Our Fabulous Youth Committee

Many youth group members have told us they consider Temple Israel their "second home" and creating active and inclusive youth programming for 5th through 12th graders is a priority at Temple Israel of New Rochelle. Under the direction of Eric Chafetz, our full-time youth director, participants in all of our three youth programs Club 56 (for 5th and 6th grade), Kadimah (for 7th and 8th grade) and TIFTY (for 9th through 12th grade) are encouraged to grow along with the programming, taking on leadership roles in the planning of myriad activities throughout the year. Programs include pizza nights at TINR, movies, sleepovers, ski trips, rock climbing and more. Participation on the regional level or with other temples allows participants to meet teens from other parts of the region, and throughout the country. A strong social action component is infused into each youth group and includes soup kitchen visits, food collections for the hungry and "Sandwich Brigades."

The committee is co-chaired by Mark Shainker and Karen Bloom, and its members include Youth Director Eric Chafetz and TIFTY President Alicia Garfinkel (who also participates in Temple Israel Board of Trustee Meetings, providing a youth perspective to Temple governance). A separate College Committee, headed by Dianne Heaps ensures regular contact with Temple Israel college students. The committee sends holidays packages for Chanukah and Purim. Be sure to notify Dianne or the Temple office of your college student's contact information.

Temple Israel has more than an 80% retention rate of post-B'nai Mitzvah students.

Along with the leadership of the teens, the success of our youth programming depends upon strong adult participation on the Youth Committee and all are welcome to join us.