Toddler to Teen
Grades 8–12
“When you teach your children, you teach your children’s children.”
Choose your path in Havayah, TBE’s vibrant youth community.
Pursue your passions.
Engage with Jewish values and culture through learning, leadership, and social events.
Havayah: Experience
Havayah is TBE’s teen community for grades 8-12. Havayah is a welcoming and supportive Jewish community where teens are empowered as learners and leaders by one another and by caring, dedicated clergy.
Havayah provides many options for engagement and we encourage participants to choose their own path in TBE’s vibrant youth community and in the broader Jewish community. Our core curriculum are both a representation of who we aspire to be and a lens for our learning.
Our Havayah team is here to help each teen design the Jewish experience that will work best for them.
Contact
Rabbi Ben Rosen
Chavurot
The foundation of Havayah are its chavurot, affinity-based groups that meet on different days and times throughout the week. Connect your interests to your Jewish identity and create a schedule that works for you and connects you with your friends.
Contact
Rabbi Ben Rosen
Leadership
Our teens lead, directly shape Havayah programming in many ways. As an event chair, you can take the lead on planning an individual event. As a member of Manhigut Council, you’ll plan and run Havayah programs and events, as well participate in leadership training programs, build skills, and develop leadership styles. Our Senior Leadership Team works with the TBE Youth team to set the vision for all of Havayah and mentors and leads our Manhigut Council.
Many teens at TBE are also involved as leaders in our K-7 programs as Madrichim, Songleading Madrichim, and Kesher mentors!
Contact
Ali Klein
Reach Out
Alison Kur
Jewish Living and Learning
Rabbi Ben Rosen
Assistant Rabbi
Ali Klein
Assistant Director, Havayah
Registration
If you need assistance with registration, please contact Ali Klein.
Community Resources
Find information on day school, summer plans, travel to Israel, alumni connection, and more!
Connect on Social Media
TBE Youth Instagram
Social Events
Join Havayah for social events planned by and for teens. Our social events have included our annual Havayah Kick-Off, trips to Boda Borg, a Mystery Bus Ride, and more, are the perfect opportunity to reconnect with friends, develop friendships started in Chavurot and other programs, and meet new people in Havayah.
Shabbatonim & Trips
We offer several full-day, overnight, or travel experiences. Our Shabbatonim (retreats) and trips are infused with creative learning experiences, exciting worship and music, and time to unwind and connect with friends. Past trips have included Shabbatonim at the Craigville Retreat center in Cape Cod, adventure day trips, and at the Warren Center in Ashland.
Also, join us this year for our Teen Tour trips! We will be doing a 9th & 10th grade service trip to New Orleans, Louisiana and a 11th & 12th grade History Tour to Charleston, South Carolina and Savannah, Georgia.
This year, we’re finding creative and meaningful opportunities for our teens to engage in community.
Contact
Rabbi Ben Rosen
Expanding Your Jewish Journey
Connect with our partner organizations for numerous opportunities for teens, both throughout the year and during the summer.
NFTY
Jewish Teen Initiative
JCC Boston Diller Teen Fellowship
JF&CS TeenSafe
Summer Programs
BBYO New England Region
Contact
Rabbi Ben Rosen
Registration
- Registration information for 2024–2025 is now open! In order to access the Havayah registration, you will be asked to log in through our member portal. Your Username is your email address. If you have forgotten your password or you have not previously set up your account, please click “forgot password” and you will be able to set up your account. Your account is linked to the email address we have for you in our database. If you are not able to log into the portal and you have recently changed your email, please try your previous email address. To access the Havayah Registration, click here. For questions please contact Ali Klein.
Tikkun Olam Volunteer Corps
Open to: Grades 8–12
Meets: Different days and different times (few times a month)
Volunteering does not stop post b’mitzvah! As a member of the TOV Corps you will have opportunities to engage in a plethora of local volunteer options. These opportunities will occur on many different days and times throughout the week so you can pick which ones are the best for your schedule.
View upcoming TOV Corps events and sign-up!
Contact
Mira Warmflash
Returning Madrichim
Professional Development
Open to: Grades 9–12
Meets: By cohort meeting time (every week)
Madrichim receive professional development in cohorts, led by lead teachers!
