Teens invited to explore Israel and Jewish identity — and win prizes — at interactive May 17 event
Program aims to showcase 'meaningful ways to stay connected throughout the year'
Teens interested in learning more about Israel and deepening their connections with the Jewish state may leave an upcoming afternoon program with not only knowledge, but with new AirPods as well.
Organized by the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh, “Explore & Engage Your Jewish Path,” a May 17 program at Community Day School, will bring young community members and parents together for an interactive session, resource fair and raffle.
Guiding the discussion, according to Carolyn Linder, Federation’s associate director of Jewish Life & Learning, will be staff from OpenDor Media, an organization committed to strengthening bonds between “young Jews and their peers to Judaism, Israel and the Jewish people.”
Also joining the program, Linder continued, will be “local Jewish youth-serving organizations.”
The afternoon affair runs from 1 to 4 p.m. And, over several hours of engagement, teens will experience Israel education sessions “designed just for them,” Linder said.
“Explore & Engage Your Jewish Path” arrives on the heels of related findings.
A Harvard Youth Poll published last week reported that among 18-to-29-year-olds, 46% consider relationships with Israel burdensome. As opposed to the U.S.-Canadian relationship, which 53% of young people considered positive, only 16% of respondents deemed ties between the U.S. and Israel to be beneficial.
The poll also noted that a majority (55%) of the 2,018 18-to-29-year-old respondents maintained that U.S. military action in Iran is not in the best interest of the American people.
Weeks earlier, Pew Research Center released a report finding that 60% of U.S. adults have an unfavorable view of Israel. The sum, according to Pew, was up from 53% the previous year. Additionally, the share of U.S. adults with a very unfavorable view of Israel (28%) increased by nine points from last year and has nearly tripled from 10% in 2022.
Recognizing the demographic’s importance, Federation’s May 17 event, according to organizers, aims to educate participants by enabling teens to “explore their personal connection to Israel and Jewish peoplehood through a creative vision board activity.” The exercise, which seeks to further expression, allows teens to illustrate and articulate a “wide range of Jewish thought and perspectives.”
The program aims to not only empower teens, but also offer parents valuable instruction, Linder said. A “vibrant teen resource fair” will feature information regarding local Jewish programs, leadership opportunities and community resources.
Though only one day, the program, according to organizers, seeks to deliver “meaningful ways to stay connected throughout the year.”
Linder credited local partners, including representatives from the Jewish Community Center of Greater Pittsburgh, Temple Ohav Shalom, Temple Emanuel of South Hills and Congregation Beth Shalom with helping plan the May 17 program. And, along with offering participants mechanisms for connection, the event will feature a Bruster’s Real Ice Cream sundae bar and raffle for prizes, including Pittsburgh Pirates tickets, gift cards, AirPods and Lego bricks.
Whether arriving as a teen or adult, the goal, Linder said, is to experience an “afternoon that strengthens connection, elevates teen voices and highlights the many pathways to engage Jewishly here in Pittsburgh.”
Registration is available at jewishpgh.org/event/j-path. PJC
Adam Reinherz can be reached at areinherz@pittsburghjewishchronicle.org.
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