Teen Programs
Jewish learning and engagement is a lifelong endeavor, and the teenage years are crucial for identity building. Our teen program is flexible and allows each teen to choose the activities, learning and experiences that best suit them and their busy schedules.
Our Madrichim Program
In Hebrew, madrichim means “guides.” The teens who volunteer with our Religious School and at our family Shabbat programs are guides and role models for what a commitment to Jewish community should look like.
Our eighth and ninth graders have the opportunity to help teachers in the classroom manage activities and student engagement and lead small group study. Teens who volunteer during family Shabbat programs help us to celebrate by guiding students through activities, assisting with setup and even leading parts of the service.
These opportunities allow teens to continue to engage with the Jewish community and their Jewish learning after their b’nai mitzvah while also developing important life and leadership skills.
Teen Travel Experiences
Traveling with other teens is a great way to build community and engage with Jewish life in new ways! Each year we offer an eighth- and ninth-grade domestic travel experience that challenges teens to think about Jewish responses to modern social justice issues. Our 10–12th graders head abroad, learning about Jewish roots in other parts of the world and meeting Jewish communities in the Czech Republic, Germany, Israel and beyond.
Stephen Wise Free Synagogue also offers regular opportunities for teens to gather, schmooze, celebrate Shabbat and holidays, study Jewish concepts, repair the world, and learn about and support Israel.
For more information on our teen programming, parents and teens are encouraged to reach out to Rabbi Rena Rifkin at rrifkin@swfs.org or (212) 877-4050 ext. 236.
Learning Opportunities for All Ages
Early Childhood Center
Religious School
Adult Learning and Community
Bar/Bat Mitzvah
Stephen Wise Free Synagogue is a 501(c)(3) religious organization (Tax ID #13-1628215) and any donations are tax deductible to the full extent allowable by law.
