Teens Meet Hebrew College’s New JTFGB Director
Samantha Schnall
Hebrew College’s JTFGB
(Jewish Teen Foundation of Greater Boston of Hebrew College) is a year-long program for Jewish high school students with different denominational backgrounds from across the greater Boston area. Together, they develop strong leadership and communication skills, learn the ins and outs of professional philanthropy and grant-making through a Jewish lens, and allocate grants to effect real change in the causes they care about most. We spoke with new JTFGB Director Samantha Schnall about her work with teens and goals for this year’s JTFGB teens.
Q. Why were you interested in directing Hebrew College’s JTFGB program?
I have had many positive experiences in Jewish programming in my own life, from being involved in NFTY (North American Federation for Temple Youth) back in high school to being Hillel President in college, to working as a religious school teacher and youth advisor the past three years. Now I am going back to school to get my master’s in Jewish leadership and education at Brandeis’s Hornstein Program.
When I heard about the JTFGB position, I was excited by this opportunity to apply and continue my involvement in Jewish teen life with the chance to teach and learn from Jewish teens. I can’t wait to dive into this program with the teens and make an impact on the community and nonprofit organizations.
Q. What do you like about working with Jewish teens?
Working with Jewish teens reminds me of how much my mentors influenced who I have become today. Having been a teacher the past three years, in a public school setting, it is the Jewish spaces that allow me to feel the most connected and fulfilled. I love creating relationships with the teens and being able to be a mentor and guide them as needed. I also enjoy watching their minds work, experiencing their curiosity about the world, and asking the really hard questions, even if there are not always answers.
Q. What do you think are the biggest challenges Jewish teens are facing today?
I think with the state of the world and prevalence of antisemitism in all spaces, Jewish teens are having internal battles about whether or not to reveal that they are Jewish. With social media and especially TikTok, it makes issues even more escalated and hard to decode true from false — it’s very easy to be misled given all the information that is out there. I want Jewish teens to be equipped with the tools necessary to speak truth to others.
Q. What are your goals for JTFGB this year?
I have several: To create meaningful relationships with the teens and the advisory council. To find engaging ways to teach about consensus and non-profits. To ensure everyone feels safe and comfortable in this environment. And to fundraise for great organizations. Most importantly, I want the teens to have fun while in the process!
I am super excited and can’t wait to meet everyone soon!
Learn more about JTFGB here.