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SPECIALTY TRIPS
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It’s practically a dream come true to spend a year living in Ashkelon, Israel, with the Israel National Lacrosse team. I am currently a senior at UMass Amherst and am a member of its women’s lacrosse team. Due to COVID-19, I have the opportunity to continue my studies at UMass by learning remotely.
I grew up in Wayland, where my love for sports and especially lacrosse began. I had never really had an opportunity to play on teams with other Jewish girls, besides my sister, Jackie. I was pretty much always the only one on my team who was Jewish, both at Wayland High School and at UMass. While training here with the Israel National Team, I have finally been able to do what I love with other Jewish athletes, which has been such an unbelievable experience. We start our mornings here with a team practice, lift, agility and conditioning sessions. We also have Hebrew lessons each week, which has been very helpful. We are even learning vocabulary that we can use on the field with our teammates and coaching local youth. After practice, we come back to the apartments we are living in, where I take my UMass classes remotely on Zoom. Our apartment is amazing! It’s a beautiful new high-rise building overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. I love spending time with my roommates on the balcony, where we hang out, and it’s also a great place to get homework done. After class, I typically return to the field to coach Israeli youth, which is my favorite part about the program. I truly love growing the game of lacrosse in Israel. It has been especially rewarding to see the joy young Israeli athletes experience while playing a competitive sport. I love how it’s a mutual learning experience for the gap-year participants and the Israeli players as they teach us all about their language, culture and lifestyle. Not only are we able to tour the beautiful beach city of Ashkelon, we also tour the rest of the country. We have visited Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, the Dead Sea, a kibbutz in the South and many hikes in between. I can’t wait to see more of the country this semester! Israel has also done an amazing job at vaccinating its citizens, and I am so fortunate to be receiving the vaccine shortly. While this is not how I imagined my senior year of college, the current world situation has afforded me the opportunity of a lifetime. I look forward to representing Israel in future international competitions and bringing my experience here back to my community. I am so grateful for Masa Israel Journey, Israel Lacrosse Association and Combined Jewish Philanthropies of Greater Boston for helping me pursue this life-changing experience. Abby Stoller is a senior at UMass Amherst majoring in psychology and education. She grew up in Wayland. |
HELPING ISRAELIS
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September 25, 2020
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I learned the meaning of Jewish community during my four years as a young professional in Boston. Through the plethora of CJP's Campus and Young Adult programming, I met so many kind and wonderful people while learning about Jewish tradition.
These connections proved helpful even once I realized that what I actually wanted to do professionally was move to Israel and assist in the medical field. For two years now, CJP on Campus has provided me with a scholarship to study at the University of Haifa's Nursing School. As I approach the end of my studies, I am currently assisting the country by working rounds in the emergency room of a hospital in Haifa, northern Israel's largest city. The process is that anyone who is diagnosed or suspected of coronavirus has a special entrance for emergency treatments, away from the rest of the patients. The ward I am in is in the basement with about 30 patients, about half of whom are intubated, and from what I saw, mostly elderly. Israel has imposed a lockdown that began with Rosh Hashana and will last until after Sukkot. This means if you're not doing something essential like getting groceries, you'll be fined 500 shekels for being more than 500 meters from your home. I'm thrilled to be helping in my new country, and am thankful for the support of the Boston Jewish community in allowing me to help others. |
Natan Loyfman was born in Ukraine and attended CUNY Brooklyn in New York City. After graduating he moved to Boston to work in the clean energy industry. He is now completing his Nursing Degree at the University of Haifa with the help of a scholarship from CJP.
