StandWithUs, a nonprofit that supports Israel and fights antisemitism, is giving young adults the opportunity to become advocates for the Jewish state through internships.

The Kenneth Leventhal High School Internship for students in 11th and 12th grade, and the Emerson Fellowship for college students, are yearlong programs that provide students in the United States and Canada with information and resources to help them advocate for Israel in their communities.

The high school internships begin each August with a training conference in Los Angeles for all the interns in the program, advising them how best to advocate for Israel to their peers. Throughout the year students have one-on-one mentorship meetings with their regional manager.

The high school interns also meet once a month with other interns in their region for an educational seminar. Then, in March, another conference is held in Los Angeles. Students hear from various speakers and build relationships with each other.

Michelle Waksman, the Mid-Atlantic high school regional manager for StandWithUs, supports students as they navigate their internship experiences.

“I get to work with students, staff, administrators and teachers to help people understand Jewish peoplehood and Zionism and Israel,” Waksman said.

The “core of the program,” she explained, is the four educational events the interns are required to lead in their communities.

“Students get to look at their community, see where the gaps are, and then I help them fill it in,” Waksman said.

This central component of the internship for college students is slightly different.

Libby Cohen, the Mid-Atlantic campus regional manager, is helping her interns deal with antisemitism at universities.

“They are tasked with hosting events on campus,” she said, adding that the interns organize three programs each semester related to “educating about Israel or just combating antisemitism.”

These events are left up to the students to plan and coordinate. For example, an intern might organize an Oct. 7 vigil on campus, such as the one planned by Harrison Romero at the University of Pittsburgh.

Romero, a senior political science major at Pitt, recently completed his yearlong Emerson Fellowship.

“It was phenomenal,” Romero said. “I felt like it unlocked a lot more resources … and knowledge on how to approach issues properly, especially delicate topics like Israel or Zionism.”

Being from Erie, Pennsylvania, Romero wasn’t part of a large Jewish community growing up.

“My childhood was more explaining to all my teachers, ‘This is what Rosh Hashanah is. No, you cannot give me a test, no I will not be able to make it for it,” Romero said.

This only drew Romero closer to his Jewish identity as he grew older, and he has actively sought opportunities to be involved in Jewish life. He was the youth representative to the board at his synagogue and was also on the board of Chabad at the University of Pittsburgh.

Romero, who has dealt with online hate directed toward him, sees his internship as an opportunity to “set the record straight” when it comes to Israel and antisemitism, he said.

Both the Leventhal High School Interns and Campus Emerson Fellows, including those in the Pittsburgh community, “are not just responding to challenges; they’re actively shaping a brighter future for Jewish students and Israel education,” said Julie Paris, the Mid-Atlantic regional director of StandWithUs. “For nearly two decades, these vital programs have empowered young Jewish leaders with the tools, confidence and education to directly combat antisemitism, foster inclusive environments and share accurate narratives about Jewish identity and Israel. These heroic students proactively and responsively dedicate themselves to critical work in their schools and communities.”

Since Oct. 7, 2023, Paris said, the impact of the interns “has been profound.”

“They are leaders amongst their peers, meeting with legislators across the state, leading rallies and vigils, sharing the joys of Jewish American Heritage Month, speaking at Holocaust Remembrance events, fostering interfaith relationships and community through outreach and shared values, bringing top speakers to their schools and campuses, and combating dangerous narratives facing the Jewish community and Israel today.

“By equipping our student leaders to educate their peers and enabling them to engage fellow students through crucial, timely programs and materials, our programs ensure Jewish students feel supported and proud.”

During the upcoming school year, there will be 24 Leventhal High School interns and 14 Emerson Fellows across the Mid-Atlantic region. The interns are hoping to make an impact in their communities. For those students whom the interns are reaching through their advocacy, hearing the information from a peer makes all the difference.

“When it’s your friend, you show up and you care,” Waksman said. “And then we see their friends involved. It’s a really beautiful domino effect.”

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