This fall, Nashville will become the newest city to join Student to Student, a national initiative now active in 45 communities across the United States. The program invites Jewish high school juniors and seniors to visit local classrooms and speak directly with non‑Jewish peers about their lives, traditions, and experiences.
At a time when students are searching for ways to understand one another across differences, Student to Student offers something rare: authentic, face‑to‑face connection. Instead of learning about Judaism from a textbook or a distant source, students meet real teens their own age; people who celebrate holidays, navigate identity, and experience the world in ways both familiar and new.
Nashville’s teen ambassadors will share the many ways Jewish life is expressed today. They’ll talk about holidays, family traditions, cultural diversity within Judaism, and the role community plays in their lives. Ritual items, such as Shabbat candles or challah, help make these conversations tangible and spark curiosity. They will also speak honestly about moments when they’ve encountered stereotypes or felt misunderstood.
The goal isn’t to lecture. It’s to open a door. When students hear each other’s stories, ask questions freely, and discover common ground, something powerful happens; barriers soften, empathy grows, and assumptions begin to fade.
Communities across the country have seen how transformative this can be. Schools report that students walk away with a clearer sense of who their Jewish classmates are and why understanding one another matters. Jewish teens, in turn, gain confidence and pride as they learn to speak about their identities with clarity and courage.
By bringing Student to Student to Nashville, the community is investing in a future where young people lead the way in building respect and connection. One classroom at a time, the program helps create a city where students feel seen, heard, and understood.
Applications for Nashville’s first cohort of teen ambassadors are now open. For more information, reach out to Adeline Ellison at adeline@jewishnashville.org
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