Teen Leadership Programs

Congratulations to the ten winners of the 2011 Jewish Teen Leadership Award! The winners are outstanding Jewish teens from schools from across the metropolitan area: Cari Cohen, Danny Dubin, Noah Feingold, Benji Fleischaker, Becca Helbraun, Riva Kohn, Jill Merrick, Lauren Pliskin, Elana Shyman, Jeremy Solomon, Ariella Tavor and Jaren Zacher. We recognize with great appreciation all of the applicants' activities and achievements, as well as their commitment to the Jewish community.

These exceptional high school seniors were selected last spring from a group of outstanding, dedicated teens who were nominated by lay leaders, clergy and professionals because of their involvement in multiple activities (Jewish and secular), their leadership roles, and their ability to be role models for their peers. Each recipient will receive $1,000 to use toward any Jewish educational experience or as a college scholarship. Throughout the course of the academic year, the students will participate in a mini-mission to learn more about the Jewish community, will meet with community lay and professional leaders, will form a Teen Leadership Committee that will help to plan and recruit for community-wide events, and will serve as ambassadors to the Jewish teen community in their high schools, congregations, and beyond.

To learn more about the Teen Leadership Award, to nominate a current high school junior for the 2012-13 Jewish Teen Leadership Award or to congratulate the winners, please email teens@juf.org.

Get to Know....

Jaren Zacher

Jaren Zacher was one of 12 winners of the Chicago Teen Leadership Award. He is a senior at Stevenson High School.

1. What is your favorite Jewish thing to do in Chicago?

I enjoy going to Walk with Israel and the Jewish Folk Arts Festival. 

2. Hamentaschen or latkes?

Latkes 

3. What was your Jewish “aha!” moment?

When I was sitting in high holiday services and realized it is way more fun to participate and not hate your religion. 

4. If you could have dinner with any two Jewish people, dead or alive, who would you pick?

I would love to eat dinner with Rabbi Eric Yoffie and Rabbi David Saperstein because they are pretty cool individuals and conversation would never get boring. 

5. What are you reading right now (for fun)?

Running with the Demon and Phule's Paradise 

6. Favorite Hebrew word?

Mazleg (fork)

7. If you could go back in time four years and give yourself one piece of advice about high school, what would you tell yourself?

Enjoy your years in high school. It's the last time you can be a kid. 

8. If you had the power to fix one of the world’s problems, what would it be?

Poverty. Everyone doesn't need to be rich but enough to live a good life and survive without the heavy stress of poverty.