Empowering Future Leaders: The StandWithUs Internship Programs

StandWithUs is a prominent pro-Israel education and advocacy organization with a global presence. It aims to combat antisemitism and misinformation about Israel while promoting a positive image of the country through various initiatives, including training students in pro-Israel advocacy, organizing protests, and running ad campaigns. One of their key initiatives is the internship programs designed to empower students and young adults.

The Kenneth Leventhal High School Internship

The StandWithUs Kenneth Leventhal High School Internship is a year-long program designed for student leaders in the 11th and 12th grades. This internship aims to equip students with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to proactively impact their local schools and communities.

Program Objectives

The Leventhal Internship focuses on several key objectives:

Israel Education: Interns learn about the history, society, and current conflicts related to Israel. This knowledge base enables them to navigate discussions about Israel with accuracy and confidence.
Combating Antisemitism: A core component of the program involves educating interns on how to effectively combat antisemitism. This includes understanding its various forms and developing strategies to address it.
Leadership Skills: The internship emphasizes the development of leadership skills. Interns explore the foundations of leadership and their potential to lead on campus and in their communities.

Program Components

The Leventhal Internship includes a variety of interactive and educational components:

Leadership Conferences: Leventhal Interns travel to Los Angeles for two leadership conferences during the school year. These conferences provide opportunities to hear from renowned speakers, build relationships with other student leaders, and receive training from StandWithUs staff members.
Interactive Initiatives and Programs: Interns are expected to bring their education to their peers through creative initiatives and programs. This hands-on experience allows them to apply what they have learned and make a tangible impact.
Expert Interactions: Interns interact with diverse panels of leaders who share their personal insights and experiences with Israel and antisemitism. These experts provide valuable recommendations and best practices while addressing questions about campus activism.
Campus Strategy Development: With the support of the StandWithUs Research & Strategy Department, interns develop key tools, strategies, and expertise to support Israel and combat misinformation on campus with greater impact.
Legal Rights Education: The StandWithUs Saidoff Legal Department empowers interns with an understanding of their rights on campus and how they can get involved in the legal fight against antisemitism.

Focus on Leadership

The inaugural session of the leadership conferences focuses on several essential aspects of leadership:

Read also: Professional Learning Communities

Social entrepreneurship
Leadership skills and qualities
Steps to building a movement on campus

Additionally, interns have the opportunity to meet FLI (First-Generation, Low-Income) student mentors, providing them with valuable guidance and support.

Other StandWithUs Programs

In addition to the Kenneth Leventhal High School Internship, StandWithUs offers a range of other programs designed for students and young adults:

Emerson Fellowship

The Emerson Fellowship is a year-long program that recruits, trains, educates, and inspires pro-Israel student leaders on campuses worldwide. Emerson Fellows participate in training conferences and professional development workshops, receiving mentorship from Campus Coordinators. They gain access to StandWithUs resources and support from the Research & Strategy and Legal Departments. Program requirements include creating interactive events, organizing the pro-Israel community, and representing StandWithUs on their campus.

BICEP Fellow Internship Program

This program aims to provide interns with professional skills and enhance their resumes. It involves a rigorous application and interview process, seeking well-trained, motivated, and productive individuals.

Additional Campus-Oriented Fellowships and Programs

Several other organizations offer fellowships and programs focused on pro-Israel activism and campus engagement:

Jewish National Fund Campus Fellow: This role involves building support for Israel on campus, guided by the vision of the JNF.
Hasbara Fellowship: This 16-day Israel advocacy training program offers pro-Israel student leaders the opportunity to gain leadership skills, network, meet Israelis and Palestinians, and travel throughout Israel.
Zionist Organization of America (ZOA) Fellowship: ZOA fellows are required to organize events and attend webinars each semester.
Israel on Campus Coalition (ICC) Fellowship: This fellowship equips pro-Israel and Jewish leaders to get involved with student government, providing a stipend to each fellow.
Israeli American Council (IAC) - Mishelanu Activism Ambassadors Fellowship: IAC Mishelanu Activism Ambassadors are selected student leaders, pro-Israel activists, and community developers from campuses across the US.
CAMERA Fellowship: This selective one-year fellowship is offered to student leaders who proactively spread information about Israel to students, professors, and the media.

StandWithUs: Addressing Legal Challenges and Controversies

StandWithUs has been involved in legal cases and has faced controversies related to its advocacy work. One notable case is Stand With Us Center for Legal Justice v. Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), which addressed the intersection of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the First Amendment in the context of anti-Israel activity on college campuses.

Stand With Us v. MIT

In this case, Jewish students and an organization alleged that anti-Israel activity at MIT created a hostile educational environment for Jewish students after October 7, 2023. The plaintiffs argued that MIT allowed antisemitic harassment to flourish on campus.

The First Circuit affirmed the dismissal of the case, holding that the protestors' speech was largely directed at the Israeli state and its treatment of Palestinians, rather than expressly at Jews. The court also found that the plaintiffs had not presented sufficient evidence that the protestors harbored discriminatory motivations.

The court acknowledged that anti-Israel actions may particularly affect Jewish students, but it determined that the specific incidents of antisemitism did not rise to the level of severe, pervasive, and objectively offensive harassment required to make out a Title VI claim. Additionally, the court found that MIT had responded adequately to any alleged antisemitic harassment.

Legal and Political Advocacy

StandWithUs actively engages in legal and political advocacy to combat antisemitism and promote a positive image of Israel. This includes:

Filing complaints with the Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights.
Advocating for the adoption of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of antisemitism.
Organizing protests and campaigns to counter anti-Israel narratives.

Controversies and Criticisms

StandWithUs has faced criticism for its advocacy work and its stance on certain issues related to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Some critics argue that the organization's unwavering support for Israel may impede constructive dialogue and discourage engagement from Jewish Americans in discussions related to Israel.

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