NatCon Reflection from a Teen

YJ Teens National Convention was such a fun and meaningful experience. First and foremost, I loved getting to see my friends, but the weekend was about so much more than that. The programming was engaging, and from a leadership perspective it was amazing to see how involved and invested everyone was in the conversations.

One of the biggest highlights of the weekend was the speakers. We were honored to have five incredible speakers lead workshops: Sarri Singer, Charlotte Korchak, Hava Tizazu, Kami Salman representing Talk Israel, and Shira Rosen. Each of them brought something unique, whether sharing personal experiences or offering education and guidance around Israel and antisemitism. One takeaway that really stuck with me was Charlotte Korchak’s explanation of antisemitism on the left. It can be incredibly painful to experience, but she emphasized the importance of standing up to it with facts, and that message really resonated with me.

Another moment that will always stay with me was Shira and Havdalah. There is something so special about ending Shabbat and starting the week surrounded by your favorite people and meaningful traditions. Overall, as a leader, it was incredibly rewarding to see how engaged everyone was and how productive the discussions were. National Convention was truly an amazing and educational weekend!

By Ruth Glaser, National ISAP