Teen Focus Youth Groups Temple Sinai JOOSY & SAFETY
L’chaim BBYO
emple Sinai strives to provide quality Jewishly-rich, social opportunities for young congregants. As a URJ congregation, the temple is affiliated with NFTY, the National Federation of Temple Youth. The Youth Groups are committed to: Helping strengthen Jewish identity and connections Creating an environment that is accepting and open Building strong relationships among youth and teens Providing opportunities for leadership development With two distinct youth groups,
ll Jewish teens in grades 9-12 are welcome to join SarasotaManatee’s local BBYO chapter, L’chaim BBYO, for monthly meetings and events. BBYO is a pluralistic teen organization with a mission of involving more Jewish teens in more meaningful Jewish experiences. BBYO teens plan and execute programs that interest them with guidance from adult advisors and staff. BBYO is a great way to get involved after your Bar/Bat Mitzvah. The L’chaim BBYO chapter boasts over 30 high school teens who regularly attend regional Shabbatonim and programs with Jewish teens from Orlando and Tampa. Past chapter events include Relay for Life, Color Wars, Israel Dinner and Speaker, Sleepovers, Leadership Training, Treasure Island Scavenger Hunt and much more. For more information on BBYO, please contact: Marissa Feinman, Program Director, 407.645.5933 x292 or mfeinman@bbyo.org Website: www.northfloridabbyo.org
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Hatikvah Kallah 2010
Temple Sinai addresses the social, cultural and religious needs of students in grades 6-12 through informal education and teen leadership opportunities. Activities are teen initiated and coordinated by the youth group executive board, comprised entirely of high school teens, and under the advisement and supervision of Temple Sinai’s Youth Director. As 2011 will mark Temple Sinai’s 20th anniversary, one of the ways in which the Temple will be celebrating is
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by hosting its first ever NFTY convention in the spring of the year. Temple Sinai will host 200 teens for a weekend of leadership training, worship and friendships sure to last a lifetime. JOOSY (Junior Organization of Sinai Youth): Sixth- through eighthgraders get together for social, cultural and community service events. Past programs have included shul-ins at the temple, an annual Chanukah Caravan Progressive party combining efforts with area synagogues and The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee, and tie-dye events with the older teens. Participants may attend Hatikvah Kallah, a junior NFTY convention. There are opportunities for tzedakah, volunteering and mitzvah projects. SAFETY (Sarasota Area Federation of Extreme Temple Youth): High school students meet about once a month for student-organized and led programs. Past activities have ranged from movie nights in the youth lounge, to an annual youth-led Shabbat service, to paintball outings. SAFETY members may participate in NFTY-STR events, URJ camps and programs, Mitzvah Corps programs, and Camp Jenny. Tikkun olam (repairing the world) is a practice built into all programs through a variety of mitzvah projects, volunteer opportunities and tzedakah. For more information, contact: Andrea Eiffert, Youth Director, 941.924.1802 or andrea@templesinai-sarasota.org
CONNECTIONS2011
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See pages 104-108 for a calendar of community events covering January to May 2011
A Guide to Jewish Living in Sarasota-Manatee