Shabbat Youth & Family Services

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. 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.

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, Lily Pollack, Youth Coordinator, and Morah Glenda Koby.

Mini Minyan (Grades K–2)  

Monthly
10:30–11:30 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.

October 25    
November 15
December 13
January 10

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 6, 20
October 4, 25
November 1, 15
December 6, 20
January 10, 31 (Teen Shabbat)

Birthday Shabbatot

Celebrate each month’s birthdays at the end of Youth & Family services with songs and treats! 

September 6
October 4
November 1
December 6
January 10

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 – November 15
1st Grade – December 13
2nd Grade – January 10
3rd  Grade – January 10 
4th Grade – November 15
5th Grade – December 13

special shabbat services

EPIC Shabbat: Centennial Edition for Tots–6th Grade
Saturday, September 13
10:00 AM Brunch
10:30 AM Program
We are excited to welcome everyone back for Shabbat Youth and Family Services this fall with a special Centennial-themed EPIC Shabbat. What does it mean to be 100 years old? Join us as we try to answer this question and more! Click here for more information.

EPIC Shabbat: Shabbat with Camp Ramah for Tots–6th Grade
Saturday, December 6
10:00 AM Brunch
10:30 AM Program
Celebrate Shabbat with our friends from Camp Ramah! There will be activities forchildren of all ages, with aspecial program for grownups, too! Click here for more information.

Click here for the shabbat Youth & family Services Faqs

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