The VOS JEWELS Teen & Intergenerational Program is dedicated to fostering meaningful connections between Jewish teens (7th-12th Grade) and senior congregants.

 

Better Together Teen Leadership & Intergenerational Program

At Valley Outreach Synagogue, our commitment to education continues beyond the classroom. The Better Together Teen Program is a cornerstone of our vision for Jewish identity, leadership, and community connection. It brings together teens, seniors, and families to learn, celebrate, and grow side by side.

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Our Approach

The program is designed to be teen-driven, intergenerational, and deeply meaningful. Teens help shape the calendar, take on leadership roles, and co-create with staff and seniors. This ensures that our programming is not only educational, but also empowering, social, and community-building.

 

Through monthly teen-only sessions, intergenerational gatherings, and family-inclusive events, we explore Jewish tradition, resilience, identity, and leadership in ways that connect our generations. Activities range from creative experiences like Teen Shark Tank, Vision Board Night, and Trivia, to important educational programming like Holocaust education, antisemitism discussions, and Jewish values workshops, and to intergenerational celebrations such as Better Together Shabbat, storytelling nights, and a culminating Drum Circle celebration.

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Leadership Opportunities​

Our teen leadership team (Sami, Olivia, Jonathan and Addison) takes on rotating roles in outreach, cheerleading, service leading, and food coordination. In addition, teens can apply for special leadership internships in:

• Social Media & Marketing – managing our teen presence online, creating content, and promoting events.

• Photography/Videography – documenting events, creating highlight reels, and capturing our shared story.

• Program Historian – archiving reflections, stories, and memories from each event.

• Recruitment Ambassador – inviting peers, making outreach calls, and growing Jewish teen involvement.

 

Madrichim (Teaching Assistant Program): 8th-12th graders can volunteer as teaching assistants.

• Mentor Program: High school students can be paired with younger students for mentorship.

• Internship Opportunities for High Schoolers:  Internships in education, non-profit administration,  marketing, and social media advertising are available, and look great on college applications.

• Junior/Senior High School Israel Trip:  For Teens in our Better Together Teen Program, a transformative trip to Israel with Rabbi Li-Paz will be offered to High School Seniors and Juniors.  (Dependent on the number of participants and at an additional cost).

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These experiences are designed to build real-world skills, strengthen Jewish identity, and provide impressive résumé material for college applications.

 

To apply, please send an email to Neta at Netas@vosla.org

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Matching Seniors & Teens

Each teen will be paired with a senior partner through a fun “speed dating” event and interest surveys. These relationships are the heart of Better Together. Teens and seniors share stories, meals, and learning moments, discovering wisdom across generations and building friendships rooted in Jewish tradition.

 

Communication & Participation

• A monthly calendar will be shared on the 1st of each month.

• Teens will receive three reminders for each event: one week before, the day before, and the day of.

• A teen group chat will serve as the hub for communication and reminders.

• Parents will also receive updates to ensure participation and support.

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Our Philosophy

Better Together is built on the values of:

• Co-Creation – teens, rabbis, staff, and seniors shape the program together.

• Transparency – feedback and open dialogue are encouraged after every event.

• Community – the focus is always on connection, joy, and mutual respect.

• L’dor V’dor – passing wisdom “from generation to generation” through active, shared experiences.

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Annual Program Highlights

Events for 2025–2026 include:

• Teen-Only Gatherings (creative, fun, and social)

• Intergenerational Programs (shared meals, discussions, and activities with seniors)

• Family Events (Shabbat dinners, holiday programs, and celebrations)

• Culminating Events (community-wide gatherings such as the storytelling program If You Heard What I Heard and Drum Circle).

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The full Better Together calendar will be shared with registrants and parents of teens and updated monthly as needed.

 

Our gatherings, led by Rabbi Li-Paz, Rabbi Julie Rosenson and Neta Sade, our Teen Director, offer a wide range of experiences encompassing the celebration of Jewish holidays, Shabbat, Social Action, cooking traditional Jewish foods, Israeli dancing, and engaging discussions on Jewish values. Our teens will further bond through fun activities such as bowling, Dave & Busters, Sky High, retreats and more.

 

Our Teen and Intergenerational Program convenes twice a month—once exclusively for teens and once bringing together teens and their senior partners.

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