Related Blog Posts on Journal of Youth Engagement, NFTY, Summer Youth Experiences, and Youth Engagement

A person holding a Torah

Strength, Stress, and Support: A Portrait of American Jewish Teen Well-Being

Beth Lipschutz, MSW
Rabbi Isaama Goldstein-Stoll
Rachel Margolis, RJE
How are teens really doing? In the spring of 2024, BeWell, the mental health and wellness initiative of the Jewish Federations of North American (JFNA), in partnership with the Network of Jewish Human Service Agencies (The Network), conducted the first national study of American Jewish teenagers to explore how their communal involvement, interpersonal connections, and perceptions of themselves as Jews relate to their overall wellbeing.
Photo of a group of teens at the West Coast Party at Camp Newman in January 2025

Inspiring Teens to be Tomorrow’s Leaders

Matt Ghan
Over the weekend of January 17-20, over 250 teens from 11 NFTY regions - the largest NFTY event since 2020 - were welcomed to URJ Camp Newman in Santa Rosa, CA for a weekend of connection, joyful Jewish moments, social action, and fun.
Photo of a group of teens including Benji Rosenblum, new NFTY President

Meet Our NFTY President: Benji Rosenblum

Benji Rosenblum
I'm Benji Rosenblum from Phoenix, AZ, and I have the honor of serving as the NFTY North American president. I'm currently taking a gap year, and when I'm not engaged in NFTY work, I love to cook, spend time outside, and read.
Photo of a group of diverse people at the Teen Jews of Color Fellowship

Teen Jews of Color Fellowship Empowers Young Leaders

Kelly Whitehead
NFTY's Teen Jews of Color Fellowship is a nine-month program that offers leadership development, value building, and deep communal connection by and for Jews of Color. All of these are especially crucial in these challenging times.
Photo of a group of teens in NFTY standing and waving their arms

It’s Time to Drop the Nostalgia

Rabbi Esther L. Lederman
"Stop being nostalgic for the past and start helping to build what is already happening, because it's happening, with or without you. And we want you with us."