Like most American youth in the post-World War II period, Jewish teens loved to join clubs and teams, travel in packs, and hang out with their friends. Formal organizations for Jewish youth boomed in popularity after 1945 and helped shape the next generation of community leaders.

Jewish communities in the Twin Cities were changing rapidly in these postwar years. An era of entrenched anti-Semitism was coming to a close, and Jews enjoyed greater levels of acceptance than ever before. Youth groups provided opportunities for teens to socialize and learn together as Jews, places where religious belief was linked to community belonging.

'Belonging: Jewish Teen Life in the Twin Cities, 1945-70' was a collaborative effort of the Jewish Historical Society of the Upper Midwest and the Minnesota Historical Society.