Nishmah announces its new program year, that includes exciting opportunities for middle school girls and teen girls and guys.  

Rosh Hodesh: It’s a Girl Thing! will be offered to girls entering 5-7 grades, and will combine a group for grades 8 and 9. This program of Philadelphia-based Moving Traditions challenges Jewish girls to think critically about the world.  

Through the connection of Jewish tradition, they will consider relevant issues facing them today. Girls from diverse backgrounds build community and create lasting friendships through interactive activities centered around Rosh Hodesh, the monthly celebration of the new moon.  

The series integrates core Jewish values with a variety of activities focused on the things they care most about, such as body image, friendship, relationships, competition, stress and family.  The 7^th grade year will be a special bat mitzvah year where each girl will have the chance to work on her bat-mitzvah project within this intimate group setting.  

In Rosh Hodesh: The Leadership Years, teen girls entering grades 8 and 9 will learn, practice and reflect upon specific leadership skills, which are then applied to social action projects in the community. 

Their Rosh Hodesh group becomes a safe laboratory for exploring and practicing their power as citizens, leaders and young women.

Teen guys entering grades 8 and 9 now have the opportunity to get involved with a newly created national program of Moving Traditions.  Participants will meet once a month at the J with facilitator Andrew Goldfeder.  It’s a Guy Thing!, offered only in select communities, is a chance for young men to hang out, eat together and talk about what it really means to be a guy and, more specifically, what it means to a Jewish guy.  

This innovative program incorporates games and other hands-on activities that help participants think critically about themselves and the community from a Jewish perspective.  

All programs begin Sunday, Sept. 9.  For more information (including group leaders and dates) and to register, visit nishmah.org.  Or, contact Simone Picker at 314-442-3166 or [email protected].