named programs · 4 · from sources
What they call their work
College Visits, Hillel Style
Annual trips for juniors and seniors to regional colleges with vibrant Jewish communities, including campus tours and interactions with Hillel students
SUPA: Hebrew 101
College-level Hebrew course offering 4 college credits to students in grades 10–12 through Syracuse University's Project Advance program
Shalshelet
Service-learning program where teens attend Epstein classes and volunteer as teacher aides at local religious schools or the Syracuse Community Hebrew School, earning a stipend
Teen Taste of Israel
13-day educational trip to Israel for 9th and 10th graders, focused on Jewish identity, history, and connection to Israel, heavily subsidized by donors
activities · 6 groups
What they do
-
Structured Jewish Text Study Programs 2 activities
- Offers elective courses in Jewish traditions, identity, and skillsProvides a variety of elective courses for students as part of its Spring 2026 program, including Jewish culinary traditions, famous Jewish athletes, gardening connected to Jewish texts, game exploration, graffiti-style mural design for identity expression, and personal storytelling through writing and discussion. These courses engage students in hands-on learning tied to Jewish culture and identity.
- Operates the Shalshelet program for teen leadership and teachingRuns the Shalshelet program, which combines weekly Jewish studies classes with volunteer or paid teaching aide roles in local religious schools, and provides increasing annual stipends to participants based on years of service.
-
-
Student-Led Identity and Enrichment Programming 1 activity
- Facilitates college campus visits with a Jewish lensOrganizes annual college visits for high school juniors and seniors through the Hillel tour program, including campus tours at the University of Rochester and Cornell University, engagement with Jewish students, and experiences with kosher dining.
-
-
Israel and Jewish Heritage Educational Travel 1 activity
- Organizes immersive educational trips to IsraelOffers high school students immersive travel and education programs in Israel, including a 13-day trip and a 10-day trip for 9th and 10th graders, focused on Jewish identity, history, culture, immigration, and technology.
-
-
Financial Aid and Scholarship Access Programs 1 activity
- Provides financial accessibility for Jewish educationEnsures access to Jewish education without financial barriers through tuition assistance and offers early registration discounts and sibling enrollment discounts to reduce costs for families.
-
-
Jewish Religious Education and Outreach 1 activity
- Provides grade-specific Jewish studies curriculumOffers a structured, multi-year Jewish studies curriculum for students in grades 7–12, including courses on strategic philanthropy and communal responsibility (7th–8th), Jewish identity and sacred texts (9th), Jewish responses to historical shifts (10th), antisemitism and confronting bias (11th), and Jewish ethics and leadership (12th).
-
-
Uncategorized 1 activity
- Offers college credit-bearing Hebrew language courseProvides a Hebrew 101 course for juniors and seniors that meets weekly during class time, includes monthly evening sessions and regular homework, and enables students to earn 4 college credits through enrollment in the SUPA program.
-
financials · form 990EZ · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$82K
Contributions & grants$52K63%
Program service revenue$23K28%
Investment income$7K8%
Other revenue—
expenses
Total expenses$82K
Program expenses—
Admin / overhead—
Fundraising—
Salaries & benefits$45K
Grants paid out—
balance sheet
Total assets$80K
Cash—
Investments—
Liabilities—
Net assets$80K
3 years on record · 2022–2024 · YoY revenue +10.7%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
board members · 3
- Gillian Kanter — Director
- Mical Juran — Director
- Phyllis Mower — Director
relationships · 13
Who they work with
- ChangeMakers: A Journey through Jewish Teen Philanthropy Partner — Provides curriculum used in the Teen Funders: Philanthropy in Action course.
- Congregation Beth Sholom - Chevra Shas Partner — Partner congregation where Shalshelet participants serve as madrichim/madrichot in the religious school.
- Cornell University Partner — Collaborates on educational visits to the university and Hillel.
- Hillel Partner — Hosts visits for students to learn about Jewish campus life.
- Hillel Partner — Partners with Epstein to organize college visits for Jewish high school students.
- Jewish Community Foundation of CNY Funder — Funds the Teen Taste of Israel trip through a dedicated fund and donor support.
- Jewish Community Foundation of Central New York Funder — Provides financial support for the Teen Taste of Israel program.
- Syracuse Community Hebrew School Partner — Partner organization where Shalshelet participants volunteer or work as madrichim/madrichot.
- Syracuse Community Hebrew School Partner — Partner organization where students can teach Hebrew and receive a stipend through the Shalshelet program.
- Syracuse University Partner — Partners with Syracuse University to offer college credit-bearing courses to high school students through the SUPA program.
- Temple Adath Yeshurun Partner — Partner congregation where Shalshelet participants serve as madrichim/madrichot in the religious school.
- Temple Concord Partner — Partner congregation where Shalshelet participants serve as madrichim/madrichot in the religious school.
- University of Rochester Hillel Partner — Collaborates on educational trips involving campus engagement and dialogue with students.
strategies · 5
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Community-First Access Modelmethodology: community-supported_accessBy removing financial barriers through community-funded tuition assistance and fostering peer connections, we ensure equitable access to Jewish education because inclusion and belonging are foundational to sustained engagement.
- Creative and Reflective Identity Explorationmethodology: creative_identity_expressionBy using low-pressure artistic expression and guided narrative reflection, we help students explore and articulate their personal and Jewish identity because creative and reflective practices lower barriers to engagement and support internalization of values.
- Experiential Learning to Deepen Jewish Identitymethodology: experiential_educationBy engaging students in hands-on, immersive experiences such as gardening, travel to Israel, campus visits, and synagogue participation, we strengthen their Jewish identity because direct experience creates deeper emotional and cognitive connections than abstract study alone.
- Experiential Philanthropy and Communal Responsibilitymethodology: experiential_philanthropy_educationBy involving students in student-led giving decisions and personal pledges, we teach Jewish values and communal responsibility because active participation in tzedakah cultivates ownership of ethical and spiritual obligations.
- Peer-Based and Service-Integrated Learning Modelmethodology: service-based_Jewish_educationBy integrating teen education with teaching responsibilities in partner religious schools, we reinforce students' own Jewish knowledge and commitment because instructing others deepens understanding and fosters leadership.