Carmel Dreamers
Carmel Dreamers brings teens from Haifa and Boston together through entrepreneurship, innovation, and leadership experiences at JCC Greater Boston. This program runs from June 2025 to June 2026.
Inspiring the Next Generation of Israeli and American Teen Leaders
Carmel Dreamers is a transformative two-year initiative that brings together Jewish and Druze high school students from Haifa with Jewish high school students from Boston. Designed for students in 10th and 11th grade, this unique program runs from June 2025 to June 2026 and fosters intercultural understanding, lasting friendships, and the development of skills that prepare participants to become thoughtful, compassionate leaders in a diverse world.
Through structured virtual exchanges, in-person activities, and immersive cultural experiences, students explore shared values and differing perspectives, engage in meaningful dialogue, and gain critical tools in communication, empathy, and social responsibility.
Year One (10th Grade): Building Connections
Online Dialogues
Students from Boston and Haifa meet virtually for facilitated conversations. These sessions create space for open, respectful discussion around culture, identity, and current events—strengthening global awareness and mutual understanding.
Local Team Building (Boston)
Boston-based participants gather in person throughout the year for cultural, educational, and recreational activities. These events help build community among local participants and lay the foundation for hosting and deeper engagement in Year Two.
Year Two (11th Grade): Deepening the Experience
Ongoing Virtual Exchange
The bi-monthly online meetings continue, allowing students to deepen their relationships and take part in more complex discussions around identity, equity, and coexistence.
Spring Delegation to Boston
In Spring 2026, a group of Jewish and Druze students from Haifa will travel to Boston for a six-day immersive experience. Hosted by local teens and their families, the visiting students will:
- Participate in joint programming with their Boston peers
- Explore diverse religious and cultural communities across the city—including Jewish, Christian, and Muslim organizations
- Engage in meaningful, face-to-face dialogue that brings their two-year virtual connection to life
Program Goals
- Celebrate Diversity
- Promote appreciation for both shared values and cultural uniqueness within and across communities.
- Foster Dialogue
- Encourage honest, respectful communication about identity, culture, and global issues.
- Build Empathy and Active Listening Skills
- Help students understand different perspectives and strengthen their ability to listen with compassion.
- Develop Critical Thinking
- Support participants in navigating complex social issues with nuance and insight.
- Promote Social Responsibility
- Inspire teens to become changemakers in their communities by promoting equity, inclusion, and understanding.
By connecting teens across cultures and borders, the Boston-Haifa Teen Partnership prepares the next generation to lead with empathy, curiosity, and a deep commitment to building a more inclusive world.
Program cost: $360 (please do not let cost be a barrier to participation - contact Leah at teens@jccgb.org with any questions)
Meet the Team
Director of Teen Programs & Program Coordinator, Diller Teen Fellows
Leah Finkelman Kagan
Director of Teen Programs & Program Coordinator, Diller Teen Fellows
Leah Finkelman Kagan (she/her) is an experiential Jewish educator who prioritizes relationship-building to help learners connect to Judaism and each other. In her current role as the Director of Teen Programs and Diller Teen Fellows Program Coordinator at JCC Greater Boston, Leah oversees the expansion and development of existing and new teen programs to create spaces for teens to grow into compassionate, empowered and socially conscious community members. In past roles at CJP and Temple Beth Elohim, Leah has worked directly with both teens, inspiring them to find meaningful connection between Judaism and their own lives, and teen-serving professionals, supporting them In working collaboratively and innovatively to meet the needs of Boston’s teen community. Originally from Ohio, Leah has lived in Boston since graduating with a BA in American Studies from Brandeis University. She is on the board of Tivnu: Building Justice and the Camp Council at URJ 6 Points Sci-Tech Academy.
