By Heidi Gantwerk
Jewish Federation of San Diego
SAN DIEGO — This week, my son, who happens to be the BBYO Regional Director in San Diego, is off with more than 4,000 Jewish teens, including 63 from San Diego, at the BBYO International Convention in Denver. That is a lot of teenagers in one place! Hearing his stories about these passionate and committed (and yes, sometimes slightly exhausting) teens, and seeing the videos of their exuberant Jewish joy and pride always comes like a little deep breath, a little ray of light, especially in this moment where the world around them is not making it easy.
In survey after survey, teens in the U.S. report increasing levels of anxiety, depression, bullying (in person and online), traumatic experiences, and even suicidal thoughts. Ninety-two percent of teens report extended use of screens on a daily basis. And, over 40% report persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness.
Here in San Diego, our Federation has surveyed Jewish teens – both before and after the horrific events of October 7th – and found a similar trend, with higher rates of stress, academic challenge, and anxiety at the end of 2023 than they had shown in 2022. While two-thirds of Jewish teens reported their mental health and well-being as “good” or “very good,” a third did not, and that number doubles among Jewish LGBTQ+ teens.
Daunting and troubling statistics. But here is the good news: meaningful involvement in the Jewish community reduces teens’ anxiety and stress and strengthens their resilience. It helps them feel connected to their Jewish heritage, to feel a sense of belonging, to form strong friendships and to be inspired to make a positive difference in their community. These experiences pay dividends well into adulthood.
At Federation, we know that an investment in teens is an investment in a vibrant Jewish future. We have so many opportunities today to engage teens, to support those who work with teens, and to connect teens to our local and global Jewish community. Those efforts include:
Israel Unfiltered, our new community teen trip to Israel for rising high school juniors and seniors, aims to empower teens to engage, question, and form their own understanding of Israel’s complexities – while creating memories that will last a lifetime. Join one of our upcoming info. sessions to learn more.
Student-to-Student develops diverse teams of Jewish Teen Ambassadors who speak to non-Jewish high school students about Jews and Judaism, helping to break down stereotypes and disrupt patterns of antisemitism.
Jewish Youth & Teen Wellness Summit – our second annual day-long conference – provides collaborative learning and best practices for Jewish professionals working with teens.
Global Ambassador Program (GAP) forges close connections with Jewish teens around the world through immersive travel and facilitated community building.
Peer Leaders Fellowship brings together a select group of Jewish 9th-12th graders each year who are interested in strengthening the San Diego Jewish community’s support for Jewish teens around resiliency, mental health, and wellness.
Teen Immersive Travel Grants make it more affordable for organizations to provide and individual teens to participate in an immersive Jewish travel experience, such as a conference, weekend retreat, or other experience outside of San Diego County.
The Jewish teens who participate in these experiences – or their synagogue youth groups, high school programs and trips, the nurturing Jewish environments of our day schools, our incredible Jewish camps, or other community programs – consistently feel more connected, empowered, and grounded.
They have a sense of belonging to something bigger than themselves that helps guide the way they walk through the world. The return on investment doesn’t get much more powerful than that.
If you know a teen who you think would benefit from increasing engagement with the Jewish community, please don’t hesitate to reach out. Our knowledgeable Federation staff are here to answer questions and facilitate connections. Together, as a community, we can make sure the kids are all right.
Thank you for being a part of this vital effort.
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Heidi Gantwerk is president and chief executive officer of the Jewish Federation of San Diego.