Students Attend the Saban Leadership Seminar

Pro-Israel students from across the country gathered in Washington, D.C. last December for the Saban Leadership Seminar. Students from over 150 campuses participated in the four day seminar to refine their political advocacy skills, engage in programs about the current state of affairs in the Middle East, and to better understand the intricacies of the U.S.-Israel alliance.  

Saban Leadership Seminar students heard from Israel's Ambassador to the United States Michael Oren, AIPAC Executive Director Howard Kohr, as well as other leading experts on Iran's nuclear program, the Arab-Israeli peace process, and American electoral politics. Eric Gallagher, a student activist at The George Washington University commented, "The Saban Leadership Seminar taught me that the best way I can strengthen the U.S.-Israel alliance is through electoral activism and building relationships with members of Congress."

Students Hone Political Skills at High School Summit

Four-hundred forty high school students gathered in Washington recently for the 5th annual AIPAC Schusterman Advocacy Institute High School Summit. Hailing from 150 high schools in 22 states, the student activists-traveling in delegations from Jewish Day Schools, Synagogues or through their BBYO, NCSY or USY Youth Group region-took part in three days of intensive pro-Israel political advocacy training. Through a series of seminars and workshops, high school students learned how they can play an active role in securing the U.S.-Israel relationship. "We are leaders on our issues today, and are not waiting for the future," declared Samantha Levinson, a student attending through her local BBYO chapter. "It is our time to build relationships with policy makers and strengthen the American-Israel relationship." Students also had the opportunity to hear from experts on a range of issues, including the Iranian nuclear threat, the Goldstone Report and the threats Israel faces from Hizballah and Hamas. High School Summit participants also toured Capitol Hill and met with Congressional staff members. Yoni Bonan, a student from Hillel Community Day School in Miami, Florida, said he left the Summit feeling "proud of myself and especially AIPAC for helping me be more confident and educating me about Iran, Israel and the [U.S.-Israel] relationship."

Final Summer Seminar Series Event Features Reps. Berman and Pence

The final event of the 2009 AIPAC Summer Seminar Series featured Rep. Howard Berman (D-CA) and Rep. Mike Pence (R-IN). The Members of Congress addressed am audience of nearly 300 Washington, D.C.-based interns and young professionals, focusing on the challenges facing America and Israel. Rep. Berman spoke of the U.S. commitment to Israel's security and described the Iranian nuclear program as an American foreign policy priority. Rep. Pence emphasized the consensus that exists among political leaders and their constituents in support of a strong U.S.-Israel alliance: "The People of this country love Israel-one of the great, shining accomplishments of this country is bipartisan support for Israel." For nearly 30 years, AIPAC's Summer Seminar Series has provided a regular forum for engageing and educating young political activists spending their summer in the nation's capital. Sens. John McCain (R-AZ) and Robert Menendez (D-NJ) were also featured in this year's Summer Seminar Series, along with AIPAC Executive Director Howard Kohr.

Young Professionals Learn about New Technology

Fifty young professionals-all former AIPAC Campus Activists or strong supporters of the U.S.-Israel relationship-from Capitol Hill offices, executive branch departments, media outlets, technology start-ups, interest groups, and other institutions throughout Washington gathered to network with each other and hear from Aneesh Chopra, Chief Technology Officer and Associate Director of Technology in the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. His talk was entitled: Government 2.0: Platform for Participatory Democracy. Mr. Chopra addressed the role new technologies are playing in changing the political landscape and how policymakers communicate with constituents, as well as his own story of succeeding in Washington.

2009 Summer Saban Leadership Seminar

The Saban Leadership Seminar brought 400 students from 150 campuses across the country to Washington, D.C. for an intensive four-day event culminating in 70 Capitol Hill lobbying appointments. Saban Leadership Seminar participants engaged in discussions with high-profile public figures and top-tier Middle East experts, briefings on AIPAC's legislative agenda, and intensive lobbying training with AIPAC professionals. They departed with a plan of action to advance the U.S.-Israel relationship on and beyond campus in the upcoming semester. This year, students had the opportunity to hear from Israel's new Ambassador to the U.S. Michael Oren and AIPAC Executive Director Howard Kohr. "This was such an amazing experience," declared AIPAC Diamond Summer Intern Eve Samborn. "I was able to go from engaging in dialogue with top political minds and players to actually lobbying my Member of Congress on the most critical of issues."    

AIPAC Seminar Draws 700 Student Interns

The second event of the 2009 AIPAC Summer Seminar Series featured Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) and Sen. Robert Menendez (D-NJ) addressing a packed, standing-room- only crowd of  700 Washington, D.C.-based intern and young professionals. Sen. McCain's comments highlighted the threat posed by the Iranian nuclear program and his support for the Iran Refined Petroleum Sanctions Act. McCain underscored the value of the U.S. Israel relationship as a strategic alliance resulting from a common commitment to democracy and human rights. Sen. Menendez opened by thanking AIPAC for its continued engagement in civic discourse and for bringing the next generation of Americans into the framework of a broader civil discourse. He also discussed Israel's unique role in the Middle East in sharing the U.S.'s overriding interests and security concerns. The final event in the 2009 AIPAC Summer Seminar Series is scheduled for July 20 and will feature Rep. Howard Berman (D-CA) and Rep. Mike Pence (R-IN).      

Strong Allies in Challenging Times: Campus Leaders Explore Israel with AIPAC

The AIPAC Campus Allies Mission recently returned from a ten-day trip to Israel. This year’s 40 participating students included campus political leaders from Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Christian Campuses, Hispanic-serving institutions, and AIPAC campus activists not eligible for Birthright Israel programs. Twelve are national leaders of College Democrats of America and the College Republican National Committee.

Examples of Mission activities include briefings from key officials from the Knesset and the U.S. Embassy; strategic tours of Israel’s security frontier in and around Jerusalem and the Golan Heights; visits to an absorption center focused on the needs of Israel’s Ethiopian population and to a co-operative village of Jews and Arab-Israeli citizens—in Hebrew, Neve Shalom and in Arabic, Wahat al-Salam.

“This trip opened my eyes to the wonder and resilience of Israeli society. My commitment to the U.S.-Israel strategic alliance has strengthened with the emotional connection I developed to the people and the land of Israel,” said University of Central Florida student and Mission participant Michael Newman.