AIPAC’s In The House

by Shira Papir

Swarms of students from all over the United States buzzed about with name tags adorned with American and Israeli flags. While dragging my luggage through the throngs of people in the lobby of the Hyatt hotel in Washington, D.C., I was stunned to read a very familiar name on one of the tags swinging from a girl’s neck. It was my friend Hannah from San Francisco who I’d met on an Israel summer program.
Before we could even finish catching up, we bumped into a third friend from the same program, Katie from New York. It was really amazing to have my two like-minded and close friends with me; a small reunion of sorts. Yet it was just as easy for me to connect with students whom I had never met before. Every student there was committed to the American-Israel alliance and their commitments were fueled by AIPAC’s three-day high school summit.

The America-Israel alliance is a binding tie between two countries that share national interests and a common value system. This significant alliance is strongly enhanced by a national support system that includes a growing number of teens and college students. This national support system goes by the five-letter acronym, AIPAC.

The American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) was founded in 1953 and has been the leading organization maintaining the America-Israel alliance. A renowned bipartisan organization, AIPAC is uniquely positioned to have the support of those on both ends of the political spectrum.
While most organizations focus on funding for their survival, AIPAC also focuses on young people to ensure its vital mission. In November, AIPAC holds its annual Schusterman Advocacy Institute High School Summit in Washington, where they train over 300 students from across the nation to become advocates in their schools and communities for Israel and the U.S.-Israel relationship.

During the course of the conference last year, Jewish teens discussed why America should support Israel and why it does support Israel. As the seminars unfolded, the students learned that America supports Israel because it is the only democracy in the debacle of Middle East dictatorships. They learned that the two democracies share common values and that it is important to align with and support each other as a means to preserve such values. The conference equipped teens with the facts and tools necessary to defend the U.S.-Israel alliance to the skeptical peers in their high schools and colleges. The education provided at the AIPAC high school summit empowers teens to get involved in the political process, to combat apathy and to recognize the influence of their voices.

“Teens have the power to motivate and instigate change,” said Jonathan Kessler, AIPAC’s leadership development director, in one of his motivational addresses to the students. His speech sparked a sense of excitement and determination among the participants.

“AIPAC taught me that as a teen, we need to be the ones to carry on the alliance,” said Hannah Whitten-Vile, a junior at Jewish Community High School of the Bay in San Francisco. “We are going to have to battle anti-Semitism and anti-Zionism in college. The best way to cope with this is through what I learned at AIPAC.”

Before turning 18 teens might hesitate to take action, assuming that because they can’t vote their voices lack resonance in the political sphere. Yet, AIPAC provides teens with the education, methodology and support to influence society and strengthen this important alliance. “I learned different ways to spread the knowledge and ideas as to how to help make a difference,” said Kaitlin Wachsberger, a junior at Ramaz in New York City. “We always hear about the issues Israel faces, but never in the kind of depth or with such passion like we heard from the members of AIPAC.”

So what can high school students do? The first step is to attend the AIPAC high school summit in the fall. Knowledge is certainly power. The most engaged and pro-Israel high school students are invited to participate in the Saban Leadership Seminar where 400 high school and college students come together in July in Washington, D.C. for an intensive training program.

Next, we can work towards developing relationships with the congressmen of our districts. AIPAC emphasizes the importance of these relationships and the power of lobbying especially when done by committed and knowledgeable teens. “After lobbying a congressman on the AIPAC high school summit, I became determined to remain attached to my own congressman as much as possible,” said Boris Treskunov, a junior at Hillel Community Day School in Miami. “I now realize that constant communication can really make a difference.”

Finally, it is important to share our knowledge and passion with others. Students can employ their advocacy tools by establishing pro-Israel clubs in their schools, organizing rallies, writing letters to their congressmen and writing letters to local newspapers in support of Israel.
“High school students have the skills, power and ability to keep Israel safe and secure,” according to AIPAC spokesman Josh Block. “Through proactive political involvement, building a relationship with their member of Congress and communicating the reasons to support a strong U.S.-Israel relationship with their parents and peers, high school students can make a dramatic difference in ensuring Israel’s lasting security.”

Growing up in a Zionist home, I never really thought so much about why I loved Israel, why I visited so often, why my parents worked tirelessly on behalf of Israel or even why we would send tzedakah to Israeli organizations. They were simply things we did. However, as a teen searching for a deeper understanding of Israel’s significance and its role in my life, AIPAC provided me with the knowledge and resources that allowed me to contextualize my personal connection in a global, intellectual framework. I was drawn to AIPAC because of what it stands for, what it means for the future of Israel, and I feel compelled to be involved because of the invaluable tools and inspiration I acquired from the high school summit.

In my community, when rallies for Israel are held — I’m there. When my Jewish federation calls donors and asks for financial support — I’m on the phones. Not a day goes by when I don’t log onto JerusalemOnline.com to be sure I am up to date on all the current issues affecting Israel. Wherever and whenever I can, I support Israel.

Both high school and college students can become equipped with the tools to become an advocate on their campuses. AIPAC provides resources and materials for interested students as well as training programs for the students who show exceptional devotion to pro-Israel politics.
For more information on AIPAC and how you can get involved please go to www.aipac.org and click on “For Students.”

Shira Papir is a junior at the Ben Lipson Hillel Community High School in North Miami Beach, Fla.

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