Who We Are

Austin Temple Teens

Official Website

Who We Are

Austin Temple Teens is the official youth group of high school students at Congregation Beth Israel in Austin, Texas. Aside from our fantastic local events, ATT is also part of NFTY-TOR, the Texas-Oklahoma Region of the North-American Federation of Temple Youth. Five times every year, members of all the youth groups in NFTY-TOR get together for a weekend of study, social action, t'filah, and socializing. Being a member of ATT entitles you to attend these awesome regional events. They are the highlight of belonging to a NFTY-affiliated youth group. The programming and study is relevant and fun, the social action effective, the t'filah creative and moving, and the socializing is, well, socializing! Get in touch with us for information on the next regional event.

Board Bios

La Prez, Leah Barish

My name is Leah Barish, and like I said, I am the president of Austin Temple Teens. I am a senior theater major at McCallum Fine Arts Academy. This is my fourth year on board, and I can honestly say that my involvement in ATT has been a high point in my life. I have loved my years on board, and the local and regional events, but the summer of 2006 I went to Israel with NFTY and it was that experience which changed my life. If there is anything that I could say to convince you all to join ATT and NFTY it would be this: this is the organization that will take you to the land which you were promised, this is the organization through which you will meet your best friends, and this is the place where you will find your second home. It is my goal this year to create a place where young Jews in Austin can feel welcome, can have fun and can learn about their culture. I will create a place where it is fun and safe and meaningful to be a teenage Jew in Austin, Texas.

Programming Vice President, Maya Gaster

Hey everyone. My name is Maya Gaster and I am your Programming Vice President for the upcoming '07-'08 school-year. I'm seventeen and attend Garza High School. In addition to my duties in ATT, I also play piano, dance ballet, and am involved in activism, specifically educational reform in central Texas. I'm so excited about ATT this year! Our board is amazing and we
are all going to have a really fun year. During the past three years I've been a member of ATT, I've met some awesome people, learned new things, and had fun doing things I never thought I would have fun doing. (Can anyone say services?) In my experience with ATT I've also experienced programming and activities that could have been better, so
it is my goal this year to communicate with, not only the board, but also the members of ATT to make sure everyone can have as much fun as I do.

Social Action Vice President, Harrison Glaser

Hi, my name's Harrison Glaser. I'm a senior at LBJ High School and I am ATT's Social Action Vice President, meaning I will supply you/your kids with various volunteering opportunities throughout the year. I'm looking forward to a really good year at ATT, and I can't wait to get your (kids') hands dirty through the spirit of giving.

Religious and Cultural Vice President, Sarah Goldgar

My name is Sarah Goldgar, I'm 17 years old and I'm the RCVP (Religious and Cultural Vice President) of ATT. I love ATT because you make really good friends, meet new people and have fun while helping others and being involved in your community. My other activities include Marching Band (I'm a band nerd), interning for school, being a Madricha, having fun, watching movies, and going moon tanning with Maya. My goal for ATT is to have lots of fun, get people involved with the temple and their community, and have a great year.

Membership Vice President, Jake Bilich

Hi my name is Jake Bilich and I am the new membership vice president. I'm 16, and am going to be a junior McCallum High school. I really enjoy ATT because we always are doing fun activities with Jewish teenagers. I also really enjoy NFTY because the Kallot and Conclaves give me a chance to see all of my other Jewish friends who live all around the state. This year ATT is going to be a lot of fun and I am really looking forward all of the different and fun activities that we will be doing, and all of the
regional events that we will be attending.

Communications Vice President, Rebekah Pool

Hi my name is Rebekah Pool, and this is my second year being on board with ATT. I am in eleventh grade at McCallum High School, and I am also the co-editor of my schools yearbook! This summer I went to Israel for five weeks with NFTY's L'dor V'dor program!! I went to Prague, Poland and of course Israel. If you get the chance to go to Israel, I would advise going...it is the experience of a lifetime. I am very excited for ATT this year, and as CVP I am going to do the best I can to get as many people possible coming to our events. I hope you like reading e-mails and getting flyers in the mail, because I will be sending a lot of those out this year!!