Adrian Maydanich is proud of his Jewish identity. He comes from a Reform household. He attends a local Modern Orthodox school. And the blending of the two gives him a unique Jewish upbringing, one that he is glad to have. All of this culminates in 4Front, an initiative of the JCC that provides Jewish programming and experiences for local teens. Experiences, Adrian says, that are like no other.

Housed at the Rosenbloom Owings Mills JCC campus, 4Front is a program that provides engaging opportunities for Jewish teens and the adults who care about them. From year-long cohorts to shorter experiences, 4Front gives its teens a chance to connect with others, engage in their Jewish identity and grow as a community member and leader.

Adrian is no stranger to 4Front, with his mom chairing the board during its formative years. Inspired by his mother, Adrian participated in a myriad of its programs. Whether it was Students Taking Action for Change (STACS), the Diller Program or, recently, the Gesher Program, the many offerings of 4Front, as Adrian tells it, enhanced his Jewish identity.

“4Front provided the opportunity to be open and express myself in different facets, whether that be politically or culturally. And now, in a leadership sense.”

Coming from an immigrant family, Adrian’s parents moved to the Soviet Union to escape persecution for their religious beliefs. It’s what influenced his family’s Jewish journey in those following years, and it has influenced Adrian to this day.

“Being Jewish to me is a lot of different things. It’s not only a practice. I would say it’s an ideology and it’s also a community.”

Speaking on the aftermath of October 7, Adrian admits that he and his friends have been impacted. While the rise in antisemitism at home and around the world is a concern, Adrian also sees it as an opportunity.

“It gave me a bit of a realistic perspective on what the world could view of us. But I think it’s enhanced my perspective of how I want to respond. October 7 gave us an opportunity to not shy away in the face of oppression, but an opportunity to battle back and to show people who we really are, what our community is like, and why it’s so strong.”