MEANINGFUL EXCURSION |
November 3, 2019
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ClarkU Hillel recently took a meaningful excursion to the Museum of Jewish Heritage in New York City. “It’s real important to remember our history,” said Jeff Narod, executive director of ClarkU Hillel. “As a Jewish nation we must stand up for any group that is oppressed and taken advantage of, especially in light of what’s going on in the world today.” The museum shows the horrors and ongoing relevance of the Holocaust in today’s world, especially centering around Auschwitz. The exhibit, which opened on the anniversary of VE Day this past May, surveys the time of World War II, showing how Nazis assigned a chart of eye color to distinguish who was and was not acceptable, through more than 400 photographs and 700 original objects, and how tens of thousands of other minority groups were victims as well. “They (Nazis) thought of everything,” Sam Reed ’19 said. “They definitely dotted their i’s and crossed their t’s.” Artifacts throughout the museum included shoes worn by children, a real door to the crematorium in Auschwitz, as well as a chart that showed the triangles and patches each “perpetrator” had to wear. “Right at the end a Jewish prisoner took a photo of the Nazis burning all the bodies of the prisoners and that was used as proof,” Reed said. Throughout the exhibit, students were able to gain a view of the horrors that they never faced before. “I saw some things that I didn’t really know about the Holocaust,” Ari Hoffman ’21 said. “There were a few things here and there that I never really realized about the Holocaust, so it was interesting.” Students who are not involved in Hillel as well as those who are not Jewish also attended the exhibit. “If one day I want to stand by Jewish people, I have to learn the history,” graduate student Knight Wei said. “I have to learn what you guys experienced before. I also wanted to be a part of this community and enjoy this meaningful trip.” The footage of the survivors was powerful as well, Hoffman said. They talked about how to repair the world, Walter Holzburg ’20 from Baruch College, added. The videos discussed how exhibits like this are important, even almost 80 years after the Holocaust took place. |
“I think the video testimonials sharing their stories—the stuff that they had to go through, the horrific details—I feel like you learn something new each time you go through an exhibit like this,” said Will Lichtenburg ’20, vice president of ClarkU Hillel. Students in addition to ClarkU Hillel also came from Becker and WPI’s Hillels.
“The visuals and the audio really put it in context because I read the stories before but seeing them added a new dimension,” said Josh Usiskin ’20, WPI’s Hillel president. Some of the Clark students had gone to Auschwitz before and experienced the museum through a different lens. Members Rose Spitzer ’20, Miranda Singer ’20, Lichtenburg, and Reed went to Poland previously. “I definitely learned some new things at the Auschwitz exhibit in New York,” Reed said.
Reed mentioned how she knew of the “Angel of Death” doctor Joseph Mengele, but she had never heard of the second doctor who oversaw the Jews, Gregor Renno. “I had no idea this man existed,” Reed said.
Other students who had been on the trip to Auschwitz also found the exhibit impactful. “The most impactful for me was that I’ve literally been to Auschwitz so I didn’t really go into the exhibit expecting to really learn anything new or learn anything I hadn’t really heard,” Lichtenburg said. “I learned a whole bunch of new stuff that I hadn’t heard before. The fact that I’m able to go to these things having already gone to the real place and learn new things is kind of incredible.” The Auschwitz exhibit has recently extended its time at the Museum of Jewish until August 30, 2020.
Monica Sager, Clark University '21, is the President of her school's Hillel.
