StandWithUs Connect
HIGH SCHOOL
All sessions (with the exception of Live Tours) can be run virtually or as on-site presentations, subject to conditions allowing for it.
Presentations
9 Million Citizens: 18 Million Opinions (A Social History of Israel)
Cooperation in Times of Crisis
We will explore three sources of humanitarian aid in Israel: Mashav, Israel’s Agency for International Development Cooperation in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; IsraAID, Israel’s largest humanitarian aid organization; and Israeli and Palestinian cooperation during the COVID-19 crisis.
Breaking News in Israel
This fast-moving session will cover the top stories Israelis are talking about. This program is constantly updated to reflect current events. The content can be shaped to match the audience’s knowledge level.
Finding Your Connection to Israel
We all have a connection to Israel—whether we realize it or not. Some of us are in the discovery process of that connection, while others just need the words to describe it. In this program, you will be inspired by one unique story of how Israel changed someone’s entire life, but you will also learn how to share the story of your connection that invites others to discover and explore their own.
Understanding the Foundation of the Middle East
This program demonstrates the bilateral and multilateral relationships and power struggles in the region. We will explore the relationship between Sunni and Shia populations, including how their ancient split impacts the modern-day relationships between countries in the Middle East.
Current Regional Dynamics in the Middle East
This program builds on “Understanding the Foundation of the Middle East” and explores the current dynamics in the region. It explains how the complex nature of modern relationships between the regions’ countries has developed over time. This program will provide a greater understanding of the relationships between Israel’s neighbors so that we can more accurately recognize how these relationships influence the decisions these countries make in relation to Israel.
Israel on Campus—What to Know Before You Get There
When it comes to educating about Israel as a student leader, the transition from high school to college is different for everyone. Every college campus is unique. Many high school students have questions about what their potential college campus is like for Jewish students/the pro-Israel community. In this webinar, we will hear about what this transition looks like, the new trends on campus when it comes to pro-Israel and anti-Israel activity, and what high school students should know now to prepare for their future.
The Israeli–Palestinian Conflict and the Pathways to Peace
This program is a deep dive into the Israeli–Palestinian conflict. We go from the black-and-white facts to the nuanced shades of gray, as we hear both sides of the story. The goal is to recognize how complex the issues have become as the conflict has evolved over time, while actively looking for signs of hope and opportunities for pathways to peace.
Antisemitism vs. Legitimate Criticism of Israel
Sometimes the difference between antisemitism vs. legitimate criticism is black and white, but everyone needs the skills to distinguish between the two. This program is a tool kit to identify antisemitism and shares the tools to push back against it, whether in a one-on-one conversation or on a larger platform, by evaluating recent examples of antisemitism and legitimate criticism.
Understanding the BDS Movement
This presentation shares how the BDS Movement was formed and introduces its major players, goals, and strategies from an educational perspective.
The Experience of Religious, Ethnic, and Gender Minorities in Israel
We celebrate the fact that Israel is the Jewish state, but it is definitely far from a monolithic society. The Jewish community is incredibly diverse, and there are many other religious and ethnic minorities represented in the country as well. All of these people, with their similarities and differences, define and describe what it means to be Israeli.
Israeli Innovations
Amazing technology has come out of the small country of Israel. The presentation highlights innovations that teens use every day and also promotes the various technological contributions that Israel has provided for the world.
U.S. and Israel: Partners for Peace
“U.S. and Israel: Partners for Peace” explains why the U.S. and Israel have such a strong bond with one another and how this bond developed over time. This program shows the similarities in governments and cultures, which explain why the countries understand each other and work together so well.
Israel’s Government System
Since its rebirth in 1948, Israel has existed as a democracy with a parliamentary system of government. This program reviews the structure of the government, the current composition of the Knesset, as well as the main issues on the legislative agenda.
Israeli Food Culture
Food can tell us a lot about who we are as a people. It’s also usually a fairly uncontroversial subject. But, because we’re talking about Israel, food culture and history do become a source of tension. Take a journey through Israel’s history by looking at how Israeli food reflects where the people of Israel are from and who they are today.
Challenges in Gaza
This program dives into the history and current complexities of this eight-mile-wide, 25-mile-long strip of land in order to shed light on a complicated and controversial situation.
