Beth-El Religious School Happenings By Ramona L. Brand Director of Youth Learning Beth-El Teens Leading by Example t is no exaggeration that 2020 has been a tumultuous year. The Coronavirus pandemic has turned our world upside-down. Our Religious School, like so many other educational institutions, suddenly shifted online and our homes became our schools, workplaces and social spaces. An October 8, 2020 article in “Education Week”* online magazine explains the deprivation of social outlets has hit teenagers particularly hard. Teens have faced a loss of interactions with friends at school and through extra-curricular activities. They faced the closure of anticipated special events, camps, vacations and a sense of burgeoning independence from parents. Our teens already had experiences a disrupted year, as the group had a turnover of Youth Advisors. Spring activities were canceled and the Teen program ground to a halt. In stepped our Teen Board made up of four remarkable young women. During this summer Grace (Grade 12) and Maggie (Grade 10) Hessberg, Sophia Futterman (Grade 11) and Lexi Pasternak (Grade 11), approached me with their concerns about wanting to revitalize the teen program. They took the initiative to ask for a summer program, requested their former 7th grade teacher be their new Teen Programs Advisor, and undertook creating, planning and implementing a summer Teen Game Night. The Teen Game Night was a great success, Brandon enthusiastically agreed to be their advisor and the teens were encouraged to take on creating a virtual space just for tweens and teens on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. They are determined to build our teen program and to pass along their excitement for USY. Along the way, they are developing confidence and vision that is shaping our teen group, not only for this year, but for the years ahead. What made this young women step up and lead? Their own words explain it best. Grace, a senior at Glen Allen High School, said, “My journey with Jewish activities has always been very prevalent in my life, I went to sleep away camp for four years, Religious School for eleven, have been a part of BBYO since 8th grade, and have been working on bringing back an active USY chapter to Richmond for the past three years. I joined TBE’s teen board in 10th grade because I wanted to create an accessible space for teens in the conservative Jewish community in Richmond.” Grace continued, “One of my camp friends in Atlanta was very involved in her region and chapter and she inspired me to pursue a love for USY. This passion grew even deeper when I went to my first international program where I met some of my best friends. Then I went to my first
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regional convention, there I found a place where I felt at home and that weekend ultimately pushed me to run for regional board this past May.” Lexi, a junior at Maggie Walker, loves languages, STEM, travel and learning about other cultures, which has played into her love for Judaism. She explains “For me, the most important part of involvement in Judaism is community. It’s the connections we make and the experiences we share with one another that have Teen Board Members: top (from left) Sophia Futterman, Lexi Pasternak, bottom (from left) been so rewarding for me.” Maggie Hessberg and Grace Hessberg. Lexi continued, “I have met all kinds of awesome people and learned a lot about myself currently serving on Seaboard’s regional keeps me wanting to continue leading and and Judaism throughout my time in religious board as Communications VP while also pushing for more programs. school and USY. My interest in staying active assisting with the Temple Beth-El USY Brandon aptly summed up these young comes from a love of the Jewish community chapter. This year, I cannot wait to strengthen leaders accomplishments. “USY was a and how Judaism values kindness, service, and TBE’s USY chapter and help our teens big part of my life as a Jewish teen, and it inclusivity. I felt that being on the Teen Board venture to regional events and conventions” introduced me to new perspectives on and would be a good opportunity for me to push Lexi says of her experience, I’ve learned ideas about Judaism at an important point in myself to learn about leadership, meet new how to find ways to connect with and involve my life. It warms my heart to see these four people, and make a difference in our community. people. I’ve definitely worked on important following a similar path. And when I see just I hadn’t really known much about Jewish youth hard and soft skills like writing and networking how many kids we have on the verge of being groups when I first became part of our Teen through working on the Teen Board. I’m part of these teen programs themselves, I Board but I have definitely learned a lot and proud of all of our programs (they are a lot know that the future is in very good hands.” gotten plenty out of it.” of fun!) and particularly how we’ve managed * h t t p s : / / w w w. e d w e e k . o r g / e w / Maggie, a sophomore at Glen Allen High to keep in touch with kids and hold awesome articles/2020/04/16/why-the-coronavirus-crisisSchool, adds, “Growing up in Synagogue taught activities despite the challenges 2020 has hits-teenagers-particularly.html me a lot about being religiously Jewish, but going thrown at us. Laughter over zoom is laughter November Religious School Calendar: to camps and joining youth groups has shown me nonetheless!” Sundays: Nov. 1, 8, 15, 22 the true community and culture of our religion. She continued, “This year, I hope that Wednesdays: Nov. 4, 11, 18 My eighth grade year my sister pushed me to go we will not only be able to continue running Confirmation meets: Nov. 1 & 22 to a Regional USY convention, where I knew no programs with our chapter but also find ways Tot Shabbat Service one. I fell in love with USY there.” to support our broader community through Zoom Tot Shabbat Service, Saturday, Maggie continued, “When I came back the volunteering and advocacy. It’s needed now Nov. 7; 10 a.m. For families with children other members of Beth El’s teen board were just more than ever.” from birth to age 5. Open to the entire starting to create something, so I decided to join. Maggie added, “From the past years of community I want this year to be different. I really want other planning programs, having successful ones, November Theme: Thankfulness kids and teens in Richmond to be a part of the and a couple that failed, I have learned a lot. December Theme: Hanukkah amazing youth group, USY.” Not everything works out and if you really Shabbat service geared filled with music, Brandon Metheny, a long time teacher at want something to succeed you have to keep stories, movement and more. A musical, Beth-El Religious School and their new teen trying. This year especially I loved seeing all meaningful service designed for wiggles. advisor, couldn’t be prouder of them. the faces at our programs, and growing closer For zoom access, email Ramona at “They are an incredibly smart, creative, and connections. Hearing all the positive feedback r.brand@bethelrichmond.org. motivated group, and they were determined to take the reins on our Teen High Holy Day programming. We had about a dozen people for Rosh Hashanah, they saw what worked and what didn’t and wrote an entirely unique program for Yom Kippur, where we had about 20 people attend.” Brandon continued, “They ran the entire Eliana shows off the thing themselves; I just sat back and let them do Sukkah Decoration she it, and it was great. They got everyone involved made during the Sukkot and there was a real positive buzz when the Zoom Program. call ended.” These young women have learned a lot about leadership in a short time. Grace notes, “I am
14| the Reflector| November 2020 Cheshvan/Kislev 5781
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