On Aug. 11, 2024, prospective Girl Scouts were introduced to Troop 5881. Clockwise from lower left: Hila Vaknin, Noa Vaknin, Simcha Jakob, Phoebe Jameson, Ella Jameson, Atara Levi and Sarit Klirs.
By Deb Silverthorn
“I will do my best to be honest and fair, friendly and helpful, considerate and caring, courageous and strong and responsible for what I say and do,” reads the Girl Scout oath, “and to respect myself and others, respect authority, use resources wisely, make the world a better place and be a sister to every Girl Scout.” Congregation Beth Torah is now hosting Troop 5881, the area’s only all-Jewish troop registered with the Girl Scouts of the USA.
“Girl Scouts is about sisterhood and friendship and, through Troop 5881, connections to the Jewish community,” said Frances Jameson, troop co-leader with Naomi Vaknin, of the introductory meeting on Aug. 25 which had 25 young ladies in attendance. “I wanted an opportunity for my daughters to learn and experience strength, resilience and a ‘can-do’ attitude.
“Our focus is on getting to know one another and building friendships,” said Jameson, whose daughters Phoebe and Ella have joined the troop. “They had a great time.”
At the opening meeting, Scouts went right to work on their “Social Butterfly” badges with several icebreaker activities. Through crafts, conversation and snacks, they’re on their way to fulfilling the requirements of holding a conversation, using table manners, being prepared for special occasions, saying “thank you” and practicing being at ease.
On Aug. 25, 2024, at Congregation Beth Torah, 25 girls in grades K to 5 attended the first meeting of Troop 5881.
Opening and closing each meeting all together, grades will break out for most activities. Troop 5881 participants in kindergarten and first grade are “Daisies”; in grades two and three, this division already at capacity, are “Brownies”; and grades four and five are “Juniors.” They will earn badges and participate in campouts, Shabbatons and Girl Scout Cookie sales. Meetings for this school year will be held from 1 to 3 p.m. twice monthly at Congregation Beth Torah.
The troop is open to any Jewish girl in the community. Girls already registered include students at Akiba Yavneh Academy, Ann & Nate Levine Academy, Torah Day School of Dallas and numerous public schools. There are students from many synagogues and all branches of Judaism as well as girls whose families are not affiliated with a congregation.
“I was a Girl Scout from Brownies through high school — earning me a lifetime membership — and my stepmother was our leader. I only had the best memories. I wanted to give that to my girls,” said Vaknin. Her daughters Hila and Noa are members of Troop 5881. “I learned strength, responsibility and girl power in the very best sense of the concept.
In 1989 in Huntsville, Alabama, current Troop 5881 mother and supporter Rachel Leventon was a Girl Scout, and her mother the “Cookie Mom.”
“Scouts teaches that if you want something, go after it and get it,” Vaknin said. “I made local friends and I had pen pals in Hawaii.”
Planned activities for the Scouts to earn badges include a Hanukkah visit to light the menorah at area senior living residences; sharing lessons of Tu B’Shevat (New Year of the Trees) and Earth Day; and giving mishloach manot (gifts of food and drink) on Purim. There are badges to be earned and activities planned that are STEM-related (science, nature, business and arts).
Supporting Jameson and Vaknin is Rachel Leventon, chair of the Dallas Jewish Committee on Scouting, which includes Cub Scouts, Girl Scouts of the USA and Scouts BSA. Leventon is committed to promoting participation in Scouting within the Jewish community while using the shared religion to enhance the Scouting experience.
“I was a Girl Scout from Brownies through Juniors and my mom was the ‘Cookie Mom.’ What Frances and Naomi have spent so much time bringing together and what is now in action is wonderful,” said Leventon, whose daughter Shira is in Troop 5881 and Eris, a former Daisy, Brownie and Junior, is now a member of Scouts BSA. “We recognize how hard it is for families in programs where they cannot participate fully because of Shabbat and kashrut observance and where they have to make choices whether or not to participate in Christmas activities. Having an all-Jewish troop gives girls a safe space to have fun and grow.”
Troop 5881, says Vaknin, “is empowering and a very happy place.”
For more information or to support Troop 5881, email gstroop05881@gmail.com. Registration is open now at tinyurl.com/Jewish-Girl-Scouts-at-BT.
