Dec. 2025
Oliver Borr

I’ve lived many types of Judaism  — from secular, to traditional, to very religious, to somewhere in between. I currently find myself in a “religious-yet-culturally-ambigious” space. Somewhere along the way, I learned that it’s difficult to find a community that truly caters to all types of Jews. That was, until I found Hamilton, a community that doesn’t have square pegs or round holes — just uniquely shaped pegs, and organizations that exist to accommodate them.

This openness is most evident in NCSY Hamilton, the local division of the international Jewish teen organization.
NCSY Hamilton isn’t trying to fit teens into a predefined box of what “Jewish” should look like. It’s not for the “religious” kids or the “secular” kids; it’s for all Jewish kids. It’s a place where every teen, regardless of background, affiliation, or knowledge, can walk in and feel like they belong. This community is built on connection, energy, and authentic Jewish experiences. It is, in a word, vibrant. NCSY Hamilton is growing because we’ve created a space that is magnetic: fun, engaging, and completely non-judgmental.

Every Wednesday from 7:30 to 9 p.m. at the Hamilton Hebrew Academy, local Jewish teens get together for exciting activities, real conversations, and a meaningful Jewish experience. Plus, there’s always pizza.

Here’s the unique part: kids literally get paid to participate. We believe so strongly in the value of their time that we offer a stipend. It’s not a gimmick; it’s a literal investment in the teenagers as they develop their Jewish identity. It’s a place where teens want to be, and we’re thrilled to reward them for it.

At NCSY, we aren’t just building a teen community for square or round pegs. We’re building a community for Jewish pegs of all shapes and sizes — and in Hamilton, it turns out, there’s a whole lot of them.