Our why
aggressive antisemism
validating the lived experience of jews today
need for effective programming
Karin zell
co-founder mom master dIYer
Originally from Cape Town, South Africa, as a small child Karin and her family immigrated to Worcester, MA before they settled in a small historic village in Southern New England. Karin grew up as a unicorn where she could count the number of Jews in her high school class on one hand, none had ever met a South African. True to the sterotype, this South African Jew is a Zionist to her core. Her pride has a direct link to her Zeida who left Lithuania in the 1930s for Eretz Yisrael to help build our homeland. Together with her husband, she has raised her 2 teenage daughters with a love of life, worldliness, pride and an appreciation that it is our responsibility to support and protect Israel and our people. After retiring from a successful career developing efficiency process software for enterprise companies and the DoD, Karin has realized she is a terrible retiree. On a quest to find her next path to explore and work along, October 7, rising antisemitism and the educational climate have lit the way.
Elaine Chaya
co-founder influencer something fun
As an Iranian Jew who took a career off the beaten path, Elaine Chaya has been in the influencing world for the past 11 years. She uses her Iranian Jewish heritage as a pillar in a lot of her messaging, reminding people to own their individuality despite societal pressures and to authentically BE YOU. Named as one of LA Weekly’s “Top LA Influencers” and featured on Who What Wear as “The One To Watch”, she has worked with some of the top brands including Nike, MACY’s, SweeTARTS, and Skechers and has been featured on KTLA, E! News, and FOX. As a leader in the mental health space, especially with teens, she created a viral campaign in 2018 called Woke Up This Way Challenge which encouraged people around the world to “bring realness back to social media”. Since October7th, she has used her platform to focus on positively representing Jews and Israel and inspire people now more than ever to unapologetically be proud to BE A JEW.
The Urgency: The rapid increase in public and aggressive antisemitism highlights the need to prepare our youth for thesechallenges as they are on the front lines of antisemitism and the hope and future of Am Yisrael.Current Gaps: A lack of innovation in educational programming tailored to this demographic that truly resonates withthem and fosters engagement, resulting in effective learning and lasting impact.
In high school and college, I often felt alone in my journey to confidently embrace my identity and passions. From a young age, I knew I wanted to ensure that no student would have to navigate that path alone. What I didn’t foresee was how much our Jewish identity would need to be defended and embraced so prominently. Today, Jewish teens and young adults are facing this challenge head-on, learning to own their identities and passions in a difficult time. I wanted to help create Workshop 8teen to equip our next generation of leaders, parents, and educators to stand proudly in their Judaism—and most importantly, to never feel alone in that journey.
Workshop 8teen comes from my xxx, as well as my belief that we must all contribute to the greater good how it feels natural and where we feel we can add value. This purpose driven perspective contributed heavily to the tone of the wo
Born from xxx, steeped in historical facts, generational strength and pride.
In high school and college, I often felt alone in my journey to confidently embrace my identity and passions. From a young age, I knew I wanted to ensure that no student would have to navigate that path alone. What I didn’t foresee was how much our Jewish identity would need to be defended and embraced so prominently. Today, Jewish teens and young adults are facing this challenge head-on, learning to own their identities and passions in a difficult time. I wanted to help create Workshop 8teen to equip our next generation of leaders, parents, and educators to stand proudly in their Judaism—and most importantly, to never feel alone in that journey.
A quest to ls
As a mother, my purpose in creating this program is to address the growing concern of rising antisemitism and the recognition that many young Jewish teenagers are not adequately prepared to face these challenges. I am driven by a deep desire to engage, educate, and empower our younger generation, equipping them with the knowledge, confidence, and tools to stand strong in their identity. This program is designed to foster a sense of community and resilience, ensuring that our teens not only understand their history but are empowered to speak out and take action in the face of hatred and intolerance.
As a mother, my purpose in creating this dynamic and unique program for Jewish teenagers is to respond to the urgent rise of antisemitism and the realization that younger generations are not fully prepared to face these challenges. This program is specifically designed to engage, educate, and empower our teens, providing them with the tools, knowledge, and confidence they need to stand strong in their identity. Through interactive learning and meaningful connection, my intention is to foster resilience and pride in their Jewish heritage, ensuring they are equipped to navigate a world that increasingly tests their beliefs and values.