Opportunities for Teens at BK
Teen. Gatherings Travel & Field Trips Teen Collaborative Madrikhimot MESH Shabbat Services
Gatherings for BK Teens
Based on feedback from you all this past spring, we will be scheduling gatherings over the course of the year for our teen group. These gatherings will include 2 volunteer opportunities, 2 learning opportunities, and a social outing.
December 7th - 6-8pm Teen Gelt Making and Chanukah Party
January 4th - 6-8pm Teen New Years' Gathering
January 25th - 6-8pm Teen Tu Bishvat Gathering
Travel & Field Trips
As in the past, Bnai Keshet and our partner Reconstructionist synagogue, SAJ, are travelling together on some amazing adventures. Mark your calendars for these trips, they are extraordinary experiences and an opportunities you do not want your teen to miss. Registration for both trips will open in the fall. Attendance at teen dinners and/or the 8th grade class are expected for both of these trips.
BK & SAJ Teen Trip with Sababa Beach Camp
Taking Care of the Ocean, Letting the Ocean Take Care of Us!
Friday, April 24 - Sunday, April 26, 2026
Sign up here. Deadline to sign up is February 9th, 2026
Bnai Keshet and SAJ are excited to spend the weekend with Sababa Beach Camps in Wilmington, North Carolina!
Enjoy a Jewish weekend experience that will immerse you in the magic and majesty of the beach while adding the right amount of spiritual practice, community service, and adventure. Our trip will include opportunities to connect and refresh through surf lessons, beach time, building our group's connections with each other, and connecting with Jewish tradition. We will also actively engage in beach clean-up and partnership with local organizations working to preserve ocean biodiversity.
BK & SAJ 8th Grade Trip to Philadelphia
Friday, March 20 (after school) - Sunday, March 22 (mid-afternoon)
Sign up here. Deadline to sign up is February 15th, 2026
We will be traveling with SAJ, our sibling Reconstructionist congregation in Manhattan This is a relaxed and fun trip that is a bridge to our more social justice/topic oriented trips that begin in 9th grade. We will stay in a hotel in Center City and will spend time in the historic area getting personalized tours, including a tour of the Museum of American Jewish History and other sites that tell the story of Jews in America, as well as taking in the sights. We also have some fun surprise activities planned and will eat good food.
The cost is $500 which includes transportation to and from Montclair, two nights at a hotel, some special tours, all meals from Friday night to Sunday morning, and a fun outing. Families will provide spending money and money for a bite for the ride home
Jewish Teen Collaborative
These events are jointly planned by educators at Bnai Keshet, Temple Ner Tamid, Shomrei Emunah, and Temple Sholom of West Essex.
Thursday, December 11th - Jewish Heritage Night at the New Jersey Devils Sign up here
Sunday, January 11th - Social Action Event
Wednesday, March 25th - Teen Mental Health First Aid Training
Sunday, May 31st - Six Flags Trip
Madrikhimot
All teens 8th-12th grade are eligible to serve as madrikhimot (teen classroom assistants). We are especially looking for teens for Monday evenings and Wednesday afternoons. All madrikhimot, new or returning, must fill out the form to indicate your interest
Apply to be a Madrikhimot here
Our Madrikhimot (guides) are teen assistants in the Bet Midrash. Madrikhimot assist teachers with executing their lessons, which includes helping students with projects, individual and group work, and Hebrew reading and writing, making photocopies, taking attendance, and other duties as agreed upon with your supervising teacher and Rabbi Ariann. Madrikhimot are role models for younger students, demonstrating an enthusiastic and joyful attitude about Jewish learning and teaching younger children by example how to be a mensch in the world.
This is a volunteer position for one year, and a paid position thereafter. Pay can be withheld in exchange for community service hours required by your school if discussed first with Rabbi Ariann. Paid madrikhimot are responsible for handing in all required financial forms to Mark in the main office before the first pay period of the year.
Service Opportunities:
MESH, Little Free Pantry, and More
A strong group of teen volunteers have become the backbone of our Monday-night MESH service. For those volunteers 9th grade and above, we are expanding opportunities to serve!
Please join us on Monday nights, beginning at 4pm for MESH, help us fill the Little Free Pantry, and then take part in other service projects connected to the Bet Midrash before joining us for 5:30pm pizza dinner and Gaga, and heading home. For those of you who are new 8th graders, we welcome you to come and join the crew that makes MESH run each Monday beginning at 4pm(ish) before Bet Midrash each week. Please be in touch with Rabbi Ariann to learn more and to sign up.
Service Participation: Torah Readers, Ushers, Gabbais
Teens are very warmly encouraged to sign up to serve as Torah readers, ushers, greeters, and gabbais on Shabbat mornings. If you'd like to sign up but need more information or support in preparing for any of these roles, please let me know, I would love to help you!