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A thought book and actionable guide for Jewish teens who want to make a difference in the world.
Teens are changing the world.Teen leaders are dreaming, planning, and raising the social consciousness of those around them. They are questioning the status quo, using technology to do good, and pushing others to do so as well. They know that they don't have to wait for adults to make the world a kinder, better place.
- Do you look at problems others ignore?
- Do you find joy in helping others?
- Do you want to do something big in the world?
There are many ways to be a leader, and we each have unique strengths. Jewish values such as tzedakah (charity, or justice), and
tikun olam (healing the world) can help show us the way. And Jewish heroes throughout history and in the present offer us leadership lessons and personal examples.
While we may never finish the work, we can't wait another minute to begin. Now's the time to find your voice and your cause, to think about your influence, mission, courage, and purpose, and to bring others along with you to do good in the world.
You are leading. You are dreaming bigger.
Dreaming Bigger is a call to action.It's a workbook, an inspiration, a guide for teens who want to make a difference in the world, supported by their Jewish heritage. It can be read alone or with a friend, in a group, or in a class.
Topics include managing stress, making better decisions, deepening empathy, using technology, speaking in public, ending bullying, fighting antisemitism, advocating for racial justice, and more.
Packed with leadership advice for teens from teens and from experts around the world, insights from Jewish texts, thought exercises, and discussion prompts, it invites readers to grapple with the classic call to action from the sage Hillel:
If I am not for myself, who will be for me? And if I am only for myself, what am I? And if not now, when?
About the author
Dr. Erica Brown was
recently appointed Vice Provost of Values and Leadership and Director of the
Jonathan Sacks Center for Values and Leaderships at Yeshiva University. Her
latest book,
Esther: Power, Fate and Fragility in
Exile, was
a National Jewish Book Award Finalist. she lives in New York.
Summary
Today’s
Jewish teens are a generation of doers and creative thinkers who have the
skills and confidence to know they don’t have to ask permission or wait for
adults to make the world a kinder, better place to live.
They
are leading. They are dreaming bigger.
This book helps teens discover the elements of
leadership through a Jewish lens. It’s
pragmatic and useful: how to raise money, how to make a speech (even when you
are nervous) , how to persuade others to join your cause. It includes ‘inner workouts’ to help teens
reflect on aspects of their own leadership. Topics include managing stress,
decision-making, empathy,
articulating values, taking
in feedback, setting
boundaries, fundraising, problem-solving, using tech,
bullying, antisemitism, racial justice, inclusion
& diversity.
