Justin Goodis

The AIPAC Schusterman Advocacy Institute High School Summit, is an annual event hosted in Washington D.C.. Each year, AIPAC brings around 500 high school student leaders to Washington, D.C. from across the country for high-level Israel advocacy and political activism training. Students come from all over the country, whether it be from schools, synagogues, youth groups, or teen leadership organizations. This year, Ben Grabelsky, Justin Goodis, Andrew Behmoiras, and Josh Hodes were selected from Donna Klein Jewish academy to attend the conference along with chaperone, Rabbi Plotkin.

AIPAC is an organization that works to promote the ideal that cooperation between the US and Israel is advantageous for both nations. As America's bipartisan pro-Israel lobby, AIPAC tries to ensure that all members of Congress will be supporting Israel through foreign aid, government partnerships, joint anti-terrorism efforts and the promotion of a negotiated two-state solution, to maintain the Jewish state of Israel, and to demilitarize the Palestinian state.

At the high school summit, we were educated on how we can contribute to helping and advocating for Israel at home. We were provided with the knowledge on combating anti-Israel organizations such as BDS (Boycott Divest and Sanctions). We were also taught how to lobby with congressman and discuss with them the different acts and sanctions that need to be put in place in order to protect the US - Israel relationship. It was definitely a great and educative experience and I encourage future Juniors to join the I-team fellowship and sign up for summit next year!