The Value of Diversity for Jewish Youth

For Jewish teens of Color, navigating Judaism and racial identity can be a complex and isolating experience. Growing up as a Jewish person of Color, I have often felt like an outsider in Jewish spaces, surrounded by individuals who shared a fundamental aspect of my identity—our Jewishness—yet looked different from me. I struggled to find a sense of belonging as my struggles remained unrepresented in the broader discussions of Judaism I saw around me. I often felt utterly alone in my experiences, despite the support of many figures in my life. My experience demonstrates why diverse Jewish representation and mentorship are so important. Being part of the jGirls+ Magazine community was one of the first times I felt truly seen as a young Jew of Color, and it taught me how to acknowledge and be proud of the uniqueness of my identity.

Working with jGirls+ Magazine, I have built confidence in my identity as a Jewish teen, which has proven so beneficial to my development as a writer and a young person. Through connecting with other Jewish teens of Color and seeing the diversity within the community at jGirls+, my sense of belonging within the Jewish community felt more reinforced than ever before. Now, thanks to Women of Reform Judaism’s YES Fund, we have started a collaborative publishing project with Be’chol Lashon to feature the voices of young Jews of Color through jGirls+ Magazine, and Jewish&, Be’chol Lashon’s blog. You can see the early fruits of the project here. Working with Tani Prell, a woman who looks like me, at Be’chol Lashon, reminds me how valuable our work is to other young Jews of Color who have faced the same struggles I have through my identities. 

The challenges faced by Jewish people of Color are unique, and mentorship programs specifically tailored for Jewish teens of Color are so important in addressing these challenges and fostering a more inclusive community for our youth. Feeling valued within your community and being able to see yourself in others is crucial to fostering a sense of acceptance and emotional well-being. That is why we at jGirls+, in collaboration with Jewish&, have taken on the task of creating this publishing project. So far, we've put out a call for submissions through jGirls+ and Be'chol Lashon's newsletters and have created plans for teen writers to be able to meet with Jewish editors of Color like me, so we can and guide them through the process of revising and publishing their works. 

Our goal for this project is to create a space where Jewish teens of Color can express themselves authentically, share their experiences, feel like they have a voice that matters, and lay the foundation for a future where all Jewish youth can thrive. Peer mentorship is another component of the program. Mentors serve as role models who understand the complexities of balancing multiple identities and can offer valuable insights and advice based on their own experiences. By nurturing leadership skills and providing opportunities for personal growth, we help encourage young people to become Jewish leaders and empower teens to take on active roles within their communities.

Programs designed for Jewish teens of Color are not just beneficial—they are essential. As we continue to advance conversations about diversity within Jewish communities, mentorship programs like ours will be instrumental in driving meaningful change. To others and me, this initiative is not only about providing mentorship to other young Jews of Color but giving teens like me the opportunity to take on new roles and gain valuable leadership experience. To me, it feels incredibly special to contribute my insights to such a unique and meaningful initiative and connect with a wider community of Jews of Color that I may not have otherwise met.

As we, and others as mentors, provide the guidance, support, and encouragement needed for other teens to navigate their identities and make meaningful contributions to their communities, we promote inclusivity and empowerment among the next generation of Jewish leaders and serve as catalysts for change. Through these efforts, we hope to build a community where every teen feels valued, respected, and inspired to embrace their identity fully. At jGirls+, I am proud to be a part of this endeavor, as we work toward shaping a future where diversity is celebrated as a cornerstone of Jewish identity. We are grateful to WRJ and the YES Fund for supporting us in doing this essential work.