A cornerstone of the Temple Shaaray Tefila teen experience are Jewish immersive teen trips. Each year, there is a Pathways trip available for each grade to visit somewhere meaningful and unique. All trips include elements of Jewish learning, community service, sightseeing, and free time. For many trips, there are pre-trip and post-trip learning sessions to deepen the trip experiences. Space is limited for all trips, and additional fees and registration are required to participate. There may also be additional permission forms and releases to fill out for trips.
In 2024-2025, our trips include:
8th grade: The Catskills and Jewish Life in Greater New York
8th graders will get to take an educational and fun trip just a couple hours north to the Borscht Belt to learn about Jewish history and roots in New York state, all the while enjoying the fall foliage that upstate has to offer (think apple picking) and enjoying classic food and diners!
9th and 10th Grade: The Religious Action Center (RAC), Washington, DC
Our 9th graders take a transformative trip to Washington D.C. where they learn how Jewish values and political processes intersect in the national halls of our capital. These teens, who have just entered high school and are beginning to think through their own political leanings and alignments, spend a weekend with Jewish lobbyists to learn how the many Judaic principles and morals that they have learned after years in our religious school are translated into legislative proposals and documents. Teens are able to pick issues they personally care about and workshop how to draft documents that appeal to elected officials to invest in their cause.
11th and 12th grade: International Educational Getaway
Our Juniors and Seniors final Pathways trips take them to faraway destinations to explore different cultures, learn how Jewish life takes shape in divergent places, and give them ample time to tour new sites and neighborhoods with their friends they’ve made over the past decade in our religious school and youth programs. Recent destinations have included Portugal, Cuba, the Czech Republic, and Austria.
8th thru 12th grade: Local NYC Adventures
We have a rotating series of local trips that all members of Pathways are able to attend. We are always developing new trips to show our teens across all the boroughs of our city, but recent recurring trips have included: ice skating at the Rockefeller Center rink; a pizza tour of New York City slice staples; a culinary and cultural tour of the Lower East Side; and bowling and escape room outings.
