AJC and Touro’s Lander School for Women Collaborate on Advocacy Day for Orthodox Jewish Students

American Jewish Committee (AJC) and Touro University's Lander College for Women (LCW) today wrapped their second annual collaboration on a unique program that equips female Jewish Orthodox college and high school students with advocacy skills to stand up for Israel and the Jewish community at a time when anti-Zionist and antisemitic activity has surged at many schools and campuses.

The program is the brainchild of LCW Vice President Marian Stoltz-Loike and AJC's Dr. Laura Shaw Frank and Dr. Alexandra Herzog.

"More than ever, Jewish students need to be equipped to answer difficult questions about Israel and respond to the false narratives that have been endemic at many universities and even places of work," said Shaw Frank, Director of the AJC William Petschek Contemporary Jewish Life Department. "It is particularly important for Orthodox women like those in this program, who are visibly Jewish and highly likely to be strong Zionists, to gain these skills. Their passion for Jewish advocacy, Israel, and the Jewish people is truly inspiring."

The program concluded today with an advocacy day at AJC headquarters in New York and built upon sessions earlier this year where both the college and high school students attended classes about antisemitism, anti-Zionism, and advocacy taught by Shaw Frank and Herzog, Deputy Director of the AJC Contemporary Jewish Life Department and Peoplehood Initiatives.

The LCW students were also trained on best practices for teaching these lessons to high school students and for how to mentor high schoolers.

"We must equip young Jews to counter antisemitism and anti-Israel rhetoric with knowledge, advocacy skills, and renewed Jewish pride rooted in Jewish values. By investing in Orthodox women and girls, we ensure a diverse and robust future for the Jewish people," Herzog said. "It has been inspiring to work closely with the LCW students and witness their growth and excitement at empowering the high school students."

The program provided instruction on combating antisemitism, supporting Israel, and building intergroup relations, all topics that have taken on greater urgency since the Hamas massacre of 1,200 people in Israel on October 7.

Students were taught how to respond to and-in some cases not to respond- to hateful rhetoric online and at many college campuses directed at Israel as well as the Jewish community, a skill Stoltz-Loike said would benefit students even after the war ends.

"Our students will be encountering many different perspectives when they leave Touro and this training will position them to advocate in a way that's effective, thoughtful, and respectful," she said.

The advocacy day included a conversation between Dr. Ari Gordon, AJC Director of Muslim-Jewish Relations, and Daisy Kahn, Director of the Women's Islamic Initiative in Spirituality and Equality, as well as meetings with New York City Council Member Eric Dinowitz; Angel Angelov, New York Consul General of Bulgaria; Julia Jassey, CEO of Jewish on Campus; and Eva Wyner, Deputy Director of Jewish Affairs for New York Governor Kathy Hochul.

"As Chair of the New York City Council's Jewish Caucus, I am honored to participate for the second year in a row in this exciting advocacy day for young Orthodox Jewish women," Dinowitz said. "Empowering future leaders with skills in advocacy, politics, and diplomacy is crucial for fostering active citizenship and ensuring their voices are heard in shaping our communities. It is deeply meaningful to me to support and engage with the next generation of Jewish women leaders who will undoubtedly make a profound impact on our city's future."

AJC is the global advocacy organization for the Jewish people. With headquarters in New York, 25 offices across the United States, 14 overseas posts, as well as partnerships with 38 Jewish community organizations worldwide, AJC's mission is to enhance the well-being of the Jewish people and Israel and to advance human rights and democratic values in the United States and around the world. For more, please visit www.ajc.org.

Public link

Please use the above public link if you want to share this noodl on another website.