THINKING OF TAIWAN IN ISRAEL |
October 21, 2019
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Being a student from Taiwan, I thought I had done enough research to know that Israel is world-famous for technology innovation and entrepreneurship. However, when I arrived, I leaned it was far more than that. Being unfamiliar with Israeli history made my experience both fascinating and overwhelming. I learned that Israel has more Nobel Prizes per capita than even the United States. There are over 100 sushi restaurants in Tel Aviv, which makes it the city with the most sushi restaurants per capita after Tokyo and NYC. Israel has more companies listed on the NASDAQ than Korea, Japan, Singapore, India, and all of Europe combined. Israel is ranked #2 in the world for venture capital funds. And the list goes on… How can Israel, a country with only 8 million people, no natural resources, and enemies literally surrounding the border produce more start-up companies than Japan, Korea, Canada, and the UK? Why Israel, why not somewhere else? During my visit, I was reading Start-Up Nation, a book that tries to answer these questions. It made me think of Taiwan, where I am from. Taiwan shares similar adversities with Israel, such as threats from countries nearby and lack of natural resources due to its small size. However, Taiwan is nowhere close to producing an entrepreneurial culture that compares with Israel’s. I have some personal observations on what is driving the differences between Taiwan and Israel. The first main driver is government support. Israelis are encouraged to start their own business by leveraging the government’s help. The Israeli government is known for providing local entrepreneurs with a certain number of subsidies and tax benefits. Moreover, when it comes to innovation, public sectors are very efficient and relatively supportive. In Taiwan, things are difficult for entrepreneurs. There are conflicts within public sectors because they work for different departments which do not share the same vision, not to mention different parties are fighting against each other to win the election. The second major factor is the attitude toward failure. In Israel, it’s not like Israelis tend to create only successful start-ups, but Israelis have successfully managed to bring failed entrepreneurs back into the system to constructively use their experience to try again, rather than leaving them permanently stigmatized and marginalized. In Taiwan, only those successful entrepreneurs get attention. What about those who failed? Most of them have disappeared and never got back into the system. This actually happened to me, years ago, while I was working for a start-up. When it failed, I never heard back from the founders. If they were in Israel, I am sure people would’ve reached out to them and help them to learn from their experience. The final and the most interesting driver is the military necessity. In Israel, both male and female citizens have to serve in the army. Three years for men and two years for women. In fact, a lot of start-up ideas come from military experience because Israeli soldiers are exposed to advanced technology and an innovative environment. When they are released, they bring some good ideas to the real world and do an amazing job commercializing them. On the other hand, in Taiwan, only men have to serve in the army, and the environment in the Taiwanese army is seemingly the total opposite when compared with the Israelis. At least from my experience, when I was serving in the army, I felt less productive and did not have a real training regimen. The main reason, I contend, is because there has not been a real war in Taiwan, so people, in particular the younger generation do not view military training as necessary nowadays. While Israeli entrepreneurs continue to perform in a surprising way, Taiwan has shown promise of turning the corner to follow their success. During my internship I met two groups from the Taiwanese government trying to learn from Israeli start-up eco-system. By sending several Taiwanese start-ups each year to Israel to meet and learn from Israeli entrepreneurs, the Taiwanese government has shown a desire to copy the country’s model of success. Although it still has a long way to go, I think connecting with more Israeli entrepreneurs and experts is a great starting point for Taiwan to become a start-up friendly place down the road! |
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Kenny Kan, Babson College, MBA ’20, is involved with the Design Thinking Club and Asian Business Club on campus. He is now interning at MassChallenge in Jerusalem as part of the InsideIL program.
IMPACT TECH INVESTING IN ISRAEL |
September 23, 2019
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During my last day in Israel, I was walking by the Tel Aviv beach while reflecting on my fun and hectic summer. It had been without any doubt the best internship experience so far – discovering the culture and history of a new –complicated– country, innovating on impact measurement in the high tech industry, exploring different applications of machine learning in preventative medicine, and engaging with entrepreneurs and investors who want to better the world. Thanks to CJP’s funding, I was able to work at Impact First Investments with Founder and Managing Director Cecile Blilious, the “mother” of impact investing in Israel, and at Pitango Venture Capital, the largest venture capital fund in Israel ($2B), with Partner Idit Muallem. Both of them are not only top-notch investors but also an inspiration for any woman who wants to break the glass ceiling in the VC industry. Under Cecile’s leadership, my team and I created and applied a quantitative methodology to measure the financial and social/environmental impact of tech startups. We were inspired by best industry standards and the generous guidance of local and international investors such as Bridges Israel or 2B-Community (you can read about it here and here). Our goal is to make our methodology and resources available for anyone investing in impact tech worldwide through a new global organization we are currently creating: the ImpacTech Alliance. At Impact First, I contributed to all dimensions of venture capital: speaking at conferences and events about impact investing and sourcing/sharing potential deals, screening startups in sectors such as healthcare, circular economy, or environment, further developing our business and fundraising efforts, and creating a strategy for traditional VCs who want to move into the impact tech domain. And all this while traveling to every corner of Israel, lying down on the beach with friends, and discussing Middle Eastern geopolitics for endless hours. At Pitango, I evaluated startups in the AgTech upstream sector, which is one of Israel’s competitive advantages (after all, the most significant advance in modern agriculture is the drip irrigation system invented in Israel!). As a daughter of a farmer – my neighbors were delicious cucumbers and peppers from Southern Spain – analyzing how technology can help farmers around the world increase yield with less resources and waste was enlightening. Despite many learnings, projects and networking events, I also experienced first-hand the challenges of the impact tech VC industry. Currently, less than 10% of the $500B deployed into impact is invested in tech. There is much to contribute to this new industry (I’m looking at you, MBA newbies!): from educating mainstream investors to attracting capital that cares about returns as much as about impact. |
As I fly back to the U.S., I can’t help thinking about the warm weather, clear beaches and fresh vegetables that bring me closer to my hometown. See you soon, Israel!
