ABOUT THE TEEN JQSA

Founded in 2015 by Rabbi Jon Hanish and Rabbi Bill Kaplan, JQ’s Teen JQSA cultivates connection by providing a safe, affirming, and welcoming space for LGBTQ+ Jewish teens and allies in middle and high school. The first community-wide youth group of its kind in LA, Teen JQSA offers social and educational programming throughout the city, along with health and wellness guidance. The group equips participants with tools and resources to actively navigate bullying, homophobia, and adolescent pressures, while fostering a deeper understanding of Jewish values that affirm LGBTQ+ identity and inclusion.

Throughout the year, Teen JQSA offers a rotating mix of experiences that bring Jewish and queer identity together in community. Gatherings might look like a spirited holiday celebration, a thought-provoking panel discussion, or a relaxed movie night, and everything in between. Special speakers, creative workshops, games, and team-building activities make regular appearances, and each year features highlights like a day-long retreat and an end-of-year Queer Prom.

Whatever the programming looks like in a given year, the heart of Teen JQSA stays the same: participants walk away with lasting friendships, a deeper sense of confidence, and a richer understanding of LGBTQ+ inclusion within a uniquely Jewish context.