Last month, RJCF sponsored seven local teens to travel to the Club Z National Conference in San Francisco, CA.

Club Z is a national organization for Jewish teens with a goal to prepare and educate Jewish teens to confidently and proudly stand with and advocate for Israel, the Jewish people and themselves. Club Z’s National Conference is the only high school Zionist conference in the U.S. bringing together teens from across the country for an inspiring, powerful weekend of advocacy training, skill-building and bonding with other teen Zionists. 

The three day MLK weekend event was attended by Lielle Rifkin, Jessa Fridberg, Alisa Paley, Margo Clenow, Sofia Maklin, Daniel Rozhansky, and Alexandra Sverdlov along with nearly 150 teens from California, North Carolina, and New York, and chaperoned by Yelya Margolin as well as RJCF Vice President Lana Rifkin and Board Member Inessa Rifkin.

The conference featured keynote speakers including Shahar Azani, Rowan Osman, Dalia Ziada, Colonel Richard Kemp, Shabbos Kestenbaum, and several Club Z alumni. Attendees had the opportunity to not only hear these incredible voices but also to interact with them personally in breakout sessions and during meals.

Alisa Paley, one of the attending teenagers, called the conference “eye-opening,” sharing that it inspired her to be “more determined than ever to be a voice for Israel.” Similarly, Lielle Rifkin spoke of one of the breakout room session which, “implored us to literally put Antizionism "on trial," inviting us to dissect and counter the dangerous misinformation encircling society. Margo Clenow stated that most enjoyed “hearing Dalia’s and Rowan’s perspectives on the conflict in the Middle East through the eyes of Arabs.” Alexandra Sverdlov said that the conference made her “feel empowered with not just knowledge but also pride.” Daniel Rozhansky noted that he felt “instantly part of this community of people who shared the same ideology and are all working towards a common goal.” Jessa Fridberg commented that the conference gave her, “either new perspectives or broadened my view on the conflict, as well as how to become a strong leader.”

RJCF is proud to partner with Club Z in opening a Boston chapter of the organization this coming fall!

The Club Z program will offer teens in grades 8 to 12 once-a-month meetings and several social events throughout the academic year, a fall retreat and a national conference.