Rodef Sholom: A Reform Jewish Congregation in Marin County, California

Congregation Rodef Sholom is committed to helping students make positive connections with other Jewish teens in an informal setting.  Through a variety of programs, teens are offered the opportunity to have unique, fun and enriching experiences.

RuSTY (Rodef Sholom Temple Youth) is for 8th through 12th graders

RuSTY is affiliated with NFTY (prounounced nifty), which stands for the North American Federation of Temple Youth.  NFTY's goals are to instill Jewish identity, increase synagogue participation amongst high school youth, foster long-term commitment to the ideals and values of Reform Judaism and to create today the Reform Jewish congregants of tomorrow.  NFTY has regional and even international conclaves throughout the year.  They provide an exciting opportunity to meet teens from other Reform congregations.  Programs at conclaves are social, educational, spiritual and recreational in nature, and often focus on tikkun olam, repairing the world.

RuSTY is the home of our teen leaders. Under staff supervision, RuSTY teens plan and implement several events throughout the year that ar social, community service-oriented and spiritual in nature.

Junior RuSTY is for 6th and 7th graders

Middle schoolers want to socialize.  They want to begin to develop leadership skills and they want to establish an identity outside of their parents.  Through Jr. RuSTY pre-teens can do just that.  In a safe and supervised environment, they can play, explore and have fun with other kids their age.  Events are primarily social and include travel, overnights and lots of fun activities.

Madrichim

The Madrichim program is designed for post-b'nai mitzvah students who wish to develop teaching and leadership skills.  Madrichim have the opportunity to help plan and teach classroom lessons.  A student who wishes to be a madrich/a in our religious school must be enrolled in and attend Midrasha.