Courtesy of AJC Cincinnati.
Submitted by AJC Cincinnati
On Sunday, June 1, seventeen Jewish high school students from across Greater Cincinnati gathered at Summit Park for AJC’s Leaders for Tomorrow (LFT) Accelerator — a half-day Jewish advocacy leadership workshop hosted by the AJC Cincinnati regional office.
“In the wake of the fatal shooting outside the Capital Jewish Museum in D.C., the Boulder firebombing incident and a dramatic surge in antisemitism nationwide, it is more critical than ever to ensure our youth are empowered with the knowledge, confidence and resilience to confront the rising tide of animosity targeting the Jewish community,” said AJC Cincinnati Regional Director Justin Kirschner. This impactful experience offered local teens a unique opportunity to build their leadership skills, strengthen their Jewish identity and gain the tools needed to boldly advocate for the Jewish people and Israel. Through interactive workshops, peer discussion and scenario-based learning, participants explored the fundamentals of Jewish advocacy, learned to respond effectively to antisemitism and misinformation and practiced articulating their values with clarity and purpose — all within a supportive and energizing environment.
Participants engaged with hands-on activities that encouraged critical thinking, collaboration and communications skills — essential for today’s Jewish teen leaders. They also reflected on their personal connections to Judaism, Israel and global Jewish responsibility.
By creating a space where Jewish teens can engage in honest and thoughtful dialogue with one another, participants shared how LFT helped boost their confidence when discussing their perspectives, spot subtle antisemitism/antizionism and call it out when it hides in double standards, silence or coded language as well as understand that it doesn’t take an army of people to make change.
AJC’s Leaders for Tomorrow (LFT) initiative is designed to empower the next generation of Jewish leaders, ensuring that they are equipped to confront challenges and build bridges across communities. Sunday’s accelerator is part of a broader, collaborative effort to cultivate a pipeline of thoughtful, informed young Jewish advocates throughout the region.
