Write On for Israel Senior Fellows in a meeting with Illinois Sen. Mark Kirk in Washington, D.C.

The Senior Fellows of JUF’s Write On for Israel program visited Capitol Hill in early February for an intensive two-day experience focused on issues of importance to Chicago’s pro-Israel community.

Students met with both Illinois Sens. Richard Durbin and Mark Kirk, and nearly all members of the Illinois Congressional delegation or their members of their staff to advocate for the importance of U.S military aid to Israel, combatting the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement, and more. Additionally, they met with White House officials, representatives of think tanks and advocacy organizations and young Capitol Hill staffers.

The trip gave Fellows the chance to put a year and a half of learning facts as well as training on how to convey these facts to elected officials into action.

“Before I came to Washington, the political system was an enigma to me,” said Lorne Miller, a senior at New Trier High School. “Now, after lobbying congressmen, congresswomen, and senators, I know that I want to learn more about how the system works.”

Margalit Pogonitz, a senior at Ida Crown Jewish Academy, recounted how it felt to be sitting with Rep. Danny Davis as he regaled a small group of Write On Fellows with stories.

“His making jokes, telling personal stories and relating to our community made me feel like I could easily relate to him,” she said. “If I can meet with these people, who are in highly ranked positions voting on issues of extreme importance to the U.S. and the rest of the world, I can surely advocate on a college campus.”

Highland Park High School senior Jamie Hendler found that she was able to synthesize insights the group gained from briefings the day before going to Capitol Hill and use them to strengthen the case she presented to lawmakers.

“To be able to meet with real Congressmen and women felt like a once-in-a -lifetime opportunity,” she said. “I managed to take something away from each and every meeting. The experience on this trip will benefit me greatly on campus.”

Jacob Shiner, a senior at Ida Crown Jewish Academy, found himself caught up in the passionate exchange of ideas in Washington. “When I’m in college at University of Maryland, I will take up an internship with a Congressman,” he said. “This will give me an opportunity to advocate on a direct line to those that matter on Israel’s behalf.”

“I am very thankful for the Write On experience and I am anxious but excited to test my advocacy skills next year on campus,” said Amanda Sugar, a senior at Ida Crown.

Ariel Stern, a senior at the Latin School, admitted to feeling some trepidation at the start of the trip. “I walked into my first meeting feeling anxious that I was underqualified, but soon I had a completely different perspective … I knew that I was and will always be capable of advocating for Israel, but I began to see how many other routes my skills could go in college and beyond. I am most definitely qualified, and most definitely prepared for what’s to come.”

The Washington, D.C. Fly-In is a highlight of the senior year of the Write On for Israel program. Write On for Israel, a program of JUF’s Israel Education Center, trains motivated high school students to lead pro-Israel efforts on college campuses and prepares them for leadership roles in our Jewish community.

Current high school sophomores can submit their names to [email protected] to be notified when applications for the next cohort of Fellows are available.