On Thursday, May 22, Jewish Federation’s Teen Israel Leadership Council (TILC) had the privilege of lobbying on behalf of Israel on Capitol Hill. Led by Linda Scherzer, Jewish Community Relations Council and TILC Director, the program’s 20 students are learning how to stand up against antisemitism in our daily lives, at our future colleges and universities, and hopefully one day, some of us will lead the pro-Israel community on campus.
TILC’s 2024-2025 junior class has spent the year studying Israel’s historical and current events, demonstrating the principle that it is imperative to know Israel’s story in order to advocate accurately and effectively. Having a thorough understanding of Israel’s history broadens our perspectives, substantiates our arguments, and prepares us to engage in real life conversations.
After several months of meetings in the classroom, we have become increasingly passionate and eager to make a direct impact as lobbyists. In addition, motivation was especially high due to the horrific events that took place in Washington, D.C. the previous night when two Israel Embassy staffers were murdered in front of the Jewish Museum. Their tragedy served as a reminder of how inflammatory language and incitement can often lead to violence, which we talked about with our legislators.
We focused on three main topics in our four lobbying appointments: the Enhanced Iran Sanctions Act, the U.S.-Israel Defense Partnership Act, and the ongoing Memorandum of Understanding that provides $3.8 billion in military assistance to Israel each year.
Our first meeting was with Rep. Mikie Sherrill’s Chief of Staff Blaine Boyd and Legislative Aide for Defense and Foreign Policy Grant Saunders. They were warm and supportive throughout the discussion. While Rep. Sherrill hadn’t signed on to the U.S.-Israel Defense Partnership Act yet, Mr. Saunders said he’d be reviewing it with her soon. Mr. Boyd reassured us that Rep. Sherrill has always supported military aid to Israel.
Next, we met with Rep. LaMonica McIver’s Legislative Director, Layla Brooks. While she understood that antisemitism is a serious issue, it seemed she hadn’t realized just how much Jewish students are dealing with. After we shared some of our experiences, she told us she “had no idea this was happening.” That moment hit hard—it’s tough to hear, especially when so many of us live with this fear every day.
A few days after our meeting, Ms. Brooks let us know that Rep. McIver signed onto a letter asking the Department of Homeland Security to help fund more security outside Jewish places of worship.
Our third meeting was with Sen. Cory Booker, who was incredibly engaging and supportive. He listened to each of us and made it clear he stands with Israel. Afterward, he even agreed to co-sponsor the U.S.-Israel Defense Partnership Act. That was a huge win and left us feeling so proud and energized to keep going.
The last meeting of our trip was with Sen. Andy Kim. We knew he had voted to block some arms sales to Israel, so we weren’t sure what to expect. But the conversation was calm and respectful. Senator Kim said he supports Israel’s right to exist and defend itself, and he condemned Hamas. While we didn’t agree on everything, we found common ground in wanting peace for both Arabs and Israelis in the Middle East. That mutual respect was a powerful takeaway from the whole experience.
Overall, TILC’s lobbying mission was an unforgettable opportunity. It showed us how to turn what we’ve learned into real action and gave us a sense of how our voices can matter. We’re going to keep learning, keep sharing, and keep advocating until our Israel trip next year!