Melina Sánchez Montañés is an MPA/MBA student at Harvard Kennedy School and Tuck School of Business.
KASHKIK IN TEL AVIV |
August 27, 2019
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On the first day of my internship I showed up in khaki chinos and a short-sleeved button down shirt knowing that tech startups are pretty casual but still wanting to show my new boss that I cared. Turns out I was overdressed and Israeli tech startups are even more casual than those in the United States with most people wearing shorts, t-shirts, and flip flops This Summer thanks to the Shea Center for Entrepreneurship I have the opportunity to intern at a tiny tech startup located in Haifa, Israel called KashKik. With CEO, and my immediate supervisor, Hayim Makabee leading the charge, KashKlik is an ad-tech company looking to develop a platform to better connect social media influencers and advertisers. Influencer advertising is a lucrative market because consumers pay more attention to the people they have chosen to follow online than some banner advertisements. If I follow a travel blogger who writes interesting stories I am much more likely to buy the backpack that they are endorsing than I am to buy the one that Google AdWorks recommends. Unfortunately, influencer marketing is more expensive than regular online marketing and so may be cost prohibitive to smaller businesses who lack the resources to reach out and find influencers. This is where KashKlik comes in. There are two types of users on KashKlik’s platform: advertisers and influencers. Advertisers sign up and can then post campaigns for products that they want influencers to advertise. For each product they can say how much they will pay per click on the products link, how many influencers they want on the campaign, the minimum number of followers each influencer must have, and set a total campaign budget. Once the campaign is posted influencers can then find campaigns that fit their user-base and advertise it using a specific url generated by KashKlik in order to track total clicks. Anyone can sign up to be an influencer though most campaigns require at least a minimum of 1000 total followers across various social medias. While still needing to be tweaked a bit, KashKlik has a fully functional platform already with several campaigns. The problem is it lacks the critical mass of registered influencers necessary for the platform to be successful. The end goal is to have enough influencers across topics that any one campaign will have influencers who want to advertise it. Thus, my job for the summer was formed. At KashKlik I am responsible for trying to automate the process of finding potential influencers to reach out to in hopes that they will sign up on the platform. Luis, the other intern, and I are accomplishing this by developing a web crawler that scrolls through social media sites looking for influencers. At the time of writing we have decided to find influencers based on topic using hashtags and number of followers. The crawler then records the user’s email, if it is publicly available, as well as any other useful information. Eventually these emails will be used to reach out to influencers directly in the hopes of expanding KashKlik’s influencer base. Influencers play a large role in the content that people consume online nowadays so I believe that KashKlik has a lot of potential so long as it can reach the critical mass of users needed before another company comes along. From a personal standpoint this internship is offering me the chance to learn to develop software in a professional setting and have a tangible impact on a company that is just starting up! |
David Kocen, Boston College '21, spent the summer interning at the Technion Israel Institute of Technology in Haifa with support from Combined Jewish Philanthropies. At Boston College he is involved with the Gabelli Presidential Scholars Program and Geography of Opportunity Project.
