MISSION
When Jewish youth explore their Jewish culture and values, and are encouraged to challenge themselves and others, they begin a lifetime of belonging.
As a Jewish people—regardless of affiliation—we are one. And, by encouraging Jewish youth to challenge themselves and others while exploring their culture and values, they begin a lifetime of belonging.
You can’t be an outsider here. High schoolers from all over Bergen County come together to learn from an engaged, passionate faculty who inspire a love of Jewish life. Our students thrive by choosing what they learn and who they learn from in a welcoming, inclusive environment.
What’s more, our robust life enrichment program includes thought-provoking classes, Shabbatonim, trips and social experiences that cultivate and celebrate our Jewish identity.
The result: Our students form lifelong connections and create their own paths toward a fuller life.
JEWISH CONTINUITY
Statistics show that after completing congregational Hebrew school, the vast majority of teens immediately drop any form of Jewish learning. And yet, this is the most important time to guide our youth into becoming adults with a strong Jewish affiliation and identity. As thousands of our alumni and their parents can attest, BCHSJS has been a catalyst for making that happen. It prevents the B’nai Mitzvah from being the endpoint of Jewish education and ushers teens into the next phase of becoming compassionate, committed Jews. Our community of teens graduate with a strong sense of what it means to be Jewish and with a deeper connection to Israel that supports them on the college campus and beyond.
OUR SCHOOL
BCHSJS is a regional Sunday school program for Jewish teens in grades 8-12. We draw from 23 different northern New Jersey congregations (Conservative, Reform, Reconstructionist and Orthodox) and have non-affiliated students enrolled as well. For more than 40 years, we have been giving local teens the tools to form a Jewish identity that carries them into adulthood and stays with them for life.
BCHSJS is not “old school” Hebrew school. Our program combines fun social activities with engaging, relevant Jewish studies taught by passionate, inspiring teachers. To help today’s over-scheduled teens enhance their preparation for college, we offer many opportunities for them to fulfill their community service requirements and even to earn college credits.
ACTIVITIES
BCHSJS students have fun being Jewish and their friendships take root and flourish through many of our planned social and spiritual activities. From going to Broadway shows, Six Flags-Great Adventure, snow tubing and ice skating, scavenger hunts and more, students make friendships that last long beyond high school. They learn the true meaning of Shabbat while spending overnight time with other BCHSJS students, and can even experience a full Shabbaton weekend retreat. Years after they’ve graduated, students tell us that the social activities at BCHSJS – and the Jewish friends with whom they enjoyed these activities – were some of their most memorable high school memories.
TIKKUN OLAM | MAKE A DIFFERENCE
BCHSJS brings our values of making a difference in the world to life for our students. Whether it’s collecting food for the needy or working on a holiday gift drive, we offer a variety of ways for students to give back and to fulfill community service obligations for their secular high schools. One notable program is our Jewish Volunteer Corp. This year-long service-learning class provides the opportunity to volunteer with a group of senior citizens. Approximately half of the class sessions take place at the Daughters of Miriam/The Gallen Institute senior care facility in Clifton. There, students build relationships with Jewish seniors, learn their Jewish histories and document them in written and visual formats.