Mel Scult Teen Prize

Lani Hammerman, 15, Beit Am Shalom

The connections I have made with Jews across the globe give me hope in our Jewish future. As people make varied choices following Jewish tradition, we will continue to thrive as a people. During a Shabbat in Jerusalem last summer, I met girls from a yeshiva in Brooklyn. I knew that our ways of practicing Judaism are very different and I was cautious about engaging with them. At some point during what became a lengthy conversation, I mentioned my mixed-gender choir; the girls immediately insisted that we sing together, so they could hear my voice. My anxiety dissipated as our conversation and singing went on and I realized it is not Jewish law practices that make us similar, but our cultural similarities such as our love of Jewish music and shopping on Ben Yehudah Street. 

I have also been fortunate to spend the last few summers touring cities with small Jewish communities. While they may never have heard of Reconstructionist, Conservative/Masorti or Reform Judaism and would never imagine a girl having an aliyah, I have been welcomed into rabbis’ homes and synagogues across the world. These have included the Red Village in Azerbaijan; Izmir, Turkey; Belgrade, Serbia; and even Rome, Italy. Having had the good fortune to see these communities firsthand, I am reminded that, with every Jewish person I meet, no matter how differently we practice Jewish tradition, Jewish people will continue to value community above all.  It is these shared connections, within local communities and across the planet, that keep me confident in the survival of the Jewish people. As a person who finds my own path through our ritual traditions, which can sometimes be similar but is often different from those whom I have met, I have continued to feel connected to our diverse Jewish people.

Jules Klein, 12, Congregation Dorshei Tzedek

Jewish peoplehood is embedded in our shared history, values, and traditions. Although rituals and holidays preserve identity, Jewish survival has always relied on adaptability. Departing from these traditions does not necessarily threaten Jewish peoplehood—adaptation and change can strengthen us.

Throughout history, Judaism has evolved and changed greatly. The Jewish Diaspora led Jews to various countries where we continued our religious practices in different ways.  Different sects of Judaism emerged like Reform and Reconstructionist, introducing new ways to “be Jewish.”   These prioritized community and belonging over orthodoxy, and the fact that we have flourished in the United States shows that flexibility is essential to survival.

However, departing too far from tradition risks breaking connections. For many, strict adherence to orthodoxy is how Jewish identity is established and maintained. Without a shared foundation, Jewish communities may have trouble connecting with others who share different beliefs about how to be Jewish. Although there is a valid concern about whether Jewish practices stray too far from the basic beliefs, having different Jewish values doesn’t prevent positive social interaction between different groups. Many Jews of various beliefs engage together, helping embody old and important Jewish values as a whole. 

Ultimately, Jewish peoplehood’s survival depends entirely on the people’s ability to balance tradition with adaptation. Strict observation is not a required factor of Judaism, but core values—such as community, memory, and ethical responsibility—must be preserved. Judaism’s resilience lies in its ability to evolve while maintaining these values. As long as Jews can find meaningful ways to connect, whether through tradition or any other way, our peoplehood will endure. Change is not the enemy of survival; refusal to accept change is. Rabbi Kaplan understood this and created Reconstructionism as an answer, and equalizer, for the many different beliefs within Judaism.

Rachel Miller-Benioff, 16, Temple Emek Shalom

The heart of the Jewish people lies with their tradition. The Jewish people have, in a sense, already weakened their chances of survival by separating into denominations. Each denomination, and each individual, all define “tradition” differently. It is agreed that prayer will be said and candles lit every Friday for Shabbat, but is this practice enough to sustain the peoplehood? I believe that tradition is truly the backbone of peoplehood and if no three people can agree, we are no longer bonded as one. Internalization of these disagreements greatly diminish chances of survival.

The most important tradition in Judaism is to attend the Shabbat of Shabbats, Kol Nidre and Yom Kippur services. Even if one occasionally forgets it is Friday, or neglects their temple most weeks, it is okay as long as they put themselves before God and before their community (there are exceptions for extraneous situations, or if you are not part of a temple). The tradition of impersonating the great cohanim is a shared, dreadful, and beautiful experience throughout the Jewish people. If one forgets which day is holiest, or refuses to recognise the day’s meaning and relevance, the true fracture of the Jewish people will have begun. Small traditions that may be lost to time or human frailty have less of a ripple effect on the community, as those are already influenced by both conscious and unconscious biases. Traditions such as the Day of Atonement are just too important to be discarded. Division is common in communities when members depart at a scale such as this. 

I hope that recognition of tradition, even if not a practice, is enough to support the Jewish people. However, it is for the reasons above I believe that the loss of tradition will lessen the chances of survival for Jewish peoplehood.

Rowan Simone, 14, Shir Hadash

In the words of Mordecai Kaplan, we are always evolving, for with invention comes innovation. Therefore, departing from Jewish traditions does not lessen the chance of Jewish Peoplehood surviving. In fact, it would do quite the opposite. We evolve with the times, and therefore our religion should evolve as well. If our religion does not evolve, then over time it loses relevancy and eventually its people.

For example, it was less than a century ago that Bat Mitzvahs were not part of the Jewish religion, but by introducing this new aspect of a very old tradition, we made Judaism more accessible to women, who have been historically denied opportunities to be counted as full Jewish members of the community. Furthermore, from the Bat Mitzvah, we have created the B’nai Mitzvah for people with non-conforming gender identities. Through the B’nai Mitzvah, we open our arms to embrace and welcome those who have been previously discounted and ignored.

By evolving with the times, we open ourselves to the idea that evolution does not mean exclusion, but instead inclusion. I believe Mordecai Kaplan would support this assertion. He also explained that along with our metaphysical beliefs, our synagogue should also evolve to meet the needs of the ever-growing congregation.

The synagogue should not just be a place to pray, it should also be a place for the community, friendships, and family—for everyone. By departing from older Jewish traditions, we are paving the way for the new ones, and in doing so, our idea of community and Peoplehood grows stronger as we grow stronger.