After several years of sharing a space with the Shalom Center on Albany Avenue, the youth programs of the Crown Heights Jewish Community Council have finally found a place to call their own. The new store front premises of 268 Brooklyn Avenue, at the corner of Lincoln Place are now if full operation. Situated just around the corner from Oholei Torah, at the center of the Crown Heights community, the new location is a second home to Mesivta-age students, providing weekly social gatherings and exciting, creative activities such as photography, art, crafts and music.

According to 20-year-old Shmuel Maytales who has been a member of youth program since 2006, “The after school program has been a wholesome experience. I’ve been able to build my skills and confidence, through choosing from a variety of engaging projects and activities.”

The program is a project of the CHJCC to provide support and guidance to Crown Heights teenagers through fun, engaging, recreational and educational mediums. Some nightly activities include a Thursday night beis medrash where volunteers and participants enjoy one-on-one learning followed by food, fun and a farbrengen; GED classes; Life skills training courses; along with art and musical outlets such as mosaic art projects, drawing lessons and music lessons.

“Everyone is welcome to stop by and check out our programs,” says Rabbi Levi Kaplan, CHJCC Director of Youth and Prevention Programming. “We look forward to repeating our highly successful Chaburas Hakayits [summer break] program with evening programs for day camp counselors this summer, and to creating more programs for the benefit of young people in our community.”