Teen Comic Series Provokes Thought; Sparks Debate

“Ema and Ari” spins wit, humor and age-old debate, catching the eye of teens and challenging them to think about their Jewish beliefs.

Los Angeles based professional cartoonist Chari Pere has undertaken a challenging new project. She is creating a co­mic series that encapsulates millennia of debate between believers and non-believers – for an audience of Jewish teens attending public high school.

Last fall, Pere was approached by the teen division of the Jewish Learning Institute (JLI) and presented with the challenge of developing a comic strip drawing from the newest JLI Teens course,OMG! The Battle Between Faith and Logic. Using a brilliant combination of colorful art and delightful comedy, Pere has masterfully encapsulated fundamental Jewish concepts into short, digestible, humorous bites.

In the weeks leading up to the launch of OMG!, the comic series was circulated throughout 45 international cities where the JLI Teens program is offered. “Ema and Ari” was featured in newspapers, on Facebook walls, and on high school lockers. A quick laugh and a thought-provoking punch line informed students and parents alike that a new kind of Jewish learning experience was coming to town.

The latest JLI Teens series delves into the heart of the matter, daring students to think for themselves. It explores the difference between blind faith and logic; the debate between religion and science; the authenticity of the Torah; and the meaning of life.

“Why did we use comic strips?” asked JLI Teens program director Gani Domber rhetorically. “How else,” she said, “does one sum up the argument between creation and evolution in less than 10 words?”

Pere has received many accolades in recent years. She won the 2008 Jerusalem Post New Cartoonist Contest, was honored on The Jewish Week’s 2009 “36 Under 36” list, was a recipient of the PresenTense Fellow, and is one of the youngest current members of the National Cartoonist Society. She has worked on MAD Magazine and the New York Times Bestseller “The Happiness Project,” and she is founder of Hey Yiddle Diddle Productions.

During the development of OMG!, Pere gleaned the main ideas and proposed a comic series that tied the entire project together. “This was a great project to work on,” said Pere. “The material is powerful yet accessible. It engages the teens to want to participate. If had a course like this growing up, I actually would have enjoyed learning Jewish philosophy!”

The comic strips have effectively caught the scrutinizing eyes of savvy teenagers, who are used to being inundated with advertisements and media overload. “The purpose of the comic is to get teens in the door,” says Domber. “Once you are there, OMG! promises to be an experience demonstrating the veracity of Torah and its relevance to 21st century teenagers.”

Meet Ema and Ari, your typical brother and sister who just can’t seem to agree on life. Follow them as they explore some of the major questions that we will be discussing in class.