Equipping the Next Generation to Lead with Jewish Pride and Purpose
By Myra Clark-Siegel,
AJC Westchester/Fairfield
Regional Director
As mortarboards fly and tassels turn this June, a new generation of Jewish students is preparing to step into a world that is both promising and perilous. Graduation season is a time of joy and transition—but for Jewish families, it also brings rising concern.
We have all witnessed antisemitism reaching disturbing new levels on college campuses. Since October 7, we’ve seen Jewish students harassed, excluded, and silenced. Some face vandalism and threats. Others are pressured to renounce their connection to Israel, or to stay quiet about their Jewish identity altogether.
This moment demands action and education —and preparation.
At AJC (American Jewish Committee), we believe every student deserves to feel proud, safe, and supported as they enter college – and while they are in high school. Our Leaders for Tomorrow (LFT) program does exactly that: it equips high school students with the tools, confidence, and knowledge they need to advocate for Israel, to speak up against antisemitism, and to lead with strength and Jewish pride.
LFT doesn’t just teach facts. It builds leaders—students who can navigate difficult conversations, engage with diverse peers, and represent the Jewish people with clarity, courage, and purpose. Many of our LFT alumni go on to become campus leaders, standing at the forefront of Jewish advocacy at a time when it’s needed most.
As Jewish parents, grandparents, and allies, we cannot assume our young people are ready to face what’s coming—we must prepare them. That means encouraging participation in programs like LFT, empowering Jewish teens to deepen their connection to Israel, and modeling what it means to live Jewish values out loud.
It also means holding our institutions accountable. Universities and schools in the K-12 arena (both public and independent) must protect the safety and dignity of all students, including Jews. And we must demand better—from administrators, from faculty, and from public officials.
Jewish history has taught us that silence is never the answer. This generation deserves our full support—not just in celebration, but in preparation.
As our students step forward into the world, let us equip them to carry their identity with pride, to speak with purpose, and to lead with unwavering resolve.
Because the future of Jewish life—and Jewish advocacy—depends on them.
AJC Westchester/Fairfield is now accepting applications for our 10th LFT cohort for Jewish incoming 10th-12 graders. For more information, go to westchester@ajc.org
Myra Clark-Siegel is regional director for AJC Westchester/Fairfield.