Club Z was born out of a need to create an ongoing, comprehensive, and honest Jewish education program for Jewish teens in the San Francisco Bay Area. Today, Club Z is a national organization for Jewish teens, raising modern-day Zionists who are articulate and knowledgeable leaders.

Our Mission

Club Z creates a network of educated and articulate activists with a commitment to Zionism who advocate for themselves, Israel and the Jewish people.

Our Vision

Club Z envisions a network of leaders who embrace their Jewish Identity, are proud of their Jewish heritage, and address issues of bigotry and antisemitism head-on. We foster responsibility within our teens, hone their leadership skills, and arm them with a supportive network.

Our Principles

Our guiding principles inform our program and help develop a shared language among our teens and educators. We encourage curiosity and exploration, asking teens to think critically about their beliefs and model productive debate and disagreement.

1.A Zionist is a person who believes that Jews have a national home in the land of Israel.

Zionism is a modern national liberation movement with roots that go far back to biblical times. Its purpose is to return independence and sovereignty— a right of people— to the Jewish people through the re-establishment of a Jewish homeland in the historic land of Israel.

2. Israel is a sovereign nation and a central part of Jewish identity.

Israel is the indigenous land of the Jewish people. The Hebrew word for Jew is Yehudi, meaning “from the Tribe of Judah”. The Tribe of Judah lived in the Judean Hills, south of Jerusalem. Every Jew can trace his/her ancestral and/or ideological origins to the land of Israel. Therefore, all Jews share a common history and destiny with the people and the land of Israel. It is our collective responsibility to support Israel, wherever we are in the world.

3. The modern state of Israel is a recognized sovereign nation fully capable of defending herself.

Israel doesn’t need people in the Diaspora to “stand up” for her. At the same time, Jewish people – no matter where they live – are connected by a shared history and share the same destiny. Therefore, it is each Jew’s responsibility to know their history and to take action whenever someone attacks the Jewish people or the State of Israel.

4. Zionism strives for historic justice and genuine peace between the Jewish people and all other indigenous peoples of the Middle East.

As Jews, we believe in the universal values of social and racial justice and want to see the restoration of independence and sovereignty to all peoples. We acknowledge that the Jewish and Arab nations are both indigenous to the Middle East, both descendants of Abraham. We see the conflict in the Middle East as something bigger than the disagreement between Jews and Arabs or democracy and terrorism. The historic complexity of the region does not discourage us from hoping for and seeking peace.

5. Knowledge, not talking points, lay the groundwork for a productive conversation.

Talking points are for television and media pundits. Club Z is raising a new generation of proud leaders that knows its history, appreciates its heritage, and engages in dialogue about complex issues. Our teens do not rely on slogans or short cuts. Our teens understand the facts when it comes to the Middle East, and they bring an open heart and open mind to conversations with those who disagree with them.

6. The most authentic way to know Israel and identify with its people is through personal experience.

A lifelong passion for Zionism is ignited with a visit to Israel. Reflecting on their journeys, teens draw powerful personal lessons about their place among the Jewish people, their responsibility for other Jews, and the role that Israel plays in their lives. That’s why, starting in 2020, Club Z teens will have access to a ten-day summer Israel trip that takes them on a one-of-a-kind exploratory journey through the land of the Jewish people. These early experiences are formative in shaping an authentic, personal connection to the concepts that we explore in Club Z.

7. Belonging to the global Jewish people begins with belonging to a local community that mirrors broader Jewish values. Club Z is a community, built by teens and their families.

For many families, Club Z is the primary Jewish community and often serves as an entry point for broader Jewish engagement. We foster a sense of belonging by providing an inclusive community that celebrates holidays, debates tough issues, and supports each individual through triumphs and challenges. Club Z fosters pride within our teens, who join a proactive network and form lifelong friendships.