Teens Learning & Creativity
The She’elot fellowship
About the Fellowship
The She’elot Fellowship is a twelve-week learning Fellowship for high school students. The She’elot — or Questions – Fellowship is focused on asking and attempting to answer deep questions about life, society, and Jewish identity.
Because learning and participating in the Fellowship takes a significant amount of time, we are pleased to be able to pay Fellows for successfully completing the Fellowship. All Fellows will earn $250.00 after completing the Fellowship.
All events take place in The Second Floor Teen Center at 5738 Darlington Road.
Contact: Dr. Maria Carson for more information.
JCC College Connect
JCC College Connect is designed to offer teens and their families guidance and support as they navigate the college admissions process and the upcoming transition to young adulthood.
We partner with local college consultants, partner agencies, Hillel International chapters, and more to provide cutting edge programming to help teens and their parents learn about college applications, the admissions process, financial aid and paying for college, and various ways to develop one’s Jewish life in college.
We also provide programming for teens and their parents to discuss trends in higher education, with special attention focused on how Israel is discussed on campus and antisemitism on college campuses.
Contact: Dr. Maria Carson for more information.
Talking Through Tough Topics
Throughout the year The Second Floor Teen Center hosts programming where we discuss antisemitism and other forms of systemic injustice. We often partner with our colleagues at Upstreet, The Holocaust Center, and the 10/27 Healing Partnership.
We provide programming for teens and their parents.
Contact: Dr. Maria Carson for more information.
Israel Programming
The Second Floor Teen Center provides a variety of ways for teens to learn about the history, culture, and people who live in Israel. Throughout the academic year, we talk about current events in Israel and the Middle East, learn about the diverse populations who live in Israel, and celebrate Israeli holidays and learn elements of Israeli culture. Our programming is available and accessible to all regardless of previous knowledge of Judaism or Zionism and/or personal perspectives on the geopolitical landscape in the Middle East.
The Second Floor Teen Center often partners with our local shinshin program in order to provide timely, innovative, and engaging programming. The shinshinim team generally spends one-to-two afternoons a week in our Teen Center hanging out and putting on pop-up programs.
Contact: Dr. Maria Carson for more information.
PERFORMING ARTS
MUSICALS
The JCC offers teens the opportunity to be the stars of the show. Each year, we hold a fall high school musical and a winter middle school musical. Teens go through auditions, rehearsals, and tech week to prepare for the magical three days of performances. Don’t forget to get your tickets! Walk-ins are accepted.
DANCE
The JCC School of Dance provides unique, creative experiences. Dance recitals are held annually.
Cricut Club
Throughout the year The Second Floor Teen Center invites teens to create their own tee-shirts, stickers, mugs, and more! We provide all materials and pull out our trusty Cricut machine and help teens learn how to turn their imagination into reality!
Contact: Dr. Maria Carson for more information.
Meaning Makers: Jewish Mysticism and More!
The Second Floor Teen Center hosts an annual series (or multiple series!) of classes focusing on different elements and pathways of Jewish Mysticism. Together we learn about golems and demons in the Talmud, learn about the Moon in Jewish tradition, analyze dreams together, or learn how witchcraft is portrayed in Jewish rabbinic sources. We pair this learning with an activity: making miniature golems, creating a dream diary, making amulets, and more! This class is open and relevant for anyone interested in making more meaning in their lives and no previous knowledge of Judaism is required.
Contact: Dr. Maria Carson for more information
Thrifting Experiences
Multiple times a year The Second Floor Teen Center learns about the ecological impact of the fashion industry and what Jewish tradition says about the need to care for the environment while learning about more sustainable ways to dress! We go together as a group and thrift together!
Contact: Dr. Maria Carson for more information.
Samuel M. Goldston Teen Engagement
Join a group of future Jewish teen changemakers and leaders to give away $10,000 to your local community!
About Goldston Teen Engagement
The Samuel M. Goldston Teen Engagement project is a no-cost/free program for 8th-10th graders to gain real-world leadership skills by practicing Tikkun Olam (Repairing the World). During this 8-week course, we will learn why giving money is one important way to practice Tikkun Olam, use our exploration of Jewish values and social justice causes to assess our community’s needs to make a real-world impact, and gain the tools to exercise Jewish and personal values in our everyday lives. This program is supported by the Jewish Community Foundation and the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh.
Together, our group will:
- Learn to assess which social justice and charitable issues are most important to us as individuals
- Learn about and engage with issues facing the Greater Pittsburgh community
- Allocate over $10,000 to a local charity of their choice
- Learn about philanthropy, fundraising, and how to be an agent of social change in our community
- Learn how social justice, philanthropy, and Tikkun Olam fit into (or do not fit into) our Jewish identities
Registration
Contact: Email Rebecca Kahn for more information.
Contributions are matched through a generous grant from Edward and Linda Goldston (z’l) in memory of their son, Samuel.
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