I started with JCYF because I wanted to stay connected with my Jewish community after my Bar Mitzvah. Ultimately, JCYF redefined my Jewish identity and what being Jewish means to me. I learned skills of communication, leadership, and philanthropy while connecting with other Jewish teens throughout my area. JCYF encouraged me to bring Jewish philanthropy to other areas of my life as well like leading my school’s Jewish Community Youth Club and being a part of the Gesher Le Kesher Peer Leadership Program. JCYF also empowered me to get involved beyond my Jewish community by applying the skills I learned to extracurriculars and sports teams at my school.

JCYF is a one-of-a-kind opportunity for Jewish teens to create meaningful impact both in their community and around the world while having fun and staying connected with their peers. When I started as an 8th grader, I never would’ve imagined how integral JCYF has been in forming my Jewish identity and my values as a young adult that I hope to carry with me for the rest of my life.

The Jewish Community Youth Foundation has taught me how to negotiate with my peers, actively listen, interview grant representatives, and given me practice with public speaking. These teachings will help me in the future when it comes to college, interviewing for jobs, and eventually having a career. Additionally, JCYF has strengthened my Jewish identity. This gave me the opportunity to come to synagogue more and learn about organizations related to the Jewish community. JCYF has prepared me as I transition to college, and I am grateful to have been able to participate in such a meaningful program.

The Jewish Community Youth Foundation has been a jump start to my future. I was able to meet with teens from all over the area and learn about Jewish nonprofits. From JCYF, I have learned the skills to communicate, allocate, and give back to a community in need.

I will take the all the skills learned in JCYF with me to the future. Whether at college or in a new job, it is important to know how to communicate effectively and learn to work with your peers for a good cause.

Participating in JCYF strengthened my commitment to giving and my Jewish identity. I am taking time to learn about issues that may not be directly relevant to me but can help others who I care about. JCYF is a program filled with fun opportunities to learn new skills and connect with teens who are doing it for a good cause.

The Jewish Community Youth Foundation has shaped my perspective on community, leadership, and philanthropy. Through the program, I’ve developed a deeper understanding of how impactful even small acts of giving can be and learned the importance of thoughtful decision-making when it comes to charitable causes.

My greatest take away from JCYF is my public speaking skills. I have learned how to disagree with others in a respectful way along with being able to communicate my opinion strongly. I will bring these skills as well as my knowledge of charity into college as I continue to work to make a difference in my community.

Participating in JCYF has deepened my understanding of tzedakah. It’s helped me realize that giving is not just about financial contributions but also about being an active participant in making the world a better place. My Jewish identity has become more connected to these values, and I now feel a stronger sense of responsibility to contribute to both my Jewish community and the whole world. My message to current JCYF participants would be to fully embrace the experience and take everything out of it that you can. It teaches valuable life skills that you may not gain from other places.

I started JCYF my sophomore year when we were learning about Jewish arts and culture. During that year, we learned about many different organizations located in New York and actually got to visit in person. During the trip, we toured the Museum of Jewish Heritage and met the actual people we were giving money to and see what they would do with it. These past years I have been able to learn the importance of giving back, how to ask for money, and then how to allocate it. The Jewish community makes up a very small percentage of the world; Through JCYF we have been able to help the people of our community and help people learn about our community by providing different organizations with funds.

The Jewish Community Youth Foundation has had a profound impact helping me develop a deeper sense of responsibility and community. Through fund allocation, volunteering, and learning about various causes, I’ve become more mindful of how important it is to make a tangible difference in the lives of others. The experience has given me a clearer sense of my values and priorities moving forward.

My greatest takeaway are the invaluable skills I’ve learned in philanthropy and leadership. Researching, evaluating, and allocating funds taught me to be an informed and thoughtful giver. I’ve also learned to collaborate with peers from diverse backgrounds to achieve common goals. These practical skills will help me in college, my career, navigating diverse communities and contributing to causes. I’ll also carry with me the knowledge of how to create impact, whether through social action groups or service projects.

I’ll miss the camaraderie and shared purpose that came with being a part of JCYF. Everyone was invested in making a positive change which created a strong bond among participants. I’ll also miss the deep, meaningful conversations about Jewish values and how they intersect with real-world issues. Those discussions made me feel a part of something bigger than myself.

JCYF deepened my commitment to both giving back and my Jewish identity. The program taught me that giving is not just about donating money but also dedicating time and effort to causes that align with Jewish values, like tikkun olam (repairing the world) and tzedakah (charity). My Jewish identity is stronger because I’ve experienced firsthand how these values can drive meaningful change in the world.

I encourage participants to fully embrace the opportunity to learn, grow, and give. Take time to understand the causes you’re supporting and engage with your peers in open and honest discussions. The impact you make now can stay with you for a lifetime, not just in the form of charity but in how you approach your future endeavors. Don’t underestimate the power of small acts of giving—they can truly make a world of difference.

In my 5 years participating in JCYF, I have learned many useful skills in fundraising and allocation of donations, as well as how to engage in conversations and disagreements with my peers. My biggest takeaway from JCYF will be the importance of fundraising and supporting organizations that have a larger reach than I do individually. Participating in JCYF has helped me to strengthen my Jewish identity by building relationships with other Jewish teens, and supporting Jewish organizations working to promote Jewish values. I am very grateful for my time in JCYF, and I will use many of the skills I have learned from this program in different future opportunities.