BREAK THE HATE MISSION
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April 11, 2019
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When I applied for the Break the Hate Mission, I did not know what to expect. I was born and raised in Venezuela. I am an immigrant, I have brown skin and an accent. I have an identity and a background that is not common to find in western Massachusetts. However, I am not African American nor Jewish and I was not sure how I was supposed to contribute to a conference that was supposed to be about those communities.
I’m really happy I went. Going to the National Museum of African American History and Culture and the Holocaust Museum was very painful. Seeing the way African Americans and Jews were dehumanized by their oppressors is really difficult and is even more difficult to try to understand how someone can justify inflicting that much pain to another human being. I think it is really important to remember those aspects of history because one day, today is going to be history and I hope in the future I can look back and be relieved that I was on the right side of it. Going to those museums was eye opening but the conversations we had were even more eye opening. We all came from different backgrounds and we were able to learn from our diverse experiences and perspectives but we were also able to relate to each other because beyond our differences there are things that unite us. We are all human. And when we see that a community is being targeted or is in pain, we need to stand in solidarity with them and be allies. Because indifference is dangerous and if we see injustice and do not do anything about it, we are part of the problem. Remember to try to be on the right side of history. |
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Carla Montilla, UMass Amherst '21, was born in Venezuela and is now a board member of the UMass College Democrats. She is also a member of the Commonwealth Honors College. She participated on CJP's Break the Hate Mission to Washington, DC this spring.
BUZZ WORD |
April 6, 2019
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Among the Jewish community, as well as the rest of the world, “Israel” is such a buzz word. From a young age, I knew “Israel” to be something that offered hope and a sense of connectivity through prayers and holidays. I can remember saying “next year in Jerusalem” at Passover Seder, yet never imagined that I would actually find myself there. My relationship with Israel really began when I went on a Birthright trip in the summer of 2017 which I then extended to do an internship through Onward Israel. This experience was a huge period of personal and professional growth for me. I knew I wanted to return to Israel and explore the country, culture, and conflict in my own way. For the past couple of weeks, I have volunteered at Robin Food, a food rescue restaurant located in Haifa. The mission of this organization is to save food that would have otherwise gone to waste and turn it into a delicious meal to be served at a “pay as you feel” restaurant. Through this experience I have met Israeli volunteers and volunteers from all over the world, both Jewish and non-Jewish. This has been a great opportunity to see Israel through a different lens. This restaurant offers a great community for both locals and volunteers. In addition to serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner, this restaurant also hosts events such as open mic nights and cooking classes. This experience enabled me to get a glimpse into the everyday life in Haifa. Another important aspect of Judaism for me is the Hebrew language. I think it is so special to be able to read and write such an ancient text and I have always wanted to speak the language as well. I am now going to continue my time in Israel and participate in an Ulpan class. I will be participating in an intensive four week course through an ulpan called This is Not an Ulpan (TINAU) in Tel Aviv. This language school functions around several unique principles, the first being that “we don’t learn Hebrew, we learn in Hebrew.” This is one of the few language schools in Israel that teaches both Hebrew and Arabic and classes are taught by both Israelis and Palestinians. I am excited for this opportunity to learn a new language and meet people from all over the world. |
Alana Sher, Worcester Polytechnic Institute '18, participated on the Birthright Israel and Onward Israel professional internship program while in college. She is now spending time traveling and exploring both Turkey and Israel.
