Ma’ayanot sent a delegation of 12 students to participate in the AIPAC Policy Convention, held in Washington, DC on March 26-28, accompanied by Yael Weil and Enid Goldberg. Students had the opportunity to lobby the staffers of New Jersey senators Robert Menendez and Cory Booker, and to meet with newly-elected congressman Josh Gottheimer. Among AIPAC’s featured speakers this year were Vice President Michael Pence, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Representative Nancy Pelosi and Ambassador Nikki R. Haley, the United States representative to the United Nations.

Participants also heard moving presentations from people not in the political spotlight, among them the widow of one of the slain Munich athletes who, after 40 years, was finally successful in getting a memorial service for the slain athletes at the Olympics; and a Christian firefighter who volunteered in Israel during the Gaza War.

“Our students learned so much about politics, Israel, the American/Israel relationship and what individuals can do to support that relationship,” said Weil. “It was exhilarating to be with 18,000 people there to support Israel.”