By Abby Sherman and Nora Yesowitch
In February, the 2024/25 Temple Beth El Confirmation Class had the opportunity to travel to Washington, D.C., with the Religious Action Center to connect with Jewish teens from across the country and explore the intersection of Judaism and social justice. This experience was part of Temple Beth El’s annual David Silverman Memorial Confirmation Trip, made possible by the David Silverman Youth Activities Endowment. In honoring David’s memory, this journey reflects his commitment to community, leadership, and tikkun olam—values that shaped our time in D.C. and will continue to inspire us.
There were about 500 other teens from all over the country, and we made friends from California, Georgia, Rhode Island, New York, and even other cities in North Carolina. Every day, we attended different social justice seminars with real-life scenarios that helped us understand what it’s like to be part of various minority communities. These experiences made the topics feel personal and deeply relevant. When we left the hotel, we explored D.C.’s landmarks, visiting the MLK Memorial, the Holocaust Museum, the American History Museum, and even celebrating Havdalah at the Lincoln Memorial, which was unforgettable. We also got chances to explore D.C. on our own—going shopping in Georgetown, which was an absolute blast.
On the final day, we took what we had learned and went to Capitol Hill to lobby for topics we care about. We picked reproductive health because it is an especially pressing issue for us as young women. Some of our classmates chose other topics, focusing on the environment and antisemitism. To discuss reproductive health, we met with Thatcher Townsend, Legislative Correspondent for Representative Alma Adams, who listened intently and took detailed notes on everything we said. It was truly gratifying to speak with someone who valued our voices and made us feel heard. Shoutout Thatcher Townsend!
This trip was a very meaningful experience. It taught us how Judaism connects to different political issues and how we can use Jewish values to shape our understanding of the world. Learning about controversial topics through a Jewish lens helped us make sense of these complex issues and showed us that Judaism calls us to act. For instance, studying how the Torah guides Jews on the topic of reproductive rights and abortion access strengthened our belief that everyone should have access to safe, legal abortion if needed. It was eye-opening to learn that the Torah teaches that the life of the woman comes before the life of the fetus.
More than anything, this trip showed us the importance of standing up for what we believe in and finding ways to advocate for the issues that matter to us. We realized that activism doesn’t just happen through lobbying lawmakers, but also by writing letters, attending marches, sharing on social media, and supporting organizations that are making a difference. These are just some of the ways we can start the process of change, and after this trip, we are even more committed to making our voices heard.
As we return from this incredible journey, we are excited to take the next step in our Jewish learning and leadership. We invite our community to join us for Confirmation Shabbat on Friday, May 16, 2025, at 6:13pm. This special service is written and led by our Confirmation class as we reaffirm our commitment to Jewish life and our community. Come celebrate with us and show your support for the next generation of Jewish leaders.
We are deeply grateful to Marc and Mattye Silverman and the David Silverman Youth Activities Endowment for making this experience possible and to the Religious Action Center and Rabbi Beth Nichols for their guidance and leadership.
