WBTY (Wilshire Boulevard Temple Youth) 2025-2026
WBTY membership entitles students to participate in any, some, or all of the high school programming offered. Once a registered member, teens have access to all of our WBTY teen programming. (Non-temple members may apply for a synagogue youth membership for an additional $250 per year).
Program Options
WBTY
WBTY7 (Grade 7)
WBTY7 is a dynamic, once-a-month learning journey designed to engage students in both deep learning and community-building with Jewish identity, Israel, and the broader Jewish community at its core. The program combines interactive lessons with social time, fostering a strong sense of Jewish identity and a deeper connection to Israel, while also promoting the skills needed for thoughtful and respectful dialogue on complex topics.
In addition to the educational curriculum, each session will incorporate social time, giving students a chance to connect with one another in a relaxed and informal setting. This social component is integral to the program, as it fosters a supportive environment where students can feel comfortable sharing their thoughts, learning from one another, and developing lasting connections.
By blending education with community-building, this program aims to empower students with knowledge, encourage respectful dialogue, and create a strong, connected Jewish community.
WBTY (Grade 8)
WBTY (GRADE 8)
Wilshire BBYO- Glazer and Irmas
WBTYWednesday Resnick
Madrichim- Glazer, Irmas and Resnick on Sundays, or Wednesday at Resnick
WBTY (Grade 9)
WBTY (GRADE 9)
Wilshire BBYO- Glazer and Irmas
WBTYWednesday Resnick
Madrichim
Love and Relationships Retreat (9th-11th Graders)- October 24-26, 2025
We teach our children to walk, swim, and look both ways...now it’s time to teach them the importance of being in a healthy relationship and other essential life skills. Facilitated by Rachel Waltuch, a trained sex educator, teens explore the complexity of the often-conflicting feelings and messages that naturally arise in peer relationships. At the core of this program are open and honest discussions about relationship dynamics, sex, and emotional and physical safety. After participating in the retreat, teens report that the topics and questions they explored positively impacted their life decisions. Whether they go willingly or grudgingly, by the end of the first night, each and every teen participant reports that the experience was not at all what they anticipated and had a profoundly positive and significant impact on their thinking. This retreat is described as “life-changing” and “incredibly impactful.”
Learn more or register for the Love and Relationships Retreat here!
WBTY (Grades 10-12)
WBTY (GRADES 10-12)
Wilshire BBYO- Glazer and Irmas
WBTYWednesday Resnick
Madrichim
WBTYNetwork
Are you curious about your future career? No matter what field sparks your interest, our exclusive mentorship program is the ideal way to explore it! Participants are paired with a Wilshire Boulevard Temple member working in their desired profession, providing a unique opportunity to learn firsthand. Through at least three meetings, teens can ask insightful questions, gain a deeper understanding of the day-to-day realities of the profession, and receive guidance on how to pursue their dreams. This program offers a valuable step toward discovering your career path and gaining essential, real-world insights from experienced mentors.
Confirmation
Join 125 years of tradition by taking a meaningful step in your journey to becoming a Jewish adult and enriching the Jewish community by participating in the Confirmation program. To be part of this transformative experience, teens are required to actively engage in at least one other WBTY program—whether it’s WBTYWednesdays, Madrichim, or the AJU Jewish Learning Experience—along with four Confirmation-specific gatherings. Confirmation is not just about deepening your Jewish identity; it's about forging lasting friendships and building connections within the Wilshire Boulevard Temple community. This milestone marks a special moment in your life, and we look forward to celebrating it together on the bimah at the end of the year, late Saturday afternoon, May 30, 2026.
AJU Jewish Learning Experience
For the 2025-2026 school year, Wilshire Boulevard Temple Youth will offer the course JST 313: Introduction to the History, Culture, and People of Israel. This college-level course allows students to earn three undergraduate college credits and is open to high school students with a 2.5 GPA or higher. The weekly course is asynchronous, with eight in-person discussion classes at the Irmas Campus (likely on Wednesday nights from 7-8 pm), led by Rabbi Ashley Berns-Chafetz (Associate Director of Religious Schools). This is a wonderful opportunity for your teen to engage deeply with Jewish history and culture and receive college credits. For interested students, participation in this course counts toward Confirmation at Wilshire Boulevard Temple. Students register directly through the American Jewish University. The course costs $1,300 plus $90 for student fees, and financial aid is available. If you have any questions about the class, please contact Rabbi Ashley at rabbiashley@wbtla.org.
Love and Relationships Retreat (9th-11th Graders)- October 24-26, 2025
We teach our children to walk, swim, and look both ways...now it’s time to teach them the importance of being in a healthy relationship and other essential life skills. Facilitated by Rachel Waltuch, a trained sex educator, teens explore the complexity of the often-conflicting feelings and messages that naturally arise in peer relationships. At the core of this program are open and honest discussions about relationship dynamics, sex, and emotional and physical safety. After participating in the retreat, teens report that the topics and questions they explored positively impacted their life decisions. Whether they go willingly or grudgingly, by the end of the first night, each and every teen participant reports that the experience was not at all what they anticipated and had a profoundly positive and significant impact on their thinking. This retreat is described as “life-changing” and “incredibly impactful."
Learn more or register for the Love and Relationships Retreat here!
Travel (Grades 9-12)
L.E.A.D. Advocacy Trip to Sacramento with the Jewish Center for Justice
Open to students in grades 9-12, trip in the spring (date TBA)
A day trip to Sacramento where our teens will discover their power to be effective advocates and a voice for justice. They will advocate on issues they are passionate about and meet with state political leaders. There will be three pre-trip sessions to prepare.
L’Taken Social Justice Seminar to Washington D.C.
Open to students in grades 10-12, and highly encouraged for students participating in Confirmation. Date TBA (typically in February)
A four-day event designed to help Jewish teens discover their power to be effective advocates and a voice for justice in the nation’s capital. It’s informative, educational, and so much fun, with lots of time to explore D.C. and make friends from across North America! The trip usually takes place in February. Exact dates will be announced in the fall.