BJTeens - Gesher

 We are very excited to announce some changes to the central teen program, Gesher, a informal weekly opportunity for your child to continue his or her Jewish education, build a community of peers, and deepen his or her connection to BJ. Based on feedback and input from parents of teenagers, we have made these changes to the Gesher program to address the specific educational needs of the teens while giving them an opportunity to develop relationships with BJ's rabbinic and educational staff.

Gesher will meet every Tuesday afternoon from 5:00 to 7:00PM in the conference foom of BJ's new offices, 2109 Broadway Suite 203. The newly-created Eighth Grade program will meet at the same time in another room. All the teens will come together for dinner at 6:30PM. The first meeting will be on Tuesday, September 9.

Rabbi Felicia Sol and Director of Family Life Hollis Gauss are thrilled to be on the Gesher teaching staff, along with Marshall T. Meyer Rabbinic Fellow Kliel Rose. Each of the teachers will teach one-third of the year. Felicia, Hollis and Kliel are currently working on curriculum development for Gesher. Possible topics for 2003-2004 include the theological, ethical and moral challenges that face teenagers, as well as world events and their historical context, especially in the Middle East.

All subjects will be approached through many entry points, including text, music, art and discussion. The teens will also engage in social action projects throughout the year. All teens will also be invited to participate in community-wide teen events at BJ, which include social action projects as well Teen Shabbat, this year on February 7.

Gesher is a program of the Department of Family Life, and is coordinated by Hollis Gauss, Director of Family Life. If you would like to be part of a subcommittee on teens, please contact us.

Back to BJTeens