It is the end of an unusual and challenging school year, and the Chai Mitzvah teen program educators have begun to share a summary of their experiences in the Teen Program End-of-Year Survey. Here’s what we’ve learned so far.
The teens ranged in age from from middle to high school. There were youth groups, madrichim, synagogue schools, community high schools, and day schools. All denominations were represented.
Most groups successfully adapted to the challenge of the Covid19 pandemic. They focused on four different curricula: of the groups that have responded so far, 45% studied the Standard topics, and 45% percent focused on Mussar, while 20% studied Mixtape (the arts-based curriculum) and 10% used the newest curriculum, Aseret: The Big Ten.
There were already four successful virtual groups running, and once the pandemic hit, most (72%) of the groups continued virtually. When asked to compare the experience of meeting virtually to meeting in-person, reviews were mixed. From Mifgash High School in Albany: “The students were eager to meet, but the discussions were less in depth due to some students having difficulty reading social cues virtually.” But from the Epstein School in Georgia we heard: “I was quite pleasantly surprised that we were able to do the last three units virtually and with success. Of course, there is still nothing like being in the classroom.”
The teens engaged in many social action projects throughout the year, for example, Madrichim at Kulaanu School of Jewish Studies in Margate City, NJ handled a Thanksgiving Food Drive and implemented and facilitated a holiday card-making for our US Troops. They were also asked to write a letter to a school official about something with which they were dissatisfied. At the Jewish Federation in Indianapolis, in-person events were canceled due to Covid19, but at-home service learning opportunities were provided for participants to explore. Chai Mitzvah provided a guide to at-home service projects, Social Action with Social Distance, which educators found helpful. For a free copy, click here.
One hundred students applied for, and were ready to receive, the Chai Mitzvah Summer Israel Travel Stipend, however all of the Israel trips for 2020 were canceled due to the pandemic. Chai Mitzvah will honor the commitment we have made to these students when their trips are rescheduled. When asked whether the stipend attracted students to the program, about half of the educators answered yes, but many told us that the students found many other reasons to enjoy the program. An educator at Kadima Beth El in Portland ME said, The class … attracted one student who was not previously attending any of our offerings. He was initially attracted by the stipend offer, I think, but he enjoyed the class because it was more hands-on than what he had come to expect from synagogue classes.”
The overwhelming majority of schools that have responded to the survey so far are planning to participate in the Chai Mitzvah Teen Program again next year, despite uncertainty about whether their groups will meet virtually or in person. The curriculum is flexible, and works well in every setting. At Chai Mitzvah, we will continue do our best to listen to educators and provide materials that engage and inspire during these challenging times.
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