The Interfaith Teen Leaders—a group of more than 30 teens from Jewish, Hindu, Muslim, Latter-day Saint, Catholic, Sikh, Presbyterian, and Baptist communities—came together on Sunday, December 14 for a Celebration of Light. The group regularly meets at rotating houses of worship to learn about one another, build allyship and explore the power of standing together across faith traditions.
The program was originally designed to begin with reflections on what “light” means in different religious traditions. In the wake of the devastating news from Bondi Beach that morning, the theme took on added urgency.
As part of their first joint community service project, the teens delivered six carloads of coats and toys that they had collected over the past month through their homes, schools and houses of worship. These donations will support New Jersey families facing need this holiday season.
The teens also learned from our Jewish Teen Leaders, who shared what it means to live a Jewish life—their faith, their people, and their values. Together with two of Federation Rishonim they spoke thoughtfully about Israel, its central place in Jewish identity and what it means to be Jewish in a post–October 7 world.
The group then turned to learning about Hanukkah through hands-on experience—playing dreidel, lighting the menorah with the rabbi and making latkes together with help of GMW Hillel’s own Billy Bloomberg, who also happens to be a classically trained chef. With more than two dozen teens chopping, mixing and frying side by side, the activity became a joyful expression of learning (and eating!) through shared tradition.
Parents joined at the end of the program to enjoy latkes and sufganiyot and to meet one another, the teen leaders and the Rishonim. Although the program ran a bit longer than planned, it concluded with a moment that captured the spirit of the day: a Jewish teen showing his Muslim peers where they could pray.
From its beginnings with 12 teens two years ago, the Interfaith Teen Leaders group has grown to 31 participants this year, alongside seven returning students who now serve as mentors, a testament to the power and promise of interfaith work. In a world that too often feels divided, these young leaders are choosing connection, compassion and courage—bringing light to one another and to the broader community they are helping to shape.