Nearly 60 Jewish public school and community day school teens from NCSY/JSU chapters in St. Louis and Minneapolis participated in the 300,000-strong march in Washington, D.C., on Nov. 14 in support of Israel. And they say they never felt more empowered – or proud to be Jewish.

Lia Peters, a senior at Marquette High School in St. Louis, who was born in Israel and has family in Israel, said she had felt “helpless” since the outbreak of war on Oct. 7. But that changed at the rally.

“It made me realize that I can make a change and improve the situation,” says Lia. “I felt very empowered and supported.. and like I was making a difference.”

Another St. Louis teen, Omry Kielmanowicz, a senior at Parkway Central, had a similar experience.

“It let me advocate for those who were kidnapped, some of [whom] I know,” he says. “I feel re-energized and reminded of how important supporting Israel is.”

The St. Louis teens traveled to the rally by plane, with the trip subsidized by local donors.

In Minneapolis, the teens traveled on a chartered flight arranged by the Minneapolis Jewish Federation, which subsidized the trip along with a local donor.

For Benny Marmor, a sophomore at Breck School in Minnesota, the march is something he won’t soon forget.

“I can say that that day was one of the most memorable of my life, and I am so grateful for the opportunity I had to attend.”

Fellow Minneapolis teen Jacob Weiss, a junior at Minnetonka High School, adds that the march “further reinforced how proud I am to be Jewish, especially in times like these.”

Rebecca Badzin, a junior at Hopkins High School, agreed.

“After being in D.C., I truly realized that no matter how loud all of the hate is, our ability to come together in peace and unity has always been louder,” she says. “I am so proud to be Jewish and be connected to Israel.”