Education - Youth | B'nai Tzedek

We are happy to announce the hiring of our new Youth Director, Lisa Heiser-Polin.
Here is Lisa Heiser-Polin's welcome letter.

Hi, my name is Lisa Heiser-Polin and am happy to be joining Congregation B’nai Tzedek as the Youth Director. I have been in the Washington D.C. area since the Summer of 2003 working on my graduate degrees in Education and Public Policy at American University and George Washington University. Prior to this wonderful opportunity, I was a teacher for both the Jewish Primary Day School and Temple Micah. I am originally from Denver, Colorado where I spent many happy years teaching for Denver Public Schools and creating youth programming for the Denver Jewish Community Center.

While growing up I was very active in youth groups. I was President of the Temple Sinai Youth Group, and a regional board member of Missouri Valley Temple Youth, the regional board for the National Federation of Temple Youth. While an undergraduate in college at the University of Denver I served as both President of DU Hillel and chair of Holocaust Awareness Week on campus. I later served as an adult on the Hillel of Colorado board of trustees. In May of 2007, I married Justin Polin, a great guy and professional poker player as well as foreign policy analyst. I am thrilled to be onboard and hope everyone will stop by my office to say hi, grab some candy, and leave a note or suggestion in the box outside my office. I hope you’ll come Catch the Wave of excitement building about B’nai Tzedek Youth….

Our youth department offers a variety of activities, programs, and initiatives to ensure that all of B'nai Tzedek's youth and teens remain connected to the synagogue. Our goal is to provide informal Jewish education through fun, innovative and social activities for all ages, while reinforcing Jewish identity. Each of our four youth groups offer age-appropriate events and activities and is overseen by an advisor and by our Youth Director. Each program offered through the Youth Department is adequately staffed and follows the guidelines set by the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism. In addition to the youth groups, the youth department also oversees Israel Quest, the College Outreach Program, and the B’nai Mitzvah Tzedekah Program. Should you have any questions about the Youth Department or it’s programming, please contact Lisa Heiser-Polin at (301) 299-9751 x332 or lisahp@bnaitzedek.org, or contact our Youth Committee Chair, Debbie Schick, at (301)983-2121, or fourschicks@aol.com.

USY (United Synagogue Youth) is Grades 9 - 12

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Youth Director and USY Advisor: Lisa Heiser-Polin
Contact information: 301/299-9751x332; lisahp@bnaitzedek.org

USY Board of Directors

Kadima (meaning "forward") Grades 6 through 8
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Kadima Advisor: Micha Weinblatt
Contact information: MichaWeinblatt@gmail.com

Machar (meaning "tomorrow") Grades 4 and 5
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Machar Advisor: Lisa Heiser-Polin
Contact information: 301/299-9751x332; lisahp@bnaitzedek.org

Bonim (meaning "builders") Grades 2 and 3
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Bonim Advisor: Jamie Aaron
Contact information: Jamie_l_aaron@yahoo.com

United Synagogue Youth
Link here to the USY Seaboard Region

WANTED!! WANTED!!
The Youth Department welcomes donations of complete video game systems and video games. Please contact us if you have a game you’d like to donate.