AIPAC CONFERENCE |
April 4, 2019
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As a Jewish student at Clark University, where talking about Israel is highly controversial, going to AIPAC was something that meant a lot to me. The AIPAC Policy Conference was a place for me to go to have a discussion about America, Israel, and what the steps for the future will be. This was my first time at the Policy Conference, and I had no idea what to expect, however when I walked into Washington D.C’s Convention Center on the first day, and saw over 18,000 people who were there to listen and support Israel, I felt like I found a place where I belonged, or would not feel judged for loving Israel. I was amazed at how many government officials were there speaking out and showing their support for a country that has caused distress on campuses, in family, and in the news. There were five general sessions that I had attended. At each of these sessions we heard from people such as Benny Ganz, Nancy Pelosi, Chuck Schumer, and Nikki Haley, about their views on the relationship between America and Israel. Most of what they said was inspiring, and can be used back on my campus to help aid in the various discussions we have about Israel. I also attended 3 break- out sessions. These sessions ranged from how the environment in Israel is changing, to how we can win in debates on campus, and even to what is next with Israel and Palestine. These smaller sessions allowed me to understand more about Israel and discover things that I had not heard about before. The theme of this years AIPAC was Connected For Good, and connected is something I feel now to the AIPAC community. I had never lobbied or paid much attention to politics however, the experience of going to the House and the Senate and letting my voice be heard, allowed me to connect to the Massachusetts government and other people from the Worcester area. I also had the opportunity to meet students from all over America, who like me, are effected by the opinions of others on their campuses. This gave me a feeling of comradery, the feeling of hope for the future of Israel, and the feeling of connection that I would not have gotten if I did not have the opportunity to attend the AIPAC Policy Conference. |
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Hannah Cooper, Clark University '20, participated on the Boston Onward Israel professional internship program and returned to Israel CJP's Haifa Alternative Spring Break. She most recently attended AIPAC's Policy Conference in Washington, DC.
JEWISH EXPERIENCES IN BRAZIL |
March 19, 2019
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During our first couple of days in Rio, we have had the amazing opportunity of working with students at two local schools as well as touring Rio and all of its beautiful attractions. For many of us, it has been a very humbling experience, as we have worked with students that live and go to school in areas we have never been to. Getting time after working with them to reflect and think about how privileged and grateful we were was the highlight for many of us. On top of working with students, immersing ourselves in the culture, through the food, the museums, and the monuments allowed us to have a better idea and appreciation for Brazilian Culture. We are super excited to keep working with the students and learn more about the culture of Brazil! |
Hodan Hashi, Boston University ‘21, is a Political Science Major and African American Studies minor. She travelled to Brazil with BU Hillel during their Spring 2019 ASB trip.
STUDYING ABROAD |
March 11, 2019
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In no small part due to generous funding from CJP's IACT campus initiative, I am able to study abroad at Tel Aviv University this semester. Although many people don’t know that law students can study abroad, BU School of Law offers exchange partnerships with some of the world’s most elite law schools, of which TAU Buchman Faculty of Law is considered part of. Every semester, TAU sends students to BU and BU sends students to TAU. This past semester, I formed a very close bond with Reut, one of the students that TAU sent to Boston. I saw on Facebook that she was from the same town in Israel as my boyfriend, and when I messaged her about it, we hit it off immediately. Over the course of the semester, we had many study dates together, where we discussed our lives in the US and in Israel. Reut brought me not only close friendship, but a new perspective. This past fall was Reut’s first Yom Kippur out of Israel. She told me about how in Israel, you can feel that it’s Yom Kippur. She vividly described how the entire country shuts down, and even those who don’t attend synagogue tend to avoid using cars on that day so children and families can safely roam in the streets and even on the highways! It was also her first time having to ask for a religious exemption from class in order to spend Yom Kippur with her family, who flew in for the chagim. In Israel, she previously always got this day off. Her experiencing Yom Kippur in the US for the first time reinforced for me how lucky we are to have one place in the world where the Jewish people do not have to worry about their culture and traditions interfering with their other obligations. Israel is the one place in the world where we are able to experience Jewish holidays on a national scale. In Israel, all you need to do to experience the beauty of Yom Kippur is to walk outside your door. Because of CJP, I will now be able to learn from some of the leading scholars in international law at TAU, but I plan to take much more than that from my experience. I am excited to experience what it’s like to celebrate the chagim in our holy land and in Reut’s words, to “feel” the holiday just by virtue of being there. I cannot wait to see what this upcoming semester has in store for me. Thank you CJP! |
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Amanda Schwartz, Boston University School of Law '20, is involved with the International Refugee Assistance Program and Jewish Law Students Association.
