Editor's Letter Teen Territory T eenagers have moved front and center on the local March of the Living to Poland and Israel. Jewish communal stage. That's not surprising. Federation's Diller Teen Fellows Program has real potential Federation's 2005 demographic study reveals 17,000 to help kids discover the depth of their Jewish soul. The highly kids ages 17 and younger among Metro Detroit's 72,000 Jews. subsidized program involves an intensive year of acquiring More than 16 percent of our Jewish population consists of kids Jewish communal leadership and service skills. Nurturing ages 10-19, meaning teens are, and will be, a huge percentage future leaders certainly is pivotal to Detroit's Jewish future. of who we are. Diller came to Detroit thanks to the San Francisco-based The sweep and significance of Helen Diller Family Foundation, with support from our what it means to be a Jewish teen Federation's Stephen H. Schulman Millennium Fund. That was reinforced as I listened to Arnie fund supports projects that benefit local Jewish teens. Weiner speak at the March 15 tribute The Schulman Fund also supports the Detroit Jewish News' marking his upcoming retirement as monthly teen magazine, Teen2Teen, and its Web site, executive director of the B'nai B'rith JNt2t.com. T2T provides an expressive teen forum and an Youth Organization/Michigan Region engaging teen outlet — a fragile experiment in Jewish journal- after 39 years of sterling service. He ism. T2T is a window into the lives of our teens: their chal- has touched thousands of teen lives lenges, ambitions, hopes and dreams. as a counselor and role model. Under his stewardship, Michigan Region has Engine Of Engagement become one of the largest and most The Jewish Community Center of Metropolitan Detroit also is successful BBYO programs. Its mission is to provide teens and aboard the teen express. It's striving to become Teen Central. preteens with uplifting Jewish activities that are social, educa- Consider this summer's JCC Maccabi Games, which will host Staff photo by Armando Rios tional and service oriented. 2,500 visiting competitors, 500 local competitors, Many Michigan Region alumni have risen 500 coaches and 1,000 volunteers. The Games, to prominent positions professionally and in which offer athletic competition and artistic expe- Jewish life. "Many of our most valued leaders riences, really do help reinforce Jewish heritage state that they got their start as community through cultural and social activities. Their main leaders from BBYO, and therefore from your goal is to help 13- to 16-year-olds learn more about influence Barbara Horowitz, who chairs the who they are as Jews through the power of peer Michigan Region BBYO Commission, told interaction and influence. The Games are merely Weiner in her testimonial. the vehicle for kids coming together. During the well-earned tribute at Orchard Just in time for the Games, a brand-new inter- Mall in West Bloomfield, Weiner talked about active teen center will open in the old Holocaust the good times and great relationships. But Memorial Center next to the JCC's Kahn Building in mostly, he talked about shaping the Jewish West Bloomfield. The teen center will have a ready Arnie Weiner identities of four generations of teens. I can't source of school-year participants from the nearby think of a better legacy than one of recognition Frankel Jewish Academy and its 225 students. for helping Jewish kids embrace their Judaism and gain self- confidence. Road Still Rocky Despite the brighter times, the number of teens involved in Synagogue Trailblazing Jewish youth groups has declined precipitously in the last 10 BBYO isn't the only teen motivator. years. Teens are dropping out of Jewish life at the moment The Conservative synagogues in Metro Detroit are seeing when religious affiliation and identity are being formed. And the future now and combining resources to tailor a hip new teen enrollment in synagogue schools is falling. Secular inter- Monday-night program aimed at educating and energizing ests continue to grow. teens. The high school program, based at Hillel Day School of Our teens do respond with the right encouragement, howev- Metropolitan Detroit, is dubbed MID: Alliance for Teens in er. For example, West Bloomfield-based Friendship Circle has Detroit. It seeks to kindle appreciation of lifelong Jewish living no trouble drawing Jewish teens as volunteers and mentors. and learning. Ruach (spirit) will furnish the spark for teens to Moreover, the Israel component in Jewish Detroit's youth learn, mingle and grow as Jews. Atid is Hebrew for "future' experiences has helped give teens the tools to be effective Against assimilation's relentless pull, ATID organizers under- Zionist advocates against the onslaught of pro-Arab propa- stand that synagogues, of all places, can't be timid in pursuit of ganda that coats and tears the Jewish community. connecting spiritually with teens — still impressionable and Its shortsighted and dangerous to think that teenagers can't doubting. help counter the chaos of the Jewish world. They just need the ATID has the wherewithal to be a paradigm for synagogue right motivation, enrichment and opportunity. ❑ collaboration in building teen programs and inspiring teen service. I hope the new catch phrase, Conservateens, catches on as a boost to the embattled Conservative movement. O : Are we as a community supportive g Bec a SpringElation Safari Sponsor! $250 and Up rn Great Benefits Include: • Tickets to SpringElation •Recognition in invitation, signage, Jewish News ad and more! Contact Carol Kaczander 248.538.6610 x343 CarolKaczander@jarc.org O SpringElation is the primary support for JARCs services to hundreds of children with any disability and their families. jaw SpringElation INFARI An Exclusive Evening at THE DETROIT ZOO TUESDAY MAY 27 6 - 9 PM $. ki` ' 3.fit- • " F – • Organized Opportunities Federation isn't standing pat when it comes to teen initiatives. This summer, three busloads of kids will take part in the Teen Mission to Israel; this spring, 14 teens will go on the cn tX enough of these teen initiatives? P Z Z o 0. ° a- Will we have enough jobs to draw today's teens home after college? INDIVIDUAL TICKETS: $20 1341120 March 27 , 2008 A5