Jewish teens and tweens from Monmouth and Middlesex counties came together for the global teen service initiative, J-SERVE, on April 7. The goal of the Jewish Federation event, hosted at the Middlesex County Fire Academy, was to make a difference through hands-on projects fulfilling the Jewish values of caring, justice, and repairing the world.

 

“J-SERVE encourages teens in 6th-12th grades to participate in local causes, while also educating them about community needs,” said Susan Antman, Federation Executive President. “This international day of service teaches teens their contributions matter, they can inspire others to lead by example, and coming together makes a meaningful change in the world.”

 

Participants took part in an array of service projects, which included:

 

Keynote speaker Emily Char, high school junior from Woodcliff Lake, spoke to teens about Project Hearts to Homes, a nonprofit started by her and her sister, providing vital supplies to low-income families such as diapers, household supplies, and more. She has raised over $45,000 to date. 

 

She was followed by Hannah Finkelshteyn, a high school junior from East Brunswick and state organizer for Youth v Gov, a teen group working in support of the lawsuit Juliana v US, persuading the government to implement a national climate recovery plan. 

 

The day began with a demonstration from the Middlesex County Fire Academy, showing the teens how they extract accident victims from cars using jaws of life and other mechanisms.

 

J-SERVE is the International Day of Jewish Youth Service, with tens of thousands of teens around the world each year performing acts of loving kindness, justice and charitable giving. Local Jewish youth group, BBYO, and Jewish Federation in the Heart of New Jersey were the lead sponsors of the event, and were supported by additional Jewish youth groups NCSY, USY, NFTY, CTEEN, and Central Jersey Friendship Circle, as well as the global, non-sectarian Good Deeds Day. 

 

With a bright future in mind for all Jews, the Federation cares for the vulnerable, connects people to each other and to communal resources and experiences, responds to crises, and cultivates collective responsibility for tikkun olam (repairing the world). 

See photos from this amazing day here.