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Behind the scenes of Justin Jones’ viral ‘tikkun olam’ encounter with Jewish teens in DC
(JTA) — Sam Rosen and Noah Segal were sitting with their friends on the steps of the Executive Office Building in Washington, D.C., on Monday when they spotted one of America’s most talked-about politicians.
Justin Jones, a Democratic lawmaker in Tennessee whom Republicans kicked out of the state’s legislature in retaliation for a gun-violence protest, was walking by in his signature white suit.
“I remember me and my friend looking at him and being like, ‘Is that him? Is that really one of the Tennessee Three?’” Rosen recalled on Wednesday from his home in Dallas. “To me, he’s kind of the face of upholding democracy right now, so it was very cool to see that.”
Jones waved at their group, this year’s crop of Bronfman Fellows, a prestigious leadership program that aims to empower Jewish teens. That initiated an encounter steeped in Jewish lingo that went viral after a liberal news outlet in Tennessee shared a video on social media.
“Can I shake your hand?” Segal, a high school senior from Ardsley, New York, asked Jones. Several of the other teens introduced themselves, too, and one explained that they were all Jewish teens from across North America.
“This is a Jewish program?” Jones asked after giving a brief pep talk about getting more young people involved in politics, drawing an affirmative response.
“Tikkun olam,” Jones ventured, seemingly testing whether he had correctly named the Hebrew term meaning “repair the world” that has come to signify social justice in progressive circles.
“Yes,” the teens replied in unison, many of their faces lighting up with excitement. “We just talked about that!” Rosen said, with apparent delight. After chatting with the group for a few more minutes, Jones said he had to head off for a White House meeting with President Joe Biden — but he took the time first to pose for a picture with the group.
For many of the people who saw and shared the video, produced and posted Tuesday by the Tennessee Holler news site, the exchange offered an example of cross-cultural solidarity at a time of polarization. The video has been seen well over 2 million times on Twitter and more on other platforms.
“It seems like it resonated because it was a genuine, uplifting moment that showed how impactful it can be to have young leaders showing other young people the way forward — and because it crossed lines. Racial lines. Religious lines. Geographic lines. It shows how essential it is to come together,” Justin Kanew, Tennessee Holler’s founder and editor, told JTA. (The site was the first to report that a Tennessee school board had banned the Holocaust novel “Maus” last year.)
Kanew added: “Also: Justin Jones is the real deal. Sincere, and inspirational. So that helps.”
Jones burst onto the national scene last month when he and another Tennessee lawmaker were ejected from the state legislature after staging a protest over the Republican-led body’s inaction after a school shooting in Nashville. Both men are Black; a third lawmaker who protested is a white woman and she was not ejected. The racial disparity in the lawmakers’ treatment drew widespread criticism, even after local elected officials in Nashville and Memphis reversed the ejections.
The saga has made Jones into a folk hero among progressives, as well as an inspiration to those who want to see young adults — he is 27 – play an active role in shaping the country.
“Thank you for being a role model for the young,” Dan Libenson, the head of a Jewish education philanthropy who teaches in the Bronfman program, tells Jones in the video.
WATCH: “Thank you for being a role model for the young.”
As the #TennesseeThree arrived at the White House a group of Jewish students from across were there on a tour, and they were thrilled to meet @brotherjones_. #TikkunOlam pic.twitter.com/vii89sTsIp
— The Tennessee Holler (@TheTNHoller) April 25, 2023
Libenson told JTA that it had taken the group a moment to realize that the man in the white suit was in fact Jones, as the group had been sequestered at a Jewish retreat center in Maryland and had not heard about Jones’ visit, or about the backlash from some conservatives against it.
“As you can see from the video, as soon as it registered, we all rushed down to greet him,” Libenson told JTA in an email. “It’s clear that Gen Z has been traumatized by the mass shootings that seem to happen every day, and I think many of the fellows see Justin Jones as a hero for not taking no for an answer with regard to the safety of young people like them.”
Said Segal, “The whole seminar theme was vision and the future, so it was random and funky and cool to see someone who is right there making a change.” About Jones’ invocation of tikkun olam, he said, “I was impressed with him before that and impressed with him after that.”
