With the year winding down, the Israel Advocacy Club gets to look back on its best year ever, while also making plans for an even better year next year.
Club President Ezra Seplowitz observed that the “highlight of the year” was when the club took over 20 kids, including myself, to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) Policy Conference in Washington D.C in late March.
Joining with 18,000 other activists for Israel, we got to hear from a vast list of prominent speakers including Vice President Mike Pence, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, former U.S Ambassador to the U.N Nikki Haley, and many many more.
Several kids including myself were actually able to meet prominent politicians such as Senators Ted Cruz and Tim Kaine, as well as House Representative Dan Crenshaw (who many know as simply the eyepatch guy).
In addition, we were able to attend breakout sessions where we learned more about Israel and its relationship with the United States. On the last day of the conference, the entire TABC delegation went up to Capitol Hill to advocate for a strong American-Israeli alliance.
Junior Efraim Helfgott was specifically chosen to present the entire New Jersey 5th District. He delivered an entertaining and eloquent speech to Representative Josh Gottheimer that reminded him about the importance of America sending military aid to Israel.
When asked about the experience, Helfgott said, “while many think politics is this very boring thing, actually being there and speaking was real and had tangible impact, something which is extremely cool”.
For the past several years, the Israel Advocacy Club has met every single Tuesday during breakfast to discuss the latest news, opinion and politics in Israel, as well as America’s relationship with Israel.
The club has almost doubled its membership in the past two years. Dr. Elliot Prager, the club’s faculty advisor, observed that he’s been “really excited about the number of younger students who have joined the club” during that time.
One such student, sophomore Ariel Berner, responded similarly: “It's cool to see how many students support Israel and come to the weekly Israel Advocacy Club meetings.”
Head of School Rabbi Asher Yablok expressed gratitude for the club’s existence: “I am proud of the level of attendance, activism and awareness that the club has produced. I boast about it all the time. It is not something that I take for granted at all.”.
Yablok defined the club’s significance in these terms: “It is becoming increasingly important for our students to best understand our relationship with Medinat Yisrael and to be able to express/advocate for that position with others. We believe so deeply in appreciating the gift of Medinat Yisrael and we want to make sure our students do as well.”
Throughout this past year, the Israel Advocacy Group has hosted many speakers, including Dov Lipman, a former member of the Israeli Knesset, Shlomo Kroopnick, member of the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF), and Carly Sternberg, the Early Engagement Director at AIPAC.
I found Dov Lipman to be an especially interesting speaker, as he gave an insider view on the Israeli elections that were upcoming at the time.
Many students from the Club have gone on their own to host various events around the community in support of Israel. At these meetings, students have gotten the chance to meet two great friends of Israel in Congress: Teaneck’s own representative Josh Gottheimer and Congresswoman Elaine Luria from Virginia.
Congresswomen Luria specifically acknowledged the TABC club members at the event, saying how “important it is to get young people involved in politics.”
Throughout the year, Club Presidents Ezra Seplowitz, Aharon Wieden and Eli Rifkind (as well as Dr. Prager) have preached the philosophy of education and implementation.
Ezra Seplowitz explained this philosophy thusly: “First, we educate the students about Israel, thus enabling students to implement that knowledge on social media, at local community events, or at bigger conventions in Washington D.C.”
Aside from the conventions and meetings, one of the most special things about the Israel Advocacy Club is how close all of the members have become over the years.
Even kids who have already graduated TABC remain in the Whatsapp chat for group members, and regularly provide helpful insights. I personally have become close with many club members from other grades whom I otherwise would hardly know.
Many former members of the club have also joined the IDF over the past few years. Several have returned to the school to speak about their experiences in the Army and how the Israel Advocacy Club inspired them.
When asked about what inspired him most about the club, Rifkind said, “I think the fact that we had three or four TABC alumni who went on to join the IDF was an especially enriching part of the year for the club.”
Rifkind then added, “To see men who just a few years ago were sitting exactly where we were actually go out and risk everything for the State of Israel was inspiring. It's encouraging to know that joining the IDF is such a realistic option for TABC graduates post-yeshiva.”
Eli Englard, a former President of the Israel Advocacy Club, is one such man - he is planning to make Aliyah (move to Israel) next year and join the IDF. Englard said that while he always knew he wanted to make Aliyah, the Israel Advocacy Club really strengthened his connection with Israel and showed him just how much there was to still learn about Israel.
One common theme I heard from everyone in the club was the praise heaped on Dr. Prager for his leadership. Words like “amazing,” incredible,” and “inspirational” were commonplace.
All the club members agreed that the club could not run without Dr. Prager. He does all the behind-the-scenes work, such as making sure that the AIPAC trip runs smoothly and making sure the club presidents have a plan for what each meeting will cover.
Even Rabbi Yablok had nothing but praise for Dr. Prager. “It is no surprise that someone who so genuinely believes and llives these values is successful at instilling them in others,” said Yablok. “Nothing about Dr. Prager is forced and because it comes from the heart, it enters others’ hearts.”
When you talk to Dr. Prager, it immediately becomes clear that this man has an immense passion for the state of Israel. Prager told me has always wanted to move to Israel but couldn’t for extenuating circumstances. As a result, he feels that if he is not going to be in the IDF, sacrificing his life for Israel like others, it is his “responsibility to do anything he can in America to help Israel.”
Worried that he was still not doing enough for Israel, Prager felt extremely proud when I told him what members of the club have said about him and how the club has inspired them.
Despite everything Prager has already given, he believes there is much more to be done.
While Prager felt that the Club had its best year yet, he still has many things which he wants to improve on for next year. For example, he wants the Club to really step up its game in being “active around the community.”
Freshman Elisha Markowitz felt similarly, lamenting that “many students come to the meetings in school but aren’t involved out of school”.
In addition, Markowitz felt that the Club definitely needs to emphasize how to respond to criticisms of Israel next year.
For example, while many of the students in the club know a lot more about Israel, we haven’t gotten the opportunity to respond to those who are critical of Israel. This is because it’s much harder to get someone who is against Israel to volunteer to speak to our group.