Welcome to Teen Education Network (TEN), a collaborative solution for community-wide teen programming. TEN helps to connect Minneapolis-area Jewish teens with the programs that best suit them, regardless of affiliation or synagogue membership. Read about each program below.
Adath Jeshurun
High School age programming will occur on Tuesday evenings from 5:15-7:00 pm, October 5, 2021–May 3, 2022. Each evening will begin with dinner (menus to be built with student input!) and minyan (student opportunities to lead available) and then split into classes by grade level:
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- 9th: Big Questions on Theology, Leadership, and Life, student-directed curriculum with Hazzan Dulkin
- 10th: Confirmation, Getting Beyond your Jewish ABCs: Power, Privilege, and Responsibility in a Changing World with Rabbi Weininger
- 11th-12th: Mussar & Middot (developing soul/character traits) with Rabbi Kravitz
AJC
Leaders For Tomorrow (LFT), AJC’s pioneering education program for high schoolers, is designed to empower the next generation of young Jewish leaders to advocate on behalf of the Jewish people, Israel, and human rights around the world. LFT aims to teach young adults how to be principled and vocal Jewish leaders. Graduates of the program will enter college with the knowledge and confidence to engage in the ongoing dialogue regarding antisemitism and Israel, and to serve as positive change agents for their peers and communities. Over the course of seven sessions, students will explore their connection to the Jewish people and Israel, and develop critical advocacy and leadership skills. You can learn more about LFT and apply here.
Please note, Minneapolis students should select the Chicago Region when filling out the application.
Bet Shalom Congregation
At Bet Shalom, Teen education and social programming are offered during the school year on Wednesday evenings from 6:00-8:35pm. Teens gather informally for dinner from 6:00-6:30pm and have the option to bring their own meal or purchase a meal from one of our rotating Food Trucks!
Our educational program begins at 6:30pm and consists of a three “block” structure.
Beth El Synagogue
Informal Torah Discussion—Open to 9th-12th graders. Spend some time on Saturday mornings studying the weekly Torah portion with the Rabbi. Offered, every other week at Beth El Synagogue. (Specific times TBD)
Vaad Middot—Open to 10th-11th graders and their parents and led by Cantor Abrams, this eight-week course runs from January-March on Saturday mornings at Beth El Synagogue. Join us as we navigate the world of Middot (Jewish virtues) strengthening the relationship between parents and teens.
Congregation Darchei Noam
Teen Talmud features twice-monthly Sunday evening learning sessions for all Jewish teens. Sushi, pizza or other refreshments are frequently provided. Teen Talmud aims to provide a rudimentary exposure to Talmudic texts and commentaries while pursuing deeper than rudimentary conversations that have unfolded from these texts over the centuries. Texts include famous and infamous passages culled from both Mishna and Gemara. Passages may include famous aggadic stories as well as halachic (legal) material revolving around core ethical issues. Sessions prior to holidays focus primarily on texts with the greatest significance for the respective holidays. English translations are provided but participants are encouraged to read in Hebrew when possible.
HaZamir: The International Jewish High School Choir
HaZamir is an international network of choral chapters for Jewish teens in the U.S. and Israel. Annually, 400 HaZamir singers appear in Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center for a performance that brings together music, community, and spirituality in a context that is dynamic, transformative, and fun. Thousands of teens have shared in this HaZamir experience.
The HaZamir Minneapolis/St. Paul chapter is conducted by Cantor Audrey Abrams on Sundays throughout the school year from 12:30-3 pm at Beth El. Auditions will be held on Sept. 8, 2019. The cost is $2,000, which includes tuition and a trip to New York. Contact Cantor Abrams or Rimon for questions and reservation details.
Jewish Student Union and Minneapolis Israel Scholars Program
JSU (Jewish Student Union) Clubs are student-led Jewish culture clubs running in High Schools throughout the Twin Cities (Current schools include Hopkins, Maple Grove, Minnetonka, Saint Louis Park, Southwest, and Wayzata High Schools). Clubs meet weekly after school, free kosher sushi or pizza is provided and the fun, non-judgmental atmosphere allows for teens to explore Judaism on their turf.
The club advisor is Mindy Daitchman and discussions and interactive activities revolve around a variety of topics including Israel, current events, and Jewish holidays. JSU sponsors activities outside of school as well including retreats, monthly dinner-and-learns, community service projects, Friday night dinners, and other exciting events.
Minnesota Online Jewish Ulpan (MOJU)
The Minnesota Online Jewish Ulpan is offered through the Talmud Torah of St. Paul. We offer synchronous, small-group Zoom classes for teens, in grades 8-12. We are reaching out to Jewish teens in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, and the Dakotas and beyond! Courses are available in Hebrew and a variety of electives on topics related to Jewish life and culture.
