KCteen is offering college credits to high school students who join its class about Israel’s history, advocacy, and spiritual significance.
Titled “Israel and Me,” the new course launching in the fall semester is the product of CTeen U, a collaboration between Yeshiva University (YU) and the Chabad teen network, CTeen International. The YU undergraduate programs offer a dual curriculum comprising Jewish studies and liberal arts, sciences, and business courses.
“Yeshiva University and CTeen have carefully curated courses that will appeal to Jewish high school students from any background,” said Rabbi Avremi Baron, director of KCteen. “No previous Judaic knowledge is required.”
The high school students who take “Israel and Me” will gather weekly for 14 lessons covering topics such as the ethics of the IDF and the origins of Jewish claims to the land. At the end of the course, each participating teen receives two college credits.
“We want our Jewish teens to advocate confidently for our Jewish homeland,” Rabbi Baron said. “But that doesn’t start with current events only; it starts by going back to the beginning.”
CTeen U’s curriculum on the tenets of Judaism is designed to cultivate a strong sense of purpose and Jewish identity and encourage teens to ask questions and apply Jewish thought to their everyday activities. The small group settings make it possible for the instructor to get to know each student and for students to bond with each other as they study.
“This is an opportunity for [teens] to advance their resume and college career while studying the Torah’s timeless wisdom,” Rabbi Baron said.
YU credits are accepted at many colleges around the country. The course is available to sophomores, juniors, and seniors, and classes will meet starting in the fall of 2022.
Rabbi Baron can be contacted with questions at or 410-430-4150.