AIPAC High School Summit
This week, five high school students from The Claire and Emanuel G. Rosenblatt High School at DKJA were chosen to join more than 400 other Jewish students from across the nation at the Schusterman Advocacy Institute High School Summit in Washington, D.C. These students were chaperoned by DKJA Rabbi in Residence Rabbi Baruch Plotkin. This high school summit is organized by AIPAC (American Israel Public Affairs Committee) and allows Jewish high school students learn and engage in the United States-Israel relationship. Throughout this three-day experience, all of the students attended a variety of lectures and interactive sessions to further indulge in the political perspective of the U.S.-Israel relationship. These sessions were led by a combination of AIPAC staff and college students who take leadership roles with AIPAC at their colleges. The students were privileged to lobby members of Congress from their district. As the students made their way to Capitol Hill, they confidently walked into the U.S. House of Representatives and lobbied their representative’s staffers.
The DKJA students had life-changing experiences. They arrived in Washington, D.C., on Sunday and concluded their visit Tuesday evening. They felt privileged and grateful to have been selected to attend this summit. During their stay in the nation’s capital, the students became enlightened on the United States-Israel relationship through the political process.
The students were intentionally given schedules that paired them up with students from other schools. “Dividing us all into different groups throughout the summit enabled me to create new friendships with students from near and far,” said student Naomi Fils.
As the students attended lectures their anticipation to lobby on Capitol Hill intensified. “This isn’t an experience that many students have and we are all extremely grateful. Being able to lobby our own congressmen on Capitol Hill is a once-in-a-lifetime experience for a high school student. This experience has opened all of our eyes to the U.S.-Israel relationship from a political perspective and has reminded us to always maintain our pro-Israel mindsets,” said student Olivia Galel.
Our Rosenblatt High School students joined a few students from Katz Yeshiva High School in lobbying their congresswoman, U.S. Rep. Lois Frankel. As Congresswoman Frankel had a busy schedule, the students lobbied her staffer, Daniel Bleiberg. The students lobbied Mr. Bleiberg on three matters: the Iranian deal, the Anti-Israel boycotts and the toughening of sanctions on Hezbollah. The students came home from this trip with a new understanding of the U.S.- Israel relationship. They are looking forward to the AIPAC policy conference in the spring, bringing together thousands of pro-Israel advocates from around the world.
The DKJA students took away a variety of important lessons and insights from this summit. They said they will carry this experience with them moving forward as they acknowledge their new understanding of current international issues between Israel and its neighboring countries.
“The feeling of walking into the House of Representatives, knowing that I would be making a direct impact on Congress was one that I will never forget. It truly opened my eyes to the fact that every time I am handed an opportunity, I need to grab it and use it to my benefit,” said Olivia Galel. As this high school summit is an annual event, future students will be given this same opportunity to learn, lobby and make a difference in pro-Israel advocacy on campuses around the world.
