When and Where?
The Meetups take place one or two Sunday evenings a month (see calendar below), from 6:00-8:30pm, at Congregation Beth El in Sudbury (with select Meetups taking place at other temples/locations).
What happens at the bi-weekly Meetups?
6:00-7:00pm
Jewish Life Unpacked – for grades 8-9 with Rabbi Josh Breindel
The Dinner Club / Current Events Club – optional for grades 10-12
7:00-7:30pm
Delicious and nutritious community dinner
7:30-8:15pm
Electives, taught by our clergy members and educators:
- Jewish Storytelling – led by Rabbi David Finkelstein
- Wisdom for Real Life – led by Josh Conescu
- Israeli Folk Dancing – led by Jo Rothman
- Intro to Jewish Europe – led by Shoni Aronovich
8:15-8:30pm
Ice Cream (or other sweets) Social
2026 Spring Semester Lineup
Jewish Life Unpacked
Modern stories, videos and music can help us explore the values and core ideas of Judaism described in our ancient texts. Jewish teachings can offer inspiration and guidance in surprising ways (be sure to ask Rabbi Josh about the link between rabbis, robots and wizards)! Through our conversations together, students will find new resilience to support their growth as young adults in the modern world.
Intro to Jewish Europe
In this Elective, students who plan on traveling to Berlin & Krakow in the spring, and other curious students, will explore the complex and rich history of the Jewish communities in Germany and Poland before, during, and after the war, conduct personal family research, and dive into key events and stories from WWII. While not required, participation in this elective is highly advised to students who will travel to Europe in the spring.
Wisdom for Real Life
Explore timeless wisdom from Mishlei (Proverbs) through the lens of the real decisions and pressures teens face every day. From managing digital reputation and navigating friendships to controlling anger, building integrity, and planning for the future, each session connects ancient Hebrew text to thoroughly modern challenges. Through small group discussion, personal reflection, and hands-on activities, students will examine what it means to build a good name in the age of social media, choose friends wisely in a world of peer pressure, and develop the inner character to act with honesty even when no one is watching. This course invites teenagers to see that wisdom written thousands of years ago speaks directly to the choices they face today.
Jewish Storytelling
In this elective, students discover the rich tradition of Jewish storytelling while developing their own voice as storytellers. Drawing on centuries of parables, folktales, and sacred narratives, students will explore how Jewish wisdom has always been passed down through story, and then practice that tradition themselves. Through listening, writing, and performing, students build core storytelling skills while connecting to a heritage that has always known the power of a well-told tale.
2025-26 Meetup Calendar:
Fall Semester
Sunday, September 7, 2025 – YEAR KICKOFF/OPEN HOUSE
Sunday, September 21, 2025
Sunday, October 5, 2025
Sunday, October 26, 2025
Sunday, November 9, 2025
Sunday, November 23, 2025
Sunday, December 7, 2025
Sunday, December 21, 2025
Spring Semester
Sunday, January 11, 2026
Sunday, January 18, 2026 – MLK DAY OF SERVICE
Sunday, January 25, 2026
Sunday, February 1, 2026
Sunday, March 8, 2026
Sunday, March 22, 2026
Sunday, April 12, 2026
Sunday, May 3, 2026
Sunday, May 17, 2026 – END OF YEAR CELEBRATION
How much does it cost?
Participation at the Meetups is open to all J-LOFT members. The J-LOFT membership fee is $325 for families affiliated with one of the J-LOFT synagogues, or $499 for those not-affiliated. Early-Bird rates are available through Memorial Day!
All ready to go? Go ahead and enroll!