Our Hebrew classes are college-level courses that cover a semester’s material over the course of nine months of study. Most of our students get advanced placement in college Hebrew classes, and most receive high school credit for their Hebrew language learning.
RAJMN Teen Fellowship
RAJMN is the only Jewish-Russian program for young families in Minnesota, working to connect them to the larger Jewish community in Twin Cities and provide a deeper understanding of Judaism and Russian-Jewish roots and culture since 2003.The RAJMN Teen Fellowship Program is a school-year long program for High School students which starts in September and runs for 10 months. Participants will explore and expand their understanding of who they are, who they want to be, and how they want to make a mark on the world.
Keren Or contest: Call for submissions
Calling all Minnesota teen Jewish writers and photographers!
Keren Or (Ray of Light) announces its 18th annual creative arts contest for Jewish youth. Minnesota Jewish students in grades 7-12 are invited to submit original poetry, creative prose, and photographs. The deadline for submissions is Friday, February 18, 2022, 5 p.m. All submissions must be submitted using the online forms provided at www.kerenorcontest.org.
Prizes in each category are awarded to two separate groups: students in grades 7-9 and grades 10-12. The prizes are $100 for first place, $50 for second and third places, and $36 for Honorable Mention. Nearly 200 teens have won prizes since the contest began. Winning entries will be published at the Keren Or website and in a special supplement to The American Jewish World in spring, 2022.
Shir Tikvah Youth
Ninth and tenth-grade programming is held on Sundays at 9:30-11:30 am. Ninth graders spend a year exploring modern-day hot topics through the lens of Jewish ethics, taught by Jim Cohn. Tenth graders learn about and embracing Jewish moral courage with Dave Snyder and Rabbi Michael Latz, while also utilizing the iEngage Project from the Shalom Hartman Institute, where young students and adults meet to learn about and discuss Israel and Palestine, with discussions rooted in Jewish values and ideas.
ConnecTEEN Program, 2021–2022
The Partnership2Gether ConnecTEEN 2021-22 program is a virtual opportunity to unite and bridge the gap between Jewish American teens and Jewish Israeli teens while building lasting connections. As a member of this group, you will engage in eight months of learning, storytelling, and dialogue with your peers in Rehovot—all while having a great time with new friends! Plus, we’re setting plans in motion to travel to Israel in late 2021—see below for more details. Application can be found here and is open on a rolling basis until November 7. Click here for more information or email Gabe Herstig at gherstig@jewishminneapolis.org.
The Letters Project: Conversing Across Narratives
Join The Letters Project: Conversing Across Narratives, a course for high school students based on Yossi Klein Halevi’s book Letters to My Palestinian Neighbor: With an Extensive Epilogue of Palestinian Responses. Our Spring 2021 Contest is now underway.
To be eligible for the contest, the writer:
- Must live in the US or its territories or the District of Columbia and be 14 years of age or older.
- Read the book.
- Write a letter to the author responding to the book and submit the letter here.
Writers will be invited to participate in a virtual conversation with JCRC and Letters participants, to which Yossi Klein Halevi will also be invited.
Temple Israel’s JEWL (Jewish Experiential Whole-Person Learning)
JEWL’s High School Years provide opportunities to deepen connections with peers and Temple Israel’s clergy. Learners build their personal Jewish identities as teens while tackling the challenges of being a citizen of the world. Each Wednesday evening session begins time spent together with all grades and then splits into classes by grade. Sessions are held on Wednesday evenings. Learn more.
TIPTY (Temple Israel Program for Temple Youth)
TIPTY is a unique Reform Jewish youth community combining social and educational events for 9th-12th graders! Participate in innovative programs and creative worship, take action with Tikkun Olam, and take part in year-round weekend events and summer opportunities. At TIPTY, our teens lead programming and create a safe space for their peers, learn from each other, and inspire our community to think about Judaism in new ways. Learn more.
U of M Modern Hebrew no longer offered through College in the Schools
As of March 2019, the University of Minnesota announced that it will no longer be offering Modern Hebrew through its College in the Schools program. Learn about other options for Hebrew learning at the University of Minnesota, or see the below online course.
U of M Modern Hebrew online course
Beginning spring 2020, a 5-credit Modern Hebrew course will be offered online through the University of Minnesota. The course will consist of weekly Zoom meetings on Monday evenings with flexible readings and assignments. For more information, please contact Director of Hebrew Language Instruction Dr. Renana Schneller.
Talmud Torah of St. Paul virtual classes
Talmud Torah of St. Paul is offering virtual Jewish classes for High School students.
Classes are available on Jewish Life, Torah, Arts & Culture, Israel, and 5 levels of College-level Hebrew from Beginner to Advanced!
