teens
SAJES understands that compelling, quality teen experiences have lifelong impact, strengthening Jewish identity while building the next generation of Jewish leaders. SAJES is committed to galvanizing Jewish teens. For further information on teen programs please contact SAJES Teen Coordinator Beth Finger at bfinger@sajes.org.
Our popular JTeen.org website links Jewish teens and parents to the best of teen programs – locally, regionally, nationally, internationally and in Israel.
The SAJES Jewish Teen Leadership Council (TLC) unites teen leaders from every major youth program on Long Island to network and share ideas and best practices in working with area youth groups. TLC is ‘the voice of Jewish teens on Long Island’ and works to:
- create present and future leaders of the Jewish community through learning about issues that affect the American Jewish community and learning more about how the organized Jewish community works.
- foster a sense of cohesiveness throughout the Long Island Jewish teen community through bringing together leaders from the different youth movements and creating programs for all Jewish teens from across L.I.
SAJES has been very successful in using a proven model of communal involvement and activity for Jewish teens – inspiring youth through shared purpose and toward positive activity. We have created the SAJES Teen Action Project (TAP). SAJES (TAP) empowers and involves teens to participate in civic projects that will galvanize them and their peers to participate in a wide range of ongoing projects such as voter registration, helping the homeless, and more. We believe that infusing the community with teens who are involved and engaged, developing and honing their leadership skills can be transformational for them, for their families and for the entire community.
SAJES is recognized for our ability to engage and convene members of the community in important work. Working with local community leaders and groups to identify these young people, we will reach out, coordinate, organize, convene and follow-up. We believe that engaging teens in civic process will elevate them, empower them, lift their self-esteem and encourage them to be active citizens in their communities. We will both teach and model leadership skills – skills that develop through performing community service, social action and social justice projects. With the help and support of area legislators, teens will be introduced to the knowledge, organization and resources they need to begin to shape the future they will inherit.
SAJES TAP seeks to:
- Organize teens and young adults, specifically targeting disenfranchised youth who have little/no interest, knowledge or understanding about civic engagement, e.g. voting, and engage them about the importance of entering the electoral system.
- Help these young people understand why/how their vote counts.
- Connect young people with the political process and with political leaders
- Convene a cross-section of youth in the community who will be role models for their peers and engage other youths.
- Immerse these young people in meaningful cross-cultural dialogue, connecting them with one another; developing positive social networks
- Invest in young leaders at the local level; introduce them to the local political process
