700 Jewish Teens Gather In Israel For Diller Teen Fellowship Seminar

700 teens from across the globe attend the Diller Teen Fellowship in Israel. They include 350 teens from Israel and 350 teens from communities around the globe.JNS

A whopping 700 Jewish teens from 32 communities in seven countries gathered in Israel on July 6 to start a three-week seminar as part of the yearlong Diller Teen Fellowship, an immersive program that empowers 10th- and 11th-graders to explore their Jewish identities and become activate Jewish leaders.

“The Fellows include 350 teens from Israel and 350 teens from communities around the globe,” said JNS. 

Those from outside the Jewish state come from San Francisco, Miami, Chicago, Baltimore, New Jersey, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Boston, Pittsburgh, Toronto, Montreal, Melbourne, Johannesburg, Cape Town, Buenos Aires and the United Kingdom. Each international community has an Israeli partner community, with the two cohorts working together throughout the year. Shortly after arriving, the international teens will join the Israeli participants for joint programming.

The Israel Summer Seminar consists of Tiyul (“Tour”) Week, when the Fellows explore Israel; Community Week, when the Fellows spend time in their partnership communities; and Congress, when all 700 teens come together for a week of global connection, exploration of Jewish peoplehood and shared community-service projects.

Regina Myers,14, paints through a stencil and Rachel Leslie,15, writes a wish for world peace in Hebrew on a painting made by teenagers that was inspired by a Hebrew song about world peace at the Shaarey Tphiloh Synagogue in Portland. 700 Jewish teens from seven countries gather in Israel from July 6 for a three-week seminar as part of Diller Teen Fellowship, a program that empowers 10th- and 11th-graders to explore their Jewish identities and become activate Jewish leaders. GORDON CHIBROSKI/PORTLAND PRESS HERALD VIA GETTY IMAGES.

The Diller Teen Fellows program has been cultivating Jewish leaders since 1998. Today, there are more than 7,000 alumni worldwide.

“At a time when our world can feel more divided than ever before, Diller Teen Fellows from across the globe are uniting to build understanding across differences, create connections, and use their leadership actions to help repair the world,” said Jen Smith, executive director of the Helen Diller Family Foundation Programs. “Diller serves as a foundational year that can impact the lifetime of a teen, as they explore their Jewish identity and the good they want to do in the world as a leader. Their impact as young change-makers reaches across the globe.”

https://dillerteenfellows.org/images/videos/what_is_diller_teen_fellows_2022_1080.min.mp4 

Produced in association with Jewish News Syndicate

Edited by Judy J. Rotich and Newsdesk Manager