Jewish Experiences, a collaboration of Jewish Federation and The J, has launched a new leadership opportunity for Jewish teens called Champions of Memory.
The two-month program will allow teens starting from 8th grade to assist in the planning and preparation of the community events surrounding two of Israel’s national days: Yom HaZikaron (Israeli Memorial Day) and Yom Ha’atzmaut (Israeli Independence Day). The program will be led by Community Shalicha Mika Kislanski.
Selected teen fellows will participate in a three-session learning cohort, tasked with creating and implementing a vision for the annual events to be held in May. As part of each session, teens will spend time learning about the history of how Israel memorialized its fallen, focusing on communal responsibilities for memory and collective commemorations, and helping with specific aspects of planning the community-wide events.
Teens are encouraged to apply at thejkc.org/fellowship. Registration will close on Tuesday, March 19.
“I am looking forward to working with a group of teens and watching them grow from students into educators as they help lead the community through our annual Yom HaZikaron commemoration and Yom Ha’atzmaut celebration,” Kislanski said.
All three sessions will take place on Sunday evenings – March 31, April 14, April 28 – and Vaad-supervised kosher food will be provided. Participants will be required to be present during the Yom HaZikaron observances (May 12) and the Yom Ha’atzmaut community event (May 19).
The teens will be credited with volunteer hours for their participation within the events and the sessions leading up to them.
In addition to the Yom HaZikaron commemoration event, Kislanski plans to bring her Matkon Im-Zikaron (Recipes with Memories) program back after a successful launch last year. She is also working on a new event called Ratzim Le’Zichram or “Memorun.” Set to take place on the morning of Yom HaZikaron, Memorun will take the form of a J-wide fitness event and add educational and visual elements of Yom HaZikaron, including opportunities for each participant to learn the story of and run/walk in memory of an fallen Israeli soldier or victim of a terror attack. More information is available at thejkc.org/memorun.
Since joining the Kansas City community in September, Kislanski has worked closely with many local organizations, including KU Hillel and Hyman Brand Hebrew Academy, and her outreach has included education on topics such as the history of Israel and its relations with other countries, especially after the events in October 2023.
“Especially due to the war and the events of Oct. 7, I see a need for young leadership involvement within these events,” Kislanski said. “It is an opportunity to learn and educate themselves and others, and I think this will be an amazing opportunity to do so.”
Champions of Memory is supported by the Israel Engagement Fund: A JCC Association of North America Program Accelerator and the Ministry of Diaspora Affairs.
More information about the Champions of Memory fellowship and other programs developed by Jewish Experiences is available at thejkc.org/jewishexperiences.