Nishmah, The Jewish Women’s Project, is excited to be offering the Rosh Hodesh: It’s a Girl Thing! program again this year for girls in grades five, six and seven. A national program of Moving Traditions (based in Philadelphia), Rosh Hodesh: It’s a Girl Thing! is a values-based, experiential and trans-denominational Jewish program for teenage girls that strengthens self-esteem and Jewish identity. The proactive, informal education program uses Judaism to enrich the lives of girls. It draws on Jewish tradition to give girls a place to feel safe, articulate their questions and concerns, have fun and be ‘real’ with their peers.

Small groups of girls meet monthly with a carefully trained adult leader. Through discussion, arts & crafts, and drama the girls integrate core Jewish values as they focus on the things they care most about, such as body image, friendship, relationships, competition, stress and family.

Nishmah coordinates three groups in St. Louis for 2011-2012. Beginning Sunday, Sept. 18 from 3:15 to 5 p.m., the three groups will commence, hosted at the J’s Staenberg Family Complex. Simone Picker, Suzanne Goldstein and Lisa Deutsch will lead the fifth, sixth and seventh grade groups, respectively.

All groups meet monthly from September through May. Participation fee is $200 for the year (scholarships available).

For more information and/or to register, visit jccstl.com or call Simone Picker at Nishmah at 314-442-3166 or email her at [email protected].