the miracles we call life

As we celebrate Chanukah I think about Israel’s many victories against its enemies.  From the beginning of the story of Chanukah where you find the Macabees miraculously defeating the Greeks to the Six Day War and the Yom Kippur War where Israel defeated Egypt, Jordan and Syria.  In each of these cases it was a miracle that a small Jewish army could defeat such powerhouses like Greece, Egypt and Syria.  These victories have shown the Jewish people and Israel how special we are as a nation.  Hashem truly chose us from the rest of the world to live in an amazing land that we are so proud to call our home!

It is during Chanukah where we are able to not only reflect on our historical miracles as a Jewish people but our own miracles as individuals.  We can see how many miracles go on day to day in our own lives but in Israel as well.  I have taken the time to reflect on this past year and how lucky I have been to live in Israel and become more involved in the Jewish community back in New York City.  I might not have experienced an eye opening miracle like the Macabees but I think it was a miracle that I was able to drop everything and move to Israel for 6 months.  It was truly amazing calling the city of Tel Aviv my home.  I never thought I would be able to get back to Israel on a semi-permanent basis but Israel proved me wrong (I guess I did experience a miracle without even knowing it lol!).  I think there was a greater power out there pulling me back to my country!

That is what I find remarkable about the land of Israel…it draws in so many people from all walks of life!  It is never discriminating and always willing to receive people with open arms.  Again a nation full of miracles!

I hope each and everyone of you reflects on the miracles in your life and gets back to Israel whether for pleasure, business or permanently…I promise it will be a life changing experience!

Chag Chanukah Sameach!!

Holding Onto Hope

Today I posted an article and a hopeful sentence to my Facebook feed, and was met with a pretty solid mix of hope and cynicism. The article – a Ynetnews.com report that cites Abu Mazen as saying the Khaled Meshal (the military leader of Hamas) had agreed to move forward with non-violence as a tactic.

The respondents included – two American Jews living in America, an American Jew living in Israel (in a Garin), An Israeli child of an Israeli Ex-Pat, An Israeli Ex-Pat who was born in America and lives in America, An Israeli soldier.

Here’s a sampling of some of the more cynical responses, in no particular order:

“Don’t hold your breath”

“If I had a dime for every time I heard that…”

“I’ll believe it when they stop shooting rockets and mortars at us.”

On the other hand, there were some, like myself, who simply hoped that it might be true.

I want to challenge anyone who reacts to news as a good as this with the kind of cynicism I’ve shown above. True, we may have heard this before. Yet, I choose to live in a world where peace, love, and respect are possible. The negative reactions to this story represent, to me, a version of reality that people are choosing to live in where these things aren’t possible. And that version of reality is one in which I refuse to join you.

I’m not saying that Hamas is choosing love or respect at this moment. “Non-violence” when used as a tactic instead of as a value, can actually be a part of a violent ideology. However, I believe that acting in a particular way can lead a person’s beliefs and values to change. Hamas can choose non-violence as a tactic that is in line with their ideology (they did so until the late 1980’s), and Baruch HaShem, the tactic of non-violence may actually transform the nature of the conflict.

I want to quote here a selection from A Letter to My Nephew, by James Baldwin, in which he urges his nephew to love his white oppressor:

“You must accept them and accept them with love, for these innocent people have no other hope. They are in effect still trapped in a history which they do not understand and until they understand it, they cannot be released from it. They have had to believe for many years, and for innumerable reasons, that black men are inferior to white men…

Try to imagine how you would feel if you woke up one morning to find the sun shivering and all the stars aflame. You would be frightened because it is out of the order of nature. Any upheaval in the universe is terrifying because it so profoundly attacks one’s sense of one’s own reality.”

To read the whole letter, you can follow this link – http://www.progressive.org/archive/1962/december/letter

I put this letter here, because I think that it illustrates the profound existential threat posed to cynical people, that their “enemy” could choose non-violence as a tactic. So many people, on all sides of this conflict, seem to be frightened by the idea that each other could be capable of peace, capable of love, or capable of seeing each other as humans. Yet, if all of the cynical people in this conflict stopped choosing a bleak reality for one moment and instead chose hope, I truly believe that the group of individuals who want to keep fighting would be a small and pitiful group indeed.

Friends – I pray that some day your reality may be shaken, and that you may begin to believe again that peace and love are possible.