A MASA EXPERIENCE |
September 16, 2018
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This past spring, I co-oped at Autodesk Tel Aviv where I worked in software quality assurance automation. As a computer engineer, I knew that the “start-up nation” of Israel would be a great place for me to co-op and experience a new working environment. What I didn’t really realize before I left was that I was embarking on the adventure of a lifetime. My co-op was facilitated by a Masa program called Career Israel, and I was supported with an awesome scholarship from CJP! As a participant in the program, I got to live with and develop amazing friendships with young Jews from around the world – our group of forty came from America, Canada, Brazil, Mexico, England, South Africa, Russia and Australia. We traveled together all over the place, with program trips to the north and south, and to the Dead Sea and Jerusalem. Because of the length of the program, we had more time to travel off the beaten path and settle into the rhythm of life in Tel Aviv. Every holiday was an amazing new experience – I was there for Purim, Passover, Shavuot, and Israel’s 70th birthday which was incredible. Through Masa, I had an extremely special and moving experience on Yom HaShoah, when we attended the national ceremony at Yad Vashem, and on Yom Hazikaron, when we attended a ceremony with thousands of other Masa participants from different programs. Every moment was something new – whenever I wasn’t working I was on the move with friends, visiting a new place or having a new experience. In addition to enjoying the work I was doing at Autodesk and being part of Masa, I got to visit with my Israeli cousins nearly every week. Though I barely knew them before I came to Israel, they welcomed me so warmly and made me feel right at home. My experience in Israel was unforgettable, and I can’t wait to go back! |
Jessie Sigler, Northeastern University ’20, is a Computer Engineering student with minors in History and Jewish Studies. In Spring 2018 she participated in Career Israel, a Masa program run by Israel Experience.
THESIS RESEARCH IN ISRAEL |
January 30, 2018
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I am so grateful to CJP for helping me get to Israel for thesis research! I visited the Central Zionist Archive and the Ben Zvi Institute in Jerusalem, both of which contain troves of documents related to Jewish migration from Yemen to Israel. My thesis at Brown University explores relations between the American, Israeli, and Yemeni Jewish communities during Operation On Eagles’ Wings, the joint project to airlift tens of thousands of Jewish refugees to the fledgling Jewish state between 1949 and 1950. This trip helped me access Yemeni Jewish voices that are underrepresented in the historiography of this period and that are hard to find in the United States. In the Central Zionist Archive and at the Ben Zvi Institute, I found letters, advertisements, memoirs, and other key documents that I will study over the course of the coming semester to gain a more thorough understanding of this complex historical moment. Beyond that, however, I learned so much just by being in Israel. For example, I was able to find books, from a collection of Shalom Shabazi poetry to the memoir of a Jewish Agency emissary to Yemen, that I had tried and failed to access in the United States. Even the street signs weave a narrative of Jewish and Israeli history. This trip helped me gain a new appreciation for Israel as a keeper of Jewish history and as a site for the coming together of the global Jewish community, and it also gave me invaluable resources to deepen my understanding of the Yemeni Jewish refugee experience for my thesis and for future research. |
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Benjamin Gladstone, Brown University '18, is conducting research on relations between the Israeli, American, and Yemeni Jewish communities. He is a co-founder of SIACH International and a contributor to various Jewish publications.
