This past Sunday evening, 120 Los Angeles teenagers walked into the American Jewish University as Jewish citizens of the United States. For three hours, they became citizens of the state of Israel. Some were suddenly Ultra-Orthodox, some Arab, but all became prominent members of Israel’s Eighteenth Knesset. And by the end, many were ready to obtain dual citizenship in time for Israel’s election taking place two days later.
As part of The Jewish Federation’s Weinberg Israel Fellows, our advocacy program for students in 10th-12th grades, we organized a Teen Model Knesset Day. Teens from ten different youth organizations across Los Angeles participated and sat in mock Knesset seats, based on political parties, with the identities of current Knesset members on lanyards around their necks. Those on the right side of the room stared at those on the left like a new little league pitcher seeing his first batter. Those on the left looked to the right as bewildered as a new hitter trying to hit his or her first curveball. The teens were now in the arena of Israeli politics; an arena where even the most erudite Political Science majors would question their course of study.
Luckily for these teens, they were coached by Israel’s Deputy Consulate General to Los Angeles, Uri Resnick, and staff members who taught them about the 17 active political parties in the Knesset and how the political process works in Israel. They voted on tough issues facing Israel today based on their party lines, and were also given an opportunity to cast their own vote via text message to see real time results. Many had stated how shocked they were to know there were over thirty parties in Israel’s political system and contrasted it to ours here in the States.
By the end of the evening, much like the various parties, the students realized they too are part of the same team. That team is the state of Israel. While their friends were at home watching a football game, these 120 teens gained a new connection to political debate, one of their heritage’s favorite pastimes. Seeing them discuss the fairness of military exemptions or the effectiveness of the blockade on Gaza while they looked for the score of the Patriots-Ravens game on their phones told an important story: the future of the Jewish-American connection to Israel remains in good hands.
The Jewish Federation supports and connects with our family in Israel, and advocates and educates on their behalf. Through the programs within our LA Israel Network, we reach into the Jewish community to nurture a passion for Israel and work with partners in the non-Jewish communities to ensure a supportive bond with Israel. For more information, contact Israel@JewishLA.org.
