The Collective offers highly engaged Jewish teens new opportunities to further develop their leadership skills while simultaneously creating additional entry points into to Jewish life for their less engaged friends.

The Machon Summer Leadership Institute

LIVE | LEARN | LEAD | LAUNCH

The Machon Summer Leadership Institute (MACHON) at URJ Eisner and Crane Lake Camps is a 7 1/2 week intensive values-based leadership development internship for rising high school seniors. It is designed for hardworking individuals looking to challenge themselves and actively engage in their own growth within a Jewish context throughout the summer and school-year. Utilizing Jewish values, participants (Machonikim) explore what it means to become productive and successful staff members of the camp community, discover their Jewish identity, and gain valuable skills as Jewish leaders, such as developing greater personal awareness, self-advocacy, community organizing, program creation and facilitation, peer engagement, and event planning. Learning takes place through a variety of modalities including, but not limited to, group activities, formal learning seminars, observations, reflection, feedback, and hands-on opportunities. The program is open to all rising seniors and offers participants a meaningful opportunity for authentic growth while adding depth to their resumes and completing community service hours. Learn more about the MACHON program from the experience of past participants.

Learn More about Machon

The Dana Gershon & Rabbi Jonah Pesner URJ Youth Northeast Homecoming 2019

IGNITE | IDEATE | INNOVATE | INSPIRE

Jewish teens in grades 9-12 from New York, New Jersey, and New England come together for this annual leadership and community building experience with a unique focus on Jewish Justice and Social Advocacy. This year, a large and diverse group of Jewish teens will participate in four new and very different programs that will happen simultaneously. All programs will challenge teens to discover their personal inspiration, engage in deep learning, and provide real-life skill building with a focus on critical thinking, collaboration, Jewish identity, creativity, and risk taking. Our keynote speaker, Rabbi Jonah Pesner, Director of the Religious Action Center, will set the stage for the weekend. This is a great event for those looking to add substance to their resumes while simultaneously nourishing their souls. Read more about the 2016 Northeast Leadership Summit on our Blog.

Learn More about the 2019 Homecoming Weekend

Pop-Up Events

PASSION | PURPOSE | POTENTIAL | PEERS

Pop-Up Events provide teens with new and ongoing opportunities to bring their ideas to life, engage their peers, and build invaluable leadership skills. In planning these events, Jewish teen leaders gain practical skills such as marketing and outreach, event planning, self-advocacy, community organizing, and more. Pop-Up Events are local, interest-based events and experiences planned and led by teen leaders from the Machon program, the Leadership Summit, and your local community! They are low commitment, stand alone or on-going events with a specific focus on community and relationship building. All Pop-Up Events have an underlying Jewish theme and focus on engaging the unengaged. Ideally, Pop-Up Events are planned in collaboration with the teen leader’s local Jewish community. Example Pop-Up Events: Discourse on the presidential debates, Israel advocacy session, Shabbat Dinner, Hanukkah Party, Clean up a local park (and get community service hours!).

Start Planning Your Pop-Up Event Now