Youth and Teen

Engage with other Jewish young adults through fun, educational, and exciting opportunities and activities. 

There are lots of great things happening for teens at NSCI! Beyond our services and regular tikkun olam events, these programs and meet-ups are an easy way for teens to stay connected to each other, NSCI, and their Jewish identity. 

For more information on any of the programs or opportunities below, please reach out to either Andrea Dalinka, NSCI's Young Youth Group Advisor, or Ben Reingold, NSCI's Youth Engagement Coordinator.

Fiedler Fellows

Our newest program, launched in 2020, is an opportunity for all NSCI teens to earn a $1,000 scholarship toward college tuition, a post-high school degree, or a trade program. It's as easy as participating in our teen offerings for all four years of high school. 

NEW Machonik Opportunity 

If you are looking for a flexible option, become a Tot Machonik to help with programming for families with children ages 0–5. There are one or two programs a month, usually on Saturdays, and we can work with your schedule. We also have a new weekday preschool program that needs machoniks and is running on Wednesdays from 4:15–5:45 pm!                

To enroll your teen, log in to your NSCI account and click My Enrollments.

Machonik Teacher Assistant          

Sundays, 9:00–11:00 am | Tuesdays, 4:15–5:45 pm | Wednesdays, 4:15–5:45 pm

If your student likes working with younger students and learns best when teaching someone else, they’re invited to help Dr. Goodman and the NSCI Religious School teachers as a Machonik on Sundays, Tuesdays, or Wednesdays. Machoniks are expected to attend Sunday training sessions once a month. 9th to 12th-grade Machoniks are paid an hourly rate for their work.

Jr. Machonik (Teen Aide)

Sundays, 9:00–11:00 am & Wednesdays, 4:15–5:45 pm

7th and 8th graders are invited to serve as Jr.Machoniks, teen aids, that help out in classrooms. Machonik training occurs on select Sundays from 11-12 pm .

NSCI Teens

September 16, October 22, November 12, December date TBD, January 28, March 3, April 14, and May 10–12 Karav Retreat

Forget about your homework, connect with friends old and new, and join monthly social activities and meaningul volunteer opportunities at NSCI and around the Chicago-land area.

Look out for enrollment emails from Youth Engagement Coordinator, Ben Reingold, in advance of each month's program. 

Selah 

Sundays, 11:00 am–12:00 pm, & select Fridays, 5:15–7:15 pm

6th-12th graders are welcome to join Selah to sing and/or play their musical instruments, under the guidance of Cantor David Goldstein and noted song-leader and composer, Alan Goodis. Selah members help lead worship at select Shabbat services and on the High Holy Days. 

Conversations of Our World: Nosh & Discussion

Monthly on Mondays, 6:15–8:00 pm with dinner, or Sundays, 11:00 am–12:15 pm with brunch. 

October 16, November 13, December 11, January 21, February 12, March 18, April 7, and May 13

We'll eat together, have some fun, and explore challenging topics of our world and what Judaism has to say about them. Here's your chance to ask tough questions, argue, and form your own answers. Taught by Rabbis Geffen, Greene, and Leizman, and Ben Reingold. 

To enroll your teen, log in to your NSCI account and click My Enrollments.

Join a Life-Changing Civil Rights Journey

Join Rabbi Jacob Leizman and other NSCI 9th- to 12th-grade families (as well as his wife, Rabbi Lily Goldstein, and BJBE high school families) to participate in Etgar 36’s Civil Rights Journey, March 7th–10th, 2024.

Together, we will visit the Rosa Parks Museum, Voter Rights Museum, Edmund Pettus Bridge, The National Memorial for Peace and Justice, The Legacy Museum, Freedom Park, Birmingham Civil Rights Institute, and more! Learn about the struggles of African Americans in the 1950s and 60s, discover how Jews were involved in the civil rights movement, and meet heroes who participated in the movement and remain committed social activists today.

Learn more, view a sample itinerary, and find the registration form here. 

Register by October 17th. Scholarships are available.