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In December, the URJ brought together leaders devoted to furthering connection with and expanding our Movement’s work around Israel to discuss effective leadership strategies, collaborate with and support each other, and organize to support our Israeli siblings and the worldwide Jewish community in the wake of October 7th.
The URJ continues to nurture thousands of young leaders through NFTY. In 2023, we focused on creating support networks of congregational partners, youth professionals, and alumni as we continued working directly with teens to support them as they recruit their peers. Our hard work paid off in November, which saw twice as many participants as the previous year in The Collab, our premier NFTY leadership gathering.
The RAC Teen Justice Fellowship gives youth leaders critical community organizing skills to create change in their communities. Experienced teachers and coaches guide fellows as they explore their passions and design and implement projects. In 2023, the URJ helped 193 Teen Justice Fellows from 29 states/provinces develop their skills as leaders and changemakers. The 115 Fellows in the spring cohort engaged over 800 of their peers, as did the 78 Fellows in our fall cohort. Combined, our 2023 Teen Justice Fellows inspired more than 1,600 young people to work together for a brighter future.
Our new Jews of Color Teen Fellowship gives high school juniors and seniors an inclusive, vibrant space to explore their intersecting identities, cultivate leadership skills, work on projects, and learn from mentors. During this fellowship, teens work to engage their home communities in art, conversation, activism, and storytelling that highlights their takeaways.
The URJ believes in the power of young people to change the world. This is the guiding principle of our Bernard and Audre Rapoport L’Taken Social Justice Seminar. In 2023, we focused on creating support networks of congregational partners, youth professionals, and alumni as we continued directly supporting teens as they recruited their peers.
Presidents, co-presidents, and presidents-elect of URJ-affiliated congregations attended the Scheidt Seminar in April 2023 to focus on their role as agents of change. Throughout the seminar, attendees discussed topics such as developing a membership pipeline, innovation, encouraging diversity, engagement, cultivating philanthropy, and building a diverse support network.
Our Teen Israel Organizing Immersive is an important tool for helping teens deepen their connection with Israel through community organizing at home. The 75 teens in the inaugural cohort each received $200 toward their community organizing project, one-on-one mentoring, and opportunities to network with other community organizers and experts on Israel.
