RSNS TEEN PROGRAMS 2025-2026
Welcome to another exciting year of teen programming at RSNS! We offer a LOT of options for your teens! Please read the descriptions below carefully, and sign up for the ones that fit your teen's grade and interest! The ONLY programs that require advance payment with your registration are Girls' Rosh Hodesh, Bros' Hodesh, and Antisemitism for Teen Families.
Any questions, please feel free to reach out to Cantor Eric, Rabbi Jodie, or Morah Rebecca!
Adopt-A-Survivor, grade 8 only: Through a series of meetings held at RSNS under Rabbi Jodie & Dinah Kramer’s supervision, students become “surrogate survivors” to a network of Holocaust survivors and 2nd generation survivors, and commit to learning and retelling their survivors’ story to the next generation. Students in this program agree to speak about their survivors in the year 2045, the 100th anniversary of the camps’ liberation.
Meetings are held at RSNS or on ZOOM from 6-7:30 p.m. one Wednesday a month (plus additional prep sessions in the spring), and we will provide food when sessions are in-person. Parents are welcome, but not required to attend. Dates: 9/10 (Introduction), 10/8 (History), 10/22, 11/12, 12/10, 1/14, 2/11 (Survivor Interview), 3/4 (Debrief and Organize Presentations), 3/18 (Rehearsal in sanctuary), 3/25 (Rehearsal in sanctuary), 4/13 (Presentation during Congregational Yom HaShoah service 7:30pm), 4/14 (Tuesday – Presentation during Synagogue School Yom HaShoah 4:45pm)
Madrichim (school aides), grades 8-12: Each of our madrichim is a blessing to our RSNS community. Having teenage role models working with our youth is what infuses our teachers and students with love and passion for the Jewish people. In addition to working in our classrooms, the Madrichim program involves monthly meetings where we share our experiences, learn from each other, and engage in meaningful discussions surrounding identity, teaching, and community building. The madrichim are essential to the success of our school. Plus, it's a whole lot of fun! Please click here for more information and to sign the Madrichim Contract. Our first MANDATORY meeting will be on Wednesday, September 3rd from 6:30-7:30 pm at RSNS. All other meetings will be on Tuesdays after Synagogue School. Email Morah Rebecca with any questions at rebeccadce@rsns.org.
Kesher Hadash (RSNS Teen Youth Group!), grades 8-12: Kesher Hadash means “New Connections” - it's the RSNS Teen Youth Group! All teens are invited to join us for one event each month - trips, outings, social action, and creative Jewish experiences - tons of fun ways to connect to your Judaism, help the world, and be with friends old and new! Kesher Hadash events at RSNS are free, and “pay as you go” when off-site. Pick the events that look good to you, and come whenever you can! Most events will be on weekends.
Rosh Hodesh (Girls’ Group), grades 8-12, $250 ($450 for non-members) for 9 sessions plus a final dinner: This engaging program is inspired by the Jewish tradition of celebrating the new moon with women’s gatherings. It helps girls build confidence, explore their Jewish identity, develop leadership skills, and form strong friendships. Each month, the group meets in a warm and supportive space where girls can talk about the real-life issues they face as they grow up, and connect these experiences to meaningful Jewish values. In this intimate group setting, girls support one another, have fun, and learn together. To help the group grow close and build trust, regular attendance is important.
Tuesdays, 6:30-8:00pm, dinner included. Dates: 9/16, 10/21, 11/18, 12/9, 1/13, 2/10, 3/17, 4/21, 5/26, 6/16 (final dinner-off site)
Bro’s Hodesh (Boys’ Group), grades 8-12, $250 ($450 for non-members) for 9 sessions plus a final dinner: Being a guy is not always so simple. In this boys-only group, we’ll take an opportunity to explore what being a man - and more specifically, a JEWISH man - means, and what we can learn about ourselves and each other. Through activities, games, popular culture, food, discussions, and group experience, we’ll bond, work through tough questions together, and have a ton of fun! To help the group grow close and build trust, regular attendance is important.
Tuesdays, 6:30-8pm, dinner included. Dates: 9/30, 10/28, 11/25, 12/16, 1/20, 2/24, 3/24, 4/28, 5/26, 6/18 (Thurs.)
Tzelem (Group for Jewish Trans, Non-binary, Gender fluid or Gender questioning teens), grades 8-12: Run by Keshet and the fabulous educators at Moving Traditions who created the Rosh Hodesh and Boys’ Group programs! To register for the online monthly group, or to find out more info, click here!
Antisemitism for Teen Families, teens grades 9-11 and their parents ($40 per family): Now more than ever, our teens need guidance and support when confronting
various forms of antisemitism. High school students and their parents
are invited to join Cantor Eric for 3 Tuesday nights over the course of
the year, for essential conversations on how to respond to antisemitism
in popular culture, social media, politics and on college campuses.
Dinner included. $40 per family covers food for all three sessions. 6:30-8pm on Mondays: 10/20, 12/22, and 1/26.
Better Together, grades 9-12: Our high school students will meet one Sunday a month with RSNS adult seniors, plus Cantor Eric or Morah Rebecca. Teens and seniors will engage in an interactive curriculum with a different topic each month, as they get to know each other’s stories, values, and life-experiences.
Sundays, 5-6:30pm, at RSNS unless otherwise noted: 10/19, 11/16, 1/11, 2/8, 3/15, 4/19, 5/17 (off-site)
Jewish Life On Campus, 12th graders and their parents: In this special session, Rabbi Jodie and Cantor Eric will help prepare students and their parents for the life that awaits them beyond RSNS. We will explore on-campus resources (Hillel, Jewish Social Action, etc), discuss how to navigate conflicts & antisemitism, and also learn about various approaches to Israel on campus – from BDS to J-Street to AIPAC and beyond!
Monday, May 18th 7:00-9:00pm
Teen Shabbat Band, grades 8-12: Do you play a musical instrument? Come join our Shabbat Band and play at monthly Family services or Shabbat Unplugged! No long-term commitment, play when you can! Email Cantor Eric (cantoreric@rsns.org) for more info.
The One2One Project: Connect with an Israeli teen!
One of the best (and most fun) ways to learn about Israel is to make an Israeli friend! One2One will match you with an Israeli high school student with similar interests and once a week for five weeks, you get to know each other over zoom. Each session is a 30-minute video call. All content related to these sessions is provided and coordinated with RSNS and One2One, a program through The Jewish Peoplehood Alliance. Fall and Spring sessions It’s FREE!
Click here for Fall 2025 (11/ 2, 119, 10/19,11/ 23, 11/30, 12/ 7)
Click here for Winter 2026 (2/22 , 3/1, 3/8, 3/15, 3/22, 3/29)
Click here for Spring 2026 (4/26, 5/3, 5/10, 5/17, 5/24, 5/31)
Email Morah Rebecca with any questions at rebeccadce@rsns.org
