Saturday Youth & Family Programs

Gold Kippah Honor Society and Shabbuddies
Weekly
9:45–10:15 AM 
B’nai Israel’s Gold Kippah Honor Society recognizes students for their proficiency in various prayers. 

B’nai Israel’s Gold Kippah Honor Society recognizes students for their proficiency in various prayers. Older students are matched with younger “buddies” to mentor. The goal of Shabbuddies is to build stronger tefillah skills while fostering friendships across grades, role modeling, and building an integrated community. 

Click here for more Gold Kippah information including the Gold Kippah Siddur and audio files.

 

Shabbat Bucks
Children earn “Shabbat Bucks” for attending Gold Kippah and Family Minyan, which may be exchanged for fun prizes on Birthday Shabbatot. Prizes include: squishmallows, airpods cases, LED string lights, Gift Cards to places like Baskin Robbins, Dave & Buster's, Starbucks, and Five Below.

 

Mini Minyan (Grades K–2)  
Monthly, September 21 (updated date!), October 26, November 23, December 14, January 25
10:45–11:30 AM 
Mini Minyan is a Shabbat morning service geared for our youngest elementary schoolers, Kindergarten through 2nd Grade.  Using an age-appropriate siddur, children will have the opportunity to both sing the tefillot (prayers) and learn the main themes in the morning prayers. The service typically concludes with a story and/or an abbreviated Torah service and parashah activity.

 

Family Minyan (Grades K–6)
Weekly
10:15–11:30 AM
Family Minyan includes spirited prayer, an engaging Torah reading, and lively conversation about the weekly Torah portion. There is no better way to prepare your child for b’nai mitzvah than regular Shabbat attendance. This service is led by clergy and staff, including Rabbi Mitchell Berkowitz and Rabbi Cheryl Stone. 

 

Tot Shabbat (Ages 5 and under with a parent)
Weekly
10:45–11:30 AM
Designed for the youngest members of our congregational family, Tot Shabbat meets weekly to sing, learn, and pray together with Tot Shabbat leaders, Morah Juliann Goldman and Lily Pollack, Youth Coordinator.

 

Teen Minyan
Selected Saturday Mornings
10:30–11:30 AM
These services are for the post-b’nai mitzvah teens of B’nai Israel. Our teens help to organize the service and lead it, often including tefillah and discussion, with support from staff and clergy.

September 7 and 21
October 5 and 19
November 9
December 7 and 21
January 11 and 25 (Teen Shabbat)

 

Birthday Shabbatot
Celebrate each month’s birthdays at the end of Youth & Family services with songs and treats! 
September 7 (celebrating July/August/September birthdays)
October 5
November 2
December 7
January 4

 

Grade Shabbatot
Periodically, each grade leads significant components of our Shabbat Morning Youth & Family Services, demonstrating their mastery of the prayers and offering insights on the weekly Torah portion.

Kindergarten – January 25 at Mini Minyan
1st Grade – November 23 at Mini Minyan
2nd Grade – December 14 at Mini Minyan
3rd & 5th Grades – November 2 at Family Minyan
4th Grade – December 14 at Family Minyan
5th Grade – January 11 at Family Minyan

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special shabbat services

EPIC Shabbat: First Shabbat Back (for Tots–6th Grade)
Saturday, September 14
10:00 AM Brunch
10:30 AM Program
We are excited to welcome everyone back for youth and family services this fall!  

EPIC Shabbat: Shabbat with Camp Ramah (for Tots–6th Grade)
Saturday, December 7
10:00 AM Brunch
10:30 AM Program
Celebrate Shabbat with our friends from Camp Ramah! There will be activities for children of all ages, with a special program for grownups, too!

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Click here for the shabbat Youth & family Services Faqs.

Supported by the Dollye and I. Wolford Berman Educational Initiative Grant.