About our Director of Informal Youth Programming:
Sam Spencer
Samantha “Sam” Spencer is a 2019 University of Vermont graduate with a degree in Elementary Education, Special Education, and American Sign Language. She currently is teaching third and fourth grade at the Solomon Schechter Jewish day school in Oakland, NJ. She lives in Ramsey. In high school, she was actively involved in the temple. She is a past BHSS youth group president, a past member of NFTY GER, and graduated from our Kadimah program. She spent many summers growing up at URJ Eisner Camp! Sam began teaching fourth grade in our religious school this past September and has been a great asset to the staff. Her creativity and knowledge of new tech tools and communications avenues (using Tik Tok, for example) are going to continue to be huge assets.
“Hello! I am so excited to continue to work with youth at BHSS! I am grateful for the mentors and role models that helped shape me when I was in youth group during high school. I am eager to meet everyone!
YOUTH GROUP NEWS
Hello everyone and welcome back!
We hope you had a fun-filled, safe and happy summer and are ready for a new school year and Youth Group events! We can’t wait to see you all again, reconnect with old friends and make new ones. Speaking of which, pick up a youth group membership form at BHSS or use the simple Google form at https://tinyurl.com/BHSSYouth
To kick off the year, everyone is invited to our Welcome Back Bash on Sunday, September 11 where we’ll be welcoming new members, catching up on our summers, and hanging out all together at BHSS.
We would love to have you join us at one of our upcoming events! Below is our calendar for this year’s events. If there is something else you would like to do, please let us know!
| Menschmakers Grades 3-6 | BHSSTY Grades 7-12 |
| Welcome Back Bash
September 11 from 11-12:30pm |
Welcome Back Bash
September 11 from 1-2:30pm |
| Movie Night
November TBD |
Soup Kitchen Volunteering *
October 23 from 10:30-12:30 pm |
| Sky Zone
January TBD |
Midnight Run *
November TBD |
| BINGO @ Promenade at Chestnut Ridge*
February 5 11-12:30 pm |
Goods and Services Auction Runners & Shul-Inn *
December 10 |
| Purim Carnival
March 5 10:30-12:30 pm |
Sky Zone
January TBD |
| Escape The Room
May 7 12-2 pm |
BINGO @ Promenade at Chestnut Ridge *
February 5 11-12:30 pm |
| Purim Carnival *
SET UP March 4 5-7 pm March 5 10:30-12:30 pm |
|
| Escape The Room
April 23 12-2 pm |
|
| Creative Service *
May 19 7:30 pm |
|
| Events with a * count as community service | Elections End of Year
June TBD |
*We have open positions on our board and would love for you to join! If you are interested in holding a leadership position, please reach out to us at [email protected]!
Hope we get the chance to see you soon! If you have any ideas for events or just want to chat, you can reach us at [email protected]. Follow us on instagram @bhsstyinsta.
We are excited for the year to come and wish you all a healthy and happy new year!
About our Youth Groups: Beth Haverim Shir Shalom offers Jewish youth programming for grades 3-12. Membership is open to all Jewish children grades 3 -12, regardless of temple membership/affiliation. The programming includes interactive social and Judaic programming, which is designed to enhance the Jewish experiences and identities of our members. We seek to further these goals: to unite the youth of the Beth Haverim Shir Shalom membership and membership region; to provide the youth with an environment in which they are able to learn about the culture, religious and social aspects of Reform Judaism; to build for its individual members richer Jewish identities through a heightened religious consciousness and fuller knowledge of our Jewish heritage; to develop an awareness of, an interest in moral, religious and social aspects of Reform Judaism and their relevance to today’s society; and to prepare the members of the group for responsible Jewish adulthood and for intelligent and loyal shouldering of responsibilities of mature members of their congregations and their communities. Directors of Informal Youth Programming Samantha Spencer and Rebeca Berger can be emailed at [email protected].
The Menschmakers is open to grades 3-6. There are both in-temple and out-of-temple varied events. Menschmakers programming includes community service, too!
The Senior Youth Group, BHSSTY, is open to grades 7-12. There are both in-temple and out-of-temple events. Some events which we have enjoyed are laser-tag, monster mini-golf, game nights, popcorn and movie nights, karaoke party, camping, water parks, and so much more. Students in these grades can also participate in select NFTY events!
We do all sorts of fun activities both in and out of the temple. For example, we go to NYC, apple picking, hiking, movie nights, karaoke nights, Mall Scavenger Hunt, ice skating, and more. By being a member of the youth group, you get discounted rates for events. Membership in BHSSTY also allows you to be a member of NFTY – GER or the North American Federation of Temple Youth – Garden Empire Region. This is a regional youth group for all of New Jersey and Central New York. They have Kallot, or retreats, throughout the region at various times throughout the year. It is a chance to spend time with friends, stay up late, learn something fun and interesting about Judaism in a new way, sing songs, and really so much more. The GER events are either over a weekend at a host synagogue or for a few days at one of the regional camps. BHSSTY also provides the opportunity for the 9th-12th graders to learn more about themselves as leaders. BHSSTY has a student-elected board, that plans and runs all of our events throughout the year. This is done with the guidance of our advisor Samantha Spencer. If you’d like more information about student leadership positions within Beth Haverim Shir Shalom Temple Youth Group, please contact one of the current board members.