Frequently Asked Questions about Junior Congregation
When and where is it?
Junior Congregation meets on the first and third Saturday of the month from September until June at 10:30am in the social hall of SPSA which is on the corner of 86th Street and West End Avenue.
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How long is Junior Congregation?
Junior Congregation usually lasts about an hour and a half and is followed by a small Kiddush.
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What do you do at Junior Congregation?
Families and children participate in a service that is lead by our wonderful teenage ozrim, with music and singing. Children have the opportunity to lead the individual prayers. It is much like the adult Shabbat morning service, but in an abbreviated form, with many of the same prayers and tunes. Participation is highly encouraged. In addition, there is Torah reading and a d'var Torah from one of the BJ rabbis. Mourner's Kaddish is said.
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Who comes to Junior Congregation?
All of BJ's Children in second grade and above (no matter where they receive their Jewish education) and their families come to Junior Congregation. Younger siblings are also welcome, as are grandparents, friends or anyone who wants to check it out.
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Is Junior Congregation for parents too?
Absolutely! Although parents are welcome to leave their children in Junior Congregation if they wish to pray in the adult service, we welcome and encourage parents to stay. This creates a wonderful family and community prayer experience with new and old friends, our musicians and one of our rabbis.
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Is there is a rabbi of Junior Congregation?
Roly, Marcelo, Felicia and the Marshall T. Meyer Fellows take turns coming to Junior Congregation, participating in the service and giving a d'var Torah. You will see all of them throughout the year.
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Do I have to get dressed up?
We encourage you to come in whatever you would normally wear to synagogue. Boys usually wear nice pants and a shirt while girls usually wear a skirt or nice pants and a shirt.
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What are the index cards for?
We like to know who is in Junior Congregation. We ask that every child hand in their card at the end of Junior Congregation so we know who attended. In addition, this is how we keep track of the Hebrew School students' Junior Congregation Requirement. If your child is in second through seventh grade and they don't have a card, please email Rebecca at rrosenthal@bj.org. Please don't write on the cards, since writing is not in the sprit of Shabbat.
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How do I sign my child up to lead?
Children can sign up to lead on the BJ Website (www.bj.org) by clicking on the families tab on the left side of the page and finding the date they want to volunteer for. In addition, families can sign up for honors, like opening the ark or carrying the Torah in the same place. Parents and teens can also sign up online to read Torah.
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My child would like to learn a prayer. How can he or she do that?
If your child would like to learn a prayer, please be in touch with Rebecca and she can help you. In addition, we have a Junior Congregation CD which we can provide you to assist your child in learning the prayer. Our teenage ozrim are also available for the kids to practice with on the morning of Junior Congregation.
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Is there food?
There is a Kiddush of juice, challah and cookies at the end of services. We are exploring providing a light lunch through donations.
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Is it like the Friday Night Family Service or the Family High Holiday Service?
Junior Congregation is very spirited and participatory, like both these services. The main difference is that Junior Congregation is led by kids! In format, it is much more like the High Holiday Family Service in that it is geared towards older kids. Children in first grade and below are invited to children's services, held each Shabbat at 10:45 in the Chapel of SPSA.
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What happens on Shabbat mornings when there is no Junior Congregation?
On the second and fourth Shabbats of the month, we have minyan gimmel for children in second to seventh grade. From 10:30 until about 11am, children learn about the different prayers that we do in the service, a different prayer each week. Then, children are invited to return to the main service for the Torah service and musaf so they can begin to experience being in the adult service.
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Who can I talk to for more information?
Feel free to be in touch with Rebecca Rosenthal, Shabbat and Holidays Coordinator, at rrosenthal@bj.org or 212-787-7600 x243
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For Hebrew School Families – The Junior Congregation Requirement
Why is there a Junior Congregation Requirement?
Junior Congregation helps connect the BJHS community to the larger community of BJ. In addition, experiencing Shabbat in real time helps the Hebrew School curriculum come alive for students and families.
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What is the Junior Congregation Requirement?
Students in grades two through six must attend Junior Congregation at least as many times during the year as their grade number (second graders must attend twice each year, third graders three times each year, fourth graders four times each year, etc.). Attendance is taken.
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How is attendance taken?
There are cards in the back of each Junior Congregation. Children are asked to hand in their cards at the end of the service and we collect them and write down their attendance when we are back in the office. We then put the cards back in the boxes the following service. Kids who have completed their requirement have yellow cards, while everyone else has pink. We ask that you don't write on the cards, since writing is not in the spirit of Shabbat.
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What services count towards the requirement?
Shabbat Morning Junior Congregation is the only service that counts towards this requirement. We are very happy when our students attend other services, but also need to attend Junior Congregation to fulfill their requirement.
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Is there a reward for completing your requirement?
All children who complete their Junior Congregation requirement will receive a certificate and public recognition in a school assembly, as well as an invitation to a special breakfast with a rabbi before a Junior Congregation in May. In addition, the grade with the highest percentage of children who complete their requirement will have a special celebration in Hebrew School. Check out the bulletin board next to the BJHS office at Heschel to see how your child's grade is doing. Back to top
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Who can I talk to for more information?
Feel free to be in touch with Rebecca Rosenthal, Shabbat and Holidays Coordinator, at rrosenthal@bj.org or 212-787-7600 x243
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