The Bronfman Fellows program is not partisan, and participants hold a wide range of political views, according to Becky Voorwinde, the group’s CEO. But she noted that applicants for the fellowship must write about a contemporary issue that matters to them, and many choose gun violence. “It cuts across political viewpoints,” she said. “They grew up after Sandy Hook. This is their reality.”
Asked whether the issue was one he thought a lot about, Rosen answered, “How can it not be?”
He went on, “It’s not like it’s one awful shooting a year. It’s every day. It seems like it’s only a matter of time before it’s me. It’s not something that controls my entire life, but it’s always in the back of my mind.”
What the Bronfman Youth Fellows’ group photo with Tennessee Rep. Justin Jones looked like from the vantage point of where they’d been sitting before they spotted the prominent lawmaker. (Courtesy of Becky Voorwinde)
Segal said that he, too, viewed the threat of gun violence, alongside climate change, as one of the widest problems facing young people. In fact, he said, for part of a final project in the fellowship, he’d facilitated a discussion about what it means to fight antisemitism for a generation surrounded by mass shootings.
The Washington trip was a closing activity for the cohort of Bronfman Fellows, who first spent five weeks together last summer before getting together throughout the year virtually and in person. Before running into Jones, the group had been meeting with four Jewish White House staffers; afterward, they broke into small teams to meet with past fellows working in a wide array of jobs in the area.
The day before the viral encounter, the group visited a haredi Orthodox yeshiva in Baltimore. There, too, tikkun olam came up in discussion — but the head of the yeshiva seemed to dismiss it as a meaningful framework for Jewish life compared to the commandments of traditional Jewish law.
Rosen, who belongs to a Reform synagogue in Dallas and is headed to Brandeis University in the fall, pushed back.
“I said, ‘Rabbi, this is an obligation that we all uphold in our community. It’s a core value of Judaism and who I am,’” he recounted. “To me, that’s why it was so cool that Justin Jones said that.”
The entire encounter with Jones, Rosen said, felt authentic and empowering. And that feeling, Kanew said, could be contagious.
“Everything we need to save this country from descending into a dark place was right there in that exchange,” Kanew said. “And the beauty of it is everything that moment represents will inevitably come to fruition if people stay engaged and keep fighting for it. So it’s an incredibly hopeful moment, and hope is what people are looking for right now.”
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Indiana University Discloses Institutional Ties to Hamas-Linked Group
Indiana University campus on Dec. 2, 2025. Photo: USA TODAY NETWORK via Reuters Connect
Indiana University disclosed the results of an internal investigation this week into a controversial partnership with the Muslim Philanthropy Initiative, confirming reports that the organization maintains ties to the Palestinian terrorist group Hamas.
In a letter dated April 3 to Indiana state lawmakers, university officials said the inquiry was launched after concerns were raised about the organization’s coordination with the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy. The review focused on the Muslim Philanthropy Initiative’s connections with the nonprofit group United Mission Relief and Development as well as entities linked with Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), a militant group from northwest Syria.
Formerly an al-Qaeda affiliate, HTS was proscribed by the US government until last year, when it’s designation as a foreign terrorist group was revoked.
Indiana University’s Muslim Philanthropy Initiative (MPI) operates as part of the school’s philanthropy school. MPI focuses on research, education, and professional training related to Muslim philanthropic traditions, an area it describes as historically underexamined in academic and nonprofit sectors.
The initiative offers workshops on fundraising and philanthropic leadership, with an emphasis on Islamic and Muslim charitable practices. Since its founding, MPI says it has trained more than 3,500 nonprofit professionals across more than 30 countries, disseminating programming which includes webinars and an annual symposium dedicated to contemporary Muslim philanthropy and civil society. The initiative’s stated mission is to equip nonprofit leaders, organizations, and communities with research and practical tools to better understand and develop Muslim philanthropy.
According to the university’s findings, the Muslim Philanthropy Initiative worked in 2025 with United Mission for Relief and Development to organize training sessions in Istanbul and Indonesia. That organization recommended Hayat Yolu as a local partner. At the time, according to the university, staff relied on assurances that the group was legitimate and conducted its own limited vetting.
However, on March 12, the US Treasury Department designated Hayat Yolu, effectively barring Americans from engaging in transactions with the organization. The designation raised alarm about the university’s prior involvement, even though the trainings occurred months earlier. The department also issued a statement describing Hayat Yolu as one of three Turkish nonprofit organizations that “have provided significant material support to Hamas.”
