Parker Schug | LI Herald | November 29, 2024
Avi Posnick, Northeast Regional executive director of StandWithUs, spoke at the Town of Hempstead Jewish American Heritage Month celebration on May 21.
Avi Posnick, a Rambam Mesivta High School alum, went from learning to leading in combating antisemitism.
Now serving as Northeast Regional Director of StandWithUs, Posnick, who grew up in Oceanside, is the face of the global organization, from New Jersey to Maine, where he educates and empowers Jewish people and stands up for Israel.
“We are honored to count Avi Posnick as one of our graduates,” Hillel Goldman, principal of Rambam wrote in an email.
Posnick spoke with the Herald about how he found his way to StandWithUs and his inspiration for his work:
Herald: How did you go from attending Rambam to holding a directorial role at StandWithUs?
Posnick: After I left Rambam, I went to Yeshiva University — YU — where I majored in Political Science. I got involved in all of the various international affairs, Israel related, political science clubs and groups that I could get involved with.
I actually founded a club at Yeshiva University that motivated students into action to educate their elected officials about Israel and the Jewish people.
At Rambam Mesivta in Lawrence, we demonstrated outside the homes of Nazi war criminals who were living in the United States; we’d rally in support of Israel and other issues related to the Jewish community.
My start really began in high school. I took much of what I learned there and, utilizing the various international affairs, Israel-related, political science clubs and initiatives in college, applied it there and then I came to StandWithUs right out of college.
H: Was this always the direction you wanted to go?
P: Since I cared about Israel-Jewish education, it was definitely something I thought about doing professionally.
My mother always said, ‘You can’t live life for yourself.’
My mother miscarried two children before my older brother was born and she used her grief, the unbearable hurt and pain to counsel over 400 women who suffered from pregnancy losses over the years.
She said, ‘I have this opportunity to help others. You have to always give back.’
I took that lesson very seriously, and, whenever I have the opportunity to help, to give back, well, how can I pass up that opportunity?
H: How did you get involved in StandWithUs?
P: I contacted a friend who was working for StandWithUs New York while I was in college. I joined the organization upon graduation.
I started part-time during the second half of my senior year in January 2007.
It became a full-time position that summer, and I have never looked back.
H: How do you think your Oceanside and Five Towns upbringing and education contributed to the work you do today?
P: Growing up in an Orthodox Jewish home, supporting Israel and the Jewish community both in Oceanside as well as the Five Towns was obviously something we talked about.
I think it all connected — from an early age and into high school — that I realized I could put what I felt into action.
H: What does your position at StandWithUs entail?
P: I’m the StandWithUs Northeast and New England Regional Director, so I oversee all of our work ranging from New York, Central Jersey, all the way to Maine.
This includes staffing and programming, including our student events. I also speak on behalf of the organization in community partnerships, at press conferences and interact with elected officials.
H: I know that the organization works with other organizations in Nassau and Suffolk, how does it feel to be working with the county that you were brought up in?
P: It is truly rewarding to be part of a team of community leaders who are dealing with issues at the highest level and effecting positive change. One example is being a part of the Special Legislative Task Force in Nassau County to combat antisemitism.
H: How can people get involved?
P: Our website, StandWithUs.com lists the many resources we offer for different age groups, including our middle school educational platform IsraelLINK, the StandWithUs Kenneth Leventhal High School Internship and StandWithUs Emerson Fellowship.
We have informative brochures and fact sheets on different topics.
In the New York-New England area, people can email infony@standwithus.com for more information and, to be connected to the appropriate team member who can direct them to programming.
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