Thanks to a two-year grant from the Jewish Community Foundation in West Hartford, the Emanuel Synagogue and Jewish Teen Learning Connection (JTConnect) are partnering to launch a new teen program called “JTAwakenings.”

Beginning in September, JTConnect, a learning and social community that aims to connect Hartford area Jewish teens to their Jewish heritage, will present a new Sunday morning program  for teens in grades 8 – 12 that offers a rich menu of courses, programs, speakers and field trips.  Held weekly at The Emanuel Synagogue, 10:30 a.m. to 12 noon, the West Hartford shul’s Rabbi David Small will join the JTAwakenings faculty, along with other talented educators from throughout the greater Hartford community.

Leaders from The Emanuel Synagogue and JTConnect signed a Memorandum of Understanding recently, making their partnership on JTAwakenings official. Pictured here are: (seated, l to r) Emanuel President Ira Henowitz, JTConnect Director Heather Fiedler, Ron Apter, Rabbi David Small; (standing, l to r) Mel Simon, Sue Gellerman, Becky Azia, Anne Martha Pitegoff, Michael Liebman, Judye Fox, Marcus Fink, Julie Gershon, Rebecca Zeuschner, Michelle Zeuschner, Lori Greenwald, Dina Weis, Judy Salm, Laura Kinyon, Lewis Cohen (hidden), Dina Nathan.

“We are delighted to be partnering with JTConnect to provide cutting-edge, outstanding educational opportunities for Jewish teens in Metro Hartford. This exciting, new community collaboration is in keeping with the Emanuel’s inclusive, forward-thinking mission,” said Emanuel President Ira Henowitz, in announcing the partnership.

JTAwakening’s calendar and curriculum will complement JTConnect’s existing Monday evening JTCentral program. The two programs will offer five parallel and complementary terms that run six or seven weeks and focus on themes ranging from exploring ideas of Jewish identity, community and tradition to Judaism and the arts. JTAwakenings will also feature field trips and speakers that encourage teens to explore their connections to Judaism from a variety of viewpoints.

“We are very excited about our collaboration with the Emanuel and by the opportunity to offer JTConnect’s innovative, hands-on approach to Jewish learning and doing to the community’s teens,” says Ron Apter, JTConnect president.

For more information on JTAwakenings, contact (860) 727-6110 or director@jtconnect.org.