Congregation Anshei Israel is proud to announce its fourth year of Rosh Hodesh: It’s a Girl Thing!, a program that uses Jewish teachings to help pre-teen and teenage girls make healthy life choices. An informal setting, small group size, and carefully designed activities create a fun and meaningful experience, which, when repeated monthly throughout girls’ teen years, strengthen their Jewish identity, leadership skills and self-esteem. All Jewish girls in 6^th through 9th grades who live in Tucson and the surrounding area are welcome to participate. Autumn Wiley, MA, is a Doctoral student in Clinical Psychology at the University of Arizona with a background in Women’s Studies, and has led the program for the last three years.

Girls participating in RHIAGT! across the country love the fact that it’s like their own special club. At monthly meetings, they talk about relating to friends, siblings and parents, create art, perform skits, do yoga, cook, dance, eat, and simply hang out with each other. (Parents are not allowed at meetings, except for the introductory meeting.) Girls who have participated in the program say, “I like how we all get along so well and how it’s just girls – NO BOYS!” and “You don’t have to feel self conscious or like you’re competing or being watched” and “We have so much fun!” Here’s what girls have said they learned from the program: “To be a good person,” “That everyone goes through the same things as I do” and “There are no right or wrong answers.”

The groups will meet at Congregation Anshei Israel in the Youth Center once a month on Sundays (6^th and 7^th graders, 12:15 to 2:15pm; 8^th and 9^th graders, 2:30 to 4:30pm) beginning September 11.

Parents and their daughters are invited to attend a “Taste of Rosh Hodesh: It’s a Girl Thing!” orientation on Sunday, August 21, from 6:00 to 7:30pm. Dinner will be included.

There is a charge of $150 per girl per year for the program, though no one is turned away.

For more information about It’s a Girl Thing! at Congregation Anshei Israel – how you as a Jewish girl, or your daughter, can become a part of this exciting program, contact Autumn Wiley or Rabbi Robert Eisen.

This program is sponsored by The Jake and Goldie Silverman Foundation and Congregation Anshei Israel.