The kids all seem to agree about B’Yachad: A Community of Jewish Teens Cultivating, Exploring and Expanding Jewish Identity — the CAJE/Jewish Federation of Greater Kansas City program that replaced the Community High School this year.
They like learning about things that affect their everyday lives, and they like learning about them with Jewish kids from all segments of the community whom they might not otherwise encounter. And, according to Samantha Feinberg, CAJE/Federation’s Learning for Life associate, that’s exactly what was hoped for when B’Yachad was conceived.
“We’re trying hard to emphasize that participants need not be enrolled in religious school or the Hebrew Academy,” said Feinberg. “They don’t even have to be affiliated with a congregation. Students in grades seven through 10 are encouraged to attend, it’s free and no RSVPs are required.”
“B’Yachad basically has two goals,” explained Feinberg. “The first, in the short-term is to provide high quality, age-appropriate learning experiences for the kids. The second longer-term goal is to foster their ability as adults to care about their Judaism and to encourage them to become learners for life. That can’t happen unless we provide thought-provoking activities with room to socialize.”
Last August, to determine what teens find thought-provoking, Feinberg organized a committee of students and educators to brainstorm themes for three Wednesday night sessions throughout the year.
The theme chosen for the first program, held Nov. 3 at the Jewish Community Campus, was “Interfaith Relations: Understanding More about My Judaism and Learning about My Christian and Muslim Neighbor.”
Two hundred kids registered in advance. When more than 230 showed up for pizza at 6:30 p.m., planners knew they were on the right track.
One of the most popular stations that evening featured Christian and Muslim teens from area schools. “I realized there are a lot of religions out there that are really different but alike at the same time, and that we need to respect each other’s religions,” said Overland Trail Middle School seventh grader Corey Minkoff.
The second program, coming up on Feb. 2, will address the theme of “Ethical Dilemmas: Exploring Daily Decisions that Challenge Us,” with breakout sessions on “How Jewish Values and Ethics Can Help Create Healthy Relationships In Our Lives.”
“I think it will be interesting because it will be how your personal morals tie in with your Jewish morals,” said Gaby Azorsky, a ninth-grader at Shawnee Mission East. “It will focus on topics like keeping relationships with friends, boyfriends and girlfriends healthy, respecting other religions, stopping anti-Semitism, dealing with peer pressure and just a little about bullying because we hear so much about that in school.”
A community service component is built into all three programs. On Feb. 2, it will relate to the evening’s theme by focusing on peers at-risk in part because of unhealthy relationship in their lives. Participants are being asked to donate personal care/hygiene items to teens being helped by Synergy Services.
The third program, “A Radical Seder: Share Your Seder Customs and Learn New Ways to Present an Old Story,” is scheduled for April 6.
The opportunity to meet and socialize with peers is clearly what kids find most appealing about B’Yachad, which also happens to be the Hebrew word for together.
Emma Benson, a Lakewood Middle School eighth-grader, said what she liked best about the program was being with everybody. She added, “I met this girl who doesn’t go to my synagogue. We had a lot in common because we’re all Jewish and it was neat when I saw her a few weeks later at Temple B’nai Jehudah.”
“In one of my groups,” said Gaby, “there were two Orthodox girls who are home schooled, and they talked about things they did, like fasting several times a year, that I didn’t even know about.”
“I enjoyed having four whole grades and seeing lots of different kids,” said Indian Hills eighth grader Morgan Krakow. “It’s nice to have a big circle of friends from different schools who what you have in common with is being Jewish. I didn’t even know there were that many Jewish kids in Kansas City!”
Calling all teens
All Jewish teens in grades seven to 10, regardless of affiliation, are invited to B’Yachad at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 2. All activities are free of charge and include a free pasta dinner. The topic for the evening is “Ethical Dilemmas: Exploring Daily Decisions that Challenge Us.” For more information contact Samantha Feinberg at (913) 981-8801 or .
