Seattle Young Jews for Justice

Vision

Seattle Young Jews for Justice (SYJJ), the Teen Program at Kadima,  ignites dynamic space for the next generation of Jewish justice-seekers to develop their social justice analysis, hone organizing skills, and have a whole bunch of fun together.

In the coming year, SYJJ organizers will learn about movements to defund and abolish police and prisons, make connections to Jewish practice, and build leadership skills by collaborating on events and political actions.

Program
​Goals
  • To kick it with our fellow Jews.
  • To grow our identities as rodfeyot tzedek (pursuers of justice) and our understandings of power, privilege, and systems of oppression through the lens of prison and policing abolition.
  • To build leadership skills like event planning, budgeting and fundraising, political action planning, outreach, public speaking, arts-activism, ritual-leadership and facilitation.
  • To make Jewish identity our own by making new connections to texts, rituals, holidays, and the cycle of the year. 
  • To practice resiliency skills like being vulnerable, taking risks, making decisions by consensus, and moving through disagreement and conflict.
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Apply for SYJJ 2020-21!
Calling all young Jewish justice-seekers! Do you want to learn how to get involved with activism, have fun, meet new people, go on retreats, eat snacks, and change the world?

We are looking for young Jews and allies (ages 13-19) who want to create change through community organizing. No prior experience necessary! 

This is an 8-month commitment to being an organizer with Seattle Young Jews for Justice (SYJJ). Program runs from October 4th, 2020 to May 23rd, 2021, and will meet every Wednesday from 4-5pm on Zoom and every first Sunday of the month for a COVID-careful* outdoor activity.

Apply here: https://tinyurl.com/SYJJ2020

BUT... WHY WOULD I DO THIS THO?

  • To build a tight knit, loving community with other activists and your fellow Jews.
  • To get professional development and skills (like promotion & outreach, event & action planning, budgeting, public speaking & facilitation, and more).
  • To learn about forms of oppression and how to fight against them.
  • To apply Jewish concepts to your life in new ways.
  • To eat hella snacks and go on fun retreats and field trips (when we gather using COVID-careful* precautions, that is).
  • To get 50+ community service hours.

*In-person meet-ups will have options to participate remotely for anyone who is not able to gather in person. COVID-careful for us means:
  • always outdoors;
  • groups of no more than 10 young people;
  • all wear masks;
  • 6-ft distance maintained at all times;
  • plenty of hand sanitizer;
  • individually packaged snacks.

Apply here: https://tinyurl.com/SYJJ2020

THE DETAILS:
  • Commitment :: This is an 8-month commitment to being an organizer with Seattle Young Jews for Justice (SYJJ). Internship is from October 4th, 2020 to May 23rd, 2021.
  • Meetings :: Leaders will meet every Wednesday from 4-5pm on Zoom and every first Sunday of the month for a COVID-careful* outdoor activity or field trip. Meetings will include social justice workshops, organizing skills training, community building, and planning for intern-led events and actions.
  • Leadership Development 
    • Each organizer will have a choice of which track they want to participate and grow their skills in: 
      • Facilitator-Educator Track :: In this track, organizers will be trained in curriculum development and learn how to facilitate. They will practice skills in the role of madrichimot (guides) supporting young people and teachers in Kadima Shabbat School classrooms.
      • Ritual-Leader Track :: In this track, organizers will be trained in ritual leadership skills, like prayer & song leading. They will be supported by Rabbi David, the Ritual team and local ritual-organizers to practice skills during Kadima services and Jewish political actions.
      • Artist-Activist Track :: In this track, organizers will study how art can be used as a tool for social change and hear from local artists & cultural workers about their activism. They will be supported to develop their artistry (of any medium) as a form of activism, contributing their gifts to SYJJ and Kadima events.
      • Political Action-Leader Track ::  In this track, organizers will study the role of protest and direct action in grassroots activism. They will be trained in the skills needed to put on political events and non-violent protest actions, and test their skill by leading a political event or action with SYJJ.
    • Additionally, each organizer will be supported to create a Leadership Development Plan (LDP) at the start of the year where they will name what specific skills they hope to develop during the internship. From there, the SYJJ Organizer will support the organizer to collectively decide what activism projects to take on and help them build the skills they need to carry out their dreams. All the organizers will set a mid year and end of year project goal they will be working individually and collectively towards. 
  • Retreats & Shabbaton :: We hope to have two overnight retreats this year, depending on public health guidelines. On March 6-7, 2021, we plan to have an overnight retreat and on May 21-23, 2021, we plan to have our final Shabbaton Retreat & Siyyum/Celebration.
  • Program Fees :: ​Kadima will not turn away any young person who wants to enroll in Seattle Young Jews for Justice. We strongly believe that the progressive Jewish education we offer should be available to all youth and families who wish to participate. 
    • The full cost of the annual SYJJ program is $1,000 per participant.  All SYJJ families, just like all member households of Kadima, are asked to first determine the Nadiv Lev (Accessible Dues) giving level that is right for them, factoring in the relevant school fees for the young people in their family who are enrolling in Seattle Young Jews for Justice.
    • If you are unable to pay full school fees, please still register using the regular membership and school enrollment form and enter the amounts you are able to pay for Nadiv Lev (Accessible Dues) and school fees when prompted. We will be in touch with you to discuss your financial needs and next steps. Our intention is to do our best to meet your financial needs as well as our obligation to pay our teachers and staff and run a robust range of programming.

For More Info
Contact Guy, Kadima's SYJJ Organizer.
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