Special Programs

Our Religious School augments its more formal Reform Judaism and Hebrew education courses with several programs intended to enrich the religious, cultural, and social lives of Rodef Shalom’s young people. Among the highlights of our Special Programs are the Consecration service for our new students, the Madrichim program—in which 11 and 12 grade students enter the classroom to serve as teachers’ assistants—and our extremely active (and fun!) youth groups. Please peruse our offerings and join in!

Consecration

The Consecration service welcomes our Kindergarteners and other new students (along with their parents) as they begin their formal Jewish education at our Religious School.

Madrichim

Religious School classes end at the end of 10th grade, but that doesn’t mean the end of religious education at Rodef Shalom. Many of our 11th and 12th grade students participate in our Madrichim program, which allows them to serve as teacher’s assistants in Religious School and Hebrew School classrooms. They assist in all classroom experiences and serve as a wonderful “dugma,” or “role model,” for the younger students. The madrichim meet regularly with the Director of Education to study pedagogy and Judaica.

Youth Group

Youth Group melds Jewish fellowship with fun activities. All students—PreK through Grade 12—are welcome to join us for horseback riding, movie nights, themed parties, sukkah decorating, the spaghetti dinner for tzedakah, North American Federation of Temple Youth (NFTY) weekends, community-wide Shabbat experiences, coffeehouses and many other activities.Our Youth Groups are divided into four groups: Family Fun Club, Advisor Rabbi Amy Hertz; Team 345, Advisor Yael Eads; 678 Crew, Advisor Joseph Loether; and THERSTY, Advisor Reid Myers. Each brings a different dynamic and energy to our informal educational programming, which includes exposure to ways of social action, educational and religious programming, and social activities.

High School students are welcome to join NFTY, the Reform movement’s national youth movement. Participation allows Rodef Shalom students to make connections with youth from around the country, building the Jewish community.