According to the statement, overseas “sham charities” such as Hayat Yolu are a “key element” in how Hamas fundraises. The department added that the group provides banking and financial support for the Muslim Brotherhood, some of whose branches have been designated as terrorist groups.
Indiana University stressed that its Office of the General Counsel determined no state or federal laws were violated, noting that all activity predated the Treasury prohibiting American involvement with the group. The university also stated it immediately ceased any engagement once the designation was announced and suspended related programming.
Still, the findings highlight what critics may see as a troubling lapse in judgment at a time when US institutions face increasing scrutiny over indirect links to extremist networks. Pro-Israel advocates and national security analysts have long warned that charitable and educational partnerships can be exploited by actors connected to terrorism, particularly in regions where oversight is limited.
The university itself acknowledged shortcomings in its report. Investigators found that Indiana University relied too heavily on decentralized vetting processes and government lists, rather than conducting deeper, centralized due diligence on high-risk international partnerships.
In response, Indiana University outlined a series of reforms aimed at preventing similar situations. These include expanding the authority of its Research Security Office, implementing stricter review procedures for international partnerships, and requiring additional training for faculty and staff involved in global programs.
The university is also reviewing oversight of the Muslim Philanthropy Initiative specifically, including whether to integrate its activities more closely into other institutional structures to ensure tighter control.
Indiana state Rep. Andrew Ireland spearheaded the effort to probe MPI and expressed appreciation for the university taking steps to address the issue.
BIG UPDATE: After our letter demanding answers, Indiana University confirmed its Muslim Philanthropy Initiative partnered with and accepted travel benefits from a Hamas-linked “sham charity.”
Now IU is:
halting all training activities and new partnerships
— Andrew Ireland (@AndrewIrelandIN) April 6, 2026
The episode comes amid heightened sensitivity in the United States over any institutional ties to organizations operating in conflict zones or linked to extremist groups hostile to the US, Israel and their allies. While the university maintains it acted in good faith based on the information available at the time, the case underscores how quickly reputational and security risks can emerge.
Indiana University officials said they are committed to ensuring future partnerships “demonstrate transparency and integrity.”
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Zelenskyy Marks Passover With Jewish Leaders, Receives First Ukrainian-Language Torah
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy holds the first-ever Ukrainian-language Torah while meeting with rabbis and Jewish community leaders to celebrate Passover, honoring the resilience of Jewish communities amid the ongoing war. Photo: Screenshot
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with rabbis and other Jewish leaders from across the country to celebrate Passover, receiving the first-ever Ukrainian-language Torah and honoring the enduring strength of Jewish communities amid the ongoing conflict with Russia.
On Monday, Zelenskyy met with members of Ukraine’s Jewish community for the annual Passover celebration, the fifth held amid Russia’s ongoing invasion. He honored the holiday, which commemorates the Israelites’ liberation from Egypt, and praised the community’s courage and resilience in the face of war.
“Today, this is very important for Ukraine. Freedom is what we are fighting for as a nation, and we are grateful for your support — not only of your communities but of our people and our state. Your solidarity matters greatly,” Zelenskyy said.
On the occasion of Passover, I met with rabbis from Ukrainian cities and representatives of Jewish communities.
Passover is about the triumph of freedom. This is exactly what all of Ukraine is fighting for today. I thanked the Jewish community for standing united with us in this… pic.twitter.com/eyAzmcRR1g
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) April 6, 2026
Despite the immense challenges facing Ukraine, Meier Stambler, head of the Federation of Jewish Communities of Ukraine (FJCU), emphasized that the country’s statehood and freedom remain intact and that the Jewish community will continue praying and working toward the nation’s ultimate victory.
“Freedom begins within each of us, and we are proud to live in Ukraine during this challenging time. It is an honor to be part of this country, having built our lives and families here, and we remain confident in a just peace and true victory,” Stambler said.
Chief Rabbi of Ukraine Moshe Asman also emphasized the nation’s resilience and hope, urging Ukrainians to stay united in the face of the ongoing war.
“The war will end, and there will be a victory for Ukraine. God bless us. All regimes must fall – and then the entire axis of evil will crumble,” Asman said.
