A delegation of seniors from HAFTR High School participated in the first annual Simon Wiesenthal Center High School Leadership Summit, hosted by Yeshiva University last Tuesday. The Simon Wiesenthal Center inaugurated the regional summit to prepare students to respond to the challenges of anti-Semitic and anti-Israel activities facing Jewish students on college campuses. In addition to HAFTR High School, the summit included seniors from Ramaz, Magen David, Central, and Frisch yeshivah high schools.
The Leadership Summit, which was spearheaded by Mr. Michael Cohen, Eastern Director of the Simon Wiesenthal Center, gave students the opportunity to hear from organizations that have a presence on campus. Mr. Jonathan Bridge, chief programming officer of Alpha Epsilon Pi, gave the keynote address. Students learned about the threats on campus from Ms. Melissa Weiss, SWC National Campus Outreach Director, who suggested effective strategies for situations they may encounter.
A highlight of the program was the panel of student activists from Rutgers and Cornell. “It was very meaningful for our students to learn about the first-hand experiences of these young people on their college campuses,” said Rabbi Ira Wallach, Judaic Studies Coordinator. The SCW expressed the organization’s appreciation to Mr. Yaron Kornblum, president of HAFTR, “whose vision it was that led to the creation of this project.”