Jonathan Cohen, a Search Institute trainer and director of Henry S. Jacobs Camp, Utica, Mississippi, has linked each of the Developmental Assets to important concepts and themes in Judaism. This adaptation is designed to help Jews see that the asset-building approach resonates deeply with their beliefs, priorities, and traditions.
EXTERNAL ASSETS
MICHAH (SUPPORT)
1. T’mitchat ha’Mishpacha (Family Support) —Family life provides high levels of love and support.
2. Shalom Bayit (Positive Family Communication)—Young person and her or his parent(s) communicate positively, and young
person is willing to seek advice and counsel from parent(s).
3. Sovevim (Other Adult Relationships)—Young
person receives support from three or more nonparent adults.
4. Sh’chunah (Caring Neighborhood)—Young
person experiences caring neighbors.
5. Beit Sefer (Caring School Climate)—School
provides a caring, encouraging environment.
6. Horim b’Beit Sefer (Parent Involvement in
Schooling)—Parent(s) are actively involved in helping young person succeed
in school.
PUI KOACH (EMPOWERMENT)
7. Kehilah (Community Values Youth)—Young person perceives that adults in the community value youth.8. Noar Ke’mashabim (Youth as Resources)—Young people are given useful roles in the community.
9. Gemilut Chasadim (Service to Others) —Young person serves in the community one hour or more per week.
10. Bitachon (Safety)—Young person feels safe at home, at school, and in the neighborhood.
G’VULOT VE’TZIPIOT (BOUNDARIES AND EXPECTATIONS)
11. G’vulot Mishpachti’im (Family Boundaries)—Family has clear rules and consequences and monitors the young person’s whereabouts.12. G’vulot Beit Sefer (School Boundaries)—School provides clear rules and consequences.
13. G’vulot Sh’chunati’im (Neighborhood Boundaries)—Neighbors take responsibility for monitoring young people’s behavior.
14. Modelle l’Chikui (Adult Role Models)—Parent(s) and other adults model positive, responsible behavior.
15. Chevre Chiyuvi (Positive Peer Influence) —Young person’s best friends model responsible behavior.
16. Tz’piot G’vohot (High Expectations) —Parent(s)and teachers encourage the young person to do well.
SHIMUSH Z’MAN CHIYUVI (CONSTRUCTIVE USE OF TIME)
17. Omanut (Creative Activities)—Young person spends three or more hours per week in lessons or practice in music, theater,
or other arts.
18. Chugim (Youth Programs)—Young person
spends three or more hours per week in sports, clubs, or organizations at
school or in the community.
19. Kehilah Ruchanit (Religious Community)—Young person spends one or more hours per week in activities in a religious
institution.
20. Z’man b’Bayit (Time at Home)—Young person is out with friends “with nothing special to do” two or fewer nights per week.
INTERNAL ASSETS
TORAH LISHMA (COMMITMENT TO LEARNING)
21. Motivatzia (Achievement Motivation) —Young
person is motivated to do well in school.
22. Asuk b’Limudim (School Engagement)—Young
person is actively engaged in learning.
23. Shiurei Bayit (Homework)—Young person
reports doing at least one hour of homework every school day.
24. Kesher im Beit Sefer (Bonding to school)—Young person cares about her or his school.
25. Kri’ah Lishma (Reading for Pleasure)—Young person reads for pleasure three or more hours per week.
MUSARIM (POSITIVE VALUES)
26. Shmira (Caring)—Young person places
high value on helping other people.
27. Tikkun Olam (Equality and Social Justice)—Young person places high value on promoting equality and reducing hunger
and poverty.
28. Yosher (Integrity)—Young person acts
on convictions and stands up for her or his beliefs.
29. Kainut (Honesty)—Young person “tells
the truth even when it is not easy.”
30. Achriut (Responsibility)—Young person
accepts and takes personal responsibility.
31. Ekuv (Restraint)—Young person believes
it is important not to be sexually active or to use alcohol or other drugs.
YECHOLET CHEVRATIT (SOCIAL COMPETENCIES)
32. Tochniyot (Planning and Decision Making)—Young person knows how to plan ahead and make choices.
33. Ben Adam l’Chavero (Interpersonal Competence)—Young person has empathy, sensitivity, and friendship skills.
34. Du’Chiyumi (Cultural Competence)—Young
person has knowledge of and comfort with people of different cultural/racial/ethnic
backgrounds.
35. Kibush Ha’Yetzer (Resistance Skills)
—Young person can resist negative peer pressure and dangerous situations.
36. Shalom (Peaceful Conflict Resolution)
—Young person seeks to resolve conflict nonviolently.
ZEHUT CHIYUVI (POSITIVE IDENTITY)
37. Koach Ishi (Personal Power)—Young person
feels he or she has control over “things that happen to me.”
38. Kavod Atzmi (Self-Esteem)—Young person
reports having a high self-esteem.
39. Kavanah (Sense of Purpose)—Young person
reports that “my life has a purpose.”
40. Tikvah (Positive View of Personal Future)
—Young person is optimistic about her or his personal future.
The Developmental Assets framework was developed by Search Institute. Copyright © 1997 by Search Institute. Framework of Hebrew terms (shown here in English transliteration) was developed by Jonathan Cohen and used by Search Institute with permission by the author.
