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What does dual-track mean?
All of PANIM’s four-day Washington, D.C. seminars will now be called Panim el Panim. Each Panim el Panim seminar offers two tracks, tailored to student interests: Politics in Action and Service and Advocacy. Agencies can choose to register for our Service and Advocacy Track (SAT) or Politics in Action Track (PAT). Both tracks will stay in the same hotel and will be brought together for meals, plenary sessions, and some educational programming. The dual-track seminar will enable students from your community to interact with a broader network of Jewish teens from around the country. Joint programming will encourage students to share their experiences and demonstrate the diverse approaches to civic engagement.
What is the difference between the two tracks?
Participants in the PAT learn about public policy and political activism by interacting with experts on a wide range of policy issues. The SAT enables participants to explore the connection between community service, political action and Jewish values. The track includes a half-day service-learning project at local agencies in Washington and a visit to an advocacy organization related to that service.
Students in both tracks receive advocacy training, and have the opportunity to lobby their elected officials on Capitol Hill, putting what they have learned into action. Students in both tracks engage in interactive Jewish study and leadership skills training. (see Sample Itinerary, opens in new window).
What does this mean for JCI classes?
The Jewish Civics Initiative will still include a class and service project. All of our four-day Washington, D.C. seminars will now be called Panim el Panim. What was previously known as a JCI seminar will now be the SAT of the Panim el Panim seminar. This new seminar model will allow the Jewish Civics Initiative to focus on outreach to individual communities to support local programming and enrich professional development. JCI classes are encouraged to come on Panim el Panim seminars at the culmination of the JCI class.
When and how do I sign up for a track?
Each agency will register its student delegation for the best seminar date. We recommend holding a community caucus with your students to decide which track best suits your delegation’s interests. You may wish to offer your students a two-year program, alternating between the PAT and the SAT. This will give your students the opportunity to return to Washington to build on the knowledge and skills that they developed in year one. Completing both of PANIM’s seminar tracks equips students with a holistic vision of public issues and empowers them to take meaningful action.
When can I do the SAT or the PAT?
Both tracks will be offered on all of PANIM’s seminar dates. For this year’s dates, click here. We recommend trying out both tracks in alternating years.
I’ve been coming on JCI seminars for years, which seminar should I come on now?
Sign your group up for the Service and Advocacy Track of our Panim el Panim seminar. It includes all of the educational content as well as the service and advocacy experiences that have been a part of JCI seminars since the program was introduced in 1994.
What if some of my students have already been on a PANIM seminar?
PANIM welcomes students back for a second seminar experience. If some of your students have been on a JCI seminar, they may join the other communities on the PAT. If they have participated on a Panim el Panim seminar, we encourage them to join the SAT. Returning students are still welcome to repeat either seminar track.
Do both tracks include museum exploration and lobbying?
Yes! All Washington, D.C. seminars include standard programs such as free time to explore Capitol Hill, Smithsonian and Holocaust Museum visits, nighttime tours of the national monuments, and Israel programming. All groups visit Capitol Hill to lobby their House or Senate offices.
Will my group still be together?
Communities will register their entire delegation for the same track. As with all Panim el Panim seminars, the program aims to integrate different communities with one another but allows designated times for community check-in and caucusing.
Will we have any interaction with students from another track?
Throughout the seminar, plenary sessions bring students from both tracks together. Students from the PAT and the SAT eat together at all meals and have time to socialize with one another during free time. Students may also room with a pair of students from the other track.
What is the average delegation size, and how many people can I expect on each seminar?
Agencies bring 7-10 students on average; however, we have delegations as small as one and as large as thirty. The average overall Panim el Panim seminar size is 65-80, made up of students from several community delegations.
Is there a minimum delegation size?
There is no minimum; delegation sizes range from one to thirty.
Do I need to prepare my students any differently for the D.C. seminar?
We recommend holding an informational session well in advance of your Panim el Panim seminar to explain the options to your students and select a track. In addition, you can use the resources from our Just: Judaism, Action, Social Change and the lesson plans on www.justaction.org to introduce your delegation to PANIM’s philosophy of civic engagement.
How do I register?
Our seminar interest form is now available online. Fill one out at http://www.panim.org/events/seminarinterestform.html.
For more information, please contact us!
info@panim.org
301-770-5070
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