Teens at JRC (8th-12th Graders)

Our Teens Are An Integral Part of the JRC Community

Whether they are imparting their wisdom in a D’var Torah, helping to lead a Kehillah classroom, Pied Pipering a group of kids down the hallway, or just simply laughing and being their wonderful selves, JRC teens are valued members of our community. Our younger learners look up to them, but before you know it, they will be them! 

Teen Madrichim Program

The Madrichim Program is one of the most meaningful ways for teens to engage at JRC. As part of Kehillah, 8th–12th graders work alongside adult mentors in classrooms and other settings, gaining real experience as leaders and role models for younger children. Madrichim also participate in training sessions based on the Moving Traditions curriculum, for a Jewish leadership framework. Teens often say they feel more connected to Kehillah and the broader JRC community because of the relationships they build as madrichim. 8th–12th graders can fill out the madrichim form to join us for the 2025–26 school year. The program fee is $60, which helps support the leadership training.

Annual Teen Trip Led by Rabbi Rachel Weiss

Each year, our JRC teens have the opportunity to travel and adventure, immersing deeply in social justice on trips across the country. Stay tuned for information about our 2026 Teen Trip! Here are some highlights of the past three years…

2023: JRC teens traveled alongside peers from Congregation Beit Simchat Torah – CBST (NY NY) for three powerful days and nights exploring history, racism, economic injustice, and hard truth with Etgar 36 on our Civil Rights pilgrimage to Montgomery, Selma, Birmingham and Atlanta.

2024: JRC teens toured Washington DC and made their mark on Capitol Hill. Using their personal and Jewish voices, they advocated for immigration justice, climate justice, support against Antisemitism, and for gun violence prevention as part of Ltaken with Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism.

2025: JRC teens met up once again with our sibling congregation, Congregation Beit Simchat Torah – CBST in New York City to explore Jewish cultures, Jewish immigration histories, and how that relates to our own Jewish identities, along with race, class, gender, sexuality, family origins, and being Chicagoans!