Tapping Into My Girl Power – jGirls+, That Is!

This school year, I have had the privilege of being part of jGirls+ Magazine’s teen editorial board, allowing me to collaborate with other Jewish girls, young women, and nonbinary people. Not only have I gotten to hone my editing skills by reading amazing work from teens around the world, I have also gained a community of diverse, kind, and creative friends. jGirls+ is an online feminist literary publication written completely by female identifying and nonbinary Jewish youth. The magazine focuses on social action, personal identity, diversity, and Jewish values, which as an editor, I work to highlight. The magazine was founded in 2015 by Elizabeth Mandel, our executive director. jGirls+ was recently acquired by Moving Traditions, a nonprofit that runs educational programs to help Jewish teens understand their identities in a changing world.

To apply for the magazine’s editorial board, I filled out an extensive application and was selected for an interview with Bex Ehrmann, the senior program manager who helps facilitate jGirls+ and teaches us important editorial skills. After I was accepted, I was introduced to the technology used by the magazine, including Slack, Google Docs, and KanbanFlow.

I’ve been on the editorial board for less than a year, but my experience has already been a life-changing one. This past August, I attended our retreat in the Chicago area, where I stayed at a Jewish camp and met my fellow editors and the photography staff. The retreat was such an enjoyable time and allowed me to interact with the most passionate and intelligent people. I explored my Jewish identity through a meaningful Shabbat, heard about diverse aspects of Judaism, and learned how to be a cooperative and supportive editor.

The retreat also gave me a taste of Jewish sleepaway camp, which I had never experienced. One of my favorite parts was how low pressure and reflective the entire experience was. I had felt some anxiety before meeting everyone in person, but once I got there, I realized how open-minded the teens and adults were and immediately felt calm. I left feeling contemplative and a lot more knowledgeable about editorial tasks.

Throughout the year, I have participated in department meetings, workshops, and editorial board meetings over Zoom. Every member of the editorial staff works in two departments that meet weekly, and this year I have been part of Art and Timely. For the Art Department, I get to edit visual pieces and photography. For the Timely Department, I work on pieces relating to current events. I’ve really enjoyed reading newsworthy pieces, especially with my interest in journalism. At monthly workshops, the editorial board meets with adult leaders to work on specific skills. Our most recent workshop (and one of my favorites) was about quieting our inner critics, presented by author and women’s leadership expert Tara Mohr. We also have monthly meetings where the editorial board practices editing skills, such as fact-checking, representing historically marginalized voices, and maintaining balance in writing.

I’m already looking forward to working for jGirls+ next year, and I can’t wait to read new pieces and meet new editors. If you are a Jewish teen who identifies as female or nonbinary and are interested in writing, making art, feminism, Jewish identity, and diversity, I highly encourage you to submit your work to the magazine. You can do so at JGirlsMag.MovingTraditions.org.

Tilly Raij is a rising junior in the International Baccalaureate program at Winter Park High School.