Eretz Israel: Keeping Zion in Zionism

The State of Israel is nine miles wide at its most narrow point. Its area is a total of 8000 square miles (enough to fit inside Florida eight times). It takes less than seven hours to travel by car from Israel’s northern border all the way down to the southern city of Eilat. Israel is one of the only countries in the Middle East that does not have oil resources. It has a limited water supply, and the dubious honor of being surrounded by enemy countries (as well as a few precarious allies).

These facts don’t make Israel seem like an appealing place to visit, let alone live. The location of the Jewish State is not to be envied-on top of all of the previous statistics, members of the global community routinely accuse Israel of “occupying” land and the Jewish Israelis of being “colonialists.” This accusation ignores thousands of years of Jewish history, all of which is irrevocably tied to the land of Israel. Without the years of history and generations of devotion, it would have been easy for the World Zionist Congress to accept proposals to create a Jewish State in Uganda. Instead, delegates were adamant that the ancient biblical homeland of the Jewish people be the location of the modern Jewish State. After all, how could we have Zionism without Zion?

The Zionist movement is one of hope. It survived for thousands of years around the world, as scattered members of the Jewish community gave the land of Israel and the city of Jerusalem prominent places in rituals and events. For generations of life in the Diaspora, Jews have prayed towards Jerusalem, have cried over Jerusalem, and have longed for the day when they would be able to return to Jerusalem and the land of Israel. Modern Zionism and the creation of the State of Israel are the products of years of work and hope.

Without the “Zion” in “Zionism,” the national movement of the Jewish people ceases to be unique, and loses its strength. Zionism, which is as defined as the national movement for the return of the Jewish people to their homeland, has survived and thrived because of the focal point of the movement: Israel. The continued connection of the Jewish people to the physical land of Israel has been an integral part of the success of the Zionist movement. From the religious and historical connection to the land to the pioneering spirit of the halutizm who turned Israel from swampland to the blooming agricultural marvel that is, the people and the land of Israel have been connected. It is thanks to this bond that modern Israel is an innovator in water technology, agriculture, and has so many trees planted annually: because the land of Israel and the people of Israel are the dual key components when it comes to having a productive, successful State of Israel.

Zionism without Zion would not be Jewish nationalism. It would not exist today and would not have lasted for so many generations, inspiring such devotion to its adherents. The continuous flourishing of the movement is the result of the comingling of national beliefs, identity, and bonds to the land that produced the nation.

My Home Away From Home

As I reflect on the past few weeks, I think about how lucky I was to attend the Jewish Federations of North America’s General Assembly.  After living in Tel Aviv, Israel for 5 months I truly feel like an Israeli and part of the Jewish people.  I took my background and knowledge of Israel and Judaism for granted.  It wasn’t until I returned home after my time in Israel that I realized how much I missed being surrounded by Jews in our homeland.  That’s why it was so nice to be a part of the GA.  I once again was surrounded by Jews but this time in our home away from home…America.

I think it is vital for our Jewish future to stay involved in Israel and advocate on its behalf.  I have come to realize that it is truly up to us, the younger generation, to stay connected and spread the word to the rest of the world about Israel’s inimitability.  It was through passion and I believe magic that we have our own Jewish state and we should never take that for granted!  I know I never will!

There is nothing like walking down the streets of Tel Aviv and knowing that everyone around you is one and same.

Oh Israel…I will never forget you!

Bibi, Bonnie and Clyde

Two nights ago, I went out to see a new musical on Broadway. Bonnie & Clyde. Spoiler alert. They die.

It was a phenomenal play. More interesting though, were the reactions of the 9 Israelis I saw it with. They mostly enjoyed it. They found the scenes with the gospel choir to be quite amusing. But none of them had ever really heard the full story of Bonnie and Clyde that the average American is familiar with and it was definitely novel. By intermission, one young woman was utterly confused by the ideology of the play. “I don’t get it”, she said, “I’m feeling like I want the bad guys to win”.

It must be a peculiar thing that we do in America, turning mobsters, villains and murderers into folk heroes. Especially in the face of economic catastrophe (Bonnie and Clyde takes place in the Great Depression), we glorify criminals, rather than patriots. Perhaps its the fact that our country is so much bigger and so much less connected. Feeling more alienated from society, we often feel a lack of control over our lives, over the country, etc. So when people take control, even if to the detriment of others, we take vicarious joy through their actions. Yet, there’s something disturbingly individualistic and anti-nationalist about glorifying criminals, isn’t there?

