This is going to be quick...or at least I think it will be as I set out to write it. This is the last of my “GA blogs” and as it’s getting close to a month since the event, I need to publish this or it will become irrelevant. I say this in the sense that it’s more important to discuss things as they happen and not weeks after.
You’re probably wondering “what’s the topic?” It’s the importance of youth. Throughout the conference attention was given to the next generation. There were many sessions on new medias and technology - a very youthful topic set - and lots of “cool” things to do. There were many mentions of the 600 Hillel participants and Wayne Firestone - the President of Hillel International - was asked to bring 1000 next year. The importance of engaging young adults and involving them in community discussions was a focus of many conversations. However, amidst all this hype there was barely a presence of the youth’s voice. Students did not sit on panels or lead sessions; they were spoken to and involved in discussions.
I could go on in circles about the reasons this is a problem but in an effort to be brief and to hopefully start some discussion here, instead I’ll pose a question...or a few.
If the next generation is so important, why aren’t we being asked to speak? Why were there no sessions about our world, about life on campus as Jewish leaders? Where was the forum for young adults to educate our elders, those who say they want to hear from us?
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