Youth Group

Who We Are

"SHATY" is Temple Avodat Shalom's Youth Group for 8th-12th graders who want to explore their Jewish identity in a relaxed environment with their peers. Our activities and events are geared towards having fun while also cultivating their sense of community service and leadership skills.

Social Action/Tikkun Olam

Tikkun Olam is at the heart of SHATY.  Each year we are responsible for several signature social action programs for which we raise funds, organize and execute amazing events. 

Feeding the Hungry – Five times throughout the year, teens work with the entire Temple Avodat Shalom community to cook and serve meals at a local food pantry for over 100 people. 

Midnight Run – Each winter, SHATY members collect warm clothing, toiletries and pack several hundred dinners for homeless people living in New York City.  We then travel throughout the city on a school bus delivering these items to those who live on the streets. We rely on the generosity of the community to collect all the needed items throughout the year. 

We also participate in other programs in conjunction with the TAS social justice initiatives including sending out voting postcards, packing school supplies for children in the community or helping with Rise Against Hunger packing 20,000 meals for children around the world.

Fun Events

Throughout the year we participate in many activities to socialize with our friends. We also open many of these activities up to our younger grades starting in 5th grade.

• Game nights 

• Outdoor movies

• Sporting events

• Amusement parks

• Shul-ins 

• Dinners 

Leadership Opportunities

All of our members are given a variety of opportunities in leadership.  In addition to our executive board, members take on overseeing and planning many events throughout the year. 

We lead the 2nd Day of Rosh Hashanah services for the entire congregation and during the year we lead a Friday night service as well.

The Hebrew school is where we become role models for our youngest members.  We volunteer each Sunday as madrichim, assisting in the classrooms and office.  Each year we plan and run the annual Purim Carnival for the school. 

NFTY involvement

The SHATY youth group is also part of NFTY, which stands for the North American Federation for Temple Youth. Temple Avodat Shalom is part of NFTY-GER (Garden Empire Region), which includes over 40 reform synagogues in the lower Hudson Valley (Orange and Rockland counties) and central and northern New Jersey.  There are teen-led regional events (called Kallahs) throughout the year that provide opportunities to forge life-long friendships, gain leadership skills and participate in youth engagement and social action programs. 

Learn more at  https://gardenempire.nfty.org/ 

2021-2022 SHATY board:

President: Ariana Altman

Programming and Social Action Co- Vice Presidents: Sophia Gaffin and Erinn Rebhun

Religious and Cultural Vice President: Hannah Norton

Membership Vice President: Hollin Barth

Communications Vice President: Noah Gelbwasser

Youth Advisor: Barnett Goldman

Interested in joining our youth group? Email us!
youthgroup@avodatshalom.net