May 2026 JTeen Update for Parents

By Leah Stinson, Amy Fox, and Rachel Valdman
May 14, 2026

Leah Stinson, Amy Fox, and Rachel Valdman

Shalom Parents!

As we wrap up an amazing year with JTeen, we want to take a moment to reflect on the experiences that brought our community together. From meaningful conversations to fun events and new connections, this year was filled with energy, growth, and impact. In this newsletter, you’ll find a snapshot of the past year, highlights, photos, and memorable moments from across our programs.

We’re also excited to share that Atlanta’s regional Jewish overnight camps still have limited availability this summer! Be sure to explore the options below to get your tweens and teens enrolled, it’s an opportunity you won’t want them to miss!

We’ll be back in August with our regular newsletters and are already looking forward to another incredible year ahead.

Have a wonderful summer!
Your JTeen Team,

Leah Stinson, Director of JTeen and JCamping
lstinson@jewishatlanta.org

Amy Fox, Parent Engagement Manager, JTeen
afox@jewishatlanta.org

Rachel Valdman, Coordinator, JCamping and JTeen
rvaldman@jewishatlanta.org

A Snapshot of This Year’s JTeen Events

[8.13.25] Back to School with Dr. Betsy Stone—A Morning for Parents of Teens and Tweens

[9.9.25] Supporting Executive Function: Tools for Parents of Teens and Tweens

[11.13.26] Parents’ Meetup Exploring Teen Israel Programs

[1.27.26] Stronger Together—Celebrating Jewish Identity

[1.28.26] Reclaiming Your Zionism: Owning Your Story, Identity, and Voice

[2.3.26] The Art of Listening and Repairing Conflict

[2.23.26] JWood Micro-Community Launch

[3.11.26] Hebrew Speaking Parents of Teens: Meet and Sip

[3.16.26] The High School Transition: A Parent and Teen Conversation

[3.22.26] Staying Connected, Letting Go—Parenting Through the Transition to Adulthood

Thank you for being part of these meaningful moments. We need your input!

Please take 2 minutes and fill out a quick survey to help us create programs that truly support you as a parent.

Complete the Survey Here

Upcoming Federation Opportunities and Programs

Shoenbaum Shinshinim

Since August, eight incredible Shinshinim have been living and working in Jewish Atlanta, making a meaningful impact each day. Through their year of service, they build genuine relationships and deepen connections to Israel across our community. We are truly fortunate to have them here. Take a glimpse by watching this video!

Bring Israel Into Your Home – Host a Shinshinim!

Open your home to a Shinshin for a semester and experience something truly special. Shinshinim are 18-year-old Israelis taking a gap year in Atlanta volunteering in our Jewish community. Hosting is a unique opportunity to build a lasting connection with Israel, deepen your family’s Jewish identity, and give back to our shared homeland in a meaningful way. Questions? Contact Debbie Sasson (dsasson@jewishatlanta.org).
Learn About Becoming a Host

Atlanta Israel Gap Year Fellowship

Back in November, as the first of three core touchpoints that anchor the Atlanta Israel Gap Year Fellowship, our Fellows participated in a powerful day in our Partnership region at Kibbutz Nahal Oz—an experience designed to deepen their connection to Israel through direct engagement with the people and stories shaping this moment. This year, 20 fellows from 8 high schools across Atlanta are participating across 5 different Masa Israel Journey programs. During the visit, fellows heard firsthand from community members, including reflections on October 7th and the story of former Atlanta Shinshin Dekel Swissa z”l, engaged in honest dialogue with Israeli peers, and participated in a meaningful act of remembrance by planting trees on the Gaza border—transforming the day into an opportunity for reflection, connection, and deeper understanding. While the ongoing war later required adjustments to the second and third touchpoints, these pivots ensured that fellows could remain connected and continue engaging meaningfully throughout the year.

As one current fellow, Ari, shared:
“You don’t really understand it until you’re here. You’ll never get another year like this—a year where you’re living in Israel, learning, and figuring out who you want to be. Israel stopped feeling like a place I’m in and started feeling like a place where I belong.”

Looking ahead, we are excited to be supporting over 30 graduating seniors from 15 different schools participating in 14 different programs next year, reflecting the continued growth and impact of this initiative. For rising juniors and seniors beginning to think about what comes next, now is a great time to start exploring what a gap year in Israel could look like. We’re here as a resource to help you navigate options, timelines, and opportunities.

About RootOne

This year at RootOne, we had the privilege of engaging with approximately 300 teens and 200 parents and community members through a variety of meaningful events. Together, we explored Israel from diverse perspectives and discovered the unique opportunities available for our youth to travel, connect, and embark on a personal journey of Jewish identity and their own evolving story with Israel.

As we look toward the summer, we are thrilled that about 90 teens from Atlanta will be heading to Israel on various trips. They will immerse themselves in the vibrant culture, delicious food, breathtaking landscapes, and rich history of the land. Beyond the sights, this is a transformative experience where they will build lifelong friendships across the US and Israel and enjoy an empowering sense of independence. We can’t wait to reconnect with everyone and hear their stories when they return!

RootOne Summer Trip Vouchers

Calling all teens! Looking for a life-changing summer experience? Choose from 50+ different programs. Every teen is eligible for a $3,000 voucher to help cover the cost of their trip. Questions? Contact Lior Fridman (lfridman@jewishatlanta.org).
Apply for a Voucher
Read about Max Zhiss, who recently went on a RootOne-supported senior trip to Israel.

About JCamping

JCamping offers grants and scholarships to help make Jewish overnight camp more affordable for families, but applications are closing soon! Apply for One Happy Camper (OHC) Incentive Grants and Russian Speaking Jewish (RSJ) Camp Grants now.

If you are still exploring camp options, here are some great opportunities for your teens and their younger siblings.

Questions? Contact Leah Stinson (lstinson@jewishatlanta.org).

Hillel International Raffle

Are you a graduating senior? If so, check out this great raffle Hillel International has going on right now! Enter the Raffle

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