American youth are facing an unprecedented mental health crisis. In 2023, the CDC reported that 40% of students experienced persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness, the highest rate on record.
For young Jewish people, the burden is even heavier: they navigate both the universal challenges of adolescence as well as the rising antisemitism and the acute stressors that followed October 7, leaving many feeling isolated, misunderstood, and under attack for the first time in their lives.
The Jewish community is urgently seeking meaningful interventions to support our young people through this moment. But we may not need to look far – one of the most powerful tools for building resilience has been embedded in Jewish tradition all along: service to others.
It turns out there’s strong science behind this tradition.
Research from BeWell, Jewish Federations of North America’s well-being initiative, finds that teens who participate often in Jewish programs feel more optimistic, and those who say being Jewish is important to them report greater well-being overall.
While there are no simple answers, Jewish volunteer service offers support in deep and lasting ways.
When young people step up to help others, they’re not just supporting people in need – they’re building real connections, being exposed to new perspectives, deepening their own sense of purpose, and bringing their Jewish values to life.
The former surgeon-general Vivek Murthy put it simply: “When we help somebody else, two things happen. One is we forge a connection with them.
“The second is that we remind ourselves that we have value, and that can help us in times of our own loneliness… Volunteering in your community and helping others can be a great way to connect with people, build a sense of purpose, and develop your own sense of self-worth.”
Repair the World mobilizes young Jews and their communities to engage in volunteer service and learning rooted in Jewish values to address urgent needs in communities. This is exemplified by programs such as the service corps that inspire commitments to service in a cohort of young peers.
BeWell provides mental health resources and training to Jewish communities, organizations, professionals, and parents to help young people thrive.
By mobilizing Jewish youth to serve, providing the resources communities need, and ensuring staff are trained to strengthen and support volunteer well-being, we’re helping a new generation thrive, heal, and grow together.
What better way to show our young people that in Jewish life, doing good and feeling good can go hand in hand?
As the former surgeon-general’s advisory also notes, “Helping others when you are the one struggling can seem counterintuitive. But service is a powerful antidote to isolation, and it reminds us that we have value to add to the world.”
With 88% of Repair the World Service Corps members reporting an increased sense of belonging in the Jewish community, the impact is clear – service offers a healing path for young Jews to express their Judaism, strengthen communities, and address urgent needs.
A call to action
For many young people, engaging in service is the primary way to engage in Jewish life and learning. More so than ever, we see an urgency in our work.
This year, Repair the World is dramatically expanding its Service Corps program to reach thousands more young people and is training staff across the Jewish community to recognize the mental health benefits of service and create supportive environments where young people can thrive.
BeWell is offering workshops, education, and training for those leading short-term and immersive service projects to help strengthen the well-being of volunteers and lift up the protective factors that are deeply embedded in this tradition.
Together, through the Jewish Service Alliance, JFNA and Repair collaborate to scale service as a Jewish response to the challenges facing young adults today.
The Catalyst Fellowship, for example, provides nine months of training and mentorship so that Federation employees can run meaningful service learning programs in dozens of communities around the country.
We need Jewish communities, organizations, and leaders to prioritize service opportunities for young people – not as an add-on, but as central to how we show up for the next generation.
With Jewish teens carrying a dual burden – the universal challenges of adolescence and the unique pressures of being Jewish in this moment – creating more volunteer experiences benefits both communities in need and the well-being of our young people.
It’s not just about what we give, but the lasting strength we gain from being in community, from creating meaning, and from shared action.
Let’s show our young people that in Jewish life, their kindness, their actions, and their presence truly matter. The tradition that has sustained us for generations is exactly what this generation needs now.
Sara Allen is executive director of BeWell & associate vice president of community & Jewish life at The Jewish Federations of North America. Cindy Greenberg is president and CEO of Repair the World.