March not only brings the hope of spring, but, less welcoming, “Israeli Apartheid Week (IAW).” IAW has developed into an annual, two-week hate fest of coordinated anti-Israel events such as lectures, films, and “street theatre” activities held in cities and campuses worldwide. Beginning in Toronto in 2005, by 2009 it had spread to 40 cities on all the continents. IAW aims to portray Israel as a new South African apartheid country, delegitimizing and demonizing the Jewish State, and to build local support for boycott, divestment, and sanctions (BDS) campaigns against Israel.
In Chicago this year, we have tracked 10 activities being held on and off campuses such as film screenings of “Occupation 101” and lectures titled “From Johannesburg to Jerusalem: Lessons from South Africa on Ending Apartheid”.
Through eight academic years the JCRC/Hillels Israel Initiative on Illinois Campuses has been promoting Israel on campus; click here to see our programming calendar. Working year-round and on the ground with Hillel professionals and student activists, the Initiative is well-positioned to address the challenges of 'apartheid week' as it plays out on Illinois campuses.
Equipped with a faculty advisory committee, student interns on nine Illinois campuses and working collaboratively with Jewish and non-Jewish student groups, the Initiative is sponsoring programs that, targeting different audiences, serve to marginalize IAW’s impact. For example, at the University of Illinois at Champaign Urbana an IVest campaign with the business school highlights the economic benefits to Illinois from doing business with Israel.
Additionally, Israel Peace Week begins on campuses immediately following Israel Apartheid Week. With major programming taking place daily, the real Israel – democratic, an American ally and miracle worker in Haiti – will be highlighted. And at UIUC and other campuses, before and after IAW, JCRC's intensive, high-level IsraLimmud Israel Education and Advocacy seminars educate and mobilize for action the most motivated campus Israel activists.
College campuses are essential incubators for growing advocates for Israel and being the launching pad for off-campus activities strengthening the US-Israel relationship. For example, on Feb. 24 students and lay leaders joined the fourth annual Jewish and non-Jewish student fly-in to Washington, D.C., for meetings with senior White House officials and Illinois legislators. Through this experience and the Initiative's campus programming, students are empowered to find their voice and cultivate advocacy and community leadership skills for now and in the future.
For more information about the JCRC/Hillel Israel Initiative contact Jcrc1@juf.org.
Lindsay Folkerth is the program director for the JCRC/Hillel Israel Initiative.