Antisemitism Today
“Antisemitism Today” provides a space for teens to share experiences they have had with antisemitism before transitioning into a conversation about how to stop this hatred through strategic and proactive education.
Israel 101
A comprehensive overview of Israel’s inspiring story, from 3,000 years ago until today, this interactive program empowers teens to grasp the facts, be proud of their connection to Israel, and use this history on their own.
What Is Antisemitism and How to Fight Back
An age-appropriate look at what antisemitism is, how it is legally defined, and how it manifests today. We will focus on select examples of how other students have faced antisemitism and been empowered by fighting back with the help of the StandWithUs Legal Department.
Know Your Rights
An in-depth look at the rights of and current legal issues facing Jewish and pro-Israel students, faculty, and community members. We will focus on select examples of antisemitism or anti-Israel activity on U.S. campuses and in communities nationwide and how the StandWithUs Saidoff Legal Department empowers the pro-Israel community to fight back and enforce the pro-Israel communities’ rights when they are infringed upon.
Ethiopian Experience
There are approximately 150,000 Ethiopian Jews in Israel. Learn about Ethiopian Jewish history, tradition, and culture in this interactive lecture. You will hear first hand about the history of Ethiopian Jews and their arduous journey to Israel. We will open your eyes to the diversity of Israel and your senses to the amazing customs, music and food of Ethiopian Jewry!
Workshops
Finding Hidden Gems in Israel
Get off the beaten path in Israel and find the hidden gems of this beautiful country through an interactive program with surprising facts about a country we all love!
Learn Hebrew Slang
Learn popular Hebrew slang and the origins of the words! Test your pronunciation skills! Get ready to sound like a sabra during your next trip to Israel.
Test Your Israel Knowledge
Come see how well you really know Israel with Kahoot! trivia full of twists and turns!
Israeli Music and TikTok
Come join us as we learn a bit about Israeli music past and present, then join us in making TikToks to the Israeli songs you love the most!
Strengthening Your Israel Narrative
Participants will become familiar with notable events in the timeline of Jewish history and develop a perspective for their personal connection to these events.
Sustainable Future
The 21st century has introduced humanity to new environmental challenges caused by climate change. Many communities around the world suffer natural disasters caused by water shortages, desertification, and pollution. Israelis are not strangers to these environmental issues, and Israel’s continuous concern regarding these issues brought forth major innovations that are now assisting the world. Israeli innovation is at the forefront of the international fight against the pollution of water sources and land as well as in the race to find life-saving water sources in Africa and across North America.
Pieces of the Israeli Puzzle
What do you think of when asked, “Who lives in Israel?” In the U.S., when we think about the Jewish community, many of us have only been exposed to a particular group. Many people associate the features of the American Jewish community with the structure of Israeli society. Israel, however, has an extremely diverse population. The Jewish majority includes representatives of communities from across the globe, and the non-Jewish minority is composed of members of many faiths and ethnicities, diverse among themselves. We will learn more about the challenges facing Israeli society and the different parts that are the Israeli puzzle. By the end of the program, we might have a different answer to the question, “Who lives in Israel?”
How to Recognize Antisemitism
Today, it seems as though antisemitism is prevalent everywhere we look. How widespread is antisemitism in reality? How do we recognize antisemitism, and does it always look the same? Through role-play, we will understand that the person who makes antisemitic comments could be someone close to us. This program teaches participants how to address a challenging or hurtful comment without confrontation, while we attempt to educate one another. We will learn how to recognize antisemitism and how to discuss it with others in an effective manner.
Hollywood in the Holy Land
Since its inception, Israel has always found its way into American pop culture. Throughout modern history, Hollywood has shifted back and forth between admiration to criticism of the Jewish state and, in recent years, has been active in addressing the calls for the cultural boycott of Israel, both positively and negatively. While we will visit the different reactions to the calls for cultural boycott, we will not use this program to explore the Israeli–Palestinian conflict. We will ask ourselves, what is the role of celebrities in the development of our own personal connection to Israel? Can we experience Israel through the eyes of celebrities? And can their experience of Israel affect our own?
