Diller Teen Fellows

Diller Teen Fellows is a unique international Jewish teen leadership program, sponsored by the Helen Diller Family Foundation, and the Jewish Federation of Greater MetroWest for teens who will be in 10th or 11th grade during the 2016-2017 school year.

Diller Teen Fellows seeks to create an international network of inspired, empowered Jewish teens who will serve as active, effective leaders with a strong Jewish identity, a sense of commitment to their communities, the Jewish people, and Israel, who are motivated to make the world a better place.

The Diller Teen Fellows Program serves as a premier leadership program for Jewish teens,  exemplifying excellence in pluralistic Jewish informal education. Teens and their communities are strengthened through exposure to and experience of Jewish values, Peoplehood, and pluralism.  Program alumni represent an international network of young Jewish leaders who creatively and collaboratively engage in enriching and improving their communities and the world.

Highlights of the Greater MetroWest Diller Program Include:

• Monthly Workshops
• Shabbatonim (Weekend Retreats)
• Overnights
• Parents Meetings and Programming
• North American Seminar, 12 day peer-to-peer exchange hosting the Rishon LeZion Diller Teen Fellows
• Israel Summer Seminar
• Impact Projects

The Diller Teen Fellows Program offers each participant the opportunity to transform into a well- rounded and informed young leader and Jew. Our teens experience a journey unparalleled to participation in the typical Jewish youth movement.

“Contemplating what it means to be Jewish and our roles in the Jewish community can be overwhelming.  Somehow Diller made it easy, and even appealing.  Spending this past year in Diller gave me new insight to my own Jewish identity, and through discussions and activities, allowed me to contemplate how Judaism fits into my life.  Diller was just the beginning of a lifelong journey and commitment to Judaism.”
– Aliza Caplan, Diller Teen Fellows Cohort 4
 

Learn More

Thank you for your interest in the Diller Teen Fellows. View Diller Teen Fellows sample program calendar.

Questions?

Contact David Heilbron, Diller Teen Fellows Program Coordinator, at (973) 929-2712 or dheilbron@jfedgmw.org.

Matan Gotlib, the son of Shmulik and Ruchama Gotlib, was a Diller 2 Teen Fellows Graduate from our partner community of Rishon Letzion. He spent time in our community in 2010 as part of his Diller program. Last summer Matan was killed during Operation Protective Edge -- he was four months away from finishing his IDF service as an elite unit commander.

Matan’s ties to our community are still very much alive.

Our Federation of Greater MetroWest opened a fund in his memory to support scholarships for Diller participants from Rishon Letzion, and the Diller Teen Fellows are meeting with his family while in Israel. In October, Matan’s parents visited our community and attended a special reception coordinated by Federation in his honor. The link is to a speech made at the event by Shai Kartus, a fellow participant in Diller 2.

In an effort to keep one of Matan’s dreams of traveling the world alive, his friends created a sticker to place in locations that they visit.