HaMakom High School: Hands-on experiential, religious and educational program
HaMakom is the place where our teens in 7th-10th grade learn together in an exciting Jewish education setting with our clergy and educators such as Rabbi Wexler, John Imhof, HaMakom High School Director, and Alex Weinberg, Director of Congregational learning. Each week, our students dive deeper into aspects of their Judaism and Jewish culture while developing a strong Jewish identity and connection to the Jewish community and to Israel. HaMakom students explore various topics ranging from learning more about specific aspects of Jewish observance and ritual, Jewish history, Israel Studies, dealing with antisemitism, and more.
HaMakom High School meets on Sunday mornings from 11:15am-1pm and the sessions consist of two primary experiences:
Beit Makom
The morning begins with students from all grades (7th-12th) learning together with a session led by one of our clergy members. During Beit Makom, students will engage with topics surrounding Jewish values and community while also examining topical issues related to current events in the world relevant to the Jewish community.
#TrendingJudaism
The second half of the session is devoted to exploring units designed around topics related to specific aspects of Jewish life. Units span two to three sessions, and students will rotate through classes created by our educators, each of which highlights a different facet of the unit topic. Examples of units include Jewish Arts and Culture, Jewish values on diversity and inclusion, and Jewish lifecycle events.
HaMakom High School for Juniors and Seniors
Post confirmation, our 11th and 12th grade students meet with Rabbi Peltz each Tuesday evenings from 6:45pm-8:15pm for deeper learning and discussion as they prepare for life after High School. Examples of topics include preparing for college through a Jewish lens, Jewish Ethics in the 21st century, deepening our relationship with Israel, and more.
Educational Trips, Social and Religious Experiences for Teens
In addition to our weekly learning sessions, our HaMakom program also offers a variety of activities and experiences that happen outside of the classroom.
Service Learning and Hesed Field Trips
Our teens participate in field trips which take them out into the community to practice Jewish values through hands-on community service. Examples of trips from previous years include visits to the JFCS Food Pantry, BookSmiles and the Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington DC.
Shabbat and High Holy Day Experiences
HaMakom students will be invited to attend grade-based Shabbat dinners taking place at TBS or Rabbi Wexler’s home! These dinners are great opportunities to celebrate Shabbat together and build strong friendships.
On the High Holy Days, HaMakom students will join our faculty for teen-only learning, discussions, and engaging activities as well as participate in the congregational sanctuary service by sitting together in a section reserved for HaMakom.
Social Experiences
With our Kesher High School Program, teens will have the opportunity to participate in social programs and outings throughout the year. These are fun, community-building experiences that allow teens to spend time with their friends and make life-long memories doing things such as traveling to NYC for a Broadway show, glow skating, and trips to Dave & Buster's.
10th Grade Confirmation Israel Trip
A major highlight of the HaMakom High School program is the 10th grade confirmation trip to Israel! This is an exciting 10-day experience that connects our teens to Israel’s history and culture while also helping our students deepen their connection to Israel and their Jewish identity. Students will then have a chance to share what their experience meant to them when they become confirmed on Shavuot!
For more information, please contact Rabbi Wexler (ravbryan@tbsonline.org) or John Imhof, HaMakom High School Director (johni@tbsonline.org)
Cherry Hill, NJ 08003
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