabbi Stephanie Kramer, and is supported by a parent-led Advisory Committee.

CHAVERIM IS A BENEFICIARY OF THE JEWISH COMMUNITY FEDERATION OF SAN FRANCISCO, THE PENINSULA, MARIN AND SONOMA COUNTIES.