NEW YORK (VINnews) — Jewish high school students across the United States have requested hundreds of new Jewish Student Union clubs since the Hamas-led attacks of Oct. 7, 2023, according to the organization that runs the program.
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JSU, a project of NCSY, said it received about 15 to 20 requests a year from teens seeking to start clubs before the attacks. Since then, 473 students have applied through the national system alone. That figure does not include teens who connected through local staff or word of mouth.
JSU now operates more than 515 clubs serving more than 21,000 Jewish teens in public and community high schools in the United States and Canada.
Organizers say the surge comes as many Jewish students report feeling isolated or targeted at school. Students have started clubs, recruited classmates, planned Shabbat dinners and built Jewish community on campuses where none existed.
One New Jersey senior transferred schools this summer and began organizing a new JSU chapter before the first day of classes, recruiting siblings and classmates.
JSU clubs meet in public and non-Jewish private high schools. Staff members support student leaders with programming, food and weekly guidance. The groups are open to Jewish teens of varying backgrounds and some non-Jewish students.
National JSU Director Devora Simon has described the students as choosing to deepen their Jewish identity rather than hide it. She said club requests show teens want more opportunities to find one another and take an active role in Jewish life at school.
It is inspiring to see young people actively building community and connection. When faced with challenges, choosing to strengthen identity and create spaces for shared experience shows real leadership. This kind of initiative makes a tangible difference in their own lives and for those around them.