JQY

02/17/2026

Introducing the new and improved JQY Life!

Adulting is hard. JQY Life is here to support you in learning some of the skills essential to becoming independent. JQY Life is for ages 17-24. Our dedicated volunteer Resource Navigators are here to assist you so you don’t have to go it alone. They can provide support in:
• Finding a Therapist
• Finding an Entry-Level Job
• Applying to College
• Opening a Bank Account (you must be 18+years)

Get started today by visiting jqy.org/life and a Resource Navigator will be assigned help you.

02/17/2026

This week’s Breakaway will be College Knowledge, where Haylee will answer any questions related to college applications, search, and choosing the right school for you!

No need to register for Drop-In Center, just show up! We’ll have plenty of pizza and icebreaker games to go around. For anyone ages 13-23.

If you need assistance with transportation to Drop-in, please apply at jqy.org/travelrequest

02/16/2026

Get rhyming in this poetry slam extravaganza! Work with Poet and JQY staff member, Maris, on an exciting poetry workshop. We’ll learn about poem structure, bounce ideas off one another, and share our masterpieces with the group.

This week’s Breakaway will be Career Conversations, where we will hear from working professionals about what it is like to be Jewish & Q***r in their careers.

No need to register for Drop-in Center, just show up! We’ll have plenty of pizza and icebreaker games to go around. For anyone ages 13-23.

If you need assistance with transportation to Drop-in, please apply at jqy.org/travelrequest

02/13/2026

This week’s parsha, Mishpatim, comes right after the drama of Sinai. Thunder. Lightning. Revelation.

And what are the first laws we get?

Protect the vulnerable.
Regulate unequal relationships.
Do not oppress the stranger.
Do not take advantage of the powerless.

The Torah doesn’t begin its legal system with power – it begins with protection. Power must be restrained, exploitation must be limited, and dignity must be protected.

Again and again, the text insists that justice is not abstract. It is lived out in how we treat those with less leverage.

This framing feels especially relevant right now. In moments when power feels concentrated and vulnerable communities feel exposed, we are reminded that holiness is not about control. It is about responsibility. LGBTQ Jewish youth are often navigating spaces where they hold less power. The Torah’s values are not ambiguous about what we are meant to do in moments like that: We protect. We uplift. We build systems that ensure dignity.

Revelation is powerful – but protection is sacred. And the moral strength of any community is measured by how it protects the people who need it most.

02/12/2026

02/11/2026

For our March 2026 book club, we are excited to read Mooncakes, a graphic novel by Suzanne Walker and Wendy Xu.

Fill out this form to let us know where to send this month's book pick!
SIGN UPS WILL CLOSE ON TUESDAY, MARCH 3rd, 2026.

Join the conversation about this month's book on the JQY App on Apple and Android!
**For anyone ages 13-23**

Book Synopsis:

A story of love and demons, family and witchcraft. Nova Huang knows more about magic than your average teen witch. She works at her grandmother’s bookshop, where she helps them loan out spell books and investigate any supernatural occurrences in their New England town. One fateful night, she follows reports of a white wolf into the woods, and she comes across the unexpected: her childhood crush, Tam Lang, battling a horse demon in the woods. As a werewolf, Tam has been wandering from place to place for years, unable to call any townhome. Pursued by dark forces eager to claim the magic of wolves and out of options, Tam turns to Nova for help. Their latent feelings are rekindled against the backdrop of witchcraft, untested magic, occult rituals, and family ties both new and old in this enchanting tale of self-discovery.

02/10/2026

The Breakaway will be 'What the Health?' where participants will talk about the intersection of q***rness, disability, and navigating the world. All are welcome!

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Join us from 6:30pm-9:30pm EST at 135 W 41st Street

No need to register for drop-in center, just show up! We’ll have plenty of cholov yisroel pizza and ice-breaker games to go around. For anyone ages 13-23

If you need assistance with transportation to drop-in please apply at jqy.org/travelrequest

02/09/2026

Get acquainted with your fellow JQYers at this rapid get-to-know-you friendship event with icebreakers, tea, and delicious desserts!

The Breakaway will be 'What the Health?' where participants will talk about the intersection of q***rness, disability, and navigating the world. All are welcome!

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Join us from 6:30pm-9:30pm EST at 135 W 41st Street

No need to register for drop-in center, just show up! We’ll have plenty of cholov yisroel pizza and ice-breaker games to go around. For anyone ages 13-23

If you need assistance with transportation to drop-in please apply at jqy.org/travelrequest

02/06/2026

This week’s parsha introduces yet another powerful story about names.

Earlier in the Torah, we watched Yaakov become Yisrael – a name change that marked struggle, growth, and transformation. A shift in how someone is known, because of who they became.
In this week’s parsha, we meet Yitro, whose name tells a different but connected story.

Not only did Yitro change his name once; the sages teach that Yitro had at least seven(!!) names. That alone tells us something important: some people cannot be captured by a single label. Identity can be layered, evolving, and expansive.

The Torah itself reflects this. Earlier, Moshe’s father-in-law is called Yeter. Later, he is called Yitro – with an extra letter added to his name. The sages explain that this expansion comes because Yitro added something essential. His wisdom shaped the community and, therefore, actually became part of Torah itself.

This is a different kind of name change. Not one of becoming someone else – but of being recognized more fully for what you bring.

Names in Torah don’t just describe people. They tell stories about growth, contribution, and belonging. And sometimes, the holiest thing that happens is not a transformation into someone new, but an expansion that makes room for everything you already are.

02/05/2026

Do you want to read Megillah in your coolest costume and then dive headfirst into a candy tray? Fill out this form to let JQY know you are interested in leining and if you have a perek preference. If you haven't read before but you are interested, we can help you!

The 2026 Purim Party is on Monday, March 2. Doors open at 6:15, and Megillah will start at 6:30 pm.

Register at jqy.org/megillah

02/04/2026

Celebrate Purim with pride! Join JQY and Keshet for an unforgettable Jew-topia Purim Party! It will be a night of community, celebration, and fun. We will have Megillah reading, a break-fast meal, games, a photobooth, and an awesome costume contest (with prizes)! Come in your Purim best, get ready to meet new friends, enjoy great music, and celebrate in an affirming and joyful q***r space. We are so excited to partner with M.A.C. Viva Glam, who will be sending gift bags for each attendee!

This event is open to ages 13-23 and will take place in Midtown, with the exact location shared upon registration.

This project was made possible with support from It Gets Better, a nonprofit organization working to uplift, empower, and connect LGBTQ+ youth around the globe. Visit www.itgetsbetter.org.

We can’t wait to celebrate with you!