Jewish Federation of San Diego Connects Teens and Young Adults to Global Jewry

Travel has the power to shape identity, deepen understanding, and create connections that last a lifetime. Through programs like Israel Unfiltered, the Global Ambassador Program (GAP), and Giborim, Jewish Federation of San Diego is transforming the way teens and young adults experience Jewish life—empowering them to explore their roots, engage with global communities, and build bonds that transcend borders.

This summer marked the launch of Israel Unfiltered, Federation’s new teen travel program designed to give high school students an authentic, real-world encounter with Jewish identity. While the inaugural trip was originally planned for Israel, unexpected circumstances rerouted the journey to Europe, where teens traveled through Munich, Prague, Budapest, and Vienna, and beyond.

What could have felt like a setback became a transformative experience. Teens stood in historic synagogues, reflected at Holocaust memorials, and connected with vibrant Jewish communities rebuilding in the heart of the Europe. Along the way, they discovered that Jewish identity isn’t defined by geography—it adapts, evolves, and connects us wherever we are.

That same spirit of connection came to life through the Global Ambassador Program (GAP), where relationships built across continents grew even stronger this year. Last summer, San Diego teens traveled to Budapest to connect with Hungarian peers. This July, Federation welcomed a delegation from Budapest to San Diego for the first-ever reverse exchange.

Together, they explored our city, shared traditions, and deepened conversations about identity, community, and belonging. As one San Diego parent reflected: “It was so wonderful to see the teens engaging with each other on so many levels, asking questions and sharing perspectives. They clearly left with an appreciation for each other, the program, and new and renewed friendships.” GAP give teens opportunities to explore identity and community while becoming part of a global Jewish network.

Federation’s commitment to global connection extends beyond teen programming. In August, sixteen young adults from Sha’ar HaNegev, San Diego’s partnership region in Israel, joined local San Diego participants in Giborim, a Jewish Federation of San Diego program aiming to support young professionals in leadership skill building in each city. Giborim brings together young professionals from twelve San Diego Jewish organizations, forming a diverse cohort dedicated to leadership, collaboration, and community-building. Together with their Israeli counterparts, participants spent the week forging relationships, sharing stories, and exploring ways to strengthen Jewish life locally and globally.

For returning Israeli participant Liat Hagbi, the visit was both powerful and personal: “The feeling of San Diego for Sha’ar HaNegev is that it’s home…These are the next leaders and generations on both sides.”

From across Europe to Sha’ar HaNegev to San Diego, Federation’s teen and young adult travel programs are more than trips—they’re opportunities to connect, reflect, and grow. They build bridges between communities, strengthen our ties to Israel and global Jewry, and empower the next generation of Jewish leaders to carry those connections forward.

For more information contact Moy Arbitman at moya@jewishinsandiego.org or (858) 737-7138.