Aventura, FL — At a time when Jewish students are increasingly encountering antisemitism and anti-Israel rhetoric in schools and on social media, more than 100 teens and parents gathered in Aventura this week for the JSU Facts Education Summit, an interactive program designed to strengthen Jewish identity and equip students with the tools to confidently respond to the challenges they face.
Hosted by Jewish Student Union (JSU) and NCSY Southern Region at Aventura Turnberry Jewish Center, the evening brought together high school students from across South Florida for a dynamic program focused on Jewish pride, knowledge, and leadership.
Rather than a traditional lecture, the summit featured an engaging, game-based learning experience that actively involved both teens and parents. Participants were challenged with real-life scenarios increasingly encountered in schools and online and worked together to determine how to respond to misinformation about Israel, antisemitic rhetoric, and anti-Zionist talking points.
Through this interactive format, students gained practical tools and historical context to help them speak confidently and thoughtfully about their Jewish identity and their connection to Israel.
“Jewish teens today are navigating complicated and sometimes hostile conversations,” organizers said. “This summit was about giving them the knowledge, confidence, and community to stand proud and respond with facts and clarity.”
A highlight of the evening was a featured conversation with Tessa Veksler, a nationally recognized Jewish activist and former student body president at UC Santa Barbara, who has emerged as a leading voice confronting antisemitism on college campuses.
In a powerful and personal exchange, Veksler was interviewed on stage by a South Florida high school student who serves as president of her school’s JSU chapter, creating a meaningful dialogue between two generations of Jewish student leaders.
Both speakers shared personal stories about the challenges they have faced standing up for Israel and Jewish identity in their schools and how organizations like JSU and NCSY played a critical role in strengthening their connection to Judaism and the Jewish state.
The student interviewer reflected on how JSU helped her find her voice as a Jewish leader.
“JSU has helped me feel proud of who I am as a Jewish student,” she said. “It’s given me the confidence and support to stand up for Israel and for my Jewish identity.”
Veksler echoed that message, encouraging the students in attendance to embrace their identity with pride and confidence.
“When young Jews are given the knowledge, the community, and the courage to speak up, they become powerful advocates for themselves and for the Jewish people,” Veksler told the audience.
The summit’s theme — “Proud. Prepared. Powerful: Owning Your Jewish Identity in a Challenging World” — resonated deeply with attendees, many of whom said the evening left them feeling better prepared to handle difficult conversations about Israel and antisemitism.
For JSU and NCSY leaders, the program reflects a broader mission to ensure that Jewish teens are supported and empowered during a time when Jewish identity is increasingly challenged in public spaces.
“Programs like this remind students that they are not alone,” organizers said. “They are part of a proud Jewish story and a strong Jewish community that stands behind them.”
Jewish Student Union (JSU), powered by NCSY, operates hundreds of student-led clubs in public and private high schools across North America, helping Jewish teens connect to their heritage, build leadership skills, and develop a strong connection to the Jewish people and the State of Israel.
For the students who attended the summit, the message was clear: in the face of growing challenges, Jewish pride and knowledge remain the most powerful tools of all.