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December 2, 2026 11:30am
Vineyards Country Club |
Tessa Veksler is a public speaker, content creator, and Jewish advocate. Originally from the San Francisco Bay Area, she is a 2024 graduate of the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB), where she earned her B.A. in Political Science and Communication. Tessa began her higher education journey by spending a year in Israel, where she studied Judaics at Bar Ilan University while also completing her first year of UCSB coursework.
Living through Operation Guardian of the Walls shaped her passion for Israel advocacy and combating antisemitism, which she carried into her leadership roles at UCSB. She went on to serve in multiple fellowships, including ICC’s prestigious Geller Fellowship, and spent three years in student government, culminating in her term as UCSB’s Student Body President. In May 2024, she made history as the first Shabbat-observant Associated Students President, representing more than 24,000 students.
In the wake of October 7th, after facing targeted harassment and antisemitism, Tessa chose to speak out bravely about her experiences, inspiring Jewish communities nationwide to stand strong against hate. With millions of people engaging with her Instagram content, Tessa has become a leading Jewish and Zionist voice on social media. Her advocacy has earned her numerous recognitions, including invitations to the White House and the United Nations, UCSB’s University Service Award, and a recent feature in the documentary October 8. Today, alongside her work in public relations at Hiltzik Strategies in New York City, Tessa travels nationwide sharing her message of resilience, empowerment, and activism.