This can be seen quite starkly in the contrast between the Israeli tent protests and the American Occupy movement. Being intimately familiar with both, I can tell you that they’re both protesting the same basic things. Yet, there have been some key differences:

1. In Israel, the people own the streets and know they have the right to set up shop on a boulevard to air their grievances. In America, people have to sift through endless bureaucracy for permits to do things and feel little to no control over any public space. Amazingly, in America, this “occupation” of public space is pissing some people off. If you want to make change, I guess you’re supposed to give money to a politician or a lobbyist…

2. In Israel, the tent protests are actually composed of several large movements, who can do immensely effective planning and organizing internally. Yet when it comes to policy, they demand that the government figure it out. In America, every decision is made at a General Assembly, where they use consensus with hundreds of people. I actually read this as an overcompensation. The extreme disenfranchisement that the people in the United States feel every time their hopes are dashed by a politician who can’t change the system (AKA Obama) is making them to seek a much more radical form of Democracy.

Ok, so what’s the point of all of this. I guess what I’m saying is that I think Israelis feel a greater sense of ownership over their country and of common purpose than Americans. I think that’s why, for Israelis, its hard to imagine a criminal folk hero. Israeli folk heroes are politicians who united the country and soldiers who gave their lives. They are the people who do well with the trust that the public has put in them. In other words, they are the truest of patriots. In America – on the other hand, to be a hero means doing what everyone wishes they could – whatever you want. It requires looking out for yourself, making lots of money and flauting the rest of society. Quite different aspirations, don’t you think?

Giving Thanks for Israel

Thanksgiving is the day on the American calendar set aside for watching football, eating copious amounts of food while surrounded by family and friends, gearing up for Black Friday, and, most importantly, reflecting on the many things that each of us has to be thankful for and the countless blessings in our lives.

As I ponder the numerous things in my own life that I am grateful for, many things come to mind. Family, friends, health. However, the themes that override them all is Israel and Zionism. I, and my contemporaries, am lucky enough to have been born in a time when Israel exists as a free and independent Jewish State. We are unique in this: generations of Jews have spent thousands of years praying to return to Israel and establish a modern Jewish state, but only for the past sixty-three years has that become the reality of the Jewish people.

I am thankful that the existence of Israel has transformed what it means to be Jewish, and has given the Jewish people around the world the confidence that comes with knowing we have a home of our own, a place we can call ours, a tangible location that gives us status as a nation.  It puts us on par with the rest of the world. No longer are the Jewish people the eternal wanderers, with no permanent place: we have our ancestral homeland back. We have the rights and privileges that come with having independence, including an army and the right to self-defense and self-determination. I am thankful for the strength of Israel, and the knowledge that Israel will defend itself, its people, and Jewish people around the world, if outside enemies force it to do so.

I am thankful that Israel is a free and democratic state, where individuals of all races, religions, genders, and sexual orientations are able to live together. I am proud that Israel is a pioneer in areas ranging from water technology to “green” startups and innovations.  I am thankful that Israel is a champion of human rights, and is a place where gays, women, and religious minorities enjoy rights that are unparalleled throughout the rest of the Middle East. I am thankful for the diversity of Israel, and the unique culture that has been created by all of the different people who call Israel “home.”

I am thankful that Israel puts such a high value on human rights. For too many years, my thoughts on Thanksgiving turned to Gilad Shalit, hoping that each year would be his last one in captivity. Now, thanks to the efforts of his family, the Israeli government, and supporters from around the world, that dream has become a reality. I am thankful that Gilad Shalit is home safe and that Israel has proven to the world once again the value that it places on the lives of its citizens, particularly its soldiers. The whole country embraced Gilad as a part of their families, praying for him and rejoicing with his family when they were finally successful in their quest for his release.

I am thankful that the Zionist movement continues to flourish, inspiring Jews around the world and continuing to connect them with Israel. Above all, I know that I am lucky to live in a time when Israel exists and, despite the problems that it faces, flourishes. I am thankful to be a part of this unique time period in history when Israel is easily accessible to me, and I know that it will remain my refuge, my inspiration, my history, my future, my home.

Exploring the Threat of Delegitimization

The campaign to delegitimize Israel is growing steadily and becoming ever more hostile. Not only does this movement seek to strip away Israel’s lawful existence but to prevent Jewish self-determination altogether. A key point is that the delegitimization movement is mostly non-violent, so outsider observers have the false impression that it is no real threat.

