Teens

Photo of a teenage girl holding a Torah and walking about the room

Five Ways to Encourage Teens’ Jewish Identities

Neil S. Plakcy
Many Jewish teens leave home believing they've "finished" their Jewish education after their b'nei mitzvah or after confirmation. I certainly did. But that's like thinking you've mastered math because you learned multiplication tables.
Photo of students posing with the AHAVA sign in Israel

Discovering Israel, Adventure, and Growth at Heller High

Crystal Hill
As the leaves begin to turn in North America and young people return to school, some teens in grades 10-12 have embarked on a back-to-school trek that spans oceans and time zones. These teens have elected to spend a semester in the URJ Heller High program at Alexander Muss High School in Hod HaSharon, Israel.
Photo of teens at the URJ Collab celebrating Havdallah

URJ Teen Fellowships

The URJ Teen Fellowships are a diverse range of offerings designed to help teens learn, grow, make an impact, and build community in a way that reflects their interests and passions. In the 2025-2026 school year, there are four different fellowships for teens to choose from: Madrichim Fellowship (in partnership