Teens Leading Change: The Power of NFTY on Fostering an Innovative Spirit

NFTY has long been a catalyst for teen leadership and social change. Two remarkable teens, Maccabee Anderson and Lucy Targum, embody the innovative spirit and commitment to being the change they wish to see in the Jewish world and beyond.

Maccabee Anderson: Amplifying Jewish Teen Voices

Reform teen Maccabee Anderson, founder of the innovative writing competition Joseph's Inkwell, is on a mission to amplify the voices of other Jewish teens worldwide. His passion project has evolved into a powerful tool for self-expression, community building, and social change.

The idea for Joseph's Inkwell was sparked by Maccabee's own experiences as a writer and his frustration with the lack of representation of Jewish teen voices in mainstream media. After visiting Auschwitz and both learning about and witnessing rising antisemitism in Poland, Maccabee realized the importance of creating a space for Jewish teens to share their thoughts, feelings, and stories. Drawing from his love of journalism and Jewish fantasy books, Maccabee decided to take matters into his own hands.

Maccabee's involvement in NFTY and URJ programs - which includes participating in his regional NFTY chapter and URJ leadership programs - played a pivotal role in shaping his leadership and vision, instilling the values of community, activism, and social justice. Maccabee reflects, "These experiences taught me how to mobilize others, communicate effectively, and create meaningful programs." He recalls, "Through NFTY, I learned the value of surrounding myself with people who share similar goals and values." This emphasis on community building influenced Maccabee's decision to create a platform where Jewish teens could share their voices and connect with others.

Through Joseph's Inkwell, Maccabee aims to fill a gap in the Jewish world by providing a platform for teens from a wide range of Jewish backgrounds to express themselves authentically. The submissions revealed several overarching themes, including anxiety and fear about the world, particularly regarding antisemitism and struggles with building and maintaining Jewish communities and intersecting identities.

Joseph's Inkwell operates on a bi-annual cycle, with personal essays and poetry categories, and a judging process led by Jewish teen judges. Maccabee's goal is to provide a platform for Jewish teens to express themselves, foster community and connection among participants and showcase diverse perspectives and experiences.

Through this journey, Maccabee learned valuable lessons about leadership, communication, and project management. He stressed the importance of relying on community support, delegating tasks, and adapting to challenges and feedback.

Joseph's Inkwell has profoundly impacted Maccabee, connecting him with others and inspiring him to continue creating spaces for Jewish teens to share their voices. As he reflects on his journey, Maccabee notes, "Reform Judaism's emphasis on tikkun olam (repairing the world) inspired me to create a platform that would amplify Jewish teen voices and promote positive change."

As he moves forward, Maccabee envisions expanding Joseph's Inkwell to publish an anthology featuring submissions to reach a broader audience and foster a community of leaders and change-makers.

To support Joseph's Inkwell, Maccabee invites others to read and share submissions, provide feedback and outreach, and encourage Jewish teens to participate.

Maccabee's message to fellow Jewish teens is simple yet powerful: "Take the first step. Make time, rely on your community, and bring your ideas to life." Together, Maccabee and Joseph's Inkwell are inspiring a new generation of Jewish leaders, writers, and change-makers.

Lucy Targum: Empowering Voter Engagement

Reform teen Lucy Targum is a passionate advocate for social justice. She recently organized and led three letter-writing events - in which approximately 400 letters were written - encouraging voters in swing states to cast their ballots. Additionally, Lucy hosted a voter registration drive at her school, helping her community check their registration status and obtain information on voting procedures.

Lucy's interest in politics and social justice was sparked by her involvement in the RAC Teen Justice Fellowship, which gives youth leaders the skills to create change in their communities with experienced coaches who guide fellows as they design and implement projects. "I had a lot of nervous energy surrounding the November election... I wanted to do something, at the very least to have an outlet for my election anxiety."

Lucy's project began with a simple-yet-effective idea following the spring semester of the Teen Justice fellowship. She organized the event, hosting multiple letter-writing sessions during lunches and club blocks, and made the letter templates as straightforward as possible.

Lucy credits her Reform upbringing and education for influencing her passion for community engagement. "One of the most important Jewish values to me is tikkun olam, repairing the world. My passion for social justice stems from being in Jewish communities that highlight and prioritize making the world a better place."

This experience also taught Lucy valuable lessons about community organizing. "As important as the letters themselves were, I also learned so much about community organizing through this process. I'm already thinking of ways to improve future events by engaging more people and reaching a larger group of voters. Not only that, but this experience has empowered me to be more active and vocal in my community and has proven to me that planning an event like this isn't as daunting once you put yourself out there."

Lucy's project faced challenges, including finding a venue and maintaining community engagement. Despite these obstacles, she persevered and learned valuable lessons about leadership. "I learned about the challenges of energizing people and what kind of messaging works and doesn't work... I also learned about all the different moving pieces you need to coordinate to put on a community event."

Lucy's advice to fellow teens is inspiring: "Oftentimes, the hardest part of starting a project is just getting that initial push... Take the first step, make time, rely on your community, and bring your ideas to life."

Maccabee and Lucy's stories demonstrate the profound impact of NFTY and URJ programs on individual leadership and community engagement. By empowering teens to take action and make their voices heard, we can create a brighter, more just future for all.

Through their innovative projects, Maccabee and Lucy embody the values of community building, belonging, and social justice that are at the heart of NFTY and the URJ. Their stories serve as a testament to the power of teen leadership and the impact that can be made when young people are empowered to take action.