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Teen Israel Leadership Council

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, empowering the next generation of young Jewish leaders to make a difference on college campuses and beyond. As part of this elite group, students will prepare for the complicated conversations they will have about Israel when they get to college, learn how to identify and confront rising antisemitism, and position themselves to become leaders, writers, and influencers when they get to college. 

Through discussions with thought leaders, Jewish educators, journalists, college student leaders, and others, participants will  

  • explore the complexities of the Israel Palestinian conflict 
  • learn about the rise of antisemitism on campus 
  • develop informed opinions about Israel and the confidence to stand up for themselves with peers and professors

We are currently accepting applications for TILC Class of 2025 (beginning fall 2025).

Apply Here

Who can apply?
Students entering their junior year of high school in the fall of 2023 are eligible to apply. We are looking for a diverse class of students from public, private, and Jewish day schools in the Greater MetroWest catchment area.

Where will the Council meet?
The program will be held at the Aidekman Jewish Community Campus in Whippany.

When does the program start?
Seminars will begin in the fall of 2023 and will be held on seven Sundays during students’ junior year of high school, followed by three seminars during their senior year.

What else does the program include?
TILC includes a Washington, D.C. lobbying trip in 11th grade and culminates with an Israel mission over Presidents Week in 12th grade.

What does TILC cost?
Tuition is $2,500 which includes the Israel and Washington trips. Scholarships are available.

Some of the issues the Council will explore include:
The State of the American College Campus
When Criticism of Israel Crosses the Line and Becomes Antisemitism
What Is BDS (and how to combat it?)
The Progressive Case for Israel
Understanding Yesterday/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

Questions? Contact Mara Gellman at mgellman@jfedgmw.org.

The Israel Teen Leadership Council is supported by generous grants from the Cooperman, Nussbaum, Hirsh, and Mayesh families.