Curious about Israel but overwhelmed by the noise?
Everyone has something to say about politics, protests, Zionism, antisemitism, and identity.
But how often do we actually stop to learn, listen, and understand?
The Unpacked Teller Teen Leaders Fellowship is for L.A.-based Jewish high schoolers who want to go deeper. Not to take sides, but to ask big questions, explore complex stories, and become confident, curious leaders in the conversation.
Jewish 11th and 12th graders who want to explore Israel through real learning and reflection are invited to apply.
When you understand the nuances of Israeli history and current events, your connection to Israel becomes more meaningful. And the more you know, the more you can teach and empower others.
Program includes
Learning
Throughout the year, fellows gather once a month for guided discussions, text study, and conversations about history, politics, journalism, and Israeli society.
Skill building
Every session is designed to build a different skill: critical thinking, public speaking, close reading, and the ability to hold nuance in conversations that usually demand simple answers.
Storytelling
Fellows won’t just learn the story of Israel and the Jewish people. They’ll learn how to tell it.
Who we're looking for
This is a selective cohort. We’re looking for curious, thoughtful, driven students. Jewish 11th and 12th graders who want to be challenged, who’ll do the reading, show up to the conversation, and grow into leaders worth listening to.
If you’re the kind of student who asks the harder question, who isn’t satisfied with the surface, and who wants to be part of a small group of peers doing the same, this is for you.
The year at a glance
OCT
11
Sunday
2026
Session 1
OCT
25
Sunday
2026
Session 2
NOV
15
Sunday
2026
Session 3
DEC
13
Sunday
2026
Session 4
JAN
10
Sunday
2027
Session 5
FEB
28
Sunday
2027
Session 6
MAR
14
Sunday
2027
Session 7
A note on the schedule: The sessions above reflect our current plan and are subject to refinement. The official schedule and topic outlines will be shared over the summer ahead of the program start.
2023-24 Fellowship Students
YULA Girls High School, 11th Grade
YULA High School, 12th Grade
Santa Monica High School, 12th Grade
Shalhevet High School, 11th Grade
deToledo High School, 12th Grade
Milken Community School, 11th Grade
YULA Girls High School, 11th Grade
YULA High School, 12th Grade
YULA Girls High School, 11th Grade
Milken Community School, 12th Grade
Apply today
Applications are open to Jewish high school juniors and seniors.
Space is limited and the cohort is intentionally small. We're looking for students who are ready to be challenged, and ready to lead.
Please contact Keren Horn with any questions:
khorn@opendormedia.org
The fellowship's namesake
The Unpacked Teller Teen Leaders Fellowship is named in memory of Jonny Teller z”l, whose life and values shape everything this program stands for.
Jonny Teller z”l (1986–2025) was a devoted husband and father whose wife and children were the center of his world. Professionally, he was a gifted trial attorney who fought fiercely for his clients and for justice, always leading with humility, integrity, and generosity. He was a mentor, teacher, and trusted guide who shared his wisdom freely, especially when the path forward was uncertain.
His deep love for the Jewish people and for Israel was woven into every part of who he was, rooted in the same values that defined his life: courage, compassion, resilience, and an unwavering commitment to the next generation.
This fellowship was born from those very values. Jonny’s legacy lives on in the spirit of mentorship, leadership, and selflessness that he embodied every day. To carry his name forward is not only an honor, but a promise: to continue spreading the light, strength, and goodness he brought into every room he entered.
A fellowship to explore our story
In that spirit, the Unpacked Teller Teen Leaders Fellowship is for the next generation of Jewish thinkers, speakers, and leaders who will make the world a little brighter.
We’re looking for students who are looking for a rigorous opportunity to go deeper in their knowledge of Israeli society, culture and politics.
This isn’t a program about taking sides. It’s a fellowship for students willing to sit with complexity, to read seriously, ask hard questions, and find their own voice on the issues shaping Jewish life today.
