Teen SVARA, now in its sixth year, is both serious in its approach to text study and casual and informal in its overall feel. A safe and fun environment is balanced with a rigorous encounter with text, the acquisition of Talmud study skills and the development of insight into the very sophisticated Rabbinic tradition. There is a sense of community among the students and Rabbi Lappe that is both warm and open. SVARA students have a feeling of being in something of a special club—one that is intellectual, spiritual, and social all at the same time.

Each session begins with "check-in's," during which time the students catch one another up on what has happened in their lives since the previous session, sometimes bringing in ethical dilemmas from their everyday lives, or just things they've been thinking about. The students are prepped for the day's text by being introduced to the broad issues the text will address, as well as any particularly difficult vocabulary or halachic concepts in the text. They then prepare the text in chevruta (pairs of two), after which we come together as a group to "unpack" the text, paying close attention to technical terms, grammar, vocabulary, etc., and then addressing the deeper meanings of the text. The "unpacking" inevitably leads to a freewheeling discussion that goes beyond the boundaries of the text and into issues in the students' real lives, beliefs, philosophy, etc.

Teen SVARA meets weekly and is open to 8th-12th graders, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity. No student is ever asked to identify their sexual orientation and, like all SVARA students, are referred to by the pronoun of their choice.

Teen SVARA will be accepting new students for the Spring 2011 term, which begins Tuesday, February 22nd.

Tuesdays, 7:30-9:00pm
Location: Jewish Reconstructionist Congregation, 303 Dodge Ave in Evanston

For more information, please contact SVARA at info@svara.org.