Midrasha is a community-based, pluralistic supplemental education program for East Bay Jewish teenagers in grades 8-12.
Our program helps teens connect deeply with their peers, find supportive mentors, learn about who they are, and explore what it means to be Jewish.
Through classes, social programs, and Shabbat retreats, our students find a sense of personal Jewish understanding, a nourishing safe space in the midst of their overly-full schedules, and a community of friends that will last a lifetime.
Schedule:
Important dates and closures for the 2023-2024 school year:
September 2024:
October:
November:
December:
January 2025:
February:
March:
April:
May:
*Separate registration. Please note, the costs of these optional retreats are not included in the Berkeley-Oakland Midrasha programming fees.
For the 2025-2025 school year:
Please visit the registration page for additional financial support.
We strongly encourage you to reach out to your local Federation, Jewish Community Foundation, and synagogue to enquire about local funding opportunities.
Limited scholarships are available locally for families in need of financial assistance. All funding is need-based and you can apply through a confidential process. Once registration and deposit has been paid, please email Yafit Shriki Megidish (yafit.shrikimegidish@jcceastbay.org) to receive the financial aid application.
Registration includes submitting the completed registration, personal contact information, a non-refundable deposit paid upon signing up, and agreement to the non-refundable remainder of the payment to JCC East Bay. If a student needs to drop the program, please email the Director of Teen Programs and future payments will be suspended.
If you wish to withdraw your child from the program, then a Schedule Change email must be submitted to Director of Teen Programs. There is a $25 administrative charge for processing this request. The deposit will be forfeited for any withdrawal before the end of the school year. In addition, you will be responsible for the next scheduled monthly installment payment after the date the withdrawal notice is received. If we receive notice of withdrawal in writing on or before the 5th of the month, you will be responsible for the installment payment due on the 5th of the current month. However, if we receive notice after the 5th, you will be responsible for the installment payment due on the 5th of the following month. Your child may attend the program until the end of the month following the month in which your last payment is received. We cannot provide refunds for annual prepaid enrollment.
For Maccabi Games: Additional registration steps are required at later dates including medical forms, and online registration, roommate requests etc. Your delegation head will supply detailed information as next steps are required. If an athlete does not have completed registration for UltraCamp, Regpack, and CampDoc by the corresponding due date, families will receive a $150 late fee. After March 1, 2025, fees are non-refundable and any changes to registration will result in a $250 athlete replacement fee.
When does Berkeley-Oakland Midrasha meet?
We meet on Sundays from 5:30-8pm, September 15 through May 11, 2025.
What is Ikar?
Teens take two classes (a grade level “core” class + an elective) and take part in other general programming. Classes encourage personal engagement with Jewish identity, ethics, culture, and thought, as well as participation in a Jewish teen community.
What is Zman to Fun?
Each Sunday after dinner, we will rotate different opportunities for connection outside of teens’ elective classes. From organizing and working on a monthly service project that supports our local community, to practicing our self-defense skills in a Krav Maga class, we’re ready for all the shenanigans!
What type of food is provided?
Every Midrasha class will have kosher donuts as part of the nosh/break in the class schedule. Any additional food provided for special events (i.e. – holiday celebrations) will be vegetarian and kosher. If there are special dietary requirements, please make sure to note them in the registration form.
What are the Shabbaton retreats?
In collaboration with Contra Costa Midrasha, teens from different Midrasha campuses will join together for these amazing retreat weekends.
Exploring all that nature has to offer, meeting new friends from all over the Bay Area, taking a much needed tech break, eating an unbelievable amount of smores, howling at the moon, and Havdalah campfire singing and dancing are just a few of the ways that our teens get to be in community over our Midrasha Shabbaton retreat weekends.
Please note, the costs of these optional retreats are not included in the Berkeley-Oakland Midrasha programming fees.
When are the retreats?
– Fall Retreat: November 8 – 10
– Winter Retreat: January 31 – February 2
– Spring Retreat: March 21 – 23
Brianna Sommer
Director of Youth and Teen Programs
briannas@jcceastbay.org
510-848-0237, ext. 141