Engage. Lead. Advocate.
The Teen Israel Leadership Council (TILC) is a two-year Israel engagement and leadership training program for Greater MetroWest high school students in their junior and senior year. This elite program empowers the next generation of Jewish leaders to make a difference on college campuses and beyond by preparing them for complex conversations about Israel, teaching them how to identify and confront rising antisemitism, and positioning them to become leaders, writers, and influencers.
Through discussions with thought leaders, Jewish educators, journalists, and college student leaders, participants will:
- Explore the complexities of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
- Learn about the rise of antisemitism on college campuses.
- Develop informed opinions about Israel and the confidence to stand up for their beliefs among peers and professors.
Program Cost: $3,000 (includes the Israel and Washington trips). Scholarships are available.
How It Works
The program is open to students entering their junior year in fall 2025 from public, private, and Jewish day schools in the Greater MetroWest area.
Participants will:
- Attend seven Sunday seminars during junior year.
- Continue with three additional seminars during senior year.
- Take part in a Washington, D.C. lobbying trip in 11th grade.
- Culminate their experience with an Israel mission over Presidents Week in 12th grade.
Start Date: Fall 2025
What Will You Learn?
Throughout the program, participants will explore critical topics such as:
- The State of the American College Campus
- When Criticism of Israel Crosses the Line into Antisemitism
- What Is BDS (and How to Combat It?)
- The Progressive Case for Israel
- Understanding Jewish and Israeli History
- What’s the Debate About Israel Really About?
- From Promise to Paralysis in Mideast Peacemaking
- From College Campus to Capitol Hill: Why Relationships Matter
- The Art of the Op-Ed: Writing Strong Opinion Pieces
- The Art of Civil Discourse
The Israel Teen Leadership Council is supported by generous grants from the Cooperman, Nussbaum, Hirsh, and Mayesh families.