By David Heilbron
Director of Youth Philanthropy & Connection

Over the past 18 months in my role at JFGI, I have had the privilege of working with 41 Jewish high schoolers a part of the YoPhI Teen Board. The YoPhI Teen Board experience provides teens in grades 11 and 12 the opportunity to explore philanthropy in an authentic, hands-on experience. While the YoPhI Teen Board is just that – a foundation board – and all decisions made by the Teen Board members are decided after discussion and a consensus building process, the yearlong experience provides each and every Teen Board member the chance to answer of question of personal importance: What Does it Mean to Be a Jewish Teen Philanthropist?

Philanthropy is an ever-evolving field and takes on a myriad of notions and connotations across groups. Coming from the Greek origins, the word philanthropy evokes notions of a “lover of humankind” or in modern academic circles – “voluntary action for the public good.” In the Jewish tradition, we often refer to the concept of Tzedakah – righteous giving – as the roots of our philanthropy. While similar, the Jewish concept separates itself from philanthropy in at least two ways. First, Tzedakah is not seen as voluntary but a mitzvah (commandment) so much so that “even a poor person who is sustained from charity must also perform tzedakah” (Talmud Bavli, Gittin 7b). Second, tzedakah must not only serve the current public good but must promote more tzedek (justice) in the world. We are commanded that a people will only thrive when “Justice, Justice shall you pursue” (Deuteronomy 16:20).

In their pursuit of a more just world, the YoPhI Teen Board members have a unique opportunity as Jewish Teen Philanthropists to collaborate with faculty and staff from the IU Lilly Family School of Philanthropy and the Lake Institute on Faith & Giving. While supporting the Teen Board members experience, the partnership with the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy is a true collaboration with Teen Board members learning about the cutting-edge of philanthropy while also shaping how thought leaders in field understand philanthropy in Gen Z and other young leaders.

Answering questions like how does one wrestle with the concepts of giving in a world that allows for more and more virtual connections across borders and groups but struggles to promote neighborly connection and generosity is at the forefront of many people’s mind. As philanthropy grows and changes, it is of utmost importance that we turn to the next generation of community leaders to answer pressing questions.

Over the next few weeks, you will have an opportunity to hear directly from YoPhI Teen Board members as they explore their identity as a Jewish Teen Philanthropist. The four teens highlighted are members of the 2019-2020 YoPhI Teen Board and in collaboration with the IU Lilly Family School of Philanthropy are working towards a Certificate in Youth Philanthropic Leadership (the only of its kind in the world). These YoPhI Teen Board members were asked the same question posed above: What Does it Mean to Be a Jewish Teen Philanthropist. As I have experienced over the past year-and-a-half in my tenure as Director of Youth Philanthropy & Connection, I’m sure their answers and insights will teach, inspire, and empower us all to better understand our role in making an impact in our community

While not all 28 YoPhI Teen Board members will be sharing reflections via these blogs in the coming weeks, you have the opportunity to hear from them at the YoPhI Check Granting Ceremony on Sunday, May 3. Join family, friends, and community members as they celebrate the completion of the 2019-2020 YoPhI Teen Board’s grantmaking cycle with reflections, celebration and the presentation of allocations to grantee recipients. For more information on the Check Granting Ceremony or the YoPhI Teen Board, please do not hesitate to reach out to dheilbron@jfgi.org.

 

The YoPhI Teen Board is an initiative of the Jewish Federation of Greater Indianapolis and is part of the Jewish Teen Funders Network (JTFN) Foundation Board Incubator, an initiative funded by Laura Lauder and the Maimonides Fund.

To learn more about the IU Lilly Family School of Philanthropy and the Lake Institute on Faith & Giving, the public is invited to the 17^th Annual Thomas H. Lake Lecture on Thursday March 12 at 6 p.m. The evening will feature a conversation with David Brooks and Anne Snyder on The Sacred Sector: Exploring Faith, Philanthropy, and Community in a Polarized World. The event is free and open to the public. Full details and RSVP can be found HERE.