The Education and Youth Department at Beth El actively engages all types of learners utilizing a variety of materials and approaches inside and outside the classroom. The Talmud Torah and Youth Groups provide students with opportunities to learn, pray and socialize with other Jewish students. Beth El youth are encouraged through these activities to create a synagogue-based community of their own outside the classroom. At Beth El we recognize that informal learning and socializing outside of class-time is as important as the formal structured classroom and the Beth El youth and education experience presents many such opportunities. We follow the guidelines of United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism in our Talmud Torah curriculum and Youth Group programs.
Beth El Congregation has a dynamic youth group program for students in grade 1 – 12. Atid, for students in grades 1-3 has activities once a month. Kadima, for students in grades 4-6 has a lounge one Wednesday each month and a monthly activity – check the calendar and blogposts for updated information on activities.
Jr. USY is the 7th & 8th grade youth group. It, along with the 9th – 12th grade youth group, USY, has a weekly lounge on Thursdays from 6:30-8:30 on weeks when Talmud Torah is in session (check out the Talmud Torah calendar at http://bethelphoenixed.wordpress.com for the Talmud Torah schedule.) USY also has programs at least one Sunday a month. In addition, both Sr. & Jr. USY groups participate in local, regional and national Kinnusim and programs. Rachel Stern is our Atid, Kadima and USY advisor. For Atid & Kadima activities, she can be contacted at youth.bethelphoenix@gmail.com and for USY events she can be contacted at usy.bethelphoenix@gmail.com
Beth El USY & Kadimah are part of Far West Region USY. Far West Region hosts activities every 4-6 weeks for youth around the region. Retreats (Kinnusim), Shabbatonim, and dances rule the regional calendar. Our region is made up of Southern California, Arizona, Nevada, Utah, New Mexico, and Hawaii. What a great opportunity to make and visit friends from all over the southwest!
Youth group calendars for 2011-2012: 2011-2012 usy calendar and for our younger Youth Group Members in ATID & Kadima: Atid and Kadima Calendar
Beth El Youth Group membership forms and Far West Region USY forms for membership are now available. Membership in all youth groups requires this form: 2011-2012 Beth El Youth Group membership form . In addition, all Kadima (grades 4-6) and USY (grades 7-12) members will need to fill out regional forms: regional youth group forms Atid (grades 1-3) members will only need the 2011-2012 Beth El Youth Group Membership form.
The Director of Education and Youth Programming, Janette Silverman can be reached at jsilverman@bethelphoenix.com or 602-944-3359, ext 123
