North American Jews have a long tradition of being anxious about the next generation. Are they sufficiently engaged in Jewish communal life? How are they forming opinions about Zionism and Israel? Are they successfully maintaining tradition (whatever that means)? And what does all that mean for what Judaism might look like in 20, 30, or 50 years from now?

In this episode, host Yehuda Kurtzer is joined by Sofia, Daniel, and Rivka—three high school students who are currently participating in the Hartman Teen Fellowship—for a conversation about Jewish identity and the American Jewish future. They discuss what Jewish learning means to them, how Jewish institutions can better address the challenges facing teenagers, and their dreams for American Jewish life.

Now accepting applications to the 2023-2024 Hartman Teen Fellowship, open to Jewish high schoolers entering grades 10-12 in the fall.

A transcript of this episode is available here.

Identity/Crisis: The Ideas Behind the News is a podcast of the Shalom Hartman Institute.

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In a frenzied media cycle, Identity/Crisis delves into the big ideas behind the news from a uniquely Jewish perspective. Host Yehuda Kurtzer, president of the Shalom Hartman Institute of North America, talks with leading thinkers to unpack current events effecting Jewish communities in North America, Israel, and around the world, revealing the core Jewish values underlying the issues that matter to you.