Some of my favorite memories throughout BBYO have been making top 10 lists. Whether it was while waiting for votes to be counted during an election, on the way to a convention, or even just during events, top 10 lists have a way of uniquely uniting and dividing everyone as we argue over which bagel topping is best. In that spirit, and the excitement for IC, I wanted to share my top 10 list for potential IC speakers!

1. ‍Max Cohen
   In the past few years, Max has taken the internet by storm with his hilarious comedic commentary on the reality of modern Jews under his alias “Murray Hill Boy”. Some of his most notable characters, like Lisa and Larry, a foreign camp counselor, and even more, share a timely insight into the real lives of Jewish people in America. I personally think this insight would make him an amazing speaker at IC, and could even end in a surprise performance of his rendition of “ZBT and I”, inspired by the “Wizard and I” from the musical “Wicked”.‍
2. Steven Spielberg
   Spielberg has become an absolute icon of the 20th and 21st centuries, with some of the most iconic movies and franchises ever, including “Jaws”, “Jurassic Park”, “E.T.”, and more. His most influential work for the Jewish community, however, was “Schindler’s List”. This astonishing movie has personally made me sob more than once, and hearing the process of how it came to be and the work put into it would be an absolutely amazing and impactful experience.‍
3. Adam Sandler
   Another titan of the movie industry, Sandler, could provide his perspective as both an actor and writer. He could speak on his experience writing Jewish characters in modern times, and both the challenges and joys that come from that. His ability to make lighthearted fun of our community, while also providing some of the best representations of us throughout the media, would give him a unique story to share as a speaker at IC. But what would make him an even better IC speaker is the fact that he was in BBYO when he was a teen! He could share his own story and how this has impacted him to this day. ‍
4. Dara Torres
   While I myself am not a huge fan of sports, they are an undeniably huge part of culture, and this list would feel incomplete without an athlete on it. Dara Torres is the perfect pick, not just because she is a Jewish athlete but because of all the amazing accolades she has accumulated over her time as a swimmer! She has competed in five total Olympic Games and has won twelve total medals. These are not her only accomplishments, as she was the first swimmer to represent the U.S. in five Olympic Games, the oldest swimmer placed in the U.S. Olympic team, and she was named one of the "Top Female Athletes of the Decade" by Sports Illustrated. All of this would make her an interesting and inspiring speaker, and she would also be able to speak on her experience as a Jewish person in sports as well as what it is like to succeed on such a level.  ‍
5. Scarlett Johansson
   Scarlett Johansson has been a household name for many years now, known for her amazing performance as Black Widow in the MCU, her role in “Jurassic World”, and more iconic franchises. I think she would make the perfect speaker at IC, not only because of the amazing influence she has had on the industry, but even more so because of her work as director of “Eleanor the Great”. This story not only celebrates ideals of friendship and shows the value of close relationships in current times, but also highlights the harrowing and horrific story of a Holocaust survivor. Her sharing her work on this film and what inspired her to make it would make her the perfect speaker.‍
6. Jerry Seinfeld
   Jerry Seinfeld has created some of the best - and funniest - representations of Jewish people in the 20th century with his creation, writing, and acting in “Seinfeld”, all depicting his experience as a Jewish man in the 90’s. His speech could also highlight comedy in the 20th and 21st centuries as well as how to create this funny representation while still staying true to our community.‍
7. Zach Sage Fox
   Throughout the horrors of the past two years and the extremely antisemitic climate throughout the world, Zach has been working to eliminate the stigma and bias around Israel through both comedic and often concerning interviews, attempting to educate people on the street and in American colleges. His work has been able to highlight the real issues in the conversation around Israel, and his speech could be very insightful into how to combat misinformation and relay the truth.‍
8. Jack Black
   Jack Black is a comedy icon, with movies like “School of Rock” and “Nacho Libre” leaving him a household name. Him speaking at IC could be an absolute masterclass on the comedy world, with his own specialties of introspective movies like “Shallow Hall” also making an appearance in his speech.‍
9. Adrien Brody
   Adrien Brody has made some of the most influential movies for the Jewish community, with his roles in “The Brutalist” and “The Pianist”. His speech could give insight into the process of making these movies and both the emotional and physical preparation and toll taken needed to make a movie of such caliber. ‍
10. Chloe Hechter
    Another influencer addition to this list, Chloe has become known for her skits as well as her characters portraying Jewish teens and young adults. She has also spoken at other BBYO events and conventions, and I think her speech could be truly impactful as she could highlight the difficulties of breaking out of portraying Jewish women in stereotypical ways while still finding the comedy in our everyday scenarios.

Let me know if you agree with this list or if you have anyone else you would rather include!