Growing up, many of us are constantly told that we can “make a difference” and “be the leaders of tomorrow.” But let’s face it: Although unquestionably admirable, this message perhaps has become a bit of a broken record, to the effect that many teens feel that tikkun olam (repair of the world) has become a hopeless endeavor.

Overwhelmed with the pressures of choosing a college and dealing with regular high school life, I have to admit that I definitely began to have this attitude. Then one day, I was informed that I had been nominated to become part of the Teen Leadership Council (TLC), and for the past two years, 30 other Jewish teens and I have been inspired, educated and motivated by this remarkable program.

TLC is part of The Associated: Jewish Community Federation of Baltimore. The Associated is one of the most prominent Jewish organizations in the country and serves the entire Jewish community of Baltimore, as well as Jews abroad. TLC is a unique Associated program that gives teens the opportunity to raise and allocate funds. Although this task may seem like a simple and straightforward one, my fellow participants and I learned that it’s actually a very challenging and complex, yet rewarding, experience. 

TLC receives grant proposals from several agencies and programs, ranging from senior home repair, which helps senior citizens with jobs around their homes, to emergency relief in Odessa, which provides financial relief to residents in Baltimore’s sister city in the former Soviet Union. After reviewing countless proposals, we were charged with determining which organizations should receive our money.

This would have been a formidable assignment for any group in the same situation, but the passion and drive of this year’s TLC helped us focus on which programs needed funding the most. This was particularly difficult given the importance of each program and knowing those who would benefit in a variety of ways from the grants. However, the sense of accomplishment following the completion of this experience was, and continues to be, an unparalleled feeling. Knowing that the money raised by TLC is going to be donated to organizations and causes that we chose added even more meaning to the mitzvah.

To help us in our decision, TLC heard from several highly esteemed speakers who provided guidance and new perspectives on our obligation to the community. In addition, at every meeting, a TLC participant would give a presentation on how that week’s Torah portion related to our mission.

The program instilled in me Jewish and humanitarian values, which will serve me well for the rest of my life. I became aware of the growing needs of the worldwide Jewish community, which are often overshadowed by the success of Jews in the U.S. We who participated in TLC have had an incredible experience that will ensure that performing mitzvot will always be an important and leading part of our lives.

Avi Zaleon is a 17-year-old senior at the Shoshana S. Cardin School, an independent, pluralistic Jewish high school in Baltimore, Md. He is attending Indiana University—Bloomington this fall as a prospective journalism major. Avi’s favorite television show is The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, his main source for news. He is also an avid fan of IU’s basketball and football teams—go Hoosiers!