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Well-kept secret revealed
by Young Judaea director
by Paul Joffe
Regional director. Young Judaea
As summer comes to a close,
Young Judaeans all over the
United States are preparing to
return to the club programs in their
cities. In Atlanta, fourth-12th
graders know that they will soon
see old friends and make new
ones as the Young Judaea program
begins with the Aug. 28 Swim
Party/Cookout at Zaban Park.
“...Wait a minute. Did you say
fourth-12th graders? I thought
Young Judaea was just for fourth-
seventh graders, and then it's time
to join something else... "
The above misconception
indicates that Young Judaea for
eighth-12th graders has been a
well-kept secret. We encourage
Jewish youth to join as many
organizations and clubs as they
can handle in their schedules (or as
many as their parents are willing to
schlep them to). However, some
older children lose out on the best
years of the Young Judaea
movement because they did not
know it was available for them.
Most people know something
about Young Judaea's club
program of informal Jewish/ Zionist
education for those in fourth-
seventh grades. The children learn
about Jewish heritage and culture,
gain an awareness of Israel, and get
to know each other in a club
atmosphere that is exciting and
active. Weekend conclaves enable
Young Judaeans from surrounding
cities to come together for special
content, fun, and to make
friendships that can last a lifetime.
Camp in the summer reinforces the
activities held during the school
year.
Young Judaea not only exists in
Atlanta for eighth-12th graders,
but it gets even better as the
members get older. The Kesher and
Bogrim levels of the movement can
provide Jewish teenagers with
special content and' experiences
that they do not receive adequately
from other clubs.
The eighth grade level, called
Kesher (link or connection) is just
that; a link between the younger
and older Judaeans. Kesher
recognizes the special needs and
concerns of those of bar/bat
mitzva age and helps them make
the transition into the teen years.
The educational curriculum
includes informal examination of
values and Jewish identity,
especially related to this often
awkward year of life for kids.
Kesher clubs are co-ed and meet
every two weeks. Members usually
attend a regional convention in
February and then "graduate” into
the Bogrim level at their
convention in June.
. The Bogrim are the oldest
Young Judaeans (ninth-12th
grades) and are appropriately
called “the graduates.” They have a
three-year rotating educational
curriculum of Jewish Identity,
Diaspora Jewry and Zionism.
’ Bogrim manage to maintain a high
level of educational content while
having a lot of fun. Peer leadership
is a priority for both the members
and the staff.
Many Bogrim are trained as
madrichim (club leaders) for the
younger levels: Offarim (fourth-
fifth grades) and Tsofim (sixth-
seventh grades). A madrich is
more of a guide than a leader or
adviser. A warm, family
atmosphere is thus created as these
teens provide the knowledge and
ruach (spirit) to the youngsters that
they had received previously.
Bogrim who are madrichim receive
compensation for their work to
help pay for attendance at their
own Young Judaea regional
events. Camp Tel Yehudah, or
programs in Israel.
The Atlanta Bogrim are ready to
unveil their own locally produced
series on Cable TV called “Young
Judaean Spotlight.” They will host
a premiere party and screening of
the first show on Thursday. Sept.
1, from 7:30-9 p.m., at Cable
Atlanta’s Public Access Channel
16, Northeast Studio, in Little Five
Points, 1140 Euclid Avenue, N.E.,
525-8325. There will be kosher
refreshments, a tour of the studio,
introduction of the Young Judaea
TV production team, and then a
screening of “Young Judaean
Spotlight.” Prospective Bogrim
members, parents, community
leaders and friends are invited.
Those who cannot attend but have
Cable TV through Cable Atlanta
can watch the show on Channel 16
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* CHINESE GARDEN
from 8:30-9 p.m. that night.
The series is the culmination of
several weeks of work in the studio:
training, writing, acting, directing,
camera operation and editing.
There are three segments in the first
show: a skit and discussion of
interfaith dating; an analysis of the
Middle East conflict; and a
teaching session on Israeli cultural
arts. Everything was done by the
Young Judaeans with assistance
from Norbert Bain of Cable
Atlanta, Jo Shander of
Congregation Beth Shalom and
Paul Joffe of the regional Young
Judaea office.
Starting Oct. 6, “Young
Judaean Spotlight” will be
cablecast on the first Thursday of
every month from 6-6:30 p.m.,
usually with a repeat showing later
in the month.
Young Judaea has been
sponsored in Atlanta by Hadassah
and the Atlanta Jewish
Community Center for many years.
Members’ parents are encouraged,
but not required, to belong to both
sponsoring agencies. Three more
sponsors have been added:
Congregation Beth Shalom,
Congregation B’nai Torah and
Congregation Or VeShalom.
Young Judaea does not affiliate
with any particular branch of
Judaism, but docs require members
to respect the needs of those who
observe the laws of kashrut,
Shabbat, and other holy days.
For more information, call or
write Paul Joffe or Beth Reingold,
c/o Hashachar/Young Judaea,
1655 Peachtree Street, N.E.,
Atlanta, Ga. 30309 (404) 876-1526.
Receiving instruction from Norbert Bain of Cable Atlanta are (left,
standing) Danny Israel, (far left, sitting) Dina Shander and (bottom)
Mark Berger.
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PAGE 17 THE SOUTHERN ISRAELITE Augu . 26. 1983