Key Takeaways
- IMPACT’s “Digital Defender 102” workshop taught Jews aged 55+ how to use artificial‑intelligence tools and social media to counter antisemitism and celebrate Jewish pride.
- About 60 participants, many new to platforms like Facebook, learned to create, share, and gamify content that fuels community action.
- The session is the second in a three‑part series; the first introduces IMPACT’s mission and the digital landscape, while the third covers advanced strategy and organization within the IMPACT app.
- Aaron Herman, IMPACT’s CEO and co‑founder, emphasized that the program turns small individual actions—likes, shares, posts—into measurable collective impact.
- IMPACT also runs a “Learn, Lead, Do” model for high‑school students, giving them missions that range from civic service to content creation, reinforcing the same empowerment philosophy across generations.
Workshop Overview and Purpose
On Thursday, September 3, 2026, the Congregation Etz Hayim synagogue in Queens, New York, hosted a gathering of roughly sixty older adults for IMPACT’s “Digital Defender 102” workshop. The event was explicitly designed for participants aged 55 and up, a demographic that IMPACT’s CEO and co‑founder Aaron Herman describes as “an underserved yet incredibly motivated part of our community.” Herman explained that the workshop’s goal is twofold: to confront the rising tide of antisemitism online and to amplify Jewish pride, joy, and resilience through the strategic use of artificial intelligence (AI) and social‑media platforms. By equipping seniors with digital tools, IMPACT hopes to transform everyday online interactions into purposeful acts of advocacy and community‑building.
Herman summed up the ethos of the program when he said,
“Through rewards, incentives, and gamification, we are creating a dynamic and engaging experience that motivates people to participate, have fun, and mobilize around shared goals.”
This statement captures the workshop’s blend of education, motivation, and measurable impact.
Participant Background and Motivation
The attendees represented a wide spectrum of digital experience. Some arrived without any social‑media presence, while others maintained modest profiles but sought to deepen their effectiveness. Herman highlighted the participants’ intrinsic drive, noting,
“They have valuable experience, the desire to make a difference and an eagerness to learn. Through our training programs, we have seen how strongly they want to find their voices, speak up and take meaningful action.”
These sentiments underscore why IMPACT chose to focus on this age group: older Jews often possess life‑long communal ties, historical awareness, and a willingness to contribute—qualities that, when paired with modern digital literacy, can yield powerful outreach. The workshop therefore served as a bridge between lived wisdom and contemporary technology.
Structure of the Digital Defender Series
“Digital Defender 102” is the second installment in a three‑part curriculum developed by IMPACT. The first workshop, “Digital Defender 101,” introduces newcomers to the organization’s mission, provides an overview of the current social‑media landscape, and outlines basic safety and etiquette guidelines for online engagement. The third session, “Digital Defender 103,” dives into advanced tactics—such as data‑driven content planning, coalition building, and leveraging the IMPACT app for coordinated group actions.
By staging the curriculum in progressive steps, IMPACT ensures that participants can build confidence before tackling more complex strategies. Herman explained the rationale:
“The first introduces participants to the organization’s mission and the modern social media landscape, while the third explores advanced social media training and group organization within the IMPACT app.”
This scaffolded approach allows seniors to move from foundational knowledge to practical, impact‑oriented execution at a comfortable pace.
AI‑Enhanced Content Creation
A distinctive feature of the workshop was its integration of artificial‑intelligence tools to aid content generation. Participants were shown how AI‑powered text‑generation models can help draft compelling posts, generate hashtags, and suggest visual elements that resonate with Jewish audiences while staying vigilant against hateful narratives. The training emphasized ethical use: AI serves as an assistant, not a replacement for authentic voice.
Herman illustrated the practical benefit, stating,
“Participants can create and share meaningful content, take action in their communities, and inspire others—transforming individual voices and everyday actions into collective impact.”
By demystifying AI and presenting it as an accessible ally, the workshop reduced technological apprehension and empowered seniors to produce timely, relevant material that could counteract antisemitic tropes and highlight Jewish contributions to society.
Gamification and Incentives
To sustain engagement, IMPACT incorporated gamification elements into the learning experience. Attendees earned points, badges, and tangible rewards for completing specific actions—such as sharing a fact‑based infographic, responding to a hateful comment with a constructive rebuttal, or organizing a local outreach event. These mechanics transformed what could feel like a daunting task into a series of achievable, enjoyable challenges.
Herman remarked on the motivational power of this approach:
“Through rewards, incentives, and gamification, we are creating a dynamic and engaging experience that motivates people to participate, have fun, and mobilize around shared goals.”
The gamified structure also fostered a sense of camaraderie among participants, as they could see each other’s progress on leaderboards and celebrate collective milestones.
From Novice to Active Advocate
Herman shared an inspiring observation about the participants’ trajectory:
“Watching program participants progress ‘from not even having a Facebook account to regularly liking, sharing, and engaging with meaningful content’ is what IMPACT is all about.”
This quote captures the tangible transformation that the workshop facilitated. By the end of the session, many seniors were not only comfortable navigating platforms but were also actively curating content that affirmed Jewish identity, challenged misinformation, and invited dialogue. Their newfound confidence translated into real‑world actions, such as posting about local Holocaust remembrance events, sharing stories of Jewish resilience, and rallying friends to report antisemitic material.
Expanding Impact: The Learn, Lead, Do Model for Youth
While the workshop focused on older adults, IMPACT’s outreach extends to younger generations through its “Learn, Lead, Do” model for high‑school students. This program mirrors the same empowerment philosophy but tailors missions to teenage interests and capacities. Students undertake dynamic projects that range from civic action and community service to creating videos, podcasts, or social‑media campaigns that amplify Jewish voices.
Herman described the initiative succinctly:
“Students complete dynamic missions ranging from civic action and community service to creating content and making their voices heard on social media. The program gives young people the knowledge, leadership skills and confidence to turn their values into action.”
By pairing the wisdom of older participants with the energy and digital fluency of youth, IMPACT creates a multigenerational network capable of sustained advocacy against antisemitism and for the celebration of Jewish life.
Conclusion and Continuing Relevance
The “Digital Defender 102” workshop exemplifies how targeted, compassionate education can empower a demographic often overlooked in digital‑rights conversations. Through a blend of AI‑assisted content tools, gamified learning, and a clear pathway from basic literacy to impactful action, IMPACT equipped sixty seniors with the skills to confront hate online while amplifying Jewish pride.
As Herman’s reflections reveal, the true measure of success lies not just in the number of posts shared but in the ripple effect those posts create—friends inspired, communities strengthened, and a collective voice that refuses to be silenced. The workshop stands as a model for other faith‑based or cultural organizations seeking to harness technology for social good, proving that age is no barrier to becoming a digital defender.
Alex Carson contributed to this report.
https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/antisemitism/article-907618