Heritage Florida Jewish News - Central Florida's Independent Jewish Voice

Nineteen teens gathered Aug. 18 at the Roth Jewish Community Center of Greater Orlando to kick off the school year with a paint war.

Club Tayarim, a new JCC program, is open to 6th-8th-grade students throughout the community for social, Judaic and community service programs.

“Club Tayarim is the Orlando Jewish community’s middle school program. It’s open to everyone and the participants actually choose their own activities and outings. Our goal is to strengthen Orlando’s Jewish, middle school community, which will result in a stronger Jewish high school community,” said Robby Etzkin, assistant executive director of the Roth JCC. These programs offer teens a variety of experiences to help bridge the gap between pre- and post-bar/bat mitzvah and high school. Club Tayarim’s mission is to offer middle school students a fun and safe environment to form new friendships and participate in fun and engaging programming.

Communitywide middle school students link together in an icebreaker at the Roth JCC.

“The middle school audience is a unique age group that has specific needs and wants to make Jewish values meaningful to them,” said Lory Conte, staff coordinator of Club Tayarim programs. “These monthly events allow us to focus on connecting youth to the Orlando Jewish community in an environment created just for them.”

Club Tayarim bridges the gap between middle school and high school and introduces young teens to peer-led programming, exciting social events, connections to their Jewish heritage, and character developing experiences in an inclusive environment that prepares teens for success in high school, college and beyond.

The next event will be SukkahFest on Sunday, Sept. 22 at the JCC. The group will be building their own edible sukkot, creating a YouTube video that will be shared all over, and of course snacks and games. For more information, contact Conte at LConte@bbyo.org or 407-645-5933.