Campaign for Youth Engagement: Committing to the Jewish Future
Rabbi Jonah Pesner Launches the Campaign for Youth Engagement at the 2011 URJ Biennial
The CYE Vision Team: The Need for a Campaign
for Youth Engagement
NFTY Voices: This is My Campaign
Why is the Reform Movement embarking on this Campaign? Our communities are full of dedicated and creative lay people and professionals who successfully engage youth and families. And yet, we know that if current trends continue in our congregations, approximately 80% of the children who become b'nei mitzvah will have no connection of any kind to their Jewish community by the time they reach 12th grade. We need to better understand why far too often, youth and their families feel it is not worth their time and money to stay engaged in Jewish life.
What is the goal? We plan to dramatically improve the ability of Reform institutions to involve young people in meaningful Jewish life and strengthen post-b'nei mitzvah engagement and retention in synagogues, day schools, camps, and youth programs throughout North America.
How will we accomplish this? The Campaign will utilize the breadth and depth of relationships that exist within the Reform Movement—its congregations and its numerous governing bodies—and bring to bear the full commitment of talent and resources of the Movement.
How can you help?
See "Get Involved" below to learn how you can support the Campaign. Read the Call to Action, a series of Movement-wide commitments to the Jewish future that was announced at the URJ Biennial – and email us at youthengagement@urj.org to participate.
Make a Commitment
Read the Call to Action, a series of Movement-wide commitments to the Jewish future that was announced at the URJ Biennial – and email us at youthengagement@urj.org to participate.
Begin Planning Now
Unlike the Pilot Projects, the Planning Pilots are not designed to offer a ready-made program for youth engagement. They focus on people, rather than programs by supporting you in gathering data from congregants - data that will inspire critical conversations with leadership about where change may be needed.
Download Resources The latest issue of Torah at the Center, a publication for Jewish educators, focuses on youth engagement. More useful publications will be posted here soon.
Educational leaders will share their experiences planning and implementing new portfolio projects through the framework of congregational school programs for the post-b'nei mitzvah population of learners. Issues include mentoring, curriculum, administration, virtual meeting and how to share knowledge with a growing community of practice working in this domain.
Recent studies suggest that engagement through teen philanthropy is extraordinarily compelling for high school students. The URJ's Campaign for Youth Engagement is about to begin the second year of its Teen Philanthropy pilot, in collaboration with the Jewish Teen Funders Network. During the past year, eight congregations have participated in the design and implementation of a 20 hour educational program that takes teens from understanding the real meaning of tzedakah, to making their own grants – with a series of exciting opportunities in between. Join us for this webinar to hear from the congregations who have piloted the material this year, and to learn about how your congregation can become part of the pilot as we launch year two.
The URJ's Congregational Consulting Group (CCG) is comprised of experienced and effective specialists available to offer expertise to congregations through phone calls, face-to-face and web meetings, including webinar trainings; conference calls; and resource preparation and distribution.
Does the URJ's incoming president, Rabbi Rick Jacobs, support this campaign? In
Rabbi Jacobs' Remarks to the URJ Board of Trustees Upon His Election,
he stated: "The future of the Movement - and that of the
North American Jewish community - is dependent upon the children and
young adults in our congregations and those who would be part of
congregations. The Youth Engagement Campaign that Rabbi Yoffie initiated
is critical to the bright Jewish future we're all hoping to shape. I'm
committed to moving this forward." Who are the people providing leadership and vision? Meet the Campaign for Youth Engagement staff. Learn about the people behind the Campaign for Youth Engagement.
How is the Campaign being funded? The sustainability for the Campaign for Youth
Engagement strategies, programs, and commitment actions will come from a
variety of sources including individual contributions and foundation
funded grants. Funds
are needed to support the exciting growth in highly-qualified youth
staff, innovation grants, pilot programming, and program expansion. If
you are interested in helping support the Campaign for Youth
Engagement, please contact Christopher Haley, Director of Major gifts at
212-650-4148 or via email at CHaley@urj.org.
Our communities are full of dedicated and creative lay people and professionals who successfully engage youth and families. And yet, we know that if current trends continue in our congregations, approximately 80% of the children who become b'nei mitzvah will have no connection of any kind to their Jewish community by the time they reach 12th grade. We need to better understand why far too often, youth and their families feel it is not worth their time and money to stay engaged in Jewish life.
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