As of June 30, the Jewish Youth Promise has reached 44,793 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.

Please join us in welcoming the newest JYP partners:

Camp Ramah in the Poconos

Beth Tfiloh Dahan Community School

Camp Young Judaea

Hillel at Temple University

Hear What Our Partners Have to Say

Josh Schalk, Executive Director at the Jewish Youth Promise, sat down with Mindee Greenberg, Dor L’Dor Teen Travel + Kadima CIT/CA Leadership, The Cohen Camps, and Barbara Stevens, Director, Development, The Cohen Camps, to discuss their experience implementing the Promise.

Barbara Stevens, Director, Development, Cohen Camps		Mindee Greenberg, Dor L’Dor Teen Travel + Kadima CIT/CA Leadership, The Cohen Camps

To Cohen Camps, the Jewish Youth Promise is a culmination of their camp experience, helping campers reflect on how the Jewish community they gained through camp can guide their lives after they leave camp. Barbara and Mindee both noted that JYP turns core camp values into action, encouraging teens to discover how their passions will help them contribute to Jewish life as they transition into adulthood. The Promise reinforces the idea that Jewish identity does not end when camp ends and helps teens envision themselves as future leaders, volunteers, advocates, and philanthropists. Read more about their conversation with Josh about JYP’s impact at the link here.

Sharing What Matters – Things You Should Know

Children Don’t Absorb Jewish Life Automatically

In the latest opinion piece by Josh Schalk, Executive Director of the Jewish Youth Promise, in The Algemeiner, he shares that Jewish identity cannot be passed down through exposure alone and that young people need opportunities to ask questions, explore meaning, and actively engage with their heritage. As Jewish communities become increasingly diverse, camp and school educators alike must create spaces for curiosity and conversation rather than assume Jewish values will be absorbed automatically. Read Josh’s full article here.

Jewish Camp’s new strategic plan

The Foundation for Jewish Camp recently announced its new five-year strategic plan, which focuses on three priorities: making camp more affordable and sustainable, developing Jewish learners and leaders, and strengthening the field through research and advocacy. FJC leaders emphasize that increasing enrollment must go hand in hand with ensuring camps provide high-quality experiences that foster Jewish identity, connection to Israel, and leadership development. To learn more about their plan, click here.

Resources For Partners

Making the Jewish Youth Promise without Digital Devices 

Looking for a non-digital way to bring the Jewish Youth Promise to your students or campers? Our paper-based format makes it easy to incorporate JYP into a variety of educational settings while creating space for meaningful reflection and conversation. Reach out to Executive Director Josh Schalk at josh@jewishfuturepromise.org.

A Jewish Leadership Framework for Difficult Conversations

Navigating difficult conversations with your students? Prizmah Center for Jewish Day Schools recently published a guide to help parents and educators navigate these discussions through the lens of Jewish values, emphasizing empathy, curiosity, relationship-building, and respectful dialogue. The resource offers practical guidance for fostering trust and meaningful communication even when perspectives differ. Learn more here.

Programs Empowering Jewish Teen Leaders

The Union for Reform Judaism has outlined nine programs that help Jewish teens develop leadership skills, build community, and make a meaningful impact through service, advocacy, and peer engagement. The programs provide opportunities for teens to explore their Jewish identity while gaining practical experience as leaders. Learn more about the programs at the link here.

Unlocking New Touchpoints with Parents

Looking for a simple, meaningful way to deepen your connection with parents in your community? “Check the Box” creates a natural opportunity to engage families where they’re already signing up, registering, or donating to your organization.

By adding a seamless option to make the Jewish Future Promise within your existing digital flow, you open the door to values-based conversations and identify parents who are aligned with long-term Jewish continuity — without adding staff time or extra lift. It’s an easy way to strengthen relationships and build a pipeline for future annual and legacy support.

Interested in learning how it works? Reach out to our team at info@jewishyouthpromise.org.

Tutorial: Using the Jewish Youth Promise

Interested in learning all the ways you can use the Jewish Youth Promise? 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!