J Line at the JCC
Grades 8-12

 
Do you want to get more involved in social justice and Judaism? Learn about Jewish history in Pittsburgh? Chat with Israeli teens or get elective credit for studying modern Hebrew? Explore these topics and much more at J LINE, the JCC’s community-wide Jewish learning experiences for teens. Join other 8th-12th graders from all over Pittsburgh on The Second Floor in learning about what interests YOU most as a Jewish teen today.

Modern Hebrew powered by J Line
Grades 8-12

Converse like an Israeli! Are you eager to brush up on your Hebrew skills, or maybe even finally learn to read and write in Hebrew? Teen Hebrew at J Line blends online, classroom-based and one-on one learning in a rigorous but welcoming setting. And, if you are in a Pittsburgh Public School, you can earn high school elective credit.

J-Serve Pittsburgh/J-Serve Steering Committee 2020:

Grades 6-12

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J-Serve Pittsburgh is an annual day of service learning, planned by a teen steering committee and offering a wide array of service opportunities to participants from all over the greater Pittsburgh area. Last year, more than 300 teens came together in service (one of the largest J-Serve events in North America!), doing everything from preparing meals for families in need to packing craft kits for patients at Children’s Hospital to cleaning up Squirrel Hill’s streets, and much more. Join us for another amazing year of J-Serve Pittsburgh!

J-Serve Pittsburgh is planned every year by a teen steering committee of dedicated student leaders passionate about giving back to the community through service and growing as activists. The steering committee is open to Jewish teens in 10th-12th grade. Apply today!

J-SERVE is a partnership of the Jewish Community Center of Greater Pittsburgh, Repair the World: Pittsburgh, BBYO and the Volunteer Center of the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh

The Samuel M. Goldston Teen Philanthropy Project: Grades 9-12

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Would you like to change the world today?

The new Samuel M. Goldston Teen Philanthropy Project is a pilot program for 9-12 graders, focused on philanthropy in theory and practice. Together, a cohort of approximately twenty teens will explore philanthropy as a Jewish concept under the umbrella of tikkun olam—world repair. Together they will:

• Identify problems in their community,
• Engage with local organizations to understand the mechanics of non-profits
• Contribute as well as fundraise money for local organizations
• Allocate money to support their chosen organizations’ missions

Through monthly meetings as well as a justice-themed weekend retreat, participants will develop important leadership skills such as critical thinking, time management, logistics, and public speaking while fostering deeper relationships with other Jewish teens.

Program Fee: $250

Click here for more on this years 2020-2021 Goldston Cohort

New! The Second Floor DoSomething.org Club

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The Second Floor Dosomething.org Club will be a chance for middle school and high school students to engage with advocacy and service in a variety of topical areas decided by the club. Get involved in advocacy this summer by signing up for the JCC Dosomething Virtual Summer Experience here.

Diller Teen Fellowship: Grades 10-11
facebook.com/pittsburghdillerteens
instagram: @dillerpittsburgh

The Diller Teen Fellows Program is Pittsburgh’s premier leadership development program. Twenty students are selected and participate for a year with the purpose of developing active, effective leaders with a strong commitment to the Jewish people.

Rosh Chodesh: Grades 6-9

Rosh Hodesh, a partner program with Moving Traditions, helps teach girls the power of community and the ability of Jewish wisdom and practice to foster personal expression and to inspire all people to work for a more just and inclusive world. Through discussion, arts and crafts, creative ritual, games and drama, the girls and their leaders draw on Jewish values to explore issues such as body image, friendship, relationships, family, competition and stress. Meets monthly.

Taking Action for Social Change: Grades 8-12

Are you passionate about social action and eager to learn more about important issues of the day – and what you can do about things that matter to you? Join J Line for Taking Action on Social Change. Over the course of six sessions, students will explore a Jewish framework for activism and advocacy, discuss major issues and how we implement policies around them, and develop plans to effect change in Pittsburgh. TASC also includes a trip to D.C. to participate in L’Taken, the Religious Action Center’s annual social justice seminar for teens all over North America. Our voices matter – let’s discover how to use them together.

Dec 10, 17; Jan 7, 14; Feb 4 – 6:00-8:00 PM*

Jan 22-25 – L’Taken experience in DC*

Pittsburgh Teens for Israel: Grades 9-12

Students for Israel is a group of students who share their love of Israel by organizing social, cultural and political events on The Second Floor at the JCC and in the community. Students work with two Israeli post-high school students serving as shinshinim in the Pittsburgh community. A shinshin is an 18-year-old emissary sent by the Israeli government and the Jewish Agency for Israel to communities abroad with the goal of educating people of all ages about Israel and Israeli culture. Together, students will build meaningful experiences centered on Israel such as the teen Yom Ha’aztmaut (Israel’s Independence Day) celebration.

LGBTQIA+: Grades 9-12

This is a safe space open for all students to explore the intersections between Judaism and LGBTQIA+ spectrum identities.

BBYO

BBYO Keystone Mountain Region (KMR) is comprised of seven chapters in the greater Pittsburgh area and West Virginia, representing over 250 Jewish teens in our area. By becoming a member of BBYO, teens are afforded the opportunity to make new friends and experience local programming in their communities, regional programming such as dances, community service days, sports events, and conventions, and international programming at large scale conferences and BBYO summer experiences. All that’s left to do now is join us!

Want to change the lives of young Jewish teens? Give back to the community? Expand your network? Volunteer as a BBYO advisor in KMR. It’s one of the most rewarding experiences you’ll ever have! Visit bbyo.org to learn more.