How teens can make the scene

Welcome to JUF’s at-home course on teen community!

We’re going to start with a quick quiz:

First question: How many Jewish teens live in the Chicago area?

Follow up: How many cities, towns, and neighborhoods do Chicago-area Jewish teens live in?

Lastly: Does our community offer programming for all of these teens?

If you said that Chicagoland is home to 17,000 Jewish teens, great job! These 17,000 teens live across 50 cities and towns in Lake, Cook, and DuPage counties. As for the last question, you certainly wouldn’t be reading this if the answer was no.

The teens team at JUF is devoted to offering programming centered around identity, leadership, and belonging. By providing longer-term programming as well as pop-up and short-term options, JUF helps Jewish teens from the A(Arlington Heights) to Z (Lake Zurich) find their fit. JUF’s motto is “Together for good,” and teen programming lives that motto by committing to inclusivity for all Jewish teens, regardless of religious practice, learning needs, or location.

Teen cohort experiences

JUF offers three cohort experiences for Jewish high schoolers: Diller Teen Fellows, Springboard Peer Ambassadors, and Voices: The Chicago Jewish Teen Foundation. Each of these programs has a unique focus that helps teens in the formation of their Jewish identity.

Diller Teen Fellows is an international program that focuses on developing leadership style through regular meetings and international travel. Participants explore themes of Jewish identity,  tikkun olam  , and what it means to be part of the global Jewish community.

A highlight of Diller includes Chicago’s cohort hosting their Israeli counterparts from JUF’s partnership region of Kiryat Gat-Lachish-Shafir to share what it means to be a teen in the U.S. Over the summer, Chicago’s Diller teens then travel to Israel for three weeks of tourism and learning. The experience culminates with a Global Summit connecting teens from 32 communities representing seven countries as one people. 

Springboard Peer Ambassadors create connectors and community builders by teaching high school freshmen, sophomores, and juniors the basics of relational work. Each Peer Ambassador learns how to plan a social event for their Jewish peers then carries it out. Last year, Peer Ambassadors engaged over 150 of their Jewish friends to create a stronger foundation of community.

Voices: The Chicago Jewish Teen Foundation teaches high schoolers the ins and outs of grantmaking. Voices board members create real and lasting impact for organizations around the world by providing much-needed funding for their programs. Voices is in its 22nd year and has given out nearly $1 million to over 70 organizations. Voices board members have gone on to work for foundations, become JUF board members, and so much more.

“I chose to participate in numerous programs through JUF to continue to expand my Jewish community,” said Gus Silberg, a 2025 18 Under 18 honoree. Silberg has participated in Diller Teen Fellows, Springboard Peer Ambassadors, and Voices. “Through each of these programs, I’ve made new connections with amazing people that continue to impact my life.”

Short-term and one-time opportunities

Teens are busier than ever before so long-term programming isn’t the right fit for everyone. JUF Teens and other Jewish organizations across the community partner to create so many more ways to connect. Programs like Camp TOV, We the Teens, Springboard Meet Ups, pop-up giving circles and community celebrations provide exciting opportunities for teens to build community and discover what being Jewish means to them.

Getting started

Want to learn more about our community’s offerings? Meet with a Teen Engagement Specialist for a one-on-one consultation. Whether you’re considering a cohort program through JUF (applications open soon!), a youth group or synagogue program, the Jewish club, or a Hebrew class at your school, or you have an idea for a community program, this team has your back.

Learn more at  juf.org/teens .

Keren Eckstein is the Senior Program Director of Teen Philanthropy. She is the director of Voices and teaches philanthropy through authentic, project-based learning at schools, camps, synagogues, and more. She can be reached at  [email protected] .