Canada Teaches Kids Peace

Hasbara Fellow Jenny Sanders (left) ran TKP at University of British Columbia TKP display at UBC

Teach Kids Peace Petition
Hasbara Fellow Josh Otis ran TKP at the University of Waterloo
Hasbara Fellows Rafi Yablonsky, Mike Khardas and Sammy Katz ran the campaign at York University

November 15th 2006 was Teach Kids Peace Day. campuses across Canada from Montreal to Vancouver ran the national program including:

Hasbara Fellow Jen Eidelman, University of Prince Edward Island

Hasbara Fellow Hayden Bernstein, McGill

Hasbara Fellows Rafi Yablonsky, Mike Khardas and Sammy Katz, York University

Hasbara Fellow Josh Otis, University of Waterloo

CJPAC Fellow Llloyd Suchet, University of Alberta

JSA President Dario Hunter, University of Windsor

Hasbara Fellow Jenny Sanders, University of British Columbia and many more!

Israel Awareness Week and TKP at UF

This past week we have been working on Israel Awareness Week at UF. Here are the events that we held:
Israel Awareness Week events
Sun. 11/12: 'The War Against Hezbollah' Presented by
Melitz America @ Hillel 6:30 PM
Mon. 11/13: BBQ @ Chabad 6:30 PM
Tues. 11/14: Movie @ Hillel 7 PM
Weds. 11/15: Israeli Club Night @ Plasma 10 - 2
Thurs. 11/16: Kumzitz @ Hillel 7 PM
Fri. 11/17: Israeli Shabbat @ Chabad 7:30 & Hillel

On Wed. I tabled with IAW for Teach Kids Peace. Teach Kids Peace was a great success. About 100 students signed the petition and many expressed interest in learning more about programs and events. I also made a connection with another group called Students Against Racism (STAR) and spoke to the president about cosponsering events. These connections I feel are key to Israel activism because it introduces a whole new audience and opens support for Israel beyond the Jewish circle.

Dalhousie launches Israel Week

Day 1 focused on Israel's humanitarian contributions around the world
Save A Child's Heart
Day 2 focused on Israel as a thriving democracy in the ME

Israel Week at Dalhousie showcased the best of Israel in many ways. The event was organized by IAC President Eliane Dreyfuss with the help of the very hard working Israel Action Committee.

Day one showcased Israel's humanitarian contributions around the world. The display featured Hasbara Fellowships' Flags for Humanity, material from Save A Child's Heart, and CFJS' national peace campaign. This day put politics aside and really dove into the issues that the media often leaves out.

Day two featured Israel as a democracy. Materials used the 'shared values' approach of comparing Canada's parliament to Israel's Knesset. Like Canada, Israel is also a democracy. The day also had representatives from Hebrew University and Tel Aviv University.

Day three and four will tackle opportunities to Israel as well Israel' culture. Wam falafel balls and pita with "cheeps" and the sharp snare of Hadag Nachash will be turning heads in the S.U.B.

Good times were shared at Dalhousie, if you haven't been, I highly recommend you take the short plane ride out there.

 

One Rabbi, Big Change

Rabbi Klatzkow and Ben Feferman talk about their plans to take over the world

As I travelled to the winterland of Canada several things happened. I could not feel most parts of my body and secondly, I felt more at home than anywhere.

As I walked into the new Aish Winnipeg Centre I was greeted by the warmth of Rabbi Klatzkow and the students participated in the Aish Leadership Series.

Rabbi Klatzkow is leading a new charge of campus activism. Through his series, he is building a new young generation of campus leaders who will certainly change the landscape of the University of Winnipeg and the University of Manitoba.

Finally, all of us at Hasbara would like to wish Hasbara Fellow Lana Hunstad all the best as she is making Aliyah in December. We will certainly miss you on campus.

 

Stand Up For Your Rights

After a series of stops throughout campuses across the West Coast region, I have learned that many students these days are confused as to how to approach the Arab-Israeli conflict. The Israeli-Palestinian, Arab-Israeli, or Islamist conflict (whatever you might call it), all boils down to the same basic principles – the eradication of the State of Israel, and the spread of Islamist ideals throughout the world, starting with the Arab Peninsula, and working its way out to all corners of the earth.

