Shabbat is the busiest time of the week for the RJC Youth Department. Exciting activities are available for children of all ages throughout the day.

Friday Evening

The Youth Department hosts occasional tishes for junior high and high school students (typically in homes).

Shabbat Morning

10:00-10:15 am - Pre-Groups Warm-Up Session - Upper Level

Open to children from kindergarten to 2nd grade, this brief program is one of the best-kept secrets of the Youth Department. Start off Shabbat morning with Jewish stories, and a light snack.

10:15 am until the end of services in the Main Sanctuary (approx11:30 am) - Morning Groups - 2nd Floor

Groups for children from toddler age through 2nd grade have two leaders. Every Shabbat morning, children in groups daven, learn about the parsha, hear stories, play games and have kiddush together. Holidays and Jewish values are discussed using the parsha, a story or a game as a springboard.

10:00-10:20 am - Junior Congregation pre-davening activities - Youth Lounge.

Junior congregants will have the ability to play foosball and ping pong, and participate in other fun activities for 20 minutes before davening starts on Shabbat morning.

10:20-11:30 - Junior Congregation

Junior Congregation is an age-appropriate, meaningful davening for children in grades 3 to 5. Children learn about various parts of the service and prepare to daven a complete teffilah with a minyan. The parsha is taught through interactive games and davening ends with a kiddush.

Leader: Brian Shlusselberg

8:45am - Teen Minyan - Teen Minyan Room on Main Level

Teens (grades 6 to 12) lead all the various parts of the service, lain and serve as gabbai, thereby enhancing their Shabbat tefilla experience. A dvar Torah is given by one of the high school or junior high coordinators and davening concludes with a hot kiddush, featuring cholent.

Leaders: David J. Weissman and Simi Sherman

Following Teen Minyan - Post-Davening Shiur for Teenage Girls - Teen Minyan Room

An interactive shiur on parshat hashavua led by Bat-Sheva Lerner.

Shabbat Afternoon

Afternoon groups, which are available Shabbat afternoons for children in grades 1 to 8, feature games, stories and discussions about upcoming holidays, current events and social issues. These exciting events take place one hour before Mincha at either the RJC or at a home. Location and walking times for specific ages are listed weekly in the RJC bulletin.

Click here for complete information on the location and leaders of Shabbat Groups.