Temple Israel Youth Leadership Program (TIYul)
For young adults in grades 8-12
Whether you're new to our Education Center or previously/currently enrolled in Religious School or Confirmation, join TIYuL!
Temple Israel’s Youth Leadership program “TIYuL” – also a Hebrew word meaning “journey” – offers hands-on, creative learning opportunities from local Jewish leaders and experts, and explores the many exciting ways to see and understand the world through a Jewish lens along life’s journey. We’re offering five 3-session mini-mesters throughout the 2023-24 school year, each with three electives from which to choose.
- All mini-mesters take place on pre-selected Tuesdays from 4:30 pm - 6:00 pm.
- Each mini-mester culminates with a pizza party and lounge night from 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm at Temple Israel.
- $100 per mini-mester per student.
Please note, you must be a Temple Israel member to complete online Religious School registration -- more info at www.ti-stl.org/Join.
We're here to help. Interested in learning more? Contact Temple Israel Religious & Hebrew School Director, Sidni Weglarz at: sweglarz@ti-stl.org or 314-432-8076.
2023-24 Mini-Mester Descriptions
Mini-mester 1: 2023
Tuesdays, October 10, 17, and 24 | 4:30 pm – 6:00 pm | Education Center
Tuesday, October 24 | pizza dinner & lounge night | 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm | Education Center
Choose the mini-mester topic/teacher you'd like to take for mini-mester 1.
Options are:
Mary Cotton: Shtetl Workshop
Life in the shtetl (think Fiddler on the Roof) wasn’t easy, but our ancestors had skills that many of us couldn’t even imagine! Try your hand at activities like canning fruits and vegetables for the winter, turning over the mitzvah garden, and maybe even milking a goat and making your own cheese.
Maia Elkana: Tzedakah and Tzedek
Tzedakah is more than just charity, but what exactly does Tzedek (justice) look like, and how should it influence our lives?
Mini-mester 2: 2023
Tuesdays, November 28, December 5 & 12 | 4:30 pm – 6:00 pm | Education Center
Tuesday, December 12 | pizza dinner & lounge night | 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm | Education Center
Choose the mini-mester topic/teacher you'd like to take for mini-mester 2.
Options are:
Elisa Recht: Jewish Arts and Ourselves
Through making izun bracelets or keychains to find our life balance, tzitzit bracelets to express our connection to God, and mirrored picture frames to find the holiness within ourselves, these projects and discussions bring us closer to the divine and to each other. (Repeats in mini-mester 5)
Rebekah Scallet: Jewish Theater
Using physical theater techniques, we’ll create our own theatrical pieces around a Jewish theme and have the chance to perform them
Maia Elkana: Judaism(s)
The different movements of Judaism sometimes feel so vastly different, it’s almost like they are multiple religions. Learn the differences between each of the Jewish movements and find out what really makes us each Jews.
Mini-mester 3: 2024
Tuesdays, January 23 & 30 and February 6| 4:30 pm – 6:00 pm | Education Center
Tuesday, February 6 | pizza dinner & lounge night | 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm | Education Center
Choose the mini-mester topic/teacher you'd like to take for mini-mester 3.
Options are:
Sarah Falkoff: Jewish Science
Can religion and science have anything in common? Hands on science experiments and discussions help us find the intersection between faith and scientific fact.
Madison Turner: Songleading Workshop
Ever imagined yourself on the bimah leading services? Wish you could sing with the kids at Religious School or at summer camp? Learn the basics of Jewish songleading, and then all participants will be invited to join Rick Recht’s Songleader BootCamp over President’s Weekend.
Rabbi Michael: Comic Books and the Holocaust
Long before the Holocaust was taught in schools, American youth learned about it from comics and graphic novels. From Maus to other classic comics, read the comics and graphic novels that have taught critically serious lessons about the Holocaust in intense yet accessible ways.
Mini-mester 4: 2024
Tuesdays, February 20 & 27 and March 5| 4:30 pm – 6:00 pm | Education Center
Tuesday, March 5 | pizza dinner & lounge night | 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm | Education Center
Choose the mini-mester topic/teacher you'd like to take for mini-mester 4.
Options are:
Diane Packman: Spring Holiday Cooking
Purim, Passover and Shavuot have some of the best Jewish foods of the whole year! You’ll learn the skills to wow your family and friends with delicious foods for holidays this spring.
Evan Weiss: Jews in and of the Arab World
Learn the history and culture of a part of the world seemingly forever under conflict. Even the terminology of words like Arab and Jew are more complicated than they seem; understand the basics and discuss how it affects each of us.
David Alper: Jewish Mural Making (Part 1)
Join Jewish artist David Alper to help create a permanent mural for the Religious School building. Put your artistic skills to work as you consider what makes a piece of art Jewish and how to inspire others.
Mini-mester 5: 2024
Tuesdays, April 2, 9 & 16 | 4:30 pm – 6:00 pm | Education Center
Tuesday, April 16 | pizza dinner & lounge night | 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm | Education Center
Choose the mini-mester topic/teacher you'd like to take for mini-mester 5.
Options are:
Sarah Falkoff and Mary Cotton: The Rhythm of the Jewish Year
The Jewish year is based on agriculture and the natural world. From grinding horseradish to readying the garden to trying your hand at matzah making, prepare to get your hands dirty for the Passover harvest!
Elisa Recht: Jewish Arts and Ourselves
Through making izun bracelets or keychains to find our life balance, tzitzit bracelets to express our connection to God, and mirrored picture frames to find the holiness within ourselves, these projects and discussions bring us closer to the divine and to each other. (Repeat of mini-mester 3)
David Alper: Jewish Mural Making (Part 2)
Join Jewish artist David Alper to help create a permanent mural for the Religious School building. Put your artistic skills to work as you consider what makes a piece of art Jewish and how to inspire others.
We're here to help. Interested in learning more? Contact Temple Israel Religious & Hebrew School Director, Sidni Weglarz at: sweglarz@ti-stl.org or 314-432-8076.
