More than a month later, Jewish adults of all ages are still trying to mourn and process the horrors of the Oct. 7 attacks perpetrated by Hamas, as well as the ongoing war between Israel and the terrorist group amid skyrocketing antisemitism around the world.
But with so many opinions, voices, allegations and conflicting stories emanating from social media and elsewhere, how do Jewish teenagers make sense of it all?
4Front, the local Jewish community’s comprehensive teen initiative, is stepping up to the plate.
4Front — which is supported by The Associated: Jewish Federation of Baltimore, the Jim Joseph Foundation, the Joseph & Harvey Meyerhoff Family Charitable Funds and other local donors, and managed by the Jewish Community Center of Greater Baltimore — has announced upcoming events and programming to offer support to the community’s teens during the ongoing conflict in Israel.
In partnership with more than 17 other youth-serving organizations, 4Front held a community-wide teen candlelight vigil for Israel on Oct. 12 at the Owings Mills JCC that attracted over100 teens. “This has taken a such toll on the entire Jewish community, but especially on young people,” 4Front Baltimore Senior Director Diana Solomon told WJZ-TV.
Since then, the 4Front leadership team visited both Jewish and non-Jewish high schools to support students, held gatherings of local youth professionals, and offered impromptu opportunities for teens to dialogue with each other and with Israelis.
“During these challenging times, 4Front recognizes the incredible importance of providing space to process, to learn, and to be together in community,” the organization said in a statement.
In the coming months, 4Front will organize and promote more events and programming to offer support to the community’s teens. Teens are also encouraged to reach out to 4Front for any support.
Among the upcoming events are:
“Unpacking the War in Israel with Jewish Unpacked“
Sunday, Nov. 19, from 5-6:30 p.m. at the Rosenbloom Owings Mills JCC, 3506 Gwynnbrook Avenue
Unpacking the war between Israel and Hamas can seem daunting. Join Baltimore’s teens for a workshop on understanding the war, navigating social media, addressing antisemitism, and leaning into difficult questions of complexity and identity. 4Front will hold this gathering in partnership with The Associated’s Insight Israel Forum, BBYO, NCSY, JSU, Student to Student, the Jewish Library of Baltimore, JCamps, CTeen, Baltimore Hebrew Congregation, Beth Israel, Temple Isaiah and Beth Am.
“Empowering Upstanders — A talk with Liza Wiemer“
Monday, Dec. 11, from 7-8 p.m. at the Jewish Library of Baltimore, 5708 Park Heights Avenue
Join 4Front for an evening with Liza Wiemer, a Milwaukee-based award-winning educator and author of “The Assignment” (Delacorte Press). Moderated by the teen board member of the Jewish Library of Baltimore, the event will feature Wiemer speaking about her 2020 novel’s themes of allyship, upstanders, and helping students speak up against injustice and hate. The program will include a teen Chanukah menorah lighting. 4Front will hold this program in partnership with the Jewish Library of Baltimore, the Baltimore Jewish Council, NCSY, JSU, BBYO and more.
For information, visit 4FrontBaltimore.org.
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