Israel—Ask Me Anything
One reason we love Israel is because it certainly always gives us something to talk about. Israel can be beautiful and complicated, and discussions we have about Israel can be exactly the same. Join us and bring your most complicated questions! This is not your average “Israel 101”! In approaching some of our most confusing topics, we will connect the dots of history, social issues, and current events (and so much more) to paint a more complete picture of Israel. We may not always agree with each other on specific topics, situations, or policies, but that doesn’t stop us from loving Israel!
Israeli Elections—A Piece of Cake
Israeli elections and coalition building are complicated enough without trying to understand Israeli politics. Through an activity that has absolutely NOTHING to do with politics or political figures, we will learn everything we need to know about building a functioning coalition for the Knesset. Different dessert parties will work together to form a delicious coalition, but not all desserts go well together. As we learn about this process, we will also conclude with an update on what has “currently” been going on with the election process.
Workshops
Finding Hidden Gems in Israel
Get off the beaten path in Israel and find the hidden gems of this beautiful country through an interactive program with surprising facts about a country we all love!
Learn Hebrew Slang
Learn popular Hebrew slang and the origins of the words! Test your pronunciation skills! Get ready to sound like a sabra during your next trip to Israel.
Test Your Israel Knowledge
Come see how well you really know Israel with Kahoot! trivia full of twists and turns!
Israeli Music and TikTok
Come join us as we learn a bit about Israeli music past and present, then join us in making TikToks to the Israeli songs you love the most!
Strengthening Your Israel Narrative
Participants will become familiar with notable events in the timeline of Jewish history and develop a perspective for their personal connection to these events.
Sustainable Future
The 21st century has introduced humanity to new environmental challenges caused by climate change. Many communities around the world suffer natural disasters caused by water shortages, desertification, and pollution. Israelis are not strangers to these environmental issues, and Israel’s continuous concern regarding these issues brought forth major innovations that are now assisting the world. Israeli innovation is at the forefront of the international fight against the pollution of water sources and land as well as in the race to find life-saving water sources in Africa and across North America.
Pieces of the Israeli Puzzle
What do you think of when asked, “Who lives in Israel?” In the U.S., when we think about the Jewish community, many of us have only been exposed to a particular group. Many people associate the features of the American Jewish community with the structure of Israeli society. Israel, however, has an extremely diverse population. The Jewish majority includes representatives of communities from across the globe, and the non-Jewish minority is composed of members of many faiths and ethnicities, diverse among themselves. We will learn more about the challenges facing Israeli society and the different parts that are the Israeli puzzle. By the end of the program, we might have a different answer to the question, “Who lives in Israel?”
How to Recognize Antisemitism
Today, it seems as though antisemitism is prevalent everywhere we look. How widespread is antisemitism in reality? How do we recognize antisemitism, and does it always look the same? Through role-play, we will understand that the person who makes antisemitic comments could be someone close to us. This program teaches participants how to address a challenging or hurtful comment without confrontation, while we attempt to educate one another. We will learn how to recognize antisemitism and how to discuss it with others in an effective manner.
Hollywood in the Holy Land
Since its inception, Israel has always found its way into American pop culture. Throughout modern history, Hollywood has shifted back and forth between admiration to criticism of the Jewish state and, in recent years, has been active in addressing the calls for the cultural boycott of Israel, both positively and negatively. While we will visit the different reactions to the calls for cultural boycott, we will not use this program to explore the Israeli–Palestinian conflict. We will ask ourselves, what is the role of celebrities in the development of our own personal connection to Israel? Can we experience Israel through the eyes of celebrities? And can their experience of Israel affect our own?
Israel—Ask Me Anything
One reason we love Israel is because it certainly always gives us something to talk about. Israel can be beautiful and complicated, and discussions we have about Israel can be exactly the same. Join us and bring your most complicated questions! This is not your average “Israel 101”! In approaching some of our most confusing topics, we will connect the dots of history, social issues, and current events (and so much more) to paint a more complete picture of Israel. We may not always agree with each other on specific topics, situations, or policies, but that doesn’t stop us from loving Israel!
Israeli Elections—A Piece of Cake
Israeli elections and coalition building are complicated enough without trying to understand Israeli politics. Through an activity that has absolutely NOTHING to do with politics or political figures, we will learn everything we need to know about building a functioning coalition for the Knesset. Different dessert parties will work together to form a delicious coalition, but not all desserts go well together. As we learn about this process, we will also conclude with an update on what has “currently” been going on with the election process.
Book your session here