Welcome CFJS Hasbara Fellowships

Students Jamming it out

History was made when 27 student walked off the plane for the start of the first ever Canadian Federation of Students Hasbara Fellowships trip.
The trip is comprised of students from 20 different universities from coast to coast.

After a jam packed first day in Jerusalem, the students then moved right into their free Shabbat weekend.

Sunday we packed up our bags and departed for our strategic tour of the North and Tel Aviv. We stopped at Latrun to learn about the 1948 Independence Day War and the role the armoured tank corps played throughout Israeli history. We visited the community of Alfe Menashe to talk about the security fence and challenges both Israeli's and Palestinians face because of it.

We then made our way further north to the Givat Chaviva Peace Centre to talk about Arab-Israeli relations for people living on both sides of the Green Line.

After a day full of sight seeing we called it a night and stayed over at our hotel in the SouthEastern Golan. Students sang and played guitar as the majestic sun set over the green mountains.

A day of diplomacy, technology and humanitarian aid- the IDC, Weizmann Institute and Save a child’s heart! Hasabra #1

Today was a really exciting and interesting day. We left Jerusalem early in the morning and made our way to The Interdisciplinary Center in Herzliya. The IDC is an up incoming university in Israel that works towards creating future leaders and representatives for Israel. At the IDC we got to listen to interesting and accredited professors who spoke about both changes within Islam and the growing threat of Iran and its subsidiaries. After our delicious lunch at the IDC we traveled to the Weizmann Center, one of the most respected technology research centers in Israel. There we learned more about Israel’s unprecedented advances in everything from harnessing solar energy to genetically modifying plants to prevent the spread of disease.

Then we continued to the Wolfson hospital where we learned about IsraAID, an organization that works to provide humanitarian aid around the world from within Israel. One of their most known programs, Save a Child’s Heart, works toward treating children with heart problems from neighboring countries. We had the truly moving experience of having a pizza party with the children that are currently in the program. It was night I will never forget!

Visiting the Knesset- An experience we will never forget!- Hasbara #1

Today was a really exciting and busy day. We started the day by studying about the History of the state of Israel ; from the various waves of Jewish migration to the assorted wars and attempted peace settlements. Then we studied how to respond to the most difficult claims against Israel on our different campuses. After lunch we had the amazing opportunity to go to the Israeli parliament, The Knesset. There we had the chance to speak with Benny Alon, a member of the parliment, and ask about anything in Israeli history or procedure that intrigued us.

Being able to speak to a member of Israeli Parliament was an incredibly rewarding experience. Listening to someone who has the authority to make decisions that effect Israeli policies was really exciting for all of us.

As we re-entered the old city, invigorated by our visit to the Knesset, we learned how speak about Israel in confrontational settings by debate extraordinaire, Neil Lazurus. We concluded the night with a great discussion about what we had gained from the day. Can't wait to see what's next!

Hasbara Fellowships Trip #2!!

After months of anticipation and planning, Hasbara Fellowships Trip #2 arrived into Ben Gurion airport on Wednesday the 26^th of December. They were greeted by Hasbara Senior Campus Coordinator Jonathan ‘JC’ Cohen. The group immediately made its way to the Old City of Jerusalem for some dinner and time at the Kotel (Western Wall) before checking into their Hotel accommodations.

Hasbara Fellowship #2’s first full day in Israel was filled with a wide variety of classes and educational settings. The day started with Communicating for Israel taught by Hasbara Fellowships’ Managing Director Natalie Menaged. This class laid the framework for the next two weeks spent in Israel. This class was followed by Aish Hatorah’s resident scholar, Ken Spiro teaching History of the Land of Israel, a introduction into the History of the Jewish people up until the modern Zionist Movement. Our afternoon included a guided tour of Jerusalem’s City Hall. Our tour educators gave us a panoramic view of the entire city of Jerusalem while discussing the various and ongoing projects to enhance Jerusalem.

Our day concluded with a session lead by Senior Hasbara Fellow Charlotte Korchak named “What’s up on your Campus?” and a session Krav Maga.

Going into the group’ free Shabbat, Hasbara once again heard from Ken Spiro in the class “History of the State of Israel.” Capping off our second day, Hasbara Fellowships trip #2 heard from Jerusalem Post Political Correspondent Gil Hoffman who detailed the current political climate within Israel. At this point the group scattered all across Israel on their free Shabbat.

Shabbat Shalom from Israel!

Hasbara Fellowships Trip #2 has arrived!!!

After months of anticipation and planning, Hasbara Fellowships Trip #2 arrived into Ben Gurion airport on Wednesday the 26^th of December. They were greeted by Hasbara Senior Campus Coordinator Jonathan ‘JC’ Cohen. The group immediately made its way to the Old City of Jerusalem for some dinner and time at the Kotel (Western Wall) before checking into their Hotel accommodations.

Hasbara Fellowship #2’s first full day in Israel was filled with a wide variety of classes and educational settings. The day started with Communicating for Israel taught by Hasbara Fellowships’ Managing Director Natalie Menaged. This class laid the framework for the next two weeks spent in Israel. This class was followed by Aish Hatorah’s resident scholar, Ken Spiro teaching History of the Land of Israel, a introduction into the History of the Jewish people up until the modern Zionist Movement. Our afternoon included a guided tour of Jerusalem’s City Hall. Our tour educators gave us a panoramic view of the entire city of Jerusalem while discussing the various and ongoing projects to enhance Jerusalem.

Our day concluded with a session lead by Senior Hasbara Fellow Charlotte Korchak named “What’s up on your Campus?” and a session Krav Maga.

Going into the group’ free Shabbat, Hasbara once again heard from Ken Spiro in the class “History of the State of Israel.” Capping off our second day, Hasbara Fellowships trip #2 heard from Jerusalem Post Political Correspondent Gil Hoffman who detailed the current political climate within Israel. At this point the group scattered all across Israel on their free Shabbat.

Shabbat Shalom from Israel!

Hasbara Fellowships Trip #2

After months of anticipation and planning, Hasbara Fellowships Trip #2 arrived into Ben Gurion airport on Wednesday the 26^th of December. They were greeted by Hasbara Senior Campus Coordinator Jonathan ‘JC’ Cohen. The group immediately made its way to the Old City of Jerusalem for some dinner and time at the Kotel (Western Wall) before checking into their Hotel accommodations.

Hasbara Fellowship #2’s first full day in Israel was filled with a wide variety of classes and educational settings. The day started with Communicating for Israel taught by Hasbara Fellowships’ Managing Director Natalie Menaged. This class laid the framework for the next two weeks spent in Israel. This class was followed by Aish Hatorah’s resident scholar, Ken Spiro teaching History of the Land of Israel, a introduction into the History of the Jewish people up until the modern Zionist Movement. Our afternoon included a guided tour of Jerusalem’s City Hall. Our tour educators gave us a panoramic view of the entire city of Jerusalem while discussing the various and ongoing projects to enhance Jerusalem.

Our day concluded with a session lead by Senior Hasbara Fellow Charlotte Korchak named “What’s up on your Campus?” and a session Krav Maga.

Going into the group’ free Shabbat, Hasbara once again heard from Ken Spiro in the class “History of the State of Israel.” Capping off our second day, Hasbara Fellowships trip #2 heard from Jerusalem Post Political Correspondent Gil Hoffman who detailed the current political climate within Israel. At this point the group scattered all across Israel on their free Shabbat.

Shabbat Shalom from Israel!

Hasbara Poland and Israel: Day 1

Today was a condensed but busy day!
The group got off to a great start after landing in Poland. Immediately after loading up the bus we took a short drive to the Warsaw Jewish Cemetery which as our guide Tzvi Sperber explained tells us more about life in Poland than death. First we explored the pre-war part of the cemetery and learned about different figures in the pre-war Warsaw Jewish Community. We learned what different symbols on the graves could tell you about a person and how the differences between the English, Yiddish, and Hebrew writing meant different things and represented different political issues and represented the evolution of the community. We transitioned into the Holocaust by going to the grave of Adam Ceheraiakow who was the head of the Judenrat, the Jewish Elders who were forced to collaborate with the Nazi's within the ghetto. From there we went to the mass grave where Jews who died and were killed from starvation and disease within the Warsaw Ghetto were buried. Following the cemetery, we went to Nozyck where there is a synagogue still standing because it was used as a horse stable during the war and were able to grab some quick sandwiches there.
We then saw a part of the wall of the Warsaw Ghetto that is still standing and learned about the ghetto. From there we saw the Umschlagplatz where the Jews were gathered to be sent to Treblinka and then went to Mila 18 which was the headquarters of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising. We then walked walked to the Rappaport Memorial to Heroes of Warsaw Ghetto. On one side the memorial represents what the Jews looked like when they went as sheep to the slaughter and on the other side the Jewish resistance movement of the Warsaw Ghetto, headed by Mordechai Anielewicz who was determined not to give up without a fight. It was definitely a powerful contrast and was topped off by the fact that it was carved out of what was supposed to be Hitler's victory stone. As Tzvi said, its truly the opposite turned on its head. From Warsaw we made the drive to Lublin where we had dinner and orientation and checked into our hotels to process and get some sleep!

We're looking forward to a full and meaningful day tomorrow!
















The Warsaw Jewish Cemetery
















University of Maryland's Jessica Leader reading a description on life in the Warsaw Ghetto















The group at Mila 18 - the headquarters of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising






















The Rappaport Memorial to Heroes of Warsaw Ghetto

Hasbara 1: It's already been half way

Hasbara Fellows overlooking the town of Barta

The Givat Chavica Cultural Center

Rebuilding the Safed.



So it has been an amazing week for all of the Hasbara Fellows. We spent 2 days touring the North, looking at strategic sites along the way. Our tour educator Yisrael Ne'eman, also known as the Human Encyclopedia, provided all of the background information and context for our trip.

Our first stop was Alfe Menashe where we were able to really get a feel for the topography of the land, vis a vis, between Israel and the West Bank. From there we visited the Givat Chaviva cultural center where we learned about different initiatives to get Israeli and Arabs talking about peace.

On the second day of touring we started by going to Safed to help rebuild the old city that was badly damaged by the last war in Lebanon. We then visited the battlefield of the Valley of Tears where Israeli tanks staved off a massive Syrian tank offensive in the Yom Kippur War which won the war for Israel.

We toured the town of Metulla, which is by the Lebanese border, and talked about the threats of Hizbullah and security situation after the 2nd war in Lebanon.

After the students had a free Shabbat, we have been busy away learning about the history, politics, and culture of Israel. We heard from MK Benny Elon, Jerusalem Post journalist Gil Hoffman, Palestinian Media Watch founder Itamar Marcus and many more.

Today we are in Tel Aviv at the IDC in Herzilyah. Students are hearing from counter-terrorism experts and international affairs professors.

The final part of the day will be spent at the Save a Childs Heart House where students will be able to meet the children from around the world who have been saved by Israeli doctors.

Keep checking the blog we will be updating you on the trip as well as Hasbara 2, Hasbara Poland and Hasbara Canada which will be arriving in the next few days.