Danielle Bari Flaum, of Short Hills, N.J., is founder and chair of the No Nukes for Iran Teen Advocacy Program.
I looked around the room and it really hit me. I was sitting with Israeli Ambassador Michel Oren in his private study at the Israeli Embassy, Washington D.C.
Now, the gift of memory allows me to fully realize the truly amazing day I had along with other members of the No Nukes for Iran Teen Advocacy Program.
Meeting with Ambassador Oren in his study, we discussed the successes and struggles of our No Nukes for Iran campaign. He thanked us for our passionate efforts and congratulated us on
creating excitement in bringing together many Jewish and non-Jewish groups around the issue. He stressed that a nuclear Iran poses a monumental security threat, sharing memories
of growing up after the Holocaust and recalling the promises that his generation made to “never again” let a Holocaust happen. The thought of Iran gaining nuclear weapons, he said, causes him to have sleepless nights.
We presented the Ambassador with a “No Nukes for Iran” banner and lapel pin – which, he told us, he loved.
Ambassador Oren informed us that members of the Israeli Consulate were meeting with Rabbi David Saperstein, Director of the Religious Action Center, downstairs at the Israeli Embassy. Next thing we knew, we were downstairs speaking to the members of the Israeli consulate and Rabbi Saperstein, informing them about our project. Ambassador Oren passed out our No Nukes for Iran car magnets, urging the members of the Consulates to take this project back to their communities.
We were deeply grateful to Ambassador Oren and Benjamin Sack, Director of National Initiatives and State Government Relations, for an incredible morning.
Next we headed to the Rayburn Building on Capitol Hill to meet with
Robert Marcus, staff member for the House of Representatives Committee
on Foreign Affairs, who gave us a crash course in government and
politics. We also met with Jonathan Moore, legislative assistant to
Representative Steven R Rothman (D-NJ09), and told them about our
missionincluding what we have been doing and what we wanted from them:
to learn about the Iran Petroleum Sanctions Act and if – and when – the
legislation would become law. At first I did not think they would
really take us seriously, considering that we were only teenagers, but
they kindly informed us that we knew more about politics and the
legislative system than many lobbyists and adults they had meet with
before. We left the meeting feeling good.
Next stop was AIPAC, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, where
we met with Leadership Development Director Jonathan Kessler and National Field Organizer Suzy Goldenkranz and learned firsthand from
some of the experts about strategies on foreign
policy lobbying. AIPAC’s staff reminded us that it’s not what we have already accomplished that is so imperative but rather our next course
of action that will keep people interested in the project. It was an
inspiring and challenging meeting.
In our meeting with Rachel Hillman, program associate at the B’nai
B’rith Youth Organization, we discussed how to tap into BBYO’s energy
and encourage its members to join our mission of a nuclear weapons-free Iran. Joining
with an international youth movement was another highlight of our day.
Finally, we joined the RAC’s L’Taken Social Justice Seminar, a gathering of more than 300
teens, for a lively Shabbat service where I had the honor of delivering our
message to the gathering. I loved looking out at my peers and
challenging them to stand up, speak out, and declare that this
generation of youth wants to live in a world free of terrorists
threatening Israel and our safety.
I hope I inspired them to lobby their elected officials not only
about the importance of Iran remaining free of nuclear weapons but on any
issue that speaks to them. As I addressed the teens, I realized the
meaning of the saying “Everybody can make a difference;” before this
moment, I had not realized that I really did how the power to enact change. .
Ambassador Oren, AIPAC, staff members on Capitol Hill. They all asked us the
same question: “What is your next step?”
The answer is that No Nukes for Iran has just launched a national petition with a goal of 100,000 signatures, thus creating a powerful
lobbying tool.
There are several things you can do right now to stand up and speak
out on this issue!
- Sign the petition at www.nonukesforiran.org.
- Post this message on your Facebook and Twitter.
- Send this blog post to your rabbi, youth leader, club members and other groups to let them know this is important to you and to our
generation. - Print out the petition and have all your friends, family and classmates sign it. Then scan the signed petition and mail it to
[email protected].
The time is now, together we must shout out: No Nukes for Iran!
Moore gather for a lobbying session in the Rayburn Building
Photo 2: Organizers from No Nukes for Iran meet with Ambassador Michael Oren
Photo 3: No Nukes for Iran founder Danielle Flaum speaks to participants at the RAC’s L’Taken Social Justice Seminar