5 Tips for Inspiring Teen Torah Learning in a Distracted, Fast-Paced World
For many teens, Shavuot night is one of the highlights of the Jewish calendar, as they stay up all night with friends, energized by engaging shiurim, lively discussions, and the unique atmosphere of communal Torah learning.
Yet once Yom Tov ends, sustaining that excitement becomes more challenging, as Torah study once again competes with the many distractions vying for teens’ attention, from social media and mobile games to sports and extracurricular activities.
As we approach Shavuot, here are five ideas for inspiring teens to continue in their Torah learning well beyond the holiday.
- Harness technology as a tool for sparking curiosity and deepening connection to learning.
A CDC study released in July 2025 found that among 1,952 teens aged 12 to 17, about half (50.4%) reported spending four or more hours per day on screens. In light of this reality, teens could be encouraged to spend some of that time on platforms like TorahAnytime and Aleph Beta, which offer Torah content designed to resonate with learners of all ages and abilities. Similarly, the OU’s AI-powered Torah app, OHRBIT, was created to meet users where they are.
“A user can ask anything about Judaism, and OHRBIT responds not only with an answer, but with personalized recommendations that guide them toward the next piece of meaningful content,” says OU National Director of Community Engagement Rabbi Simon Taylor. “Even if someone only comes to learn one thing, the platform learns from that interaction and helps recommend what to explore next. Over time, the app creates a natural learning journey that feels engaging and relevant, rather than overwhelming.”
OHRBIT also incorporates gamification features such as daily challenges and streaks that reward consistent engagement and make ongoing learning more interactive and motivating.
- Personalize Torah learning to each teen’s interests and abilities; one size does not fit all.
Rabbi Taylor notes that personal ownership is central when it comes to inspiring meaningful learning.
“OHRBIT was built around the idea that every person’s Torah journey should feel unique to them,” he says. “Users can set preferences, define learning goals, and shape the type of content they engage with, ensuring a more personalized and responsive experience. As a result, no two home screens will ever look the same.”
When it comes to in-person Torah programming, NCSY Managing Director Rabbi Derek Gormin agrees that diversification is essential. Rabbi Gormin is also the founding dean of the Jewish Student Union (JSU) Global Campus, a network of extra-curricular culture clubs for 20,000 North American Jewish students at nearly 500 public and non-Jewish private high schools.
“The most successful program is the one that inspires the individual teen sitting in front of us,” he says. “We don’t believe in creating a singular program for everyone. Teens come in with different backgrounds, assumptions, experiences, and comfort levels. We have to meet them where they are, free of judgment, and give them the tools, relationships, and experiences that can inspire their own Jewish growth.”
Rabbi Gormin highlights that NCSY’s most popular programs – JSU, 4G, and NCSY Summer – are intentionally designed to resonate with distinct teen populations, helping participants feel seen and understood.
- Inspire teens to set fixed times for Torah study through consistency and structure.
Amid the countless extracurriculars catering to teens, one program has gained widespread momentum, capturing the enthusiasm of nearly 2,500 students in grades 5 through 8 across more than 40 schools nationwide. Combining consistency, mentorship, and engaging incentives, All Mishnah Jr. (AMJ) helps teens build a lasting connection to regular Torah study that will hopefully endure for life.
Built around a three-year cycle, AMJ encourages youth to learn two Mishnayot daily in their free time, for five days weekly from Sukkot through Pesach. Students log their daily learning for entry into raffles featuring prizes such as gift cards, AirPods, and hoverboards, and receive program swag like branded bracelets and sweatshirts upon completing the first masechet.
“Our objective is to make learning Mishnayot as fun, exciting, and attainable as possible,” says OU Torah Initiatives Programming Manager Rabbi Meir Avracen, who oversees AMJ. “Prizes can open the door, but our mission is to help our participants taste the sweetness of Torah so that they continue learning and growing well into adulthood.”
- Relationships with educators and mentors are critical.
Rabbi Taylor emphasizes that while OHRBIT and other online platforms can help deepen Torah connection by encouraging meaningful engagement in learning, the heart of Jewish growth comes from authentic human relationships and community.
“AI can add value in ways that traditional education alone cannot,” he says. “At the same time, rabbis and educators provide mentorship, wisdom, emotional connection, and real-life guidance that technology can never replace.”
Rabbi Gormin adds that the relationships teens cultivate with one another are equally significant in helping them develop an appreciation for Torah learning.
“More than anything else, relationships are what make Torah learning come alive for students,” he says.
Rabbi Gormin explains that the process begins peer-to-peer, as teens develop friendships and feel part of a larger Jewish community. From there, strong bonds often develop with advisors — many of whom are college students or young adults who choose to spend time learning with, and supporting teens — as well as with professional staff members.
“Much of the time, the relationship matters even more than the specific class or program itself,” he says.
The connections forged between teens and their NCSY advisors and staff are often so strong, says Rabbi Gormin, that alumni remain connected with them in adulthood.
“Alumni constantly invite our staff to share in major life milestones, whether attending weddings, serving as mesader kiddushin, or celebrating baby namings. Students come into our homes, meet our families, sit at our Shabbos tables, and often become like extended family.”
Those enduring relationships, says Rabbi Gormin, often help cultivate a deeper commitment to Torah life and learning.
- Lead by example.
Regardless of the relationships teens develop outside the home, Rabbi Gormin underscores that parents remain their children’s most powerful role models.
“Kids are incredibly smart and can spot authenticity from a mile away,” he says. “If parents want Torah learning and Jewish heritage to feel meaningful to their children, those values have to genuinely matter in their own lives too. Children immediately notice if parents don’t take learning seriously, or if their values constantly shift based on convenience, vacation schedules, or social pressure. Conversely, when children see parents who are eager to grow and are genuinely passionate about Judaism, that energy becomes contagious. If we want our children to become lifelong Jewish learners, we have to model what lifelong Jewish learning actually looks like.”