Welcome to Youth Education and Hevra (YEAH) at Agudas Achim! A hevra is a group of friends assembled for a purpose. It’s your gang, your buddies, the people who will help you when you need them.
YEAH is our children’s hevra at Agudas Achim. It combines all the ways that Agudas Achim engages children and families:
- Religious and cultural education (the Sunday School, Spring Into Hebrew)
- Family-friendly religious services
- Tot Shabbat
- Celebrations like the Hanukkah party and Purim Carnival
- The Youth Group.
Taken together, these programs shape our children’s sense of themselves as part of a nurturing Jewish community.
The Jewish community in Iowa City is small. Our children know how it feels to be the only Jewish kid in their “regular” school.
To create Jewish community in Iowa City, we have to work just a little harder than if we were in New York or Chicago.
Building community means showing
up for each other: going to family services, celebrating B-Mitzvah, and having fun in Youth Group. We look forward to seeing you at these events!
Below is the YEAH calendar for 2026-2027. Watch your email for other events during the year. Is there a program you would like to create? We are always looking for volunteers to lead new initiatives. Contact Sonja Spear (Principal@AgudasAchimIC.org).
YEAH (YOUTH EDUCATION AND HEVRA)
2026-2027 Schedule
YEAH & Youth Group
Education Sessions
Sundays 9:15 a.m.-12:15 p.m.
Select Friday/Saturday nights.
Youth Group meets on the dates listed below.
AUGUST 29, Saturday:
- Youth Group: Apple Picking at Wilson’s Orchard
SEPTEMBER 25, Friday (Erev Sukkot):
- Tot Shabbat, 5:30 p.m.
- YEAH Evening Event: Sukkah decorating at 5:30, followed by supper in the Sukkah. Family-friendly service with dessert to follow.
SEPTEMBER 27, Sunday
- No Programming
OCTOBER 4, Sunday
- (No Morning Meeting)
- YEAH Evening Event: Pizza Dinner 5:30 p.m. with Family-Friendly Service to Follow
OCTOBER 11, Sunday
- YEAH Morning Meeting, 9:15 a.m.-12:15 p.m.
- Youth Group: Lunch and Applesauce Making 12:30 p.m.
OCTOBER 25, Sunday
- YEAH Morning Meeting, 9:15 a.m.-12:15 p.m.
OCTOBER 31, Saturday
- Tot Shabbat 11 a.m.
NOVEMBER 1, Sunday
- YEAH Morning Meeting, 9:15 a.m.-12:15 p.m.
NOVEMBER 8, Sunday
- YEAH Morning Meeting, 9:15 a.m.-12:15 p.m.
NOVEMBER 15, Sunday
- YEAH Morning Meeting, 9:15 a.m.-12:15 p.m.
- Youth Group (Co-Sponsored with Tikkun Olam):Thanksgiving Food Drive
NOVEMBER 20, Friday
- Tot Shabbat 5:30 p.m.
NOVEMBER 22, Sunday
- No Programming, Thanksgiving break
NOVEMBER 29, Sunday
- No Programming, Thanksgiving Break
DECEMBER 6, Sunday
- YEAH Morning Meeting, 9:15 a.m.-12:15 p.m.
- Hanukkah Party (times TBA)
DECEMBER 13, Sunday
- No Morning YEAH
- Youth Group: Lunch and Watch Full-Court Miracle 12:30 p.m.
DECEMBER 19, Saturday
- Tot Shabbat 11 a.m.
DECEMBER 20, Sunday
- No Programming, Winter Break
DECEMBER 27
- No Programming, Winter Break
JANUARY 3
- No Programming, Winter Break
JANUARY 10, Sunday
- YEAH Morning Meeting, 9:15 a.m.-12:15 p.m.
JANUARY 17, Sunday
- No Programming, MLK Weekend
JANUARY 24, Sunday
- YEAH Morning Meeting, 9:15 a.m.-12:15 p.m.
JANUARY 31
- YEAH Morning Meeting, 9:15 a.m.-12:15 p.m.
- Youth Group: Lunch, Bake for Free Lunch 12:30 p.m.
FEBRUARY 7, Sunday
- YEAH Morning Meeting, 9:15 a.m.-12:15 p.m.
FEBRUARY 14, Sunday
- YEAH Morning Meeting, 9:15 a.m.-12:15 p.m.
FEBRUARY 21, Sunday
- YEAH Morning Meeting, 9:15 a.m.-12:15 p.m.
FEBRUARY 28
- YEAH Morning Meeting, 9:15 a.m.-12:15 p.m.
- Youth Group: Lunch, Bake for Purim Bake Sale 12:30 p.m.
MARCH 7, Sunday
- YEAH Morning Meeting, 9:15 a.m.-12:15 p.m
- Purim Carnival
- Youth Group: Annual Purim Bake Sale Fundraiser
MARCH 14, Sunday
- No Programming, Spring Break
MARCH 21. Sunday
- No Programming, Spring Break
MARCH 28, Sunday
- No Programming, Spring Break
APRIL 4, Sunday
- YEAH Morning Meeting, 9:15 a.m.-12:15 p.m.
APRIL 11, Sunday
- YEAH Morning Meeting, 9:15 a.m.-12:15 p.m.
APRIL 17, Saturday
- Youth Group: Prince of Egypt Movie Night 7 p.m.
APRIL 18. Sunday
- YEAH Morning Meeting, 9:15 a.m.-12:15 p.m.
APRIL 25, Sunday
- No Programming, Passover
MAY 2. Sunday
- YEAH Morning Meeting, 9:15 a.m.-12:15 p.m.
MAY 9. Sunday
- YEAH Morning Meeting, 9:15 a.m.-12:15 p.m.
MAY 14, Friday
- YEAH Meets
- Dinner and Kabbalat Shabbat
- Youth Group: Sleepover