It has come to my attention that many of you cannot decide how to go about supporting Israel without somehow alienating some other opinion or stance you might have on a certain issue. For example, take the Disengagement, which took place just over a year ago. In the boldest move in Israeli history, Prime Minister Ariel Sharon took it upon himself to allow the Palestinians to establish their own state in the Gaza Strip. Only because he was committed to the two-state solution did he make such a strategic move – not because he compromised his vision of a greater Israel, but because of his dedication to the peace process. It was then and there that the “Bulldozer” laid the building blocks of what could have been the modern Palestinian state. However, many of us could not compromise our ideals of a unified Israel with those like Sharon’s of a desire of an independent Palestine. We thought it to be too politically incorrect to voice our private opinions while Israel was going through such hardships. Likewise we thought it to be too politically incorrect to speak out against the establishment of a Palestinian state, in which we could predict terrorism reigning over democracy.

This was just an example. As we very well know, there are many other situations that have come up and will come up, which somehow conflict with our own opinions. But we have to remember, and continuously remind ourselves, that this is a propaganda war. As long as we remain silent, the other side will win. They will win because they have a stronger voice – not a stronger argument, but a louder presence. And that is exactly what it boils down to… a presence. Should we decide to remain on the outskirts and stay silent, they will win without a fight. They will win this ideological battle, and they will advance their goal of spreading terrorism. This is precisely what “Obsession” is about – it is about speaking up against terrorism, against dictatorial regimes, and against the preaching of hatred to children that will mature only to kill our own children.

I call on all of you to stand up for Israel, no matter what political beliefs or opinions you might have. Ladies and gentlemen, you are the frontrunners of this campaign. You are the ones defending Israel on university campuses, probably the most open and liberal institution in the world. This conflict depends on your ability and willingness to stand up for what you believe in – for what you know is true. Today’s conflicts are won by public opinion. We call on you to be active and voice Israel’s side.

Peace!

Israel activism at the University of Maryland (TerPAC)

Israel activism at the University of Maryland (TerPAC)

So far on our campus we have had our annual Tel-Aviv Beach Party. We have this event on north campus--which is where most of the freshman and sophmores live. At this event we have things such as falafel, hookah, Israel music, moonbounce, slip-n-slide, and so much more. The goal of this event is to get people, especially the new students, to get to know our club and introduce the good side of Israel. Usually at this even we get a big turnout and a lot of interested students. Earlier this week, we, along with JSU (Jewish Student Union) and Gay and Lesbian alliance brought Ivry Lider. He performed in our student union. The turnout was amazing. We had about 400 people come to the concert. Because we co-sponsored with a non-Jewish club, we didn't only have Jews come to the concert. Everyone seemed to have an amazing time!

TerPAC's(Terrapin Israel Public Affairs Committee) year long project is collecting money for an Israel bond. Because our school matches anything that we make, our goal is to make $6000 by the end of this year. So far we have collected around $400.

We are currently planning a political speaker to come to our campus.

More to come soon.

Elina Yakubov

USC hosts David Gilbert, Mark Regev and Prepares for GA Conference

It will be a busy next couple of weeks as SC' Students for Israel prepare to host David Gilbert, Mark Regev, in addition to volunteering to help the Israeli Consulate in Los Angeles prepare for the General Assembly Conference. David Gilbert, the CBS correspondent in the Middle East, will be at USC on November 9th. Mark Regev, spokesmen for the Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs, will be here the following week, speaking at a lunchtime event for faculty, as well as a nightime event thata is open to the public. A group of 10 USC volunteers is helping the Israeli Consulate with the General Assembly conference that looks to host multiple politicians, including Ehud Olmert. Hopefully I can get a picture with PM Olmert to post next time. In addition, we will be tabeling on November 15th to mark "Teach Kids Peace Day." It is a busy time here at USC. I am looking forward to letting you all know how everything goes.

Abby Korchak

York Prepares for Community Wide Soldier's Campiagn

On November 16, 2006 York University Hillel in Conjuction with Hasbara Fellowships will launch a fundraising and awareness campaign for the three kidnapped Israeli soldiers, Ehud Goldwasser, Eldad Regev and Gilad Schalit. Speakers, such as Kobi Brosh (Israel's Consul General to Toronto and Central Canada), a short film and the sale of commererative pins will bring the issue to the cummunity, and hopefully will aid the search for these POWs. For more information about their lives, their capture, and efforts to bring them home please visit banim.org, a website sponsored by their parents. All proceeds from the fundraiser and pin sales will go towards the website.

-Sari Scherer