Jewish Community Partners

Sara First, Community Relations Manager, Memphis Jewish Federation

The Memphis Jewish Federation has launched a new initiative, “Student to Student,” aimed at confronting antisemitism by empowering Jewish teens to share their personal stories with non-Jewish peers. This initiative, facilitated by the Federation’s Community Relations Council, trains high school students to become ambassadors who can foster understanding and build bridges across cultural divides.

In early September, nineteen Jewish teens from Memphis’s Reform, Orthodox, and Conservative synagogues participated in a training session to become the inaugural cohort of Student to Student ambassadors. Led by Rabbi Andrew Terkel, CEO of Student to Student, and Sara First, the Memphis Jewish Federation’s Community Relations Manager, the training provided the teens with effective methods for sharing their personal experiences—including family traditions, holiday celebrations, and what being Jewish means to them—rather than serving as experts on all of Judaism. The presenters work in small groups of three to four, with all denominations represented, ensuring a variety of perspectives are shared.

According to the Anti-Defamation League’s 2024 Audit, there were 860 antisemitic incidents in K-12 schools, representing a 434% increase since 2020. This alarming trend, particularly following the October 7 attacks in Israel, highlights the need for direct intervention. The idea behind Student to Student is that in-person connections can combat this rise by helping people understand Jewish experiences and reducing their susceptibility to misinformation.

As one student ambassador, Yonina Lichter, explained, “I believe in the power of peer-to-peer education to stop stereotypes and help others understand what others are going through. I think it’s important that students hear directly from other students because it can make the message more authentic and relatable.”

Student to Student was founded in the early 1990s as a program of the St. Louis JCRC. It later became a nonprofit called Be the Narrative, which partnered with the Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA) in 2024. This partnership was formed to address the urgent need to combat rising antisemitism, especially in schools. Memphis is now one of 40+ communities that have launched Student to Student locally.

Student to Student operates on the principle that personal stories are the most effective way to dispel misinformation and build positive relationships. The program’s curriculum provides presentation outlines and training to help students develop public speaking and leadership skills. This approach not only educates non-Jewish students but also empowers the Jewish teens themselves.

“I want to be part of Student to Student because I think it’s really important for people to learn what Judaism is actually like from someone who lives it,” said Maggie Olswanger, a participant in the program. “A lot of people don’t know much about Jewish life, and that can lead to stereotypes or misunderstandings. I’d like to help change that by sharing my own experiences.”

This approach has proven successful. A 2019 external evaluation of the program found that:

Increased Knowledge: Students who attended presentations reported a significant increase in their understanding of Judaism, with 93% learning “quite a lot” about Jewish practices, beliefs, and culture.

Motivating Action: 84% of students were motivated to take action after a presentation, with 61% sharing what they learned with family and friends and 27% interrupting antisemitic jokes or remarks.

Countering Stereotypes: 100% of teachers reported that the presentations helped break down stereotypes, and 95% agreed they helped counter antisemitism.

In addition to building bridges with teen peers outside the Jewish community and gaining valuable leadership skills, the program also offers the teen presenters the opportunity to take pride in and showcase their own Jewish identity.

As Emily Lennon, mother of Student to Student participant Ilan Lennon says: “There is so much misinformation in the world our teens are a part of, and with TikTok-type exposure to people different from us, the opportunity to dialogue is missing. This program gives our teens an opportunity… to build their self-confidence and ​brings a sense of humanity and connection to the ‘otherness’ social media tries to portray. I am grateful that Ilan has this opportunity to meet other Jewish kids in our community and to grow together with them in this unique program!” 

Now that the Memphis students are trained and ready, the Community Relations Council is working to schedule presentations at both private and public schools throughout the year. The goal is to create lasting change in how non-Jewish students view Jewish people one conversation at a time.

The Memphis Jewish Federation is currently seeking schools or classes interested in hosting a Student to Student presentation. If you can connect the ambassadors with a school or class, please reach out to the Memphis Jewish Federation’s Community Relations Manager, Sara First at sfirst@jcpmemphis.org.