Yet harm is being done: Delegitimization has become such a critical issue inside the Jewish community itself that infighting has flared, with multiple organizations challenging the validity of one another’s “pro-Israel” identity, and questioning the right of certain groups to even “belong in the tent” of the organized Jewish community.

Delegitimization is such a hot topic that it became one of the major agenda points at the 2011 Jewish Federations of North America General Assembly in Denver last week. Several panels devoted their energies to analyzing the anti-Israel movement and coming up with ways to counter it. The “Assault on Israel’s Legitimacy” panel was particularly powerful in this regard.

Gidi Grinstein, founder and president of the Reut Institute, served as moderator of the panel, whose three panelists included the Honorable Irwin Cotler, Member of Canada’s Parliament; the Right Honorable Dr. Denis MacShane, Member of the United Kingdom’s Parliament; and Einat Wilf, Member of Knesset (MK).

A second panel titled “How Big a Tent Do We Need?” convened as a “town hall” meeting and aimed to explore the various views toward Israel within the Jewish community. Rabbi Steve Gutow, president and CEO of the Jewish Council on Public Affairs, served as moderator; the three panelists were Barry Shrage, president of CJP, Greater Boston’s Jewish Federation; Jonathan Tobin, senior online editor of Commentary magazine; and Rabbi Melissa Weintraub, co-founder and former co-executive director of the educational organization Encounter.

By exploring conflicting viewpoints in the Jewish community, the panel sought to determine what views should and should not be embraced, and indeed whether all views should be welcome at all.

In the session on the “Assault on Israel’s Legitimacy,” meanwhile, panelists presented individual takes on the delegitimization movement, along with solutions they believed might be useful to students, writers, and other activists responding to the outlandish claims frequently made against the Jewish state.

During Einat Wilf’s presentation, the MK called delegitimization “a strategic threat to Israel,” and like the other panelists, described the delegitimizers as determined to foment the destruction of Israel through public deception. MP Cotler took things a step further, saying, “The real issue is not so much delegitimization but the masking of it under the law.” Cotler explained that the delegitimizers are using forums such as the United Nations Human Rights Council to slander Israel, and that such efforts are “delegitimizing the whole struggle for human rights itself.”

In the “How Big a Tent Do We Need” town hall panel, speakers said that the Boycott Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement should not be embraced by the Jewish community because its core goal is to delegitimize Israel. In a statement echoing Wilf’s comment that “delegitimization is a strategic threat to Israel,” CJP’s Shrage said, “BDS has no place in our community because, underneath the BDS movement, they’re really against Israel, period.”

Indeed, the two panels’ shared focus was finding solutions for dealing with the delegitimization movement as a whole. Both panels also dealt with the issue of whether or not to allow certain views inside “the tent.”  MacShane, a panelist in the Assault on Israel’s Legitimacy panel, cogently argued that, “Delegitimization must be treated as an ideology.”

Another conference theme was the concern over whether combating delegitimization efforts might embolden anti-Israel activists. As Commentary’s Tobin said, “We must fund and empower Israel education and consider what it is as a community that we stand for.” This statement was almost identical to Cotler’s suggestion to “retake the narrative” and air the truth about Israel in multiple contexts.

One panelist who differed from the majority on the issue of embracing anti-Israel movements such as BDS was Rabbi Weintraub. “We don’t extinguish viewpoints by vanishing them; we embolden them,” the rabbi said. Strongly disagreeing, Tobin responded that, “Inclusivity is very important to cultivate civil discussions and respectful discourse,” but “red lines are necessary.”

Tobin went on to state that, “What is scary is when we decide in the name of inclusivity that groups that stand for things that work against what we as a community should be supporting, get brought in and become part of this consensus and then become equal to those who support Israel.”

Inclusivity aside, delegitimization is a major issue facing the state of Israel and the Jewish people globally. By slandering Israel time and time again, anti-Israel activists are looking to destroy the Jewish state and end Jewish self-determination. Now that delegitimization has been recognized as a threat, activists’ next step is to implement the solutions developed at the GA. One of the best came from Wilf, whose vision involves developing an “I-IDF” (Israeli Intellectual Defense Forces) “responsible and committed to the intellectual defense of Israel.”

That being said, members of the Jewish community must now educate themselves about what Israel stands for. Thankfully, pro-Israel groups, such as the Zionist Organization of America (ZOA) and American Zionist Movement (AZM) have made this easier for students and young professionals by providing programming options, such as ZOA’s Student Leadership Mission to Israel or AZM’s Do The Write Thing program for young professionals.

