JCHS Debate Team Takes on Princeton Model Congress

Jewish Culture’s esteemed Debate Team participated in Princeton Model Congress in Washington D.C., competing with roughly 700 high school students nationwide. Although it was the second year JCHS attended, the team still feels grateful for the opportunity to engage in a role-playing simulation of the United States Congress.

Model Congress works just as the real US Congress does: students get split into different committees in the Senate or House of Representatives where each Congressman– or rather, “delegate” as they’re referred to at Model Congress– must introduce a bill they want to pass into law. This is followed with a structured debate where each delegate takes a stance and speaks on whether they are in support or opposition of the bill. There is also the option to propose an amendment- a specific change to the bill that requires its own debate. Finally, there is the official vote on whether or not the bill will pass into law; more than half of the committee must be in support of the bill in order for it to pass. As our Princeton Model Congress team had worked for hours and hours, most of our bills passed, some even unanimously!

The effort that our team put into this competition is nothing short of extraordinary. Our team held meetings in school and even some Zoom meetings over Sukkot break. Each participant had to do extensive research to write their bill which required a whole lot of diligence and patience. Once bills were completed, the team concentrated on developing and improving their public speaking, critical thinking, and debating skills. They were also faced with learning a brand new “language” called Robert’s Rules of Order: a guideline of how structured debate works consisting of certain terms and phrases Congressmen must use. 

Although the workload seemed almost impossible, the Debate Team’s executive board– consisting of Ava Greenwald, Joseph Levi, Miriam Friedman, Ruthie Assaraf, and, of course, Ms. Baltimore – made sure that every member had the help and support they needed every step of the way. The countless hours of preparation, from writing bills to mastering debate strategies, truly showcased the team’s dedication to excelling in Model Congress. 

While being a participant in Model Congress is pretty special, two of our students were chosen to be in what is actually referred to as “special committees” which meant being a part of the Presidential Cabinet. Ava Greenwald was appointed as the Secretary of Education, and Joseph Levi was nominated as one of three candidates to run for President of the entire conference. He ended winning the Vice Presidency and was also the Secretary of State! Joseph was required to give a speech in front of all 700 students as his Presidential campaign. “It was really amazing,” he said. “I don’t really get nervous when I talk in front of crowds, but it was really nice to know that everyone was there and listening. I was very proud of myself that I was able to get to that position and it was very exciting.” Joseph and Ava spent their weekend debating over national crises and putting executive orders in place, truly showcasing the leadership skills that all of Jewish Culture knows them to have.

While Model Congress is a serious and prestigious debate competition, the weekend was filled with high energy, laughter, and memorable moments that made the experience both fun and impactful. The team flew in a day early, ensuring they had time to tour Washington D.C., visiting the People’s House Museum, the Library of Congress, the Lincoln Memorial, the White House, and so many more sights. Although Model Congress is filled with students of all backgrounds, the students and faculty of JCHS, Shalhevet, and North Shore made sure to maintain their Jewish identity by enjoying a spiritual, relaxing, and uplifting Shabbat together. We bonded over meaningful Shabbat meals, played board games together, and shared memorable walks through D.C. with our newfound friends. Because of Model Congress’s jam-packed schedule, the team was happy to rest over Shabbat, and they returned fully rejuvenated to sessions Saturday night followed by a night of fun at Princeton’s Delegate Dance! 

Unfortunately, a stomach bug forced all sessions on Sunday to be canceled, but the team did not let this get them down- they enjoyed their day at the Smithsonian National Zoological Park, followed by a sad flight back to Florida.

The Model Congress Team had an amazingly inspiring, enjoyable, and educational weekend. The team not only honed their debating and leadership skills but also formed lasting bonds that will continue to impact their lives beyond the competition. They formed friendships with fellow delegates in sessions, and with the other Jewish schools over Shabbat. The Princeton Model Congress was an incredible experience for Jewish Culture High School, highlighting both the academic excellence and the strong sense of community that we bring everywhere we go.

By Miriam Fridman