Participating in activities with other Jewish teens creates friendships unlike any other, which is why it is important for Jewish teens to stay active in the Jewish community, even after they complete their b’nai mitzvah. Five great ways for teens to get involved in the Jewish community include participating in youth group, being a madrich or madricha for religious school, joining Jewish Opportunities and Learning for Teens (JOLT), becoming a member of the Jewish Student Union, and being a counselor at a Jewish summer camp.
 Youth Groups – Among the youth groups teens can join are the North American Federation of Temple Youth (NFTY), B’nai B’rith Youth Organization (BBYO), United Synagogue Youth (USY), and the National Conference of Synagogue Youth (NCSY). Some, such as NFTY, take place through synagogues, while others, such as BBYO, are run through community centers like the Jewish Community Center. Although they may be run differently, youth groups have one unifying goal: to bring Jewish teens together as a community. 
“Youth group is a safe place to grow and learn on the pathway to becoming independent young adults,” said H. Lee Rosenberg, Director of Youth Engagement at United Hebrew Congregation. “It is a safe place to talk and learn because we encourage a welcoming community where all participants have a voice and are free to be themselves.”
Since youth groups are often part of international movements, they allow Jewish teens to meet other teens across the world. Teens can participate in their own city, travel to surrounding states for regional events, go to national conventions, or attend summer programs. In youth groups, participants can strengthen their leadership skills and their Jewish identity as well as make lifelong friends.
“[Youth group] is a unique place that is grounded in Jewish life that can help participants develop the skills they need to become productive members of the Jewish and wider community,” Rosenberg said. “The best part of all this is seen while it happens in an engaging and fun manner whether at a campsite, football game, or laser tag arena.” 
 
JOLT – Another great way for teens to get involved in the Jewish community, especially in  the St. Louis area, is Jewish Opportunities and Learning for Teens, or JOLT. JOLT is held at Congregation B’nai Amoona on Thursday nights, where 8th to 12th graders can take classes on a broad range of topics.
“The courses offered at JOLT are diverse so that everyone can find something of interest no matter your affiliation or background,” said Maxine Weil, director of JOLT
Whether someone is interested in current events, social action or Jewish cuisine, JOLT offers a class on the subject. Students pick two classes to attend, with an optional dinner  beforehand. Weil says students at JOLT come back year after year because of the great times they have.
“Participants at JOLT especially enjoy being together with other Jewish teens who they do not get to see during the week due to their busy schedules,” Weil said.
 
Madrichim Program – Another option for teens is to become a teacher’s assistant for religious school, also known as a madrich or madricha, for younger classes. Whether teens are still in religious school or they have already been confirmed, this is a great opportunity for teens to create relationships with younger students and serve as a role model.
“There is something really cool about having someone closer to their own age helping them learn and experience Judaism,” said Rabbi Roxanne Shapiro, who also directs the Life Long Learning at United Hebrew Congregation.
“When the younger students see their madrichim engaged and excited, they get engaged and excited.” 
Madrichim have the ability to work alongside a teacher all while helping to make younger students religious school experiences even better. Madrichim are strengthening the Jewish community as a whole by sharing their love of Judaism with the young students, who will one day be the ones passing on their love of Judaism to the generations to come.
“I believe it is important for all of us to get involved in our communities and especially the Jewish community because although for some it seems quite large, in the scope of the world it is actually quite small,” Shapiro said. “It is my hope that there will be a strong Jewish community for my grandchildren and great-grandchildren and so on. There is only one way to assure this will be the case- we have to be a part of it now.”
 
JSU – School-related opportunities for Jewish involvement are just as valid and rewarding, offering students a way to connect in a different setting.  One way they can do this is through the school-run Jewish Student Union or JSU. Local rabbis run the program at different schools where JSU typically meets twice a month.
“The JSU clubs provide a safe place at school for teens to explore issues that pertain to them,” said Rabbi Yitzchak Staum, director of development at JSU St. Louis. “There is also a strong sense of solidarity with other students and an encouragement that comes with knowing that you’re part of a larger community.”
JSU participants can form bonds with other Jewish teens at their high schools who they may not have known otherwise. “Our teens report that they have become more involved in the Jewish community, whether it be more frequent attendance at their synagogue, joining one of the wonderful Jewish teen youth groups in our city, or other ways they have connected Jewishly. These connections, they have told us, are direct results of their involvement with JSU,” Staum said.
 
Jewish Summer Camps – For teens looking to be involved in the St. Louis Jewish community over the summer, working at a Jewish summer camp is an amazing option. Camp Emeth, a day camp held at Congregation Shaare Emeth for kids going into kindergarten through eighth grade, is just one of the many local camps where Jewish teens can spend their summer as a counselor. 
“Working as a counselor forces teens to put the needs of others before their own and embrace the role of a role model. It teaches teens to work as a team and to get along with others who may be different from them,” said Jodi Miller, director of Camp Emeth and Shaare Emeth Director of Youth Engagement. “Working with children provides staff members with opportunities to be empathetic, problem solve, be creative and silly, and learn new ways to relate to others.” 
Often, campers and counselors return to camp summer after summer because of the bonds they form not only with their peers but also with each other. 
“One of the things I love the most is watching my staff grow in so many different ways, especially summer after summer if they return,” Miller said. “When they are counselors, teens have an opportunity to make a positive difference in the lives of children while also having the best summers of their lives. Campers look up to counselors who love and care for them all summer- and they want to grow up to be just like them.”
There are so many opportunities for Jewish teens to get involved, and it never hurts to give at least one a try. High school students can find the activity that fits best into their schedule as each one has a different time commitment. All of these opportunities are a great way for teens to explore their Jewish identity, build relationships and make new friends, and have fun all at the same time.