About J-Site

What is J-SITE?


J-SITE is The Jewish Site for Innovative Teen Education.

Mission

At J-SITE, Jewish teenagers engage in formal and experiential learning to acquire a body of Jewish knowledge and inspire them to take an active role in Jewish life.

Vision

As the leader in Jewish teenage education for students from all backgrounds, J-SITE prepares individuals to think critically, feel responsibility to the Jewish people, and participate in Jewish communal life. Positive Jewish involvement at this pivotal age will help teens grow into highly engaged Jews. The J-SITE program is organized around the following areas:

Academic

Arts and Culture

Service Learning and Leadership

Israel

LEADERSHIP

Beth Young has been the Director of Teen Education at the Agency for Jewish Learning since April of 2005. Beth holds a Masters in Jewish Education from the Rhea Hirsch School of Education at Hebrew Union College in Los Angeles, CA. Prior to moving to Pittsburgh she worked as the Judaic Studies Coordinator for the day school at Temple Israel of Hollywood. In 2004 she received the title of Reform Jewish Educator. Beth completed her undergraduate studies in political science at Emory University in Atlanta, GA.

Beth is the co-chair of the Professional Development Committee for the National Association of Temple Educators (NATE) and will be joining the board in June 2008. She is also on the conference planning committee for the North American Association of Community Hebrew High Schools (NAACHHS). Beth was awarded a marketing and recruitment grant from the Institute for Informal Jewish Education at Brandeis University. She published "What Motivates College Students," based on her undergraduate honors thesis in Jewish Education News in the winter of 2003.

As a teenager, Beth was an active member of the Chicago region of the North American Federation of Temple Youth (NFTY), serving as regional social action vice-president for two years. She attended Olin-Sang Ruby Union Institute in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin.

Beth is happily married to Rabbi Danny Young, Associate Rabbi at Rodef Shalom Congregation.

Nira Lion is the Director of AJL Hebrew Language Programs and our NETA Hebrew Coordinator.

Nira is an experienced educator who taught Hebrew, Hebrew Literature and Bible in elementary as well as High schools and to adult students (ulpan) as well as training new Hebrew teachers. She developed methods and other devices to make the teaching of Hebrew engaging and joyful. In 2002 Nira received the Grinspoon Steinhardt Award for excellence in Jewish education as teacher, mentor & leader.

Nira Lion, a native Israeli, is a graduate of Hebrew University in Jerusalem majoring in Hebrew literature, Bible and Linguistics and received teaching certification. She earned a M. Ed. from the University of Pittsburgh.

Meredith Gettys is the new Director of the Teen Initiative. Meredith is a native Pittsburgh resident, who was the Regional N'Siah ( President) of Keystone Mountain Region BBYO. During the summers she was a camper, counselor, and Unit Head at Emma Kaufmann Camp. Meredith always wanted to be working in the Jewish Communal field, especially with Jewish teens. After graduating from Ohio University in 2003, she moved to DC to become the Director of Northern VA BBYO and the JCC Teen Director. During her stint in DC, BBYO grew from under 100 teens to over 200 in 4 years. Meredith was a participant in the Charles and Lynn Schusterman Foundation Kivun Conference, was a PANIM advisor for J-serve, and was awarded the Professional of the Year Award from the Partnership from Jewish Life and Learning. She is looking forward to enhancing Jewish teen life in Pittsburgh, and can not wait to meet everyone!

Annette Tamburro Michak is pleased to join the Teen Department at the Agency for Jewish Learning. Check back soon for a bio.

J-SITE Committee Members

* indicates an AJL Board Member