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Fifty-four students from Indianapolis, Indiana; Brookline and Salem, Massachusetts; East Brunswick, New Jersey; Allentown, Harrisburg, and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; and Newport News, Virginia recently attended the April 27-30 Panim el Panim: High School in Washington seminar.
Rabbi Sidney Schwarz, founder and president of PANIM, gave the keynote address Sunday night. He spoke about the rich history of Jewish engagement in the political process and stressed the need for Jewish advocacy given the current climate in Israel and around the globe.
On Monday morning the students participated in a policy session about Abortion. They heard from Kimberlee Ward of NARAL- Pro Choice America and Eileen Roberts of the National Right to Life Coalition. Subsequently, the students participated in a limud (learning session) that related this issue to Jewish values.
In the evening, Noam Shelef from American Friends of Peace Now and Rebecca Weiner from the Embassy of Israel spoke to the students about the current situation in Israel and how to become more informed about issues relating to Israel.
The students had the opportunity to attend the first Yom HaShaoh (Holocaust Remembrance Day) program at the U.S. Department of State on Tuesday Later that day, students participated in a powerful program called Street Torah, during which students meet homeless individuals, listen to their stories, and distribute food and clothing they brought from home.
On Wedneday, students went to Capitol Hill to lobby their members of Congress. They had the opportunity to meet Representatives and Senators from their home states.
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