Teen Students

Community Service Volunteer Opportunites at Jewish Family Service

JCC Youth and Teen Department offers Maccabi Games, Swim Team, a Theatre Program and more.

Jewish Family Programs at the JCC include the JCrew Afterschool Program, Dance School, and more.

The Jewish community of Somerset, Hunterdon, and Warren Counties offers Jewish LIFE (Learning Is For Everyone) programs designed for people of all ages and at all stages of life. Jewish LIFE is sponsored by the Jewish Federation of West-Central New Jersey and the Shimon and Sara Birnbaum JCC, and is presented in partnership with the Jewish Family Service of Somerset, Hunterdon & Warren Counties as well as all of the Synagogues and Chabad Houses.

Mental Health Outpatient Care at Jewish Family Service provides individual, couple, child, family, and group therapy. 

Middle School Learning Through Experience at Raritan Valley Community College

Youth Groups

Bridgewater USY "BrUSY" at Temple Shalom is for students in 9th-12th grades. Activities emphasize all areas of Jewish identity, and incorporating Israel awareness, social action/Tikkun Olam (saving the world), and religious/educational aspects into events. Students plan and enjoy social and fun events, as well as co-hosting the annual Purim carnival, and participating in the numerous regional dances and/or weekend long conventions. Contact the USY advisor at bridgewaterusy@gmail.com.

CTeens at Chabad in Basking Ridge is part of the international CTeen network for Jewish high-schoolers. They hold monthly meetings, take recreational trips with other regional chapters, and have an international Shabbaton weekend in New York.

CTeens and JewCrew at Chabad of Hunterdon County is part of the international CTeen network for Jewish high-schoolers. CTeen has monthly meetings, and attends an International Shabbaton weekend in New York. JewCrew is a society for 8th graders to socialize and have fun, while doing local community service. All meetings feature fun and interactive games and activities, volunteering, and Jewish heritage learning.

Kehiloft at Kehilot Shalom in Belle Meade is a post Bar/Bat Mitzvah youth group. A five year educational and leadership program with the goals of creating a friendly, welcoming, and supportive mixed age group of Jewish students; expanding and deepening the students' exploration of Judaism; developing leaders through becoming Kehiloft student board members, leading Shabbat services, and initiating projects; and community service. 

Or Chadash Temple Youth Group-OCTY in Flemington is open to 8-12th graders to engage in fun and social action activities. Food drives, fundraisers, and Tzedakah are a main focus; they also have movie and game nights, dinners, carnivals, parties and more. Teens are also invited to volunteer as a Teaching Assistant within our religious school.

Youth Groups at Temple Har Shalom include Club Yeladim for 2nd & 3rd graders; Giva'ot for 4th & 5th graders; Club 678 for 6th-8th graders; and HSTY for 9th-12 graders. 6-12th graders participate in NFTY-GER programming.

Regional Youth Movements

CTeen - The Chabad Teen Network provides a nurturing environment where teens can learn about themselves through giving to others, identify with individuals who share the same faith, and be part of a group that focuses on building core values and stresses positive character development. 

The Greater Jersey Hudson River Region of BBYO - the leading pluralistic teen movement aspires to involve more Jewish teens in more meaningful Jewish experiences, leadership opportunities, and community service.

Hagail- the New Jersey region of USY (United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism's Youth Movement), offers high school students the opportunity to immerse themselves in various Jewish and social activities while forming friendships that will last a lifetime.

NFTY-GER - the Garden/Empire Region of North American Federation of Temple Youth, builds strong, welcoming, inspired communities through teen-powered engagement. Together, we pursue tikkun olam, personal growth, youth empowerment, and deep connections, all rooted in Reform Judaism.

Religious Schools

Breitman Family Chabad Hebrew School -Kindergarten through Grade 7. Meets during the scholastic year on Sundays from 9-11:30 am, and on Wednesdays 4:30-6pm for grades 6-7. Explores Judaism in a fun and meaningful way, and strengthens students' "Jewish connection" through hands-on activities (ccoking, crafts, song, art), discussions, and texts. Uses the acclaimed Aleph-Champ Hebrew reading program. We developed and published our own curriculum, which has been translated into multiple languages and is utilized globally. We have a unique approach to Bar/Bat Mitzvah celebrations, and the "training" and preparation towards the event.

(Basking Ridge)

Chabad Hebrew School - Kindergarten through Grade 7. Meets during the scholastic year on Sundays. Our Hebrew reading program begins with letter recognition for our youngest children. Grades 1-7 use the Cap It! Learn to Read Hebrew program. Our goal is that upon graduation, every child will be fluent in and comfortable with reading Hebrew, especially the common parts of the liturgy. Lessons on each Jewish holiday fill the calendar as we proceed Rosh Hashanah and the High Holidays through Hannukah, Purim, Passover, and the festival of Shavuot. Prayer time focuses on the study and understanding of prayer and the Siddur (prayer book). They also learn wonderful songs from both the liturgy as well as songs about Jewish life and traditions.

