OUR APPROACH

OUR APPROACH SUPPORTS TEEN WELLBEING.

Our work is rooted in JEWISH WISDOM, the research-based findings of POSITIVE PSYCHOLOGY, and a commitment to FEMINISM.

OUR APPROACH IS JEWISH.

We draw on the richness of Jewish tradition, history, ritual, culture and contemporary life to provide teens and those who guide them with a deep wellspring of values, ethics, role models, texts, and practices with which they can construct lives of meaning, purpose and joy. The ancient rabbis expounded on the creation of humans b’tzelem Elohim, in the Divine image, to teach that each human being is different, singular, unique, and of infinite value. With this as a foundation, we draw from a wide array of Jewish sources and practices to provide youth with a grounding in Jewish wisdom that speaks to their lives, and to give them the experience of being part of a community that values the fullness and diversity of who they are. Our work is informed by the research-based insights of positive psychology, social emotional learning theory, and comprehensive sexuality education. We support teens in discovering sources of happiness and positive emotions, in developing healthy authentic relationships, and in finding sources of meaning and accomplishment (Guided by the PERMA model as outlined by Dr. Martin Seligman). We create contexts for teens to explore and better understand their gender, Jewish, racial, and cultural identities. We give teens the knowledge and skills they need to make decisions that support self-respect and self-care and that reflect respect for the wellbeing of others. We recognize interpersonal relationships as a core arena where teens can learn and practice what fairness, compromise, forgiveness, justice and equity look like – and why these things matter.

OUR APPROACH IS FEMINIST AND FULLY INCLUSIVE.

We build on the insights of gender and feminist theory to encourage Jewish teens of all gender and sexual identities, racial and ethnic backgrounds, family traditions, and abilities to recognize, develop and honor their full selves. We honor the complexity of identity and belonging and encourage teens to explore various aspects of who they are, to challenge fixed notions about who they should be, and to use their power for good. We encourage teens to reflect on the powerful and shifting role of gender in their lives – in their experiences of their bodies, their self-esteem and agency, their friendships and relationships and their aspirations. We support teens in recognizing that their personal experiences occur in the context of larger social, political, economic, psychological, religious and cultural systems and that efforts for social change need to take account of these intersecting systems. We affirm a feminism that includes teens of all genders in its work and goals. Our educational programming reflects a commitment to ensuring continued learning of the specific contributions of Jewish feminism.