Shevet for Teen Boys

In Moving Traditions’ Shevet groups, teen boys* gather monthly with a trained adult mentor using a dynamic curriculum. Together in a circle of support, participants experience a brave, sacred space for them to articulate their deepest concerns, consider the impact of gender norms on their daily lives, celebrate and support together through joys and challenges, be their authentic selves with their peers, and explore topics that matter most to them.  

*All of our teen groups are safe and inclusive spaces for youth to join as they self-identify. Nonbinary teens are welcome in whatever space they feel most comfortable. 


Find a Group

Locate a Jewish institution near you offering a Shevet group.

Logistics

Who: Shevet is a safe, inclusive space for Jewish boys and nonbinary teens. Shevet group leaders are hired by the hosting institution (or directly by Moving Traditions for community groups) and are trained by Moving Traditions in our research-based methodology. Group leaders are chosen because of their desire to serve as healthy adult role models for teens.  

Where: Most Shevet groups are offered through a partnering synagogue or institution (such as a school, JCC, camp, etc) who has licensed the Moving Traditions curriculum for the program in order to offer it to their own teens. Sometimes we offer “community groups” when there is a group of teens/families who want a Shevet group, but they aren’t affiliated with a Moving Traditions partner. Groups either meet at the hosting institution or rotate through the rooms of the teens in the group. Due to Covid or geographic realities, some groups meet online or in a hybrid of online/in-person depending on circumstances. 

When: Most Shevet groups meet once a month, for 1.5 – 2 hours if in person, and for 1 – 1.5 hours if online. The schedule depends on each specific group – find one near you. 

“[Shevet is] a community where I can be my true self without feeling judged.”
– Shevet Participant 

Engaging Discussions & Dynamic Curriculum

Like all Moving Traditions programs, Shevet combines Jewish wisdom made relevant for today with positive psychology and social-emotional learning – proven methods of learning that foster wellbeing.  

Want to get a taste of what participants talk about? Request sample curriculum or take a look at the Shevet curricular overview

Background

Shevet means “tribe,” and our program for teen boys grew out of three years of research. Seeing that boys were disconnecting from Jewish life after bar mitzvah, at a time when the guidance, friendship, and sense of purpose that Judaism could provide were most needed, we set out to re-imagine the transition from being a boy to being a young man.