If we are to truly oppose the delegitimization of Israel, then it is our duty as Zionists and purveyors of justice to learn more about the facts. No longer should Israel’s detractors have free rein to make false claims, take advantage of the law, and use just causes like human rights to attack the Jewish State of Israel—because the facts to dispel those myths are firmly on our side.

Youth Movement Shlichim

I just finished a weekend seminar that Habonim Dror (The Labor-Zionist youth movement) runs for its summer camps every fall. While most of our seminars are geared towards young people, this one brings the professional staff  and Adult committee leaders together with the young people.

One of the more touching moments was when we discussed our Shlichim (or Emissaries). These young people have chosen to spend 1-2 years of their life, living on little more than enough to get by, educating young people in our youth movement about Zionism. They do amazing work!

I could write pages about each of our shlichim, and I’m sure I will at some point, but for now I want to highlight one in particular for some work he did in Philadelphia. Oded Marck worked with the young leaders in Philadelphia to transform a quiet, yearly tekes (ceremony)  for Yitzchak Rabin, into a much more significant event for the Philadelphia community. He put together a traveling museum about Rabin’s life, and has worked to bring the exhibit to over 12 synagogues.

This year, because of Oded and his work with our young leaders, hundreds of children in Philadelphia were given an opportunity to learn about a Zionist hero and to think about how his legacy affects them. Here’s the news article in the local Jewish press. It doesn’t mention Oded – but know that he is the one in the background, making this all possible. http://www.jewishexponent.com/article/24718/A_Youthful_Tribute_to_Rabin/

Expressing Zionism Through Sports: The Israeli Bobsled and Skeleton Team

More than half of the geography of the State of Israel is comprised of the Negev desert. Israel is a country that prays for rain, and has become an innovator in the field of irrigation and water technology due to deficits of that most coveted resource in the Middle East. Thus, it may come as a shock to many that Israel, a country full of desert sands, is also home to its own Bobsled and Skeleton Federation.

Bobsled and Skeleton, for those unaware, is a winter sport involving racing downhill on tracks of ice and packed snow. Israel doesn’t have a track, but does have a team, headed by Skeleton racer Bradley Chalupski. Bradley, a New Jersey native, got involved with sliding while attending law school at Seton Hall University. He saw the sport being played at the 2006 Olympics, and decided to try it for himself. After participating in training camp with the United States Bobsled and Skeleton Federation and competing in regional events with the American team, he narrowly missed making the US National Team.

It was around that time that Chalupski was approached by the Israeli Federation. At first he was hesitant to compete for Israel. “I didn’t want to be an opportunist. I have a Jewish mother and a Catholic father, so I was raised very secular; I hadn’t been to Israel before and didn’t really feel a connection with it.” After soul-searching and talking with friends, family, and members of the Jewish community, Bradley began to change his mind. A connection with Judaism and the Jewish people began to emerge as various friends all had the same reaction to his query: You’re Jewish; of course you can represent Israel. Bradley, a Birthright Israel alum, was captivated by the natural beauty of the Negev desert during his inaugural trip to Israel, and began to develop a personal connection with the country.

Bradley credits his girlfriend with giving him the push that he needed to play for Israel when she said, “You have to do this. You’re Jewish and it’s Israel. Israel is a part of every Jew, and you have an obligation to do this, to try and qualify the country for the Olympic games.” Thus, the unaffiliated University of Maryland alum began to connect with Israel and his personal Zionism through bobsled and skeleton.

Now, Bradley appreciates and relishes in the opportunity to bring awareness about Israel and Jewish people to the world through sports. He takes pride in the opportunity to represent Israel, noting that “Sport is always a prism for national pride. You don’t have to look any further than the Munich Olympics. When people look to attack a country, athletes are up on the list, because they have a place in the national psyche.” He views his own connection to Israel, as forged through the sport, as a success of the Zionist movement, being that it brought him to Israel and back to his Jewish heritage. He hopes that people will view it as inspiring that Jews can do this. As he said, it means something to people when they are able to say that “Jews can be crazy too!” Jewish and Israeli participation in sports is a vehicle by which people can view Israel as a country just like any other, a participant in the world of global sports, and hopefully, one day, a champion at the Winter Olympics.

