Upcoming Youth Group Events

9/7	Anshei Bowling!
	Anshei Youth Groups kicks off a new year with a Bowling Event at San-Dee Lanes of Malverne! Click here for the flyer.
	Contact: Howard Nenner at 710-1968 or thenenners@optonline.net

A major goal of the Anshei Shalom Youth Department is to make our shul a “home away from home” for our children- a place where the children feel comfortable and, at the same time, learn the importance of shul and community.  We hope to make the shul a place where the children can connect with Hashem and compliment what they learn in school through davening, group learning, and socializing.  It is our hope that the experiences and memories that our children create at Anshei Shalom will encourage them to grow into active and involved members of our community.

As a youth department, we aim to create a warm and caring environment in which to nurture our youth.  It is our belief that if children love to go to shul when they are young and view shul as a special place, they will develop a connection that will last a lifetime.

Shabbos morning groups begin at 9:45 and end at 11:30 or the conclusion of davening.  Groups, led by our talented and dedicated leaders, are offered for children through 6th grade.  The Shabbos morning groups are designed so that the children’s experience mirrors that of the adults, and prepares them for participation in the main shul.  Therefore, we encourage all children to either participate in groups or to remain in shul, with a parent, during davening.
 
The groups are structured to include weekly parsha study, games, and age-appropriate davening, including an explanation of the tefilot as well as the introduction to Shabbos specific tefilot which are not taught in school.  This is done to prepare the children to be active participants in our thriving teen minyan.

Since its inception last year, under the leadership of Yaakov Farkash, the teen minyan has really taken off.  The minyan consists of inspirational davening, Divrei Torah, and socialization.  The Teen Minyan takes place upstairs in the old building in a room which, to Yaakov’s credit, has been refurbished and redecorated to become a space that is truly worthy to be a Makom Tefilah.  The minyan begins at 9:15.  The teens are taught to be responsible for every facet of the minyan including gabai duties, Ba’alei Tefilah, and Ba’alei Kriyah  in preparation for becoming contributors to our adult minyan.  Among the successful incentive programs that Yaakov has instituted are, raffle tickets for attendance and participation.  The great prizes have included an ipod, a computer, and a stereo system.  Sorry.  Adults are not eligible to receive raffle tickets.  However, all who attend the minyan are entitled to participate in the Teen Minyan Kiddush.

Teen involvement is not limited to the minyan.  There are monthly activities planned for the teens, incorporating movie nights, pool games, and our wildly successful ping pong tournament which brought in hundreds of dollars for the shul.  The Teen Minyan has also raised money through the publication of a joke book born from the minyan’s joke of the week.

There is equal opportunity for involvement by the younger children outside of Shabbos morning groups.  Instituted this year is our own Parent-Child Learning, complete with raffles and "make your own sundaes."  Attendance has exceeded expectations and continues to grow.  It is very gratifying to see families come out for the sole purpose of learning Torah together.  This program is made possible by the generous contributions of our sponsors. 

Holiday programming has included Sukkah decoration making, a Sukkah hop, Chol Hamoed trip to White Post Farm (which attracted over 40 people), youth hakafot, Ne’elat Hachag programs, and a Chanukah craft party.

Other programs have included bowling and pizza; enjoyed by over 80 children and many helpful adults, and an Islanders-Devils hockey game which saw over 50 people come out and raised several hundred dollars for the shul.  For the young ladies there was a special yoga night at the shul where the girls learned to strengthen their bodies and minds.

Not to rest on our laurels, we have many great programs still to come.  Among the upcoming slated programs are sports night and grade Shabbatonim.  We anticipate continued support and participation in all of these programs and hope that if you have not been able to join in on the fun yet, you will be able to enjoy some of these future events.