Teenagers today are tomorrow’s Americans and Jewish leaders. With that in mind, Jewish communities around America need to understand where American Judaism will be in the future. The question for teens today: Which one is stronger, your Jewish or American identity?

“There’s only a few things that make you unique,” Sydney Richmond, 16, from Plymoth, Minn., said. “Being Jewish is one of them.”

Judaism has an emphasis on individualism. By exploring this, some teens have found ways to incorporate Judaism as an instrumental part of their identity without feeling the need for strict observance.

“The beauty of Judaism is being unique,” Jake Friedman, 16, from Cincinnati, Ohio, said. “Judaism defines who I am, surrounded by a sea of Americans. Therefore, I am not just an American, I am an American Jew. Judaism makes me the person I am, even if it does not dictate my lifestyle.”

No matter how teens decide they’ll incorporate Judaism into their life, Where they live may also impact their feelings toward their Jewish identities. For some, like Emily Nistad, 15, from suburban Chicago, living in an area with a big population of Jews helps to  nurture a connection to her faith.

“Living here, so many of my friends are Jewish and therefore I am able to be active in my community. A large majority of my life revolves around Judaism,” Emily said.

In some cases, even small Jewish communities where opportunities for participation are few help form an intimate connection with Jewish identities among teens. Dana Brown, 16, attends boarding school at Culver Academies in Indiana. She is one of nine Jewish students out of 800, but she still feels that Judaism remains at her core.

“I make my voice loud and teach my heritage and what I consider to be my culture,” Dana said. “It makes me appreciate my family and who I am.”

Conversely, some teens struggle in smaller Jewish communities. For Lily Katz, 15, from Jackson, Miss., maintaining a Jewish identity is somewhat difficult due to prevailing stereotypes in her region. However, her Jewish identity remains strong.

“If the United States told me that Jews were no longer welcome in this country, and I could either convert or leave, I would gladly pack my bags,” Lily said. “I live in Mississippi and it’s no secret that a lot of Mississippi residents have their prejudices. I’m very proud to be Jewish, and if some Mississippians couldn’t accept that, then I would move to a different community.”

Teens’ personal identities throughout the country are by no means uniform. For some, while they still do feel a connection with Judaism, define themselves more as American.

“Judaism and Israel are a big part of my life and I’m proud to call myself a Jew,”