For more information about the Israeli Bobsled and Skeleton Federation, contact Tamar Simon. Tamar.Simon@gmail.com and check out the IBSF Twitter @TeamIsraelSkele

Putting A Personal Face On Israel

Israel has been in existence as an independent nation-state for over sixty years, and that has been a dream of the Jewish people for generations. The connection between the Jewish people and the land of Israel is multifaceted, with bonds including religion, historical connection, and source of national inspiration and identity. Yet, in the 21^st century, young Jews in the Diaspora, who have never known a world without the State of Israel, are not educated about the history or current events surrounding the Jewish State, and often do not feel a personal connection to the land that their ancestors identified with so strongly.

As young North American Jews have grown so used to Israel’s existence, they have lost the passion for Israel that marked so many generations of Diaspora Jewry. They do not identify with Israel, sometimes viewing it as a liability, something to defend or explain, in large part thanks to the efforts of the movement to delegitimize Israel. This movement is one that calls into question connection of the Jews to Israel and even challenges the right of Israel to exist as an independent Jewish country. It is a global movement, one that touches American college campuses, the United Nations, and European entities, in addition to permeating much of the Arab world. It has turned the relationship that Diaspora Jews have with Israel on its head, thrusting many Jews who may have not previously thought about Israel in much detail into the arena of the Israel debate.

To question Israel’s legitimacy is to question the existence of the only functioning democracy in the Middle East, a country that values diversity, pluralism, and free speech. It is to challenge a champion of human rights, an innovator in hi-tech and environmentalism, and a proponent of values that many Americans share. Yet, in spite of all that Israel brings to the world, and specifically the pride that it should instill in the Jewish community, the movement to delegitimize Israel continues to make inroads. According to MP Gidi Grinstein, the delegitimization campaign thrives on the gaps between the myth of Israel and its reality. This is accurate, as many Israel detractors are successful in spreading their message simply because there is no one from the pro-Israel community who stands up and challenges the validity of their accusations.

The reason that so few Jews feel comfortable standing up and advocating for Israel is simply a lack of knowledge. Many Jews, even those who have received Jewish educations, are not well versed in the history of Zionism, the complexity of the State of Israel, or the intricacies of the Arab-Israeli conflict. Because they do not receive ample Israel education, and in some cases do not feel a personal connection with Israel, it is clear why the gap between Diaspora Jews and Israelis exists. Luckily, organizations such as Birthright Israel and MASA Israel Journey, serve to combat this gap.

To date, Birthright Israel has sent over 250,000 young Jews to Israel on free ten-day trips to Israel. These trips serve as a first taste of Israel to participants, allowing them to experience a whirlwind tour of Israel that showcases all of the best that Israel has to offer, from food to natural beauty to religious and historical significance. The hope, and oftentimes the case, is that participants are not satisfied with this first taste of Israel, but rather are inspired to return, to learn more, and to get involved with the Jewish community.

For many Birthright alumni looking for a more in-depth Israel experience, MASA Israel Journey provides them with such opportunities. MASA, which to date has over 60,000 alumni, provides young Jews with long-term Israel experiences, enabling Jews from the Diaspora to have the experience of living in Israel and becoming a part of the Jewish State.

Birthright and MASA alumni take away many tangible and intangible things from their trips to Israel. They come back to America with souvenirs, pictures, and memories of amazing times with friends, family, and the greater Jewish community. They also come away with something else: a personal connection with the State of Israel and the Israeli people that cannot be denied. Every participant on an Israel program has the opportunity to meet with Israelis and to interact with them on a personal level, talking, asking questions, and sharing stories. This is an amazing thing, as it provides a human face to the abstract stories about Israel that one hears. When alumni come back to the United States and are faced with accusations against Israel and the Israeli people, they are often more inclined to respond and challenge detractors and delegitimizers, because they have been there. These program alumni have been on the ground, living in Israel, experiencing the culture and diversity of Israel firsthand. Having had these experiences, program alumni are able to become active participants in the conversation about Israel, sharing their stories and correcting misinformation.

It is undeniable that many Israel program alumni are not engaged properly after they return from their Israel trips. This is something that is a problem of the Jewish community and various Jewish organizations, and it is a challenge that must be faced and dealt with. Yet, the power that comes with having had that personal experience is something that remains with an individual whether or not they are outwardly involved with the pro-Israel community, or even with the Jewish community in general. To have seen Israel for oneself, to have met Israelis, to have walked the streets and experienced the unique energy enables an individual to be able to stand up to an anti-Israel detractor and say that they know firsthand how inaccurate and uninformed their accusations are. It allows them to connect with Israel and to share this connection with others, leading to increased awareness of the truth about Israel.