THE GOLAN HEIGHTS
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January 18, 2018
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I recently visited the Golan Heights. When I arrived at the peak of Mount Bental, I was astounded by the surrounding area’s beauty. Looking down the mountain towards Israel sat Kibbutz Merom Golan, the first Israeli settlement in the Golan after the Six Days War. Looking out towards the west was the Syrian border, which blended almost seamlessly into Israel. The border was being closely monitored by the United Nations Disinterment Observer Force, whose two watchmen were incredibly friendly to the tourists wanting to talk with them. It is hard to imagine that for the first 19 years of Israeli independence, Syria had control over the strategic Golan Heights. Syria would shoot rockets and mortar shells at nearby Israeli communities and due to the advantageous altitude, put these communities at constant threat. Israeli children in the area gained the name “Bunker Children” because they were forced to sleep in protective shelters every night. In June of 1967, Syria joined Egypt in an attempt to destroy their Jewish neighbors. Israel not only survived this, but won over the small but important area of the Golan Heights, creating quieter nights for the Israeli children. Now, in present day, it was surreal to stand there, looking out towards one of the most unstable, conflict saturated countries in the world, and yet feel incredibly calm. My friend’s coworker met us at Mount Bental and shared with us information on the area. She told us that some days you are able to see the modern conflict in Syria, smoke rising from a nearby town or even debris landing on the Israeli side. Her daughter attends the regional school located in Kibbutz Merom Golan and said that sometimes loud bombing can be heard during the school day; her daughter later told us the sound no longer bothers her. The people who live in the area are not afraid, “they’re not trying to hit us”, the coworker assured us many times. The Golan Heights act as natural protection. She also explained that the Druze who live in the Golan on the Israeli side are permitted to go across the border visit family, and that refugees are brought across into Israel for medical treatment, staying as long as needed for proper care. Down the mountain and close to the border sits an old Syrian government and intelligence building. People are free to roam the large building’s 4 floors and roof. The windows are all gone, in some rooms walls are half destroyed and riddled with bullet holes in others. Graffiti transports life back into the building through political messages and works of art, with new pieces always appearing. It felt almost impossible to wrap my head around the fact that I was walking around a building that stands in what used to be Syria, what was a war zone, and what is now on land so important to the protection of Israel. Although the border felt peaceful at the time, I was reminded how uncertain the future of both Syria and Israel is. I am so thankful that my friend’s coworker brought us to this place were Birthright trips don’t go, but where curious young adults can visit the next time they are in Israel. With my curiosity peaked about the Middle East and its complex relationship with Israel, I go forward now inspired to educate myself and others on the topics. |
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Maggie Kuck, Worcester Polytechnic Institute '19, participated on Birthright and is interning this summer with Carmel Olefins as a Boston Onward Israel Haifa 2017 participant.
EMPOWERMENT BY AIPAC |
March 30, 2017
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I started the morning feeling empowered hearing Prime Minister Netanyahu's speech. Although I am only one person, I felt that I was making a difference in this world, and that myself being there was building a stronger bond between Israel and the U.S. I then went to a breakout session on Women and the Struggle for Human Rights, which I thought to be very interesting, because I am plan on being a human rights lawyer, and I also took a class last semester about women and gender studies, which gave me a lot of insight into this breakout session.
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Afterward, we went to the campus delegate meeting at the Verizon Center. It was fascinating to see how many campus delegates were there, and just knowing that we are the future generation, and that it is up to us to continue to build strong bonds between Israel and the U.S. I also found the South African speaker fascinating. She spoke about the South African Apartheid, and how it is discredits that horrible time in history when people accuse Israel of anything similar. I go to an extremely liberal school, and I hear that quite often on campus. I am not a confrontational person, and do not like to get into heated debates, but now I know how to respond to those people in an effective way, that will hopefully make them reflect about the false statements they are making. Between the campus delegate meeting and the general session, I explored D.C. with my cousin and friends, which was really neat. At the general session in the evening, the speakers again were captivating. My favorite speaker of the whole conference, other than Yannick, was Nikki Haley. She was incredible - I get the chills just thinking about her speech. It is incredible the way that she is challenging the United Nations, and how she says they should not support a country who in return, will not follow the guidelines set by the UN. After she spoke, I leaned over to my friend and told her that Nikki Haley should be our president. |
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Later that night, I went to dinner with family friends, and it was crazy because they were all saying Nikki Haley should be president. I think I probably heard that about one thousand times after the general session ended, and I hope that one day we see her on the ballot.
Macy Golman, Clark University '17, attended the AIPAC Policy Conference in Washington, DC.
INNOVATIVE ISRAELI COMMUNITIES |
January 13, 2017
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I really loved visiting Aleh Negev, and was incredibly impressed by their state of the art facