TIMEMUN celebrated its 25th anniversary with a three day hybrid conference, including 11 dynamic committees for over 300 students. 

Sunday February 16 opened with two online committees in partnership with IOMUN 20: SPECPOL debating the ongoing conflict and humanitarian situation in Myanmar, and a crisis committee dealing with organized crime. Led by a dedicated chair and secretariat team hailing from China, India, Indonesia, Israel, Liberia, Turkey and the United States, the online committees welcomed participants of all levels from five continents around the world. The Best Position Paper went to Xintong Sun, representing Laos. In the SPECPOL committee, Xintong Sun (Laos), Jon Pallaska (Italy), Gyueon Lee (United Kingdom) and Seth Hartman (Czech Republic) received awards. In the Organized Crime crisis committee, Melo Choshane (Nancy O’Brien), Yusef Darawshy (Maj. General Al-Raisy) and Daniela Franco (Bianca Danta) were recognized for their achievements.

Monday-Tuesday, Feb. 17-18 featured the in-person committees, held at the Walworth Barbour American International School campus. The opening ceremony featured the TIMEMUN intro video, welcomes from Principal Philips, Secretary General Ethan Moncarz, and Assistant Director Gil Naor. The winners of the Writers Matter competition, which featured Arab-Jewish pairs of writers on the theme of Hope, were recognized in an award ceremony, with prizes ranging from $100-$500. The slides from the opening ceremony can be seen here.

Committees ranged from beginners in HRC (Freedom of Speech; Freedom of Religion) and DISEC (Paramilitaries; Bioweapons), and intermediate in NATO (Countering Russia; Domestic Terror); US Senate (Immigration; Foreign Aid) and the Special Regional Committee (Israeli-Palestinian peace; Abraham Accords) to advanced: Security Council (Conflicts in Libya and Syria); Historical Security Council 1994 (Rwanda; Bosnia and Herzegovina), Percy Jackson crisis, and the two cabinet Organized Crime Council crisis.

In addition to speechmaking, debates, and intense negotiations, the committees heard from Vladimir Putin, Donald Trump, the head of ISIS, and numerous other figures related to their topics (thank you to the Secretariat members and advisors who helped roleplay all of the special guests!). 

This year’s social event was Carnival-themed, with students competing in head basketball, inflatable bowling, the Judge Sanders debate booth and other exciting competitions to win tickets they could redeem for prizes at Eitan’s spin the wheel, or Ethan’s “Let’s Make a Deal”. Congratulations to all of the winners. 

During the Global Village, we welcomed embassies and cultural institutes for students to learn about different cultures, and opportunities to learn and travel. In addition to tables from Azerbaijan, Costa Rica, Germany, Malta, Mexico, Poland, the Philippines, Romania, South Korea, and the United States, the following organizations also presented opportunities for students: BARMUN; Challenge: Conflict Transformation; Creating Friendships for Peace; Equator.app, and Tuesdays for Trash.

At the closing ceremony, the best position papers, outstanding and best delegates of each committee were called on stage to accept their awards. The chairs of the Senate committee were also recognized for raising the most money for charity (in total $300 was raised throughout the conference). Finally, the Best Admins (Aki Shavit and Mel Truslow), Best Chairs (Tzlil Israeli and Lihi Knop), and Diplomat of the conference (Tzur Cohen and Hadar Rosenwald) awards were given out. All award winners can be seen here.

TIMEMUN thanks the 300 students from over 30 schools around the world for joining this year’s 25th anniversary conference, as well as the advisors, logistics, tech and support staff, and the chairs, admins, and secretariat members who put so much into making this an unforgettable conference!

Over the last two months, a dozen students from three continents met to write and reflect as part of the Writers Matter program. The following piece comes from Julie in Jerusalem, and is from the “I Wonder” series

I wonder whether I’ll cease this endless running,

Running towards a dream that sleeps further away 

Escaping from problems that keep sweating away 

I wonder if I will ever stop running, every day, 

will I ever be able to seize the day.

will I ever be able to pause and take it all in, 

To breath, to feel.

but I know the cost  to feel everything at once. I tried for a moment. It ached me  more than the  endless escape.

I wonder if I will ever surrender, and let go of  the rose with thorns that I chose to hold.

I wonder if I ever would reclaim the happiness I felt as I was a kid

The simple life I once knew, where the sun rises and sat each day.

I wonder whether the smallest things which brought me joy will ever bring me joy again. 

I wonder will I ever feel it all?

But why do I wonder when I feel nothing, but at the same time I feel everything. So I wonder…

As part of the Writers Matter program, teachers from about twenty schools around Israel wrote and shared their writing together. The following piece is part of the “I am from” collection, and comes from Robin, from Atid Raziel

I am from a mother who taught me to be kind,

to be honest and generous,

to fight for justice and equality,

to sing we shall overcome with Martin Luther King,

and change the course of history.

I am from a mother, who didn’t prepare me

for unkindness, selfishness, and arrogance.

I am from a mother who created art and beauty,

who shared delicious food, conversation and compassion.

I am from a mother, who never mentioned broken promises,

but fought for the oppressed, the other and all.

I am from having to grasp, that not everyone is like my mother,

not understanding why people are so harsh, cold and cruel.

I am from a mother who believed in the best, in fate, 

and that in the end, goodness will prevail.

I am from trying to find my role in changing myself

to be part of the world now that I know that I can’t change it.

Over the last two months, Israeli and Palestinian students have participated in a student-led writing workshop as part of the Writers Matter program. The following piece is from the “Letter to your younger self” collection, by Mohammed:

Dear Younger Me,

I wish I could sit down with you and talk about the changes I’ve seen over the years.

The world we grew up in feels like it’s shifting in ways that don’t always make sense,

and I can’t help but feel uneasy about where we’re headed. There are three big

things that weigh on my mind: how society views health, what’s happening to

masculinity, and the way family and tradition are being treated.

First, I’ve noticed that something as basic as health is being turned upside down.

There was a time when being healthy was something we all strived for, a sign of

discipline and self-care. But now, it seems like the focus has shifted to praising

unhealthy lifestyles in the name of “body positivity.” While self-acceptance is

important, we shouldn’t ignore the value of striving for a healthier life. Glorifying

habits that harm people in the long run does no favors to anyone, and it’s troubling to

see this celebrated as progress.

Then there’s what’s happening to men. Masculinity, which once stood for strength,

responsibility, and leadership, is now being questioned and criticized at every turn.

Instead of encouraging men to be strong, protective, and reliable, society seems to

push them toward softness and passivity. Men are told to suppress their natural traits

rather than embrace them, leaving many confused about their role and hesitant to

step up when needed. This isn’t progress; it’s a loss of something vital.

On top of that, the way society handles gender and abortion feels troubling. Gender,

something once tied to biology and reality, is now seen as completely fluid, leaving

many confused and struggling to find their identity. While understanding and

empathy are important, ignoring basic truths only creates instability. And then there’s

abortion, where the focus has shifted so far toward personal choice that the value of

life itself often feels overlooked. These are delicate, deeply human issues, yet they’re

often treated like political tools rather than the profound moral questions they are.

And finally, family and tradition that hold communities together are being thrown

away. The idea of family as a mom, dad, and children is often dismissed as

outdated, and traditions that once gave people a sense of belonging and purpose

are being replaced by fleeting trends. These changes leave people disconnected,

unsure of their roots, and uncertain about their future.

If I could give you one piece of advice, it would be this: don’t let the noise of the

world affect the values that truly matter. Strive for health, not just for yourself but for

those who depend on you. Embrace what it means to be strong, responsible, and

dependable as a man. Honor family and tradition they are the foundation of a

meaningful life and a strong society. And remember to approach the various issues

of gender and life with compassion, but also with clarity and conviction.

Stay true to what you know is right, even when the world tells you otherwise. These

values are worth holding onto, and they will guide you through the confusion of

changing times.

With love and hope,

Your Older Self

Over the last two months, Israeli and Palestinian students have participated in a student-led writing workshop as part of the Writers Matter program. The following piece comes from Jack:

Hey sweaty, get out, don’t be scared. I just came here to talk to you. It might sound crazy, but I know who you are, not in a creepy way. So I wanted to tell you, you’re important. People are mean, but the soonest you’ll realise that you are perfect the way you are, the sooner you’ll be whole.

No, don’t cry, I didn’t mean to upset you. Let me just tell you a story, like the ones you enjoy writing. Long ago the zebra felt bad for not looking like a tiger. She had many many haircuts and dyed her hair, but nothing helped. You know why? Because it’s the zebra’s nature and she shouldn’t feel bad about it. What she needs to do instead is go talk to someone, because even the black and white that she once had, were no longer the same after keeping all her feelings in her tummy.

