Preparing Jewish Teens for Today’s Challenges

People often ask me how I help Jewish teens confront anti-Semitism, especially after troubling events like the recent situation in Michigan. They seem to expect me to discuss debate techniques or how to counter anti-Zionist rhetoric online.

However, that’s not the approach we take.

I lead NCSY and the Jewish Student Union, which together support over 40,000 Jewish teenagers across North America. Most of these teens attend public high schools and are surrounded by peers who may have never interacted with a Jew before. This creates a real challenge. Anti-Semitic incidents in K-12 schools have been increasing, and since October 7, 2023, many Jewish students have found their circumstances to be much more difficult.

In response, our focus isn’t on how to argue back. Instead, it’s about investing in their identities and sense of belonging.

Why I Speak Out Against Scapegoating

We take these teens on Jewish retreats and Shabbat experiences. Often, it’s the first time they really feel the significance of belonging to this heritage. We connect them to Jewish history—not as a story of victimization but as a tale of resilience, creativity, and purpose. We immerse them in Jewish learning, values, and the genuine joy of community, which, I think, offers something profoundly fulfilling.

As that connection takes root, a transformation occurs in these teenagers. They become more confident rather than defensive. They don’t need to win every debate with those who hate them; their identity isn’t founded on that negativity. Instead, they draw strength from something much deeper and older.

We consider what “Never Again” means to this generation. After the Holocaust, it served as a universal warning, urging civilization not to repeat such horrors. That message still stands. Yet for Jewish teens in 2025, “Never Again” should translate into actionable steps they can embrace daily. And oddly enough, the most impactful action isn’t about confrontation.

Living openly, joyfully, and proudly as a Jew stands as its own response to any efforts to undermine Jewish identity. A teenager who lights Shabbat candles, knows the blessings by heart, and dances with friends at Jewish events carries a legacy that transcends hate. This knowledge, I think, is immune to the vitriol of social media or hostility in classrooms.

Social media has escalated hatred in ways that earlier generations couldn’t have imagined. Anti-Israel propaganda can reach Jewish youth in suburban areas in mere moments. It’s relentless. But what I’ve noticed is that those teens most rooted in their Jewish identity tend to be the most resilient in such environments. They manage to navigate through hatred differently—not because they ignore it, but because they remain grounded in who they are.

After October 7th, I witnessed inspiring actions from Jewish teens in our network. They didn’t withdraw into silence. Instead, they rallied for each other, their communities, and their heritage. They organized, mourned together, and held tight to their Jewish identity—not despite the challenging climate, but because of it. They grasped, on a profound level, that being Jewish encompasses sacrifice and commitment.

That’s what we’re cultivating at NCSY and JSU. This isn’t a generation of young debaters. It’s a cohort of Jewish youth so assured of their worth and heritage that the loud, hateful rhetoric simply fails to affect their core.

The media will keep reporting on hate. But someone must also highlight the responses.

About 40,000 Jewish teens are leading such lives. Their response to anti-Semitism isn’t about rebuttals. It’s about the communal Shabbat table, the enriching summer trips, and the moments when a 16-year-old realizes that being Jewish isn’t a burden but a cherished gift.

That’s how “Never Again” resonates today—not as a caution, but as a way of life.