Yesterday, Jewish students from different schools came together for an American Jewish Committee (AJC) Leaders For Tomorrow (LFT) Accelerator event. The program covered topics such as Jewish joy and combating antisemitism and anti-zionism both in-person and online.
Schechter students presenting on how to navigate antisemitism on social media. (AJC LI Facebook)
LFT consists of a group of high school students meticulously selected by AJC’s leadership staff. Over the course of one school year, they learn how to advocate for Jews and for Israel and how to fight antisemitism. The purpose of yesterday’s program was to give students who are not able to join the program a chance to participate in a crash course on LFT’s curriculum.
Junior Elisha Herbst, an attendee of yesterday’s event, was part of the LFT program last year and is currently part of their LFT 2.0 program. She chose to join LFT because she thought “it would be a good opportunity to learn more about Jewish advocacy and leadership.”
Freshman Sara Rosenthal also attended the program. She learned “about different forms of antisemitism” in different time periods, such as the Holocaust and the Israeli War of Independence. Rosenthal added, “We looked at both sides of the story and learned how these different perspectives still apply to the war today in Gaza.”
Junior Elisha Herbst, an attendee of yesterday’s event, was part of the LFT program last year and is currently part of their LFT 2.0 program. She chose to join LFT because she thought “it would be a good opportunity to learn more about Jewish advocacy and leadership.”
Freshman Sara Rosenthal also attended the program. She learned “about different forms of antisemitism” in different time periods, such as the Holocaust and the Israeli War of Independence. Rosenthal added, “We looked at both sides of the story and learned how these different perspectives still apply to the war today in Gaza.”
Herbst shared that students also learned about Jewish tropes, or stereotypes, and how these tropes lead to antisemitism.
In addition to learning about antisemitism in the physical world, students also learned about antisemitism online. Herbst noted that they learned “correct and proper ways to advocate.” Rosenthal agreed: “We … learned about antisemitism and anti-Israel posts on social media, and how our generation can combat that and make a difference.”
Junior Sasha Chernoff, a past member of LFT and a current member of LFT 2.0, explained that it is “important to understand that many people’s mind[s] cannot be changed.” AJC has free resources to use in order to educate people about antisemitism and anti-zionism. Chernoff shared that a great way to be able to efficiently fight antisemitism is by understanding antisemitic language, which is explained in AJC’s “Translate Hate” glossary.
In addition to learning about antisemitism in the physical world, students also learned about antisemitism online. Herbst noted that they learned “correct and proper ways to advocate.” Rosenthal agreed: “We … learned about antisemitism and anti-Israel posts on social media, and how our generation can combat that and make a difference.”
Junior Sasha Chernoff, a past member of LFT and a current member of LFT 2.0, explained that it is “important to understand that many people’s mind[s] cannot be changed.” AJC has free resources to use in order to educate people about antisemitism and anti-zionism. Chernoff shared that a great way to be able to efficiently fight antisemitism is by understanding antisemitic language, which is explained in AJC’s “Translate Hate” glossary.
Herbst urges people to join LFT because it “teaches you how… to be a better voice against hate in the Jewish community.” Chernoff commented that “[AJC] provides you with many necessary tools to be a better advocate.”
Herbst concluded, “This organization is teaching our generation how to stand up…and be a better voice against hate in the Jewish community.”
Penina Charry is a writer for Paw Print Now and has been published on the site since October 2023. Penina is currently a freshman at the Schechter School of Long Island and can be reached at the following email address: pcharry27@schechterli.org.
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