Who Am I? Well, just a fairy who came to help. You know, you will some day feel better, even change your name in a few years, and your new name will be Jack. 

Hey, I think it’s time for me to leave, but don’t stop writing, this is your strongest tool.

As part of the Writers Matter program, teachers from about twenty schools around Israel wrote and shared their writing together. The following piece is part of the “I Wonder” collection, and comes from Monique, from Wizo Hadassim

I wonder about……

I wonder why I wonder? Sometimes it seems that there is no point in wondering at all. It is as if everything has already been decided, or has it?

I wonder if the hostages will ever be released, if they are even alive? 

I wonder if the soldiers will be ok? Will they all come home soon? 

I wonder if the innocent people suffering from this war will survive, will life ever be normal for them, or for us? 

I wonder why I need to question everything? I wonder why I don’t have all the answers?

I wonder why people feel so much aggression towards one another, for aren’t we all the same? Weren’t we all given the same rights at birth?

I wonder how the future of my children will look, or my students or even my own? 

I wonder if they will be happy and live lives full of love, happiness and satisfaction?

I wonder why I or anyone around me has doubts, regrets or shame?  

I wonder why I let others make decisions for me, in the government or my place of employment? Don’t I have free will? And if I do, why am I not using it?

I wonder why our creator made us suffer and celebrate, love and hate, think and feel? Or did they? 

I wonder if man has made all of their own problems and no higher being has any connection to it? 

I wonder about everything and nothing. Does anyone really know anything at all?

I wonder?

Over the last two months, a dozen students from three continents met to write and reflect as part of the Writers Matter program. The following piece comes from Elif in Turkey, and is from the “I Wonder” collection.

I wonder,

I wonder If I could be someone else

in the mirror of your eyes.

Erase the lines I’ve drawn with pain.

The warm memories seem to be so cold,

their glow turning into shadows.

a chill settling where the music once lived.

You see me now,

as a headache pulsing in your temples

a cockroach scurrying beneath the light

an itching sweater clinging to skin

I am everything you despise.

It hurts,

the way the sparkles in your eyes 

dim and scatter like ashes

each time I speak.

And I wonder if an old broken record 

once you loved to hear

can ever be more than

something you’d rather throw away.

Over the last two months, Israeli and Palestinian students have participated in a student-led writing workshop as part of the Writers Matter program. The following piece comes from Margarita:

I wonder how friends’ connection work

I wonder why we love and why we hate 

why our hearts feel pain and they love

why people trust and why do they believe   

I wonder how our hearts decide 

The quantity of feelings that we want 

To share or to hide

 the truth we want to realize 

and truth that we ignore throughout our lives 

I wonder how friends’ connection work

And I wonder who loves me in this world

Over the last two months, Israeli and Palestinian students have participated in a student-led writing workshop as part of the Writers Matter program. The following piece comes from Arielle:

I Am From
I am from sadness and anger.
I am from hurting and suffering.
I am from my mother, who many say I look alike.
I have her hair and I have her spirit.
She always finishes first and so must I.
Not because she told me so, but because that is how I think.
I am from my father, who is kind but angry.
He lashes out and sometimes I am afraid I might do the same.
Sometimes he cares, and I try my hardest.
I do not have their eyes.
Theirs are green, the color of life and the color of our world. The plants that give us life and support us. They are what help us breathe and eat. Green provides.
My eyes are brown, the color of the dirt beneath graves and underneath our feet. The dirt we walk on every day without giving it a single thought.
I am from sadness and anger.
I am from hurting and suffering.
I am from myself, but sometimes I wish I wasn’t.

Over the last two months, a dozen students from three continents met to write and reflect as part of the Writers Matter program. The following piece comes from Sanskriti in Rwanda, and is titled “Secret Beneath the Waves”.

Secret beneath the waves. 

The ocean is quite deep, a slumbering sleep,

Resting our secrets and letting our wonders seep.

Beasts of bizarre look, with glistening eyes, 

Slide through, in nooks and watery lies. 

Towers of corals built strong and tall, 

Dwindling in oceans of jeweled walls. 

Haunted remains of ships, while ghostly stories remain concealing, 

That avalanches of civilizations pried over, but no relics were freeing. 

The ocean whispers such despondent sorrow song, 

And it bears more, in memory as it’s a billion years strong. 

Ones who are bold, unlike the rest, 

Are in wait of a treasure that pulses through its chest. 

Finding those who belong to this place,

Only good fights in the honor of grace.