On Passover, the FJCU, together with Chabad emissaries — religious representatives of the global Hasidic movement — provided matzah and holiday kits to over 50,000 Jewish households across Ukraine and organized dozens of large public Seders that drew large crowds.
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‘Antisemitism Is Repellent and Dangerous’: Catholic University of America Rejects Accusations of Anti-Jewish Bias
A general view of the Catholic University of America (CUA) campus in Washington, DC. Photo: Graeme Sloan/Sipa USA via Reuters Connect
The Catholic University of America in Washington, DC denied that recent conflicts with its Students Supporting Israel (SSI) chapter were indicative of institutional antisemitism in a recent statement to The Algemeiner which proclaimed its support for Israel and staunch opposition to rising anti-Jewish hatred in academia and across the Western world.
As previously reported, SSI’s leader, Felipe Avila, publicly accused the university of withholding approval to host events on combating antisemitism and defending Israeli security unless it agreed to feature “opposing viewpoints,” a stipulation that he said would require platforming antisemites or declining to hold events at all.
The cause was picked up by the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE), which sent the university a blistering demand letter accusing of it chilling free speech and violating its values.
Last week, the university told The Algemeiner that it was sensitive to the appearance created by the dispute and had never been antisemitic or anti-Israel. The school stressed that it would continue to provide robust support for Jewish student groups on campus while holding other events which raise awareness of antisemitism in a manner consistent with its tradition of civil dialogue.
“The Catholic University of America welcomes people of all faiths and stands firmly against antisemitism. We take seriously the safety and dignity of our Jewish students and every member of our community,” a chief communications official said. “Antisemitism is repellent and dangerous. We are committed to confronting it in ways consistent with our Catholic mission and belief in the dignity of every human person.”
The statement came weeks after Pope Leo XIV in January marked International Holocaust Remembrance Day with a statement reaffirming the Catholic Church’s “unwavering” opposition to antisemitism.
The university has held two major events on antisemitism this academic year, including a “Discussion on Campus Antisemitism” in March and “The Church and the Jewish Community in Our Age: A Conversation” in November, with the latter being attended by Catholic bishops, Jewish rabbis, and an official representing the American Jewish Committee (AJC). Its faculty have published commentaries on antisemitism and participated in litigating antisemitism lawsuits brought during encampments of the 2023-2024 academic year.
Meanwhile, the school’s president, Peter Kilpatrick, was one of the few higher education chief executives to condemn unequivocally Hamas’s “kidnapping and maiming of so many innocent people” during the Oct. 7, 2023, massacre across southern Israel.
“Hamas is a terrorist organization and seeks the annihilation of the state of Israel,” Kilpatrick wrote in a letter to the campus community on Oct. 12, 2023. “Its abhorrent acts of terrorism against Israel merit the strongest condemnation. There is no justification for the acts of violence against innocent civilians that we witnessed this week. As the Holy Father [Pope Francis at the time] noted Wednesday, Israel had a right to self-defense.”
A source familiar with the situation on campus told The Algemeiner that the university’s principal concern with SSI events is their tendency to cause shouting matches and confrontations which require the intervention of campus security, adding that its student leader — who once told Inside Higher Ed, “We haven’t been shy about embracing controversy” — is a keen activist. The source also noted that a communication suggesting that SSI would be forced to platform an anti-Zionist was made in error and not reflective of university policy.
However, the university has seen some strong expressions of anti-Zionism. In October, the student government considered a resolution, sponsored by Senator Joseph Ortiz, to ban pro-Israel organizations from campus on the grounds that they support a country “actively pursuing inexcusable evil, such as genocide or terrorism.” The resolution was ultimately tabled.
“We have invited Students Supporting Israel to submit a restructured proposal, and to work within University processes to host a thoughtful conversation,” the university spokesperson said of the recent controversy. “As a private, religious institution, Catholic University is well within its rights to approve or deny any speaker request. We are confident we’ll reach a resolution quickly through good faith dialogue.”
The university’s statements come at a time when some Catholic organizations in the US and outspoken Catholic commentators, such as Candace Owens and Nick Fuentes, have been promoting antisemitic conspiracy theories and using their faith as a reason to oppose Zionism.
Follow Dion J. Pierre @DionJPierre.