Write On marches on, as its longtime leader moves on

After 18 years at the helm of JUF’s Write On for Israel, Carl Schrag-journalist, educator, and program director of the high school Israel advocacy fellowship-is exiting his position this spring.

“Carl has been the guiding voice of WOFI (Write On for Israel) since the beginning,” said Emily White, director of the JUF Israel Education Center. “He has taken the framework of WOFI and infused it with depth, context, and humanity. Students come away with not only the on-paper goals of WOFI, but with an inspirational role model.”

The intensive yearlong fellowship, offered to high school juniors, empowers a cohort of young influencers to advocate for Israel on their future college campuses and beyond.

Write On for Israel first launched in New York two decades ago when misinformation about Israel was spreading across college campuses. “The messages of the Second Intifada were echoing on college campuses across North America, but American Jews were not well-informed enough, not prepared to engage in being challenged,” Schrag said.

So, the program aimed to equip students-many of them budding journalists-with the tools to write accurately about Israel.

In 2004, Aaron B. Cohen, former JUF News Executive Editor and passionate voice for Israel, brought the program to Chicago with guidance from Schrag, the former Editor of The Jerusalem Post. Soon, Schrag stepped up to direct the program.

WOFI expanded its mission in Chicago to empower a broader population of student activists and advocates for Israel, not just those pursuing journalism.

Schrag’s overarching message to teens: “I will never tell you what to think. But know what you believe, and why you believe it.”

“We are incredibly lucky to have had Carl at the helm,” said Emily Briskman, Associate Vice President of Campus Affairs and Executive Director of The Hillels of Illinois. “Alums often call Carl, text him their accomplishments, or ask him questions. He’s a great educator.”

During Schrag’s tenure at WOFI, over 400 students have gone through the program. WOFI alumni are highly accomplished, often taking on leadership positions in college in areas including student government, journalism, and their campus Hillel.

This spring, Lea Speyer, program director of JUF’s Israel Education Center, succeeds Schrag as director of the program.

The 19th Write On for Israel cohort starts in the fall-applications are now open. As long as Israel needs defending in the court of public opinion, Write On for Israel will be there to cultivate its advocates.

To learn more about Write On for Israel or to apply, visit juf.org/wofi.