(Clinton)

Congregation Knesseth Israel - We focus on the individual needs of our students, and are able to tailor instruction to meet those needs. Religious School is on Sundays from September through May. K - 2 meet from 10:30 am – 12:30 pm to study holidays, culture, history and some Hebrew. Grades 3 - 7 meet from 9:30 am – 12:30 pm to study the Hebrew language and Judaic studies. Students are placed in Hebrew language classes according to their proficiency. All the students attend a short “learning” service to become familiar with the prayers and sections of our Saturday morning service. Each child has an individual Bar/Bat Mitzvah where they can shine! Bar/Bat Mitzvah year students also meet with the Rabbi on Tuesday afternoons, learn to chant their Torah and Haftarah portions and prepare to lead the Friday night and Saturday morning services.

(Bound Brook) 

Flemington Jewish Community Center - Students are taught to read the Hebrew of the prayer book and the Bible with proficiency, and are encouraged to conduct all, or part, of our adult religious services at an early age. They are taught the meanings of the major holidays and the proper performance of the rituals associated with them. They gain a good working knowledge of the first five books of Moses and of the key events in Jewish history. If students continue beyond the Bar/Bat Mitzvah, they become acquainted with later books of the Bible, the classic Rabbinic texts and the way in which Judaism looks at different social and political issues.

(Flemington)

Kehilat Shalom - Kindergarten through 7th grade; meets Sundays from 9am-noon, September-May.

(Belle Meade)

Machon Hebrew High at Temple Har Shalom is for students in grades 7-12. Meets Wednesday evenings from 6:15pm-8:15pm and begins with a community dinner, giving our students time to socialize and catch up with their friends. 

(Warren)

Or Chadash - Grades K-2 meet on Sundays from 10:15 am-12 pm; Grades 3-6 meet on Sundays 9am-12pm. Grade 7 meets on Thursdays from 4:30-6:00 pm; Grades 8-10 meet 1-2 Thursdays a month from 6:30-8:15 pm for dinner and a program. The Confirmation students are involved in Tefillah (weekly worship service), music, arts and crafts, library, and other special activities chosen to enrich holiday celebrations or curricular themes. The program includes a trip to Washington D.C., to participate in the L'Taken Social Justice Seminar of the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism.

(Flemington)

Temple Beth El Religious school is held Sunday mornings from 9-11 am for children in Pre-Kindergarten through grade 6. Afternoon hebrew school meets on Monday and Wednesday from 4:30 - 6:30 pm. We designed our religious school program to meet our children where they are, emotionally and intellectually, starting with our youngest learners (three and four years old) through our high-schoolers in Post Confirmation.

(Hillsborough)

Hebrew High - Temple Shalom is for teens in 8th-12th grade. Meets on Wednesday evenings from mid-October until the beginning of May. The program focuses on Theology, Israel, Tikkun Olam, and how Jewish values inform our actions, as well as looking at what Judaism has to say about how to navigate important relationships in our eyes. For more information, please email Ilene Cohen.

(Bridgewater)

Jewish Camps and Summer Experiences

Camp Gan Israel of Hunterdon County is for ages 3-13. Four 1-week programs (M-F), 9 am - 3:30 pm. Extended care available 7:15 am - 6pm. Camp Gan Israel is dedicated to enriching the lives of children from diverse Jewish backgrounds and affiliations through a stimulating camping experience.

(Flemington)

Camp Ruach at the JCC is for children in grades K through 9. Runs 8 weeks, starting in late June. 9am - 4pm; half days for children ages 2-4. Early Care and Late Stay available. At Camp Ruach, we are committed to our Jewish heritage, identity, and values and are also very proud to be a non-sectarian and diverse center- open to all children and families. We encourage individuals of all faiths, cultures, genders, religions, financial status, and background to be a part of our camp family.

(Bridgewater)

Scholarship Opportunities

Jewish Federation Overnight Jewish Summer Camp and Summer Israel Experience Scholarship Programs is for overnight Jewish camps and Israel summer programs are available to Jewish children between the ages of 6 and 18 who live in Somerset, Hunterdon and Warren Counties. to find out more,contact info@jfedwcnj.org

March of the Livng Scholarships - The International March of the Living is a unique Holocaust education trip to Poland and Israel for qualified high school students. The Shimon and Sara Birnbaum JCC Holocaust Memorial and Education Center offers scholarships to local teens to help them gain the benefits of this very meaningful experience. To find out more, contact Sandra Krawitz at skrawitzpa@aol.com