Contact
Eliana Stein
Songleading Workshop
Music Madrichim
Open to: Grades 8–12
Meets: Sunday mornings or Tuesday afternoons (every week)
Join a dedicated and enthusiastic team of song leaders and get ready to make Jewish music with our students! Prepare music and lead students in grades K-2 in music classes! You’ll also receive ongoing professional development and support. This year, Music Madrichim will have the option of leading music on Tuesday afternoons (3:30-5:30) or during either session on Sunday morning (8:45-10:45) or (11:15-1:15).
Faculty:
Professional Facilitator
Upcoming sessions
Contact
Madrichim in Training Workshop
Open to: Grade 8
Meets: Sundays, 11:00 am–12:00 pm (about once a month)
Be a role model for our younger students! Our Madrichim, or teaching assistants, help the teachers in the classroom by building relationships with kids, working with students on projects and classwork, and helping to prepare materials. Starting in 9th grade, trained Madrichim can be hired for a paid role in a classroom.
Upcoming sessions
Contact
Eliana Stein
Challah Back Girls
Open to: Grades 8–12
Meets: Mondays, 7:30–9:00 pm (once a month)
Take a break from homework and the stresses of everyday life in our welcoming and fun gender-based programming. Eat dinner, spend time connecting with friends, and figure out how to navigate the journey and challenges of growing up as a Jewish American teen. Explore topics through activities, discussions, popular culture and media, games, arts and crafts, Jewish values, and more.
We welcome teens who identify as transgender, non-binary, gender fluid, or gender questioning to participate fully in our Jew Man Group or Challah Back Girls Groups, in whichever program they feel most comfortable!
Faculty
Ali Klein
Upcoming sessions
Contact
Rabbi Ben Rosen
Jew Man Group
Open to: Grades 8–12
Meets: Mondays, 7:30–9:00 pm (once a month)
Take a break from homework and the stresses of everyday life in our welcoming and fun gender-based programming. Eat dinner, spend time connecting with friends, and figure out how to navigate the journey and challenges of growing up as a Jewish American teen. Explore topics through activities, discussions, popular culture and media, games, arts and crafts, Jewish values, and more.
We welcome teens who identify as transgender, non-binary, gender fluid, or gender questioning to participate fully in our Jew Man Group or Challah Back Girls Groups, in whichever program they feel most comfortable!
Faculty
Rabbi Ben Rosen
Devon Barker
Upcoming sessions
Contact
Ben Rosen Rosen
Wrestling with Israel
Open to: Grade 9–12
Meets: Sundays 5:00–6:30 pm (twice a month)
Jewish Learning Experience through American Jewish University. Through partnership with the American Jewish University, Rabbi Ben will be teaching a year-long, college-level course on Israeli history, politics, and culture. All students who participate will be eligible for three hours of college credit! More information about cost and commitment will be sent once interest is expressed on the registration form.
Faculty
Rabbi Ben Rosen
Upcoming sessions
Contact
Rabbi Ben Rosen
Confirmation
Open to: Grade 12
Meets: Tuesdays, 7:00–8:30 pm (once a month)
We are incredibly proud that so many of our teens engage in Jewish life throughout their years at TBE. Whether in Havayah, at a full-day Jewish high school, or through another Jewish learning experience, our seniors have shown outstanding commitment, dedication, and leadership. Our tradition is to celebrate this important transition in their lives through the process of Confirmation. All high school seniors are automatically enrolled in Confirmation. We look forward to sharing this milestone with you and your family.
Upcoming sessions
Contact
Rabbi Ben Rosen
T’filah Band: Creating Sacred Music
Open to: Grades 8–12
Meets: Wednesdays, 6:00–7:00 pm (meets twice a month)
Bring your musical talent to the Havayah T’filah Band. Whether you play the guitar, piano, sax, ukulele, drums, or sing, join us in making some awesome music. Together, we will take a dive deep into the meaning of our sacred texts and create beautiful musical compositions that fit their intentions. We will also use secular music as a tool to enhance our understanding of the sacred texts.
Faculty
Cantor Shanna Zell
Upcoming sessions
Contact
Cantor Shanna Zell
Senior Leadership Team
Open to: Grades 11 & 12
Meets: Wednesdays, 6:00–7:00 pm (twice a month)
Our most deeply engaged and dedicated leaders have the opportunity to shape the present and future of Havayah as members of our Senior Leadership Team. Meet once a week to set the vision and agenda for Havayah, plan and lead Manhigut Council meetings, and help mentor our teen leaders.
Interested in applying? Schedule meetings with Erika Lilienfeld or another member of the TBE Youth Team to help you decide if Senior Leadership Team is right for you.
Upcoming sessions