Jewish Youth Encounter Program
Mission Statement
JYEP Mission Statement

The Jewish Youth Encounter Program is an independent Outreach
Hebrew School serving the Bergen County Jewish community.  It welcomes and
respects diversity among Jews and embraces children on all levels.   The JYEP is for
children in the third through seventh grades.

The mission of the JYEP is to embrace our children and their families:

•        Personally- Connect our youth through our Big Brother and Big Sister
Mentoring Program, providing an opportunity to learn Hebrew on a one on one
basis with a committed high school student who is trained and observed weekly. Our
Big Brothers and Big Sisters will inspire your children and instill in them a positive
sense of Judaism.  The sharing of knowledge, activities, celebrations and Shabbatons
will remain with your children through their lives. At the same time, your children
will experience the history, traditions, rituals and religion of our people taught
through our young and exciting staff.   

•        As a Family Unit- Educate your children on the meaning and purpose of
Jewish life. To provide a unique academic and religious education through a hands-
on experiential program that engages your children in Jewish philosophical
discussions and enriches their Jewish identity.

•        As a Community- Make Judaism come alive.  It’s about preparing your
children for their Bar and Bat Mitzvah and life as a member of the Jewish people.  To
deepen their Jewish identity and commitment to lifelong learning.

•        As a Broader Family- Embrace the entire family, welcoming them at our
many inclusive family programs centered on the holidays, life-cycles and Jewish
values, which help build lasting Jewish memories. Weekly through music and
storytelling during our Kehilla/community assembly time, our students appreciate
the aesthetics of Judaism, its sights and sounds.  

•        Reach out to the greater  community via Tikkun Olam/ Social Action-
social action.  There are an array of opportunities available to the JYEP students
and their families to do community outreach via our book drive for hospital-bound
children, collecting toys for Chanukah to be distributed to children in group homes
and orphanages, collecting food for Passover, or assembling toiletry bags  for the
homeless, just to name a few.  

•         As Members of the Human Race- To Instill in each of our students and
their families the contentment in feeling and thinking like a Jew and being proud of
that.  Incorporating all that they’ve learned in our school and apply it to their lives.