Something remarkable is happening in congregations across North America. While engaging teens remains one of the most persistent challenges in Jewish education, madrichim programs — where teens serve as classroom helpers and role models — are consistently oversubscribed. Teens want to show up. They want to contribute.
The Madrichim Fellowship was built to meet that energy with something meaningful in return. Last summer I along with a team of ARJE volunteers worked to develop a curriculum for 8th and 9th graders to learn more about supporting individual students in their classrooms. Led by Lisa Friedman, RJE these volunteers identified areas of learning and volunteered to teach sessions throughout the year.
This close partnership between the URJ and ARJE enabled us to jointly support madrichim as they stepped into their roles - helping them to build real skills, deepen their sense of responsibility ,and grow as Jewish leaders. The results have been striking. Participants have described the experience in their own words:
"This fellowship is very helpful and teaches many things to be a good madrichim leader. It helped me become more confident in my leadership skills."
"I was better at handling different situations and keeping cool when kids act out."
"This fellowship really showed me how to step into a role of leadership and be welcoming and inclusive to everyone."
These aren't abstract outcomes — they're 8th and 9th graders finding their voices, learning to advocate for themselves, and contributing meaningfully to the educational life of their communities.
What's coming in 2026–2027
We're expanding the fellowship in two important ways — and we couldn't be more excited about what's ahead.
First, we're broadening the Madrichim Fellowship to welcome any first- or second-year madrichim in grades 8 through 12. Participants will join a North American online cohort for six 75-minute sessions focused on classroom management, youth mentorship, and leadership — a shared learning community that stretches across congregations and regions.
Second, we're launching the Madrichim to Teaching Certificate Fellowship, an advanced track for teens in their third year in the role. Through ten sessions and a rigorous hands-on project — involving classroom observation, lesson planning, and reflective practice with a skilled local educator — participants will gain what they need to become certified religious school teachers.
This second program addresses something ARJE members raise consistently: the difficulty of finding and hiring enough religious school teachers. By creating a clear pathway from madrichim to certified educator, we're helping congregations build a sustainable pipeline of talent while opening up meaningful leadership and employment opportunities for teens well into their college years.
Both programs will also include local in-person hubs, where participants in specific metropolitan areas gather three times a year for connection and learning. Hub gatherings will bring together teens from across the region — strengthening relationships between communities and building a network of young leaders who are invested in the future of Jewish life.
As one participant put it: "The lessons of the fellowship have made me a better madrichim and a better person."
That's what this is about. By investing in these teens today, we're cultivating tomorrow's educators, leaders, and community builders — one classroom, one cohort, one fellowship at a time.
Three calls to action:
Nominate a teen for the Madrichim or other URJ fellowships: Teen Fellowships Interest and Referral Format
Want to be involved in building next year’s Madrichim program? Email Julia Levine Julialevine@trz.org
Written by Rachel Margolis, RJE, URJ Director, Teen Strategy