2020 JSU Gala Journal

THE HOW
By bringing weekly JSU clubs to the teens in their own school environments, JSU
has access to thousands of teens, over 75% of who are unaffiliated and underengaged
Jewishly. Despite the continued growth of this critical demographic, these
teens were virtually invisible to, and beyond the reach of, the Jewish community
prior to the advent of JSU. By providing Jewish teens the opportunity to view and
engage their Judaic heritage through a prism of modernity and relevance, they are
inspired to become more engaged Jewishly. By introducing them to the many Jewish
teen organizations and Jewish involvement opportunities available within the St.
Louis Jewish community, JSU facilitates their engagement in teen programming
within our community through BBYO, NCSY, JCC, USY, NFTY, Israeli Scouts and
other Jewish youth-oriented organizations. They develop a strong sense of Jewish
identity, relationship to the State of Israel and a connection to the broader Jewish
community. Upon graduation, JSU assists their smooth transition into Jewishly
active college life via our partnerships with Hillel, Maimonides, and other similar
Jewish student groups on campus.
In addition to the regularly scheduled school club meetings, JSU sponsors the Galia
& Milton Movitz Senator John Danforth Israel Scholars course, the Jewish Scholars
Fellowship, the soon to be launched Anna & Andrew Rauchman Holocaust
Studies Course, Friday Night Live Shabbat Dinners and Onegs, Jewish Holiday
programs, the annual President’s Day Weekend Jewish Community Service Trip,
the Jerusalem Journey (TJJ) Israel summer experience (TJJ is a month long trip for
$999 all inclusive) and much more.
CONCLUSION
As a result of COVID, JSU “shifted into overdrive” and not only continued all of
our existing school clubs virtually, but launched a variety of programming to meet
the emotional and other needs of the teens and their parents. Between March and
August alone, JSU ran 150+ virtual programs resulting in over 1250 encounters with
teens. Most recently, we began the process of re-starting in person programming
(with social distancing and masks) while maintaining all our virtual programs.
JSU has reinvented the way Jewish teens can be reached and engaged to interact
with other Jews and build their own Jewish identities. JSU has truly become the
portal for these teens into the broader Jewish community, as evidenced by the
numerous community partners who rely on JSU for getting their information out
to this demographic. JSU is the key to Inspiring the Jewish future, by providing the
answer to the most fundamental question of Jewish engagement, “Why be Jewish?”
Everything that JSU is doing, could not be accomplished without your partnership.
So on behalf of the 800+ JSUers, we thank you again for helping JSU strengthen
and inspire a stronger and brighter Jewish tomorrow.
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