By Efrat David
Jewish Agency Cross Campus Israel Fellow
Hillels of Illinois


 
Efrat and a student on Birthright: Enjoying Pomegranate Juice in Mahane Yehuda Market-Jerusalem

In two weeks I'll be heading back to Israel, leading my fourth Birthright trip starting June 19 with Newberger Hillel at the University of Chicago. The upcoming trip makes me think about my first experience on Birthright. You'd be surprised! No it wasn't a year ago when I staffed my first Birthright trip, but EXACTLY 10 years ago in June of 2003 as an Israeli peer on the trip.

Back then I was a young soldier about to start seven long months of officer training. Birthright was still considered a new project and getting a spot on the trip was really hard. You needed to be recommended by your commanders and interview for the position. When I got a spot I was thrilled.

I still remember that trip. I remember the first day when my fellow peers and I (all of us from the same unit) were waiting for the bus to pick us up somewhere in the north excited and not knowing what to expect from the trip. We knew little about the life of American Jews, and at the time did not fully understand what this trip would mean to them.

I remember hiking in the north, riding donkeys at Kfar Ha'Nokdim, having group activities at night and walking around in the old city. BUT the most clear and vivid memory I have from that trip was our bus ride to Jerusalem or to be more accurate--what happened while we were slowly driving through the Jerusalem Hills and entering the city. In the background the "Jerusalem of Gold" song was playing and our tour guide explained that we were about to enter the city. There was silence, no one was sleeping and everyone was shifting in their chairs trying to get the first glimpse of Jerusalem. When the city was revealed to us almost everyone on the bus started to cry! They were tears of joy. Although my fellow Israelis and I knew that they were excited about it we were completely shocked and at the same time so moved to be able to share the experience of entering the holy city they had heard so much about but never had seen before, that we cried with them. This one amazing moment; a mixture of tears and joy, complete happiness and longing--is one of the most powerful moments I will always carry with me.

I am one of the lucky people that had the opportunity to experience both sides of the trip, as a participant 10 years ago and today as a leader. I carry with me my own Israel that is the total experience of my life as an Israeli, but I also carry with me another Israel, the one that I get to discover every trip through students' eyes. I get to bridge the gap between two worlds and although these worlds are so different we are still so much alike. I know for a fact that this mutual experience is not only meaningful for students but also is significant for the Israeli peers as well.

I stayed in touch for some time with the students from this trip, but 10 years ago we didn't have Facebook, Skype, the convenience of social media, and long distance calls were still very expensive. I wish we had the technology back then to keep in touch with my friends from the trip and continue to share our experiences and life in general. Today, I see how students are able to benefit from staying in touch with their Israeli peers from the trip on a daily basis--and some even go back and visit them in Israel.

Ten years after my first trip, I can't stop thinking about how lucky I was to see the complete picture--and experience both sides of the trip. Ten years after, I wonder where the students from my trip are today in life and in their own Jewish journey, and what was their meaningful moment from the trip that they still remember? Ten years after, I wonder if not for that one meaningful moment that opened the door to a world I never knew before and was about to discover, would I be here today? Would I be here today about to begin not my first, not my second, but my third year as a Jewish Agency Israel Fellow on Illinois college campuses?

I really do believe that one single moment can begin a journey down a path that can stretch into the years ahead--10 years ahead in my case. At the time I didn't know that this would lead me to take my journey one step further, and two years ago I was accepted for the position of a Jewish Agency Shliacha (Emissary) for JUF's Israel Education Center to work with the Hillels of Illinois. My hope is that during my time here, I'm able to create these kinds of meaningful and powerful experiences for students so they can begin their own special journey, and also to help them develop the courage to take their journey one step further.

 
Paint for Peace activity at Loyala University

David Ben-Gurion, Israel's first Prime Minister once said that for Israel, "It is both a privilege and an obligation to be a 'Light unto the Nations'." What does it mean to be a light to other nations as a state or to other people as an individual? As a non-Jew I was raised with a Christian perspective that being a light meant service to others, helping those in need, standing up for what is right and living a life of purpose in order to make a positive impact on the world around you.

After working in the Jewish community for almost three years, I've learned about a similar concept but one that is truly unique to the community--the concept of an imperative. In Illinois alone, I've seen this imperative carried out and expressed in so many impactful ways through individual and collective action for the good of those in the community and to hundreds of thousands beyond.

In the case of the Jewish community and I believe--in the case of Israel, being a light translates into a major obligation--both to oneself and to others. It truly is not for the faint of heart. In general, being a light asks of an individual or a community to constantly look for opportunities to make things better, to create positive change, to give of one's self or one's resources, to take up the call of leadership--and to do this even in the face of opposition, unpopularity (at times, persecution) and constant challenges.

When posed with the statement that Israel is a light unto the nations, what is your response? As part of the work that we do, the Israel Education Center (IEC) makes it our mission to constantly educate the next generation about the various ways that Israel is shining brightly in the world: Israel's technological innovations, environmental achievements, human and civil rights advancements, breakthroughs in the medical field, the flourishing of democracy and freedom in a tumultuous region rocked by disorder and oppression, her continual outreach and humanitarian aid throughout the world, and the list goes on and on!

This might have been part of what Ben-Gurion envisioned when he referenced the Book of Isaiah. Even at the beginning of statehood and through continuous attacks he recognized Israel's imperative: the right of self-determination for the Jewish nation, and a call to action of what this nation's imperative would be in the world around them. But he also knew that this undertaking would not come without challenges and opposition, and after 65 years of independence, the Jewish state continues to fulfill this imperative. Every nation has its issues and is not without blemish, but Israel's impact on the world continues to be a force for good.

Spreading awareness about all of Israel's many accomplishments and contributions to her people and to the world over the past 65 years truly makes an indelible impact on the next generation. Looking back at this year on college campuses across Illinois, I believe through collective action we accomplished this.

Through the efforts of the IEC, Hillel professional staff and our 10 Israel Interns. nearly 100 events focusing on Israel took place on campuses across the state--all of which impacted thousands of students and faculty from a wide diversity of studies, interests and backgrounds. Through student interns' creativity, hard work and passion for Israel, incredible campus events took place ranging from Yom Ha'atzmaut celebrations on the quad to presentations in public venues and in classrooms by Israeli scholars, journalists, environmental activists and artists. Through all of our efforts, entire campus communities were exposed to Israel in a new light, thousands were offered new opportunities to engage further with Israel and many lives were changed for the good.

Many of our students had the opportunity to stand up to anti-Israel sentiment, campus programming, and the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement on campus. Due to the efforts, conviction and perseverance of our interns and with the IEC's support, these efforts failed. Students and faculty were made aware of anti-Israel groups' ultimate agenda-- the delegitimization of Israel's right to exist as a Jewish and democratic state. Although efforts by these groups were low-key this year, the IEC continued to monitor their actions and gave students the tools necessary to combat false arguments through campus articles, coalition building and through continual positive programming.

From my perspective looking back on the year, this is exactly what it means to "be a light". Ben-Gurion's vision is one that calls out to those who are determined to fulfill an imperative and to live a life of significance and purpose - one that changes the world for the good. Today his vision for Israel is flourishing and is a testament of what happens when an individual, a community, a people and a state determine to shine brightly.

By Hannah Schlacter

In late February, I accompanied my 25-member Write On for Israel cohort as we traveled to Washington DC and met with members of the Illinois Congressional Delegation and officials of the Obama Administration to advocate for Israel, as well as to learn from a panel of pro-Israel Congressional staffers and scholars from the Washington Institute of Near East Policy.

Our advocacy centered on four key issues: thwarting Iran's nuclear capability, maintaining US military aid to Israel, passing the Visa Waiver for Israel Act, and maintaining the charitable tax deduction.

In small groups of 4-5 students, we engaged in stimulating discussions with our country's leaders. We were taken seriously. We demonstrated the knowledge, skills, and experiences we have learned throughout the two-year Write On program. We experienced our country's political process and our ability to both participate and influence it. We witnessed the role our own Chicago Jewish leaders have had in shaping our country's policy. We exemplified the importance of leadership programs that build the next generation of future leaders … my generation … my Write On peers. We made our pro-Israel impact.

But we did not just make an impact. We were impacted as well. The experiences of the day affected each of us and changed us in unique ways.

At the end of the day, as we enjoyed New York-style pizza and Coke in JUF's Washington office, we reflected on the day. I looked around the table at the exhausted but engaged faces of my peers and listened. Each person had his or her own comment, opinion, or question. Then I looked at the walls, covered in photographs of Jewish leaders with our country's Senators, Congressmen, Presidents, and Secretaries of State. The room was living proof of our Jewish community's bipartisan engagement, and I knew that my colleagues and I will maintain and grow this involvement.

Thanks to the confidence, education, and dedication we have gained from Write On, we will be the next generation of Jewish leaders. We will go off to our future destinations, each following his or her own path. It is time for us to move on to the next challenges that await us. As we prepare for the upcoming Passover holiday, I find myself comparing our next steps with the challenges that awaited our ancestors when they prepared to leave Egypt.

Some of us may go to Israel. Some will go to college campuses next year. Some may go on to be leaders on the Hill, working as staffers and eventually as policy makers. Some may go on to be leaders on their college campuses, being involved in Hillel and stewarding effective "Israel Peace Week" presences, projects, and campus-wide engagement. Some may go on to become Federation professionals or lay leaders, organizing a proactive, engaged Chicagoland Jewish community.

As we go on to discover ourselves and be discovered, we will always keep our Write On friendships, knowledge, skills, and experiences with us--even after we graduate from the program in April.

Each of us will make an impact in our own ways, but we will forever demonstrate the skill set and confidence we have learned and developed in Israel, Washington, and the monthly seminars we have attended. We have learned to advocate, research, network--be it with Write On Fellows, professionals, lay leaders, and alumni--to fulfill the privilege, passed down l'dor vador-from generation to generation-of leading our Jewish community into the future.

 Hannah Schlacter is a senior at Stevenson High School and a Senior Fellow in Write On for Israel, a program of JUF's Israel Education Center. Current high school sophomores are encouraged to inquire about applying for the 2013-2015 cohort. For more information, contact hillel@juf.org.

By IEC Staff
Article contribution by Alex Amchislavsky, JUF's Israel Education Center Intern

Anti-Israel groups are again on the offensive developing new ways to besmirch Israel in the eyes of the public. Many of these tactics to dirty Israel's reputation are tested on campuses.  Over the years we've seen displays, events, cultural activities, protests and even "apartheid weeks." The Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions  movement is another route used to demonize Israel, and when it comes down to it anything related to Israel, is fair game: companies that do business in Israel, hummus made in Israel, Israeli academics, Israeli-made products, U.S. sister-city partnerships, faculty pension funds invested in companies that do business in Israel, etc.  

Most recently the conversation has taken a bizarre turn towards laundry. "Pinkwashing" and "greenwashing" are new terms being trumpeted by anti-Israel groups and paraded around as concepts activists should use to target Israel. The argument goes something like this: Israel is attempting to brand itself as a champion of LGBT rights and environmental achievements while perpetrating human rights abuses in addition to colonizing, demolishing and destroying Palestinian land. Thus the term "washing" is used to symbolize Israel's attempt to cover up some "hideous stains."

It's important to remember that the tactics employed to vilify Israel, add up to a larger endgame: the delegitimization of Israel's right to exist as a Jewish and democratic state within safe and secure borders. In Illinois, a few campuses are beginning to encounter anti-Israel programming centered around the concepts of pinkwashing and greenwashing, with a few LGBT and environmentalist groups taking part in this effort. At Loyola University, Jewish students recently celebrated Tu B'Shvat on campus by featuring Israel's environmental achievements in the Middle East, Israel's stewardship of the land and ultimately her contributions to the world in this area.

In response, Students for Justice in Palestine launched their new spin-cycle tactic by posting an article accusing pro-Israel and Hillel students of "greenwashing" human rights abuses, and next week the group will host a session on campus pushing this argument even further. Alex Amchislavsky, an IEC intern along with other student leaders were able to step up immediately and submit multiple articles to the campus paper and will continue to offer a continuum of positive programming to Loyola's student body.

Our response to the laundry argument is to continue to elevate the conversation and offer students educational opportunities to learn about Israel, while unmasking the motivations of those who ultimately desire to see her demise.  It is not our goal to portray Israel as infallible but rather to highlight Israel's accomplishments and positive contributions to global society.  All democracies face real challenges, including Israel.  But those challenges are not held against any other country in order to delegitimize their mere existence.  Let's steer clear of the spin (cycle).

Loyola's Hillel tables at CFSU 
by Alex Amshislavskiy

Tu B'Shvat is an ancient Jewish holiday also known as the "New Year of Trees." The holiday is a time when Jews celebrate the connection between human life and the natural world.  It is traditional to plant trees on this day in celebration of the beginning of spring in Israel. This is because the Torah teaches us to revere the land, all creatures and all that grows.  The Torah's ecological concerns are reflected in the laws that govern the intricacies of agriculture and the sanctity of all of G-d's creations. This is a holiday when we can reflect on the cycle of life and celebrate the innumerable gifts from nature.

For more than 20 years, Loyola's Hillel has tabled in the CFSU in celebration of Tu B'Shvat to share our culture and the fruits of Israel with the larger community at Loyola. This year, members of the Loyola community had the option to plant a tree in Israel, and, in turn, they all received their own tree to bring home. This was done in collaboration with Loyola's Growers Guild to show how communities can come together to improve our local and international environments. The project also demonstrates the tradition of Jews living outside the state of Israel to support the world's only Jewish state.

Israel is the only country in the world that entered this century with a net gain in its number of trees, all of which were planted in less than a century. The Jewish National Fund (JNF), founded in 1901 to establish the groundwork for the birth of the Jewish state, has "planted more than 240 million trees throughout the state of Israel, which today covers more than 250,000 acres." One of Israel's biggest accomplishments has been the development of sustainable ecology in its largest desert.

Israel's first prime minister, David Ben-Gurion, is famous for saying "The Negev will be the test of the creative ability and pioneering valor of Israel." The Negev is part of southern Israel which was always included in the British Mandate territory allocated towards a "national home for the Jewish people" (Balfour Declaration, 1917).  It is precisely the Negev where the JNF has focused a 10-year, $600 million campaign to reinvigorate this desert that makes up 60 percent of Israel's territory. This project, dubbed "Blueprint Negev." will continue Israel's legacy of improving humanity's impact on the environment.

There are those who claim Israel's advancements in environmental technology and that JNF's work are purposefully aimed at harming the Palestinian population. These claims are fabricated as part of a larger endgame to delegitimize the Jewish state. Israel is not perfect, but the innovative environmental work and accomplishments over the past 65 years are contributing to a global effort to protect the world in which we all live. 

By Jessica Ost
Engagement Associate, Hillels Around Chicago

As students return to school after winter break the first thing they will ask each other is "What did you do over break?" Many students will tell their friends about the relaxing time they had at home, the places they traveled to or the job they got to help out during the holidays.  Nearly 200 Jewish college students from Chicago will proudly be able to say that they had a life-changing experience in Israel—they traveled to their homeland on Taglit Birthright Israel.  I had the honor to staff a Birthright trip this winter with JUF/JF's Chicago community trip provider, Shorashim, and I got to see firsthand how this experience affected each one of the participant's lives.

These Jewish students from Chicago will come back from winter break having made over 40 new close friends, American and Israeli alike. Some of the friends they made live in the dormitory next to them, others may be in the next town. Several of the friends that they made live in Israel and are completing their service in the Israel Defense Forces. Despite the physical distance that exists between the American students and their new Israeli friends, the bond created over 10 consecutive days together is unbreakable.

The Birthright participants will also tell their friends that they went to Kiryat Gat- Lachish-Shafir, JUF/JF's Partnership Together region, where they helped build a traditional Ethiopian house in a community garden and baked Ethiopian bread with locals.  Prior to arriving at the community garden, the students learned about the multiple operations implemented to save over 14,000 Ethiopians by airlifting them to Israel, proving to these students that Israel cares about Jews all over the world.  While building the house and baking bread with this community in Israel, students were able to hear some personal stories. They will recall that not only were they able to help the community in Kiryat Gat-Lachish-Shafir, but in return they were warmly welcomed despite the language barrier—friendly smiles and warm embraces are the universal language that everybody understands.

One of the most anticipated places that the participants will talk about was the Western Wall. As we approached the Kotel, Anna Wolfe, a sophomore at Columbia College, told me that she was nervous because she did not have a "plan" for when she walked up to the wall. My response to her was to do exactly that: don't have a plan. I told her that when she approached the wall her heart would take over and she would know what to do.  Not having a plan proved to be extremely moving for Anna.  "The second I put my hands on the wall and felt the coldness of the stone I felt an extremely strong emotional connection to the Wall. I started to cry, and it wasn't because I was thinking of anything sad or emotional. I just felt like something very spiritual was happening while I was touching the Wall. I said the Shema, read my note, and then put the note in the wall. Finally being there and feeling the emotions that millions of Jews had felt before me, made me feel connected to all of the Jewish people. Being in the place that I had turned towards every time I prayed in school or at temple and seeing the people around me who all felt safe to pray and let go of emotions gave me a strong sense of pride for my religion."  Seeing all of the participants' expressions and demeanor after leaving the Kotel showed me that Anna was not the only one in the group who was extremely moved.

These are just a few snapshots of our experience in Israel over the winter break, and although our Birthright trip has ended and the students are back at school, each participant's journey has only just begun. For this next generation, the experiences and friends made during the 10 day adventure in the Holy Land will last a lifetime.

By Daniel Gethner
JUF's Israel Education Center Israel Intern
Northern Illinois University

As a college student at Northern Illinois University, I may have been thousands of miles away from the most recent Israel/Gaza conflict but I felt a responsibility to support Israel in my own way.  I have the great pleasure of working as an Israel Intern with JUF's Israel Education Center (IEC).  During Operation Pillar of Defense, the IEC provided 10 Israel Interns across the state with detailed information, insight and analysis regarding the events taking place. The guidance I received from the IEC prepared me to approach the subject within my own community.

I decided to take direct responsibility by gathering my AEPI Fraternity Brothers to sit down and engage in a conversation about the current situation.  The night of the discussion I was in a solemn mood - I honestly felt that my body may have been in the room but my heart was with the people of Israel. The more we talked about the conflict the more images came to mind of how they were coping.  But the briefing led into an hour long discussion about the current state of the Middle East and we talked in depth about our ideas and opinions. As the conversation went on we all became more engaged and empowered and our thoughts turned to what we could do locally to make a difference.  The amount of misinformation and half-truths that we knew our friends and classmates were receiving from mainstream and social media led us to want to take action.  We decided to reach out directly to our friends, our campus, and our families. We took the time to inform them about the current situation and made efforts to get in contact with as many family members living in Israel as possible.

In the end, not only was I more informed, but 25 fraternity brothers at Northern Illinois University had the knowledge they needed to speak confidently about Israel in a conversation.  The ripple effect was inspiring. I learned just how many people feel strongly about Israel's right to defend herself and that one person's actions can truly affect entire communities.

As an Israel Intern there is a very fine line I have to walk. I have the responsibility to provide accurate information and take responsibility for my words and actions. After Operation Pillar of Defense, I have become more in tune with sentiment on campus towards Israel.  The reality is that many students disregard anything that does not affect them directly.  However, because of this one conversation, I realize the opportunity I have to change hearts and minds and illuminate the fact that there is a world out there that we all need to care about.

My job as an Israel Intern is not your typical 9 to 5 workday. It is much more than that.  We are on call as the voice on campus--the voice representing the pro-Israel community. I strive to challenge myself every time I walk around campus to keep my eyes and ears open and look for opportunities to have conversations and make connections. I feel it is not just a job but a duty- to be a well-informed student who shares his knowledge with others. I feel this is best represented in the words of George Santayana, "Those who cannot remember the past, are condemned to repeat it."  

The Israel Internship is a program of JUF's Israel Education Center

At the beginning of the school year, campuses across Chicago were targeted by the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement through local activists who have joined a national movement calling for divestment from companies that do business with Israel.

If you haven't heard of the term BDS, it has been defined as an international movement whose goal is to delegitimize Israel using divestment, boycotts and sanctions as its primary method of challenging Israel's right to exist as a Jewish, democratic state. For a more thorough definition see the Israel Action Network's description.  

BDS is a moving target. The movement looks for every avenue possible to achieve the goal of their agenda. They will target any company that does business with Israel, Israeli academics, Israeli products, Sabra Hummus, sister-city partnerships, you name it: if it has any relationship with Israel it will be targeted. The BDS agenda is clear both by what it calls for: divestment from Israel, sanctions against Israel, boycotting Israel. And by what it never calls for: a peace process, resumption of negotiations, security in the region, a two-state solution--and ultimately the movement never calls for peace.

This particular BDS campaign is a national attempt to target TIAA-CREF. Local organizers have spearheaded the agenda in cities, churches and campuses throughout the nation. In Chicago, the movement is asking people to "tell" TIAA-CREF to divest its money (people's pensions) from companies that do business with Israel. Organizers have asked people to sign a petition and have held "teach-in" sessions and events "educating" and activating groups around this goal.

How does this pertain to campus? In Chicago student activists and outside organizations have targeted faculty to sign a petition and "tell" TIAA-CREF to pull its funds from businesses such as Caterpillar, Hewlett Packard, Motorola, and other American businesses. In addition to this, multiple events were held across campuses in Chicago, spreading false information about Israel and calling to action those who would join their cause.

The IEC is always on the front-lines combatting anti-Israel activity on campus. In this case, our IEC Interns pulled together on this issue and collectively decided to tackle the BDS movement head-on by writing an open letter to faculty on campus addressing the facts about BDS and the damage that it causes. We are so proud of our IEC Interns and the determination they took to stand up against this campaign on campus. The following is a copy of the letter:

Dear Professor,

My name is ___________, I am a senior at ___________ and I am also an intern for the Israel Education Center.

I am writing to you about one of the latest campaigns by the Boycott Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement that is waging a political, economic, cultural, and ideological campaign to delegitimize the State of Israel.  The BDS movement and other students on campus will be asking you to sign a petition to tell TIAA-CREF, who handles your retirement accounts, to divest from American companies that do business with the State of Israel.

If enacted, this divestment will hurt American businesses and could cost thousands of Americans their jobs.  Divesting money from companies like Motorola, Hewlett-Packard, Caterpillar, and others, will not help the Palestinian people gain a state of their own.

The BDS movement does not call for negotiations between two responsible partners, it does not advocate for the security of both Palestinians and Israelis, it does not hope for a two-state solution for two peoples living side by side, and it does not want peace. 

Instead, the BDS movement demonizes and delegitimizes Israel's right to exist as a Jewish and democratic state and has done nothing to promote peace or for the betterment of Palestinian lives.

I believe that we as students and faculty can make a difference in regards to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, but under fair and negotiable terms where all sides are heard and considered.

When you receive the petition, I urge you to please consider my letter and support a true peace between parties in the region.  Do not support movements like BDS that only seek to destroy the State of Israel rather than to build a Palestinian homeland.

Thank you for your consideration,

______________________