NextGen's Annual Jewish Youth Assembly (JYA) held in Denver at BBYO IC - World Jewish Congress

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NextGen's Annual Jewish Youth Assembly (JYA) held in Denver at BBYO IC

From February 12-15 in Denver Colorado, 44 high-school students from 25 countries gathered for the annual Jewish Youth Assembly (JYA), held on the sidelines of BBYO’s International Convention. Throughout the program, JYA delegates focused on the most pressing issues facing world Jewry through meaningful discussions and hearing from expert speakers. Delegates were given the opportunity to hear from current Lauder Fellows Ryan Kassanoff (USA, American University) and Abigail Scholnik (Uruguay, University of Miami), the Executive Director of the Israel Institute Ariel Roth, WJC’s Director of Visual Arts Shahar Azran, and have a meaningful discussion with Current Jewish Diplomatic Academy (JDA) members, Emma Zentner and Daniel Alpert, on their journeys to Jewish leadership. 

The assembly culminated in the adoption of this year’s JYA resolution, drafted entirely by the delegates, entitled Tackling the Spheres of Extremism and Polarization. In creating this resolution, delegates were divided into four subcommittees, each tailored to addressing extremism and polarization in the classroom, online, in society, and within the collective Jewish community. Each group then presented their thoughts and ideas, which was followed by a vote on the resolution. The program concluded on Saturday evening, when the resolution was presented on stage during the BBYOIC Plenary session, which was attended by over 3,000 teen participants, as well as hundreds of BBYO staff, partners, and donors.  

Modeled after the World Jewish Congress, JYA gives students firsthand insight into WJC operations and problem-solving developments. To read more about the annual Jewish Youth Assembly, click here.