The Jewish Youth Encounter Program (JYEP) will honor 23 Yeshiva High School seniors at its Annual Breakfast on Sunday, February 8th, at 9:30 a.m., at Rinat Yisrael in Teaneck. These high school students have devoted their Sunday mornings to reaching out to unaffiliated youth as JYEP Big Brothers and Big Sisters.
JYEP is an independent Outreach Hebrew School for Bergen County children in the 3rd through 7th grades. It provides a Jewish education and bar and bat mitzvah training through Sunday School, shabbatonim, and family programs.
As part of the Sunday School experience, students learn Torah stories and about the Jewish holidays and traditions. They are then paired with a big brother or big sister, who teaches them Hebrew reading and tefilah. Currently, 40 local yeshiva high school and college students volunteer every week as big brothers and big sisters.
The big brothers and big sisters also participate in various activities, celebrations, and Shabbatons with their little brothers and little sisters. They are encouraged to be in regular contact with their little brothers and little sisters via email or phone call.
“What gives me the most satisfaction vis-à-vis the big brother and big sister program is that it gives the high school students an opportunity to shine,” said Debby Rapps, director of JYEP.
High school students who wish to volunteer as a big brother or big sister are interviewed and then trained before the start of the school year. In addition, their interactions with their little brothers or little sisters are observed weekly.
“The big brothers and big sisters are always successful,” said Rapps, “because we work very closely with them and we are able to monitor their progress and their little brother’s or little sister’s progress.”
Rabbi Ephraim Buchwald, director of the National Jewish Outreach Program, will be speaking at the JYEP breakfast. The Guests of Honor include David Berger, Tehila Finkelstein, Daniella Fishkin, Gavi Forman, Alon Futter, Amitai Glicksman, Aviva Jacobs, Daniella Jacobs, Adina Knapp, Chaya Levin, Naomi Manas, Meira Motechin, Gila Pfeiffer, Shira Reich, Jenny Rosen, Tzvi Rotblat, Elisheva Rothberg, Allie Schachter, Ilana Schwartz, Ahuva Shafier, Shifi Shulman, Matthew Wexler, and Avigayil Wiener.
To donate and learn more about the school, please visit the web at www.jyep.org. To RSVP, please email Debby Rapps at [email protected]
By Tova Domnitch
