S.O.S. goes to an AIPAC Conference
S.O.S. Save Our Soldiers Lobbies Capital Hill on behalf of Israel
On November 11th, Gabrielle Flaum, Sam Cantor, Jeff Rayvid, Eden Kanowitz and Danielle Flaum, and Jill Sobelman along with Nancy and Rich Flaum traveled to Washington D.C. to attend an AIPAC (American Israel Political Action Committee) High School Summit. AIPAC hosted a unique three-day educational opportunity in the nation’s capital for high school students. Student leaders from across the nation gathered for the High School Summit’s top-level political activism training. More than 250 students and 30 Jewish professionals from Jewish Day Schools, synagogues, youth groups, and teen leadership organizations learned strategies for advocating the U.S.-Israel relationship, skills that participants used in lobbying their members of Congress on Capitol Hill.
The Summit was geared toward providing politically active teens with the tools they need to get involved in the American political process, more specifically in support of the Israel American Alliance. At the Summit we learned what we as teens can do to make a difference. AIPAC’s faculty introduced us to initiatives and activities we can bring home to our communities. We also were briefed about issues currently facing Israel, including the threat of Iran having nuclear capabilities. We hope that we can help our communities to better understand the issues as well inspire individuals to take action.
On the last day of the Summit we had the incredible opportunity of lobbying a Senior Policy Advisor of Congressmen Rodney Frelinghuysen. We spoke to him about why we are passionate about Israel and why it is in America’s best interest to remain Israel’s loyal ally. This meeting was an amazing opportunity for us personally and an amazing opportunity for the Jewish community. Now, our Congressmen knows and understands the feelings of some of his Jewish teen constituents. Overall, the AIPAC Summit was an unforgettable opportunity and we hope to educate others using our new skills.
-written by Jill Sobelman
