Jewish Cyberlinks Jewish youths seeking advice can turn to Web’s ‘Tell Aviv’

It's one of the largest Jewish youth movements in the world -- and it's as close as your keyboard.

There's a wealth of information, camaraderie and fun on the Web for Jewish teens.

A good place to start is JVibe at http://www.jvibe.com

JVibe has an amazing range in its content:

*There's an interview with Jerusalem-born, Long Island-raised actress Natalie Portman on playing roles ranging from Queen Amidala in "Star Wars" to Anne Frank.

*Poetry about Holocaust Remembrance Day titled "Death of the Innocent."

*An advice columnist named "Tell Aviv."

*A Jewish sports IQ quiz.

Sample question: Which Jewish basketball player appeared in the first 12 NBA all-star games and was recently chosen by the NBA as one of the 50 greatest players of all time? Answer: Dolph Schayes.

Two other interesting online magazines are Virtual Jerusalem's Teens at http://www.virtualjerusalem.com/VJTeens/index.htm and Teen-to-Teen at http://www.ttt.org.il/index.shtml

Virtual Jerusalem's site includes an article on interdating and intermarriage, along with its own advice column and a brain-teasers section.

The best articles in Teen-to-Teen are by young people telling the stories of lives.

There's Yehuda who is finishing his combat engineering course in the Israel Defense Force, Mike who writes about living on a West Bank settlement and Chava who explains what it's like to live a Jewish life in northern Montana where the nearest Jewish community is 300 miles away.

There's also a photo section, tips on creative writing and a joke page. Question: What do you call an 18-story condo in Tel Aviv? Answer: A chai rise.

If you are a teen and are considering spending time in Israel, then you should definitely check out the Birthright Israel Web site at http://www.israelexperience.org/

This is a clearinghouse for information about hundreds of Israeli programs geared toward young people. Search for the perfect program by using the site's database and compare notes with other travelers who have been there, done that. There is also information about the subsidies available to participants in these programs.

JewishYouth.com isn't strictly a site just for teenagers, but it will be handy for anyone who creates programming for Jewish kids. It's found at http://www.jewishyouth.com

This site is a great resource center for anyone who works with Jewish youth, such as camp staff, teachers or Jewish youth group leaders. There are tips on how to organize programs, to spark discussions about ethical issues and to create holiday-related activities. There's even a link to a job board for people working with Jewish youth.

If you are still looking for more Jewish youth sites, take a look at Mishmash's Jewish Youth Directory at http://mishmash.virtualave.net/kids.html

You'll find links to dozens of Jewish summer camps, campus organizations and billboard areas for alumni of Jewish youth organizations.

I want to conclude by returning to JVibe.com and what I found to be a witty way to introduce a Jewish tradition to young people by using an icon of popular culture. It's the "Homer Calendar" at http://www.jvibe.com/homer/

We are currently in the period of Sefirat Ha'Omer, when we count the 49 days between Passover and Shavuot. Keeping track of the daily count can be confusing but if "H'Omer" Simpson can do it, so can you.

There are articles about the reasons for counting the Omer, appropriate charts and illustrations of Homer next to the blessing and that day's recitation -- all halachically correct.

And where else could you find a cartoon of Bart Simpson writing lines on the chalkboard "I WILL REMEMBER TO COUNT THE OMER"?