1) What qualities make the nominee deserving of the Z3 Bridge Builder Award?

Karin is a bold and visionary educator whose deep connection to Israel and Am Yisrael fuels her commitment to empowering the next generation. As a mother of both high school and college-age teens, she has long recognized a critical gap in effective programming for middle and high school students within the Jewish community. The events of October 7 served as a breaking point—a call to action that led her to revive and reimagine an educational concept she had developed years earlier. With urgency and clarity, she launched Workshop 8teen to prepare teens to navigate rising antisemitism, misinformation, and identity-based challenges they face in every corner of their lives, before they leave home.

Karin understands that today’s teens are not only influenced by the media—they help shape it. She believes that their role in creating and consuming digital content has been vastly underestimated. Workshop 8teen is her response: a nationally expanding initiative designed for teens and by teens, grounded in credibility and respect for the distinct needs, values, and learning styles of Gen Z.

Workshop 8teen bridges divides within and beyond the Jewish community—connecting teens across schools, denominations, identities, and affiliations. At a time when many young people feel alienated from Jewish life or overwhelmed by misinformation, this program offers something unique: a peer-led, high-energy, interactive experience that meets them where they are—socially, emotionally, and intellectually. Each event is intentionally curated to foster belonging and connection while providing fact-based education on Jewish identity, Israel’s history and significance, the mechanics of antisemitic propaganda, and the broader civil rights implications of antisemitism in society.

Through strategic partnerships with supporting grassroots organizations in this space, Karin has positioned Workshop 8teen in a civil rights framework that resonates across diverse communities and demands accountability. By positioning antisemitism as not only a Jewish concern but a fundamental social injustice, she opens the door for broader coalitions of support and understanding. Teens walk away not only informed, but inspired—connected to one another, to their Jewish identity, and to a shared responsibility for justice.

Karin’s ability to blend the intent of traditional Jewish education with modern social realities and a peer-powered model of engagement makes her a standout and visionary leader. Her work is not only bridging divides—it’s building the next generation of Jewish pride, resilience, and leadership.

2) In what ways has the nominee demonstrated exceptional leadership and commitment to their work in bridging divides?

Karin demonstrates exceptional leadership through her unwavering commitment to collaboration, innovation, and impact. She understands that meaningful change cannot happen in silos. Recognizing the fragmentation and stovepipe approaches that have long existed within the Jewish communal landscape, Karin is intentional about breaking down barriers and fostering alignment around shared goals. She actively surrounds herself with thought leaders and community partners who share her belief that collaboration sparks innovation—and that together, we are greater than the sum of our parts.

She leads with vision and humility, always focused on designing experiences that are authentic, relevant, and empowering. Her leadership is rooted in a deep understanding of what today’s teens need: validation of their lived experience, permission to be vulnerable, and the tools to speak with clarity and confidence. Karin is unapologetically committed to outcomes over tradition—openly acknowledging where existing educational models fall short and building something radically different in response. Workshop 8teen is disrupting outdated formats and redefining what Jewish teen engagement can look like.

One of the most powerful examples of Karin’s leadership is her “for teens, by teens” approach. In every host community, local Teen Producers are nominated and engaged to co-produce the event—handling outreach and participating in all aspects of production. This model gives teens ownership, agency, and the confidence to appropriately shape the tone and message of the program itself for their specific community. Karin’s commitment doesn’t stop at the event; she and her team remain responsive and agile, constantly iterating based on current events and feedback from participants, educators, and community stakeholders. The result is a dynamic program that continues to evolve while remaining grounded in its mission.

Karin also understands the power of intersectionality. She strategically incorporates civil rights language to frame antisemitism as not just a Jewish issue, but a societal injustice—connecting students to universal values like justice, dignity and transparency. Her use of digital tools, social media, and real-time feedback loops demonstrates a sophisticated grasp of how this generation communicates, learns, and builds identity.

Her leadership is not performative—it is purposeful, inclusive, and driven by results. By centering empathy, courage, and innovation, Karin activates those around her and ensures that Workshop 8teen is not just a program, but a movement. She is building a new model of Jewish teen engagement, rooted in empathy, knowledge and action, qualities that inspire and activate those around them.

3) How has the nominee's work impacted the Jewish community and beyond?

Karin’s work is creating meaningful impact in Jewish communities that have hosted a Workshop 8teen event, as well as those preparing to host. It has allowed community leaders to reimagine how to better serve their youth before they leave home for college and adulthood. The program offers a much-needed space where teens feel seen, heard, valued and prepared to face the unique challenges of their generation.

Workshop 8teen also serves to become a powerful vehicle for bridge-building between Jewish and non-Jewish communities. By focusing on shared values—truth, justice, identity, and inclusion—the program fosters dialogue and connection across cultural and religious lines. Events are intentionally designed to be inclusive, bringing together teens from different backgrounds and creating a shared language for understanding antisemitism, Israel history and significance, and civil rights in ways that resonate regardless of denomination or prior knowledge.

Beyond the Jewish community, Karin’s civil rights-based framing of antisemitism has opened new pathways for partnership. By aligning antisemitism with other forms of hate, this approach strengthens allyship and builds broader coalitions of support, grounded in a universal commitment to human dignity and western values.

The impact is also practical and long-term. By equipping teens with accurate information and a clear understanding of common antisemitic rhetoric and propaganda, Karin’s work harnesses the potential of our next generation of teens to recognize and interrupt hate in real time. This foundational knowledge gives them the tools to recognize and challenge misinformation and the confidence to find their individual angle of impact in their schools, online spaces, and communities.

Ultimately, Karin is giving the next generation—the future of Am Yisrael—a model of strength, knowledge, and unity. She meets teens where they are, helping them feel both personally empowered and collectively responsible—not only as proud Jews, but as engaged citizens ready to shape a more inclusive world. The ripple effect of this work will continue to grow, strengthening the Jewish future and the broader society it touches.