As of today, the Jewish Youth Promise has reached 37,106 signers across the world.

Updates From the Jewish Youth Promise

Welcoming New Partners

We’re proud to introduce the newest partners who joined the Jewish Youth Promise movement, each playing a key role in empowering Jewish youth to make personal, lasting commitments to their identity and values.

B'nai Jeshurun Cleveland

Mandel Jewish Day School

Hillel at Virginia Commonwealth University

TalkIsrael

Hillel at Ohio State University

ZOA Campus

Hear What Our Partners Have to Say

Josh Schalk, executive director at the Jewish Youth Promise, sat down with Ilan Sinelnikov, president and founder of Students Supporting Israel (SSI), and Rabbi Ed Harwitz, head of The Weber School, to discuss their experience implementing the Promise.

Students Supporting Israel (SSI) began incorporating the Jewish Youth Promise in 2022 as a way to strengthen student engagement and maintain “invaluable” long-term connections after graduation. Since then, Ilan Sinelnikov says the program has since become central to SSI’s culture, providing a powerful moment of reflection and long-term reminder for their students of their commitment to Israel and the Jewish people. Read more about what Ilan said at the link here.

Ilan Sinelnikov, President and Founder of SSI

The Weber School has been embedding the Promise into its senior retreats for the last four years as a way to move Jewish values from abstract concepts into lived commitments. Rabbi Ed Harwitz says what’s so unique about the Promise is that it doesn’t rely on adults’ enforcement; instead, it taps into the student’s own source of responsibility to the Jewish community. That “secret sauce,” what he calls built-in accountability, is what’s uniquely effective. Find Rabbi Ed Harwitz’s full interview transcript at the link here.

Rabbi Ed Harwitz, Head of The Weber School

Sharing What Matters – Things You Should Know

The Importance of Sending Children to Jewish Summer Camp

Author Dan Elbaum shares personal testimony on why summer camp should be required for all Jewish children. He discusses how the foundational learning leads to a lifetime of Jewish commitment. Read more here.

What Makes Jewish Education Worth It

“The truth is this: the future of Jewish life isn’t built on advocacy — it’s built on fluency.”

That’s why Jewish day schools and camps are so important for this generation. To read more about what authors say is the “quiet work” in ensuring the Jewish future, see here.

Tikvah Fund’s Grant for “Jewish Civilization Project”

$10.4 million was given by the National Endowment for the Humanities for a three-year project aimed at bolstering “Jewish civilization” for students in middle school through high school. Read more here.

Resources For Partners

Pairing Education with Chevruta

In today’s culture of quick sound bites and reactive replies, chevruta is an invitation to pause and truly listen. Josh Schalk recently published an op-ed about how practicing chevruta can shape learning and turn disagreement into a launching point for growth in the Times of Israel (read at the link here).

Cultivating Belonging Within Camp Culture

A sense of belonging has always been integral to the camp experience, but in today’s world, it’s essential. An article from the American Camp Association explains the negative consequences of the lack of belonging and how camps can foster that sense of connection and a foundation rooted in belonging. Read more at the link here.

Unlocking New Touchpoints with Parents

Want a meaningful way to strengthen your connection with parents in your community? Use the Jewish Future Promise as your bridge!

It’s a commitment to passing on Jewish values, traditions, and charitable giving—encouraging families to pledge up to 50% of their legacy gifts to Jewish causes or Israel. Use the Promise as a touchpoint to reengage your community and spark long-term support for your organization.

Have questions? Reach out to our team directly at info@jewishyouthpromise.org or click here.

Tutorial: Using the Jewish Youth Promise

Interested in learning all the ways you can use the Jewish Youth Promise, or know people who are interested? Watch this video for a quick overview of how the Promise can engage with past, present, and future participants.

 
Know someone who might be interested? Feel free to share this video with them!