The JYA delegates kicked off the Jewish Youth Assembly with for a session led by WJC Elevate Director Yoni Hammerman on conflict resolution, team building activities, as well as committee deliberations.

JYA delegates reconvened to for another round of committee deliberations and team building exercises to close out the first day.

In committees, students brainstormed ideas to finalize their portion of the resolution's framework and shared personal experiences as emerging Jewish leaders.

WJC's Director of Political Affairs David Meluskey shared insight into the WJC's work with political institutions in Washington, D.C., such as the White House and the U.S. State Department.

In a Q&A session moderated by WJC Lauder Fellow Einav Tsach, former White House speechwriter Sarah Hurwitz spoke about how she went from working as a speechwriter for President Barak Obama and Michelle Obama to the publication of her two books documenting her Jewish journey. Hurwitz provided students with advice on how to navigate life with Jewish pride and joy, reflecting on her experiences with antisemitism and Jewish identity. 

In a world marked by online hate and misinformation, WJC Technology and Human Rights Institute (TecHRI) Executive Director, Yfat Barak-Cheney, led an interactive discussion on the Institute's efforts to protect Jewish individuals both online and offline.

After hearing from a variety of speakers, the JYA cohort reconvened for an interactive peer review session. Together, they discussed the resolution's key points and conceptualized the action plans they want to see enacted.

Canadian Member of Parliament & Co-Deputy Leader of the Conservative Party, Melissa Lantsman, briefed the cohort on the importance of being proud of your Jewish identity wherever you are, and emphasized the need for self-advocacy in spaces where being Jewish means being a minority.

The students heard from AZA Alum of the year and Humanitarian, Josh Balser, about how his time in BBYO gave him the tools to become a humanitarian. Balser talked about his experiences working in Liberia during the Ebola pandemic; Boko Haram's expansion in Nigeria; the refugee displacement in Colombia, Ukraine, and Israel after the October 7, 2023 terror attacks. 

A fireside chat led by WJC JDA member Emma Zentner, along with WJC Elevate Director Yoni Hammerman, and Senior Director, AZA & BBG Teen Leadership, Morgan Wittenberg, emphasized the importance of getting involved in Jewish communities at a young age to form the next generation of Jewish advocates.

Presenting the Jewish Youth Assembly 2026 Resolution, Strengthening Jewish Resilience In a Time of Global Uncertainty in front of 4,000 people were delegates Leo Coen (United Kingdom) and Raquel Rogoff (South Africa).