Frequently Asked Questions about JYCA!
1. What is JYCA?
JYCA is Jewish Youth for Community Action. JYCA is a place for youth to explore their Judaism and their social justice values together in a fiercely loving, tight-knit community open to all. JYCA is youth run and youth led - every part of JYCA is influenced, shaped, or led by youth, including our curriculum, meetings, and retreats.
2. Who’s in it?
Youth ages 14-18 in the Bay Area who are excited to connect around community care, leadership development, social action, and Jewish social justice values. We embrace radical joy as an act of liberation and practice supported vulnerability.
3. What’s the Jewish aspect of it?
We talk about the ties between Judaism and social justice, we reflect on issues within and facing Jewish communities, and we celebrate Shabbat and Havdalah on retreats (these celebrations are optional, and we welcome and include people of all faith traditions as a part of our community). We also celebrate some of the Jewish holidays together, like Hanukkah and Passover. Your curiosities around Jewish thought and practice are encouraged! However you express yourself Jewishly is welcome!
About The Organizing Group (OG)
1. What do you do in OG?
OG youth participate in 8 monthly workshops called LTSs (Leadership Training Sessions) over the program year. At the beginning of the year, OG youth determine what topics they would like to explore, based on current events and youth needs. While most LTSs are centered around social justice education, youth are encouraged to think creatively and dedicate some LTSs to deeper group connection, artistic expression, acts of service, and field trips. In addition to these monthly LTSs, there are opportunities to participate in weekend retreats, social gatherings, community actions, and service opportunities with other JYCA youth.
2. What’s the commitment?
OG youth meet one Sunday a month for 3 hour LTSs (Leadership Training Sessions) where they engage in community building, personal development, and political and social justice education. OG youth also participate in a Fall Retreat led by staff and a Spring Retreat led by youth, as well as other youth-led activities, rituals, and outings.
As part of the OG program, OG youth are encouraged but not required to join committees and develop their leadership. Most committees meet in person one Sunday a month, between 2-3 hours.
3. What's the action aspect of OG?
Our youth-led JYCA Action Committee (JAC) collectively picks 2 actions or protests to organize JYCA youth and community to attend each programmatic year. They also coordinate guest speakers for half of our LTSs (Leadership Training Sessions), focused on learning from organizers and campaign leaders.
4. What’s the cost?
We have a TAX DEDUCTIBLE donation model! The support of our participating families is essential to the success of our program and we encourage each family to think meaningfully and decide what amount feels right to you, based on the level your child plans to participate and your family's access to resources. We suggest a donation of $2000-$4000 for every youth participating in OG. The true cost per youth enrolled is about $5,000 per year. To ensure that JYCA is accessible for all, we request that all families with the means to do so contribute at the high end of (or beyond) the donation range. We hope that this structure can make our programming more financially accessible and flexible for however your family chooses to participate. Since the sliding scale starts at $0, we do not offer financial aid. No one is turned away for lack of funds.
5. How do I join OG?
Visit the program page for OG for the application!
6. Do I have to be Jewish to join OG?
No! Almost every year, we have non-Jews participate in our programs. We just ask that you be open to looking at the issues we discuss through a Jewish social justice lens.
7. What’s the process and timeline for joining OG?
We’ll be accepting new applications for OG on a rolling basis starting in May. In August, we have info sessions for youth and families where you can learn more about OG and JYCA. The application deadline is Sunday, August 27, 2023 at midnight. OG begins in early September.
About Jews Against Marginalization (JAM)
1. What is JAM, and what do you do in JAM?
JAM is our affinity space for Jewish youth who identify as People of Color*, mixed-race, Sephardic, Mizrahi. JAM youth meet in-person every month to build community, rest, decompress, and pursue joy alongside each other. We also have special events like panel discussions with BIPOC mentors, community-building retreats, and virtual hangouts with JOCSM youth across the country!
*Not sure what this means? This word is explained below! See question (5).
2. How did JAM get started?
Youth advocacy! JOCSM youth in our program wanted a safe space and uplifting community where they can be vulnerable and authentic. A central mission of JAM is to create a culture of belonging for youth with intersectional identities.
3. What is an “affinity space?”
Affinity spaces allow folks who share an identity—usually a marginalized identity—to gather, talk in a safe space about issues related to that identity, and transfer that discussion into action that makes for a more equitable experience.
4. I don’t feel “Jewish enough” to join - can I still be a part of JAM?
Of course! Feeling “not enough” of an identity is an important part of our identity journeys, and we want to explore that with you! We welcome folks with all levels of observance and involvement with Jewish life - it doesn’t matter if this is the first “Jewish” thing you’ve done, or if you’re super active at your synagogue and have done lots of Jewish camps, programs, etc. growing up.
Similarly, if you have some connection to Judaism or Jewish heritage, you’re welcome to join - you don’t have to strictly identify as “Jewish.” Many of us have complex relationships with our Jewish identities, and identifying as Jewish may not be what feels right or authentic to you even if you have Jewish heritage. This is totally ok!!
5. What do you mean by "Jews of Color?”
Jews of Color (JoC) are Jews who self-identify as People of Color. People of Color includes folks with at least one racial identity that does not fall under the United States’ definition of “white." Our identities can include: Black, Latinx, Indigenous, Asian, Middle Eastern/North African, Pacific Islander, and mixed-race or mixed heritage folks.
Jews of Color can exist in multiple ways - there is no “right” way to be a Jew of Color! We can have one Jewish parent, two Jewish parents, one Person of Color parent, two Person of Color parents…. We can be Jewish by heritage (one or more parents are Jewish) or by choice (converted to Judaism). If you aren’t sure if the label “Jews of Color” apply to you, we’d love to talk more about that with you!
6. Why do we put Jews of Color, Sephardic and Mizrahi (JOCSM) folks together?
We use the umbrella term “Jews of Color, Sephardic, Mizrahi (JOCSM)” to unify Jewish folks who feel left out of the larger Jewish community. The purpose of JAM is to make space for those of us with identities excluded and/or less represented in Jewish spaces.
JOCSM identity is broad, and often self-defined. Not all folks who fall under “JOCSM” will choose that term to identify themselves. You do NOT have to identify with the word “JOCSM” to participate in JAM - we welcome you as long as you hold one or more of the identities under our umbrella.
7. Why is this affinity space important or necessary?
Frequently in Jewish spaces, we are the only ones with our particular identities - the only Person of Color; the only Jew with traditions and cultural foods different from Ashkenazi ones; the only Jew by Choice, etc. Due to this, we can experience exclusion of our identities by white Ashkenazi folks. Folks may assume we are not Jewish or ask us questions that invalidate our Jewishness like “How are you Jewish?” and “When did you convert?”. Multicultural Jews can feel like other parts of our identities are not valued in Jewish spaces, and that we have to “choose” in those spaces to identify only or primarily as Jewish.
Therefore, it is important to have a space that’s “by us, for us” - a space in which we can build community with others who share our experiences in an inclusive and empowering way.