Two Baltimore teens, Kayla Hertzberg and Eli Friedman, share their powerful insights on being Jewish and how 4Front Baltimore’s Teen Programming helped them build strong Jewish connections, changed how they approached college searches and provided them with the tools to navigate the challenges of a world after October 7.

What is 4Front?

4Front Baltimore, a program managed  by the JCC,provides opportunities for Jewish teens to connect, grow and create change together for our community. Signature programs include the Social Innovation Fellowship, Diller Teen Fellows, Peer Leadership Fellows, Teen Service Council and Gesher Teen Board Members  inspire Jewish teens like Kayla and Eli.

Kayla, now a senior in high school, was always engaged in Jewish life. She was actively involved with her synagogue, Beth Israel Congregation, where she also went to Hebrew School. However, this McDonogh School student was interested in expanding her Jewish community, and that’s when she sought out 4Front. It was the chance to make more Jewish friends and expand her Jewish community that drove Kalya to 4Front. From there she took part in Peer Leadership Fellows and eventually became a Diller Teen last year.

For Eli, who attends the University of Maryland, College Park, his 4Front journey started when he was a high school sophomore. A Pikesville High School student, he joined the Social Innovation Fellowship which empowers teens to make change in their communities. Eli and his group focused on teen substance abuse and how they could address the issue. Following that, he too became a Diller Teen Fellow and joined teens from around the world in a year-long program that involved teens taking part in an exchange program with peers from our partner city of Ashkelon.

Looking Ahead at Jewish Life on College Campus

For both Kayla and Eli, their time at 4Front has had a major impact on what they were looking for when looking for colleges.

Kayla, says that 4Front influenced her to keep growing her Jewish connections as she enters the next chapter of her life.

“I’ve definitely found that I want a strong Jewish community when looking for colleges. I want to be involved with Jewish life.

For Eli, his time with 4Front motivated him to join a Jewish fraternity as a freshman at University of Maryland.

“My first semester at University of Maryland I joined a Jewish fraternity. Built into the fraternity we have constant activities and have significant relations with the Rabbis from Hillel and Chabad.” (is this quote correct?)

Navigating A World After October 7

Kayla and Eli look back on their time with 4Front Baltimore with immense gratitude, specifically their time as Diller Teen Fellows and how it has helped them in these challenging times.

As part of the Diller Teen Fellowship, Kayla and Eli took part in an exchange program with Israeli teens from The Associated’s partner city in Israel – Ashkelon. It is connections like these, according to Eli and Kayla, that enhance their Jewish identity further than they expected.

“Having a relationship with an Israeli teen has significantly expanded my Jewish identity and made me feel more connected to the Jewish religion,” says Eli.

After October 7, Eli explains that his time with 4Front and the relationships he built helped him navigate this new reality.

“My first thought was my Ashkelon relationships and all the relationships I have in Israel. Just checking in on them, calling them and making sure they’re okay.”

It’s All About Community

At its heart, 4Front is about helping teens grow as leaders and as members of the Jewish community. And for Kayla, her experience with 4Front will stick with her forever.

“4Front strengthened my Jewish identity by just giving me a bigger community of people that I can relate to and talk with. They’ve become some of my closest friends and we’ve helped each other grow and we’ve been through so much together… I see myself being friends for the rest of our lives.”

4Front Baltimore, launched in 2015, is housed and managed by the JCC of Greater Baltimore. Learn more about the programs on offer and the impact it has made in the Baltimore Jewish Community.