Or Tzedek

Or Tzedek is JCUA’s year-long leadership and organizing program for high school students (ages 14-18) who are passionate about social justice and ready to take action. Rooted in the legacy of Jewish youth activism, Or Tzedek provides teens with the knowledge, skills, and community to become powerful organizers for racial and economic justice in Chicago.

Through twice-monthly meetings from September to May, Or Tzedek participants:

• Explore community organizing through a Jewish lens, connecting Jewish values with justice movements.
• Learn about systems of oppression from a root-cause perspective, gaining a deeper understanding of how change happens.
• Develop key organizing skills — from campaign strategy to public speaking — to take meaningful action.
• Build a strong, supportive community with other young Jews committed to fighting for a more just world.
• Take action by organizing a youth-led campaign or direct action at the end of the program.

Program Structure & Commitment

• Meetings: Twice monthly on Sunday afternoons, plus a commitment to attend at least one JCUA meeting or event per month.
• Location: Most meetings take place in person at JCUA’s SketchPad office (4411 N. Ravenswood Ave. Ste 300), with occasional virtual meetings.
• Perks: Participants receive a $400 stipend, a fully paid weekend retreat in February, and a letter of recommendation for future academic and professional endeavors.
• Food: Meals are provided at all in-person cohort meetings!

Or Tzedek is one of two major spaces for Jewish youth leadership at JCUA. If you’re excited about organizing but Or Tzedek isn’t the right fit, check out our Youth Organizing Caucus— a regularly meeting space for Jewish teens and young adults to organize, strategize, and take action on grassroots campaigns.

Applications for Or Tzedek 2025-2026 are open now! Please apply by June 8th here. To learn more, contact JCUA’s Youth Leadership Coordinator, Talia Yaari (talia@jcua.org).