TEEN ENGAGEMENT
BHS provides a multitude of ways for high school students to be engaged in our community post B'Mitzvah. Students may choose to continue with their religious studies in our Hebrew High Program for 8th-12th graders, volunteer in our Religious School as Madrichim (teen teacher helpers), join our BHGSY youth group, partake in our special teen programming for the High Holidays, enroll in synagogue classes and offerings, as well as join any of our teen trips including a trip to Israel and the L’Taken Social Justice Seminar.
For more information about any of our teen engagement programming, contact Shiraz Biggie, Interim Director of the Religious School, at shiraz.biggie@bhsbrooklyn.org.
Brooklyn Heights Group of Synagogue Youth (BHGSY)
Our youth group, open to all 8th-12th graders, is a social group dedicated to creating social action events and social events for teens by teens. The BHGSY teen board meets most weeks and is open to all interested in being a part of the leadership of the group. Events planned for next year will include High Holiday teen programming at Plymouth Church, a BHGSY Kick off Event, volunteering at the preschool’s annual Book Fair, Chanukah Casino Night, Tu B'shvat Ice Skating in Prospect Park, a BHGSY Shul-Inn, BHGSY-led Shabbat Services, a Chocolate Seder and more!
North American Federation of Temple Youth (NFTY)
NFTY is the national youth movement for Reform Jewish teens. Our regional chapter is the NY Area Region. We are proud that many of our teens attend NFTY. NFTY-NAR holds regional events throughout the year focused on tikkun olam (repairing the world), personal growth, youth empowerment, and community building. The entry into NFTY is BHGSY.
Madrichim-Youth Teaching Assistant
For all those who have become Bar/Bat Mitzvah we invite you to apply to be a Religious School teacher’s aide (Madrich/a) to assist in the Religious School classroom. Madrichim will learn leadership skills, gain experience working with young children, and assist in the execution of lesson plans. Madrichim work closely with our teachers and our Religious School Director. Compensation is offered in the form of an Amazon gift card of $100 at the end of each semester.
North American Federation of Temple Youth - New York Area Region (NFTY-NAR)
Hebrew High
Our 8th/9th grades High School program meets on Tuesday evenings from 5:45-7:30pm and will be taught by our Rabbinic Intern Morgan Folger. We begin with a communal pizza dinner with students and teachers from 5:45-6:00pm and class from 6:00-7:30pm. Our 8th Grade Curriculum focuses on Jewish History and The Shoah (Holocaust). 9th Grade focuses on Jewish History and Modern Israel in relation to what students will see on the ground when they travel to Israel. 9th graders wrestle with current issues in the Israeli/Palestinian conflict. Each curriculum seeks to help students answer two essential questions: How does my own narrative relate to the narratives of the Jewish past? How can history inform my values as a teen?
Our 10th graders come to Hebrew High School on Tuesdays from 6:00-7:30pm and study weekly with Rabbi Lippe. Students explore the religions of the world, Jewish thought and prepare to write their own identity statements to share with the congregation at our annual Confirmation Ceremony. Confirmation is an American Jewish tradition marking the reaffirmation of our student’s Jewish identification and commitments.
11th and 12th Graders meet at Rabbi Lippe’s home every other week on Thursday evenings to discuss issues that teens face today through a Jewish lens.
Rosh Chodesh
Rosh Hodesh meets once a month on Sunday evenings at Rabbi Bailey’s home in Carroll Gardens and is led by Rabbi Bailey using the Moving Traditions curriculum. Rosh Hodesh is a safe, inclusive space for Jewish girls and nonbinary teens. Together we celebrate the new Jewish month and create a brave and supportive space to talk honestly about friendships, stress, body image, social media, family, and the pressures of being a teen girl in the modern world.
Our 8th and 9th graders meet from 5:00-6:30pm.
Our 10th, 11th, and 12th graders meet from 6:30-8:00pm.
2026–27 Dates: November 8, December 13, January 10, February 7, March 7, April 11 (Miriam Seder), May 2/May 9, and June 6.
Shevet
Shevet meets once a month on Sunday nights from 6:00-7:30pm and is led by our BHS member Russell Pollack, who serves as a healthy adult role model for our teens. Shevet is a safe, inclusive space for Jewish boys and nonbinary teens. Shevet means “tribe,” and our program for teen boys uses Moving Traditions’ curriculum to offer connection to Jewish life after bar mitzvah, at a time when the guidance, friendship, and sense of purpose that Judaism can provide are most needed. Shevet combines Jewish wisdom made relevant for today with positive psychology and social-emotional learning, proven methods of learning that foster wellbeing.
Snacks and dinner are provided.
Location: TBA
Cost: $150 for the year
2026–27 Dates: December 13, January 10, February 7, March 7, April 4, May 2, and June 6.