The Lessons I Take from My Time at jGirls+ Magazine

Last week, I asked for a raise. This took some kishkes for a fairly new hire working her first nine-to-five after college.

For much of my life, that kind of move would have been unthinkable. I am not possessed of a raise-requesting disposition by nature. Growing up, the idea of speaking up or advocating for myself was mortifying. I was the kind of girl who apologized reflexively and couldn’t dredge up a preference even under gentle interrogation. (“Action movie or rom-com?” “Ummm, whatever’s least inconvenient to anyone else.”)

I hated rocking the boat so much that when I was diagnosed with Celiac disease, I’d eat food that wasn’t clearly safe for me rather than bother restaurant staff by confirming that my meal was gluten-free. At the age when many parents were contending with the first glints of teenage rebellion, mine were unnerved by my compliance. Some parents get doors slammed; mine got, “Sure, whatever you think is best!”— which, frankly, is at least equally alarming.

I was a timid girl on a trajectory toward becoming a timid woman until I joined the community of jGirls+ Magazine.

jGirls+ Magazine, a program of Moving Traditions, is a pluralistic online space for female and nonbinary Jewish teens to engage with each other as they hash out their understanding of themselves and the world. Central to the magazine’s project is affirming the worth and importance of young Jewish voices. Teen editors debate, often passionately, as they select pieces for publication. Contributors are paid for their work, a strong message that their ideas have literal value. Readers can see themselves reflected in diverse representations of Jewish identities, youth, and feminism. jGirls+ is built to uplift everyone it touches. Working with the magazine was the first time I felt that my voice truly mattered. I know many editors, teen staff photographers, contributors, and readers feel the same.

Through the YES (Youth, Engagement, Special Projects) Fund, Women of Reform Judaism (WRJ) supports this vital work of uplifting young Jewish exploration and engagement. For me, that support sparked a transformation: from someone who would rather not have opinions at all into someone unafraid to speak up. jGirls+ fostered the confidence which allowed me to ask for a raise, but, far more importantly, it also has shaped my ability to advocate for patients. I’m working as a medical scribe and ultimately hope to become a physician, and, in health care, speaking up matters far more than salary negotiations. When I notice a patient needs a screening lab or a vaccination, I’m confident enough to actually say something. A younger me would never have had the chutzpah to remind a physician to check whether a patient has gotten their flu shot. Because of jGirls+, I’ve grown into someone who can take better care of patients.

Other young women and nonbinary teens who’ve been part of jGirls+ have gone on to lift their voices for good in the world, as writers, journalists, actors, and leaders in activism. The magazine is a pipeline to confidence, teaching Jewish youth to voice their perspectives with courage.

At the same time, jGirls+ also teaches how to interact with the perspectives of others. JGirls+, in addition to everything else it was, was where I learned to disagree. Not just the “I feel strongly about this” kind of disagreement — the “I will back up my view, but also do my best to hear yours” kind. Through jGirls+, I learned how to change my mind. The magazine nurtures respectful debate, healthy exposure to diverse viewpoints, and good-faith discussions. At this moment in history, with polarization and fascism rising and immense pressure to hew to ideological lines, the ability to disagree is more important than ever. Jewish tradition also holds disagreement in high esteem. One of our central texts, the Talmud, is essentially hundreds of years’ worth of rabbinic quibbling. We as a people are named for wrestling with God. Anyone who has ever innocently mentioned how they spell “Chanukah” knows you’d better be prepared to defend your choice with the strength of a thousand Maccabees.

The Torah portion Vayeira contains a striking example of principled disagreement. When God informs Abraham of the imminent destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, Abraham courageously enjoins God to spare the city if it contains fifty righteous citizens. He doesn’t stop there, but continues to bargain down the number of citizens, with a persistence that any Jewish parent trying to send a kid home with leftovers would admire. Yet throughout, he maintains humility and respect. When he reaches ten, he stops, not from defeat, but from a wise restraint. The exchange is a masterclass in how to advocate fiercely while staying grounded and connected.

These are the same skills jGirls+ cultivates in its teen editors, contributors, and readers. The magazine publishes reflections which spur meaningful dialogue. It gives decision-making power to the teen editorial board, encouraging robust but respectful debate as they select pieces. It invites contributors to engage critically with the world, as well as to work with editors in a collaborative revision process. It even publishes pieces which explicitly contrast different viewpoints, such as this interview series on being pro-choice and this compilation of perspectives after the October 7 attack. But more essential than any of these practices is the culture of deep mutual respect woven into every part of the magazine. At jGirls+, I experienced the same kind of disagreement modeled in Vayeira: disagreement rooted in care for the other person and for the world as a whole.

By providing a safe and vibrant space to speak up as well as to listen deeply, jGirls+ Magazine empowers the Jewish youth who read and contribute. It helps them explore big questions, find their own voices, and, ultimately, prepares them to become people who, like Abraham, will challenge power for the sake of justice and compassion.