Civic education for high school students
What happens next
We bring elected officials into classrooms and take students to Albany to meet them, so the next generation knows how government works and how to take part.
What we do
Kol Yisroel works with yeshivas and high schools so students learn how local and state government works, and meet the people who run it.
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Classroom visits
Elected officials visit high school classrooms and answer students’ questions.
Latest: Test Official ZZQX
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Albany trips
Students meet senators and Assembly members at the State Capitol.
Latest: May 24, 2026
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Voter registration
We help eligible students register, and pre-register from age 16.
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Student leadership
Students prepare their own questions and speak with officials directly.
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Community events
Back-to-school giveaways and outreach across the community.
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Our first legislative session
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11
educational trips to Albany
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Hundreds
of students met their elected officials face to face
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250+
new voters registered
Source: USLege Best in Government Affairs honoree profile, 2026.
Recent photos
When we show up, things change.
When we don’t, others decide for us.
You decide how it goes
The decisions made by our elected officials affect our communities every day.
If we don’t vote in high numbers, we lose our seat at the table.
Students who learn how government works now are the voters and leaders of the next ten years.
This isn’t luck.
It’s on us.
We’re not talking about politics in Washington. We’re talking about city halls and the State Capitol, where decisions about our schools, security, and funding get made.
Students who understand those decisions grow into adults who take part in them.
You’re not just the future. You’re the now.
Our founder
Sam Hartstein
Sam Hartstein grew up in Brooklyn and lives in Rockland County with his family. He founded Kol Yisroel in January 2026 to give young people in our community a real understanding of government and the confidence to take part.
In 2026 he was named a USLege Best in Government Affairs honoree for New York, in the Rising Stars of the Year category.
Read Sam’s story
Contact us
Bring Kol Yisroel to your school
Principals, teachers, and parents can reach us about classroom visits, student trips to Albany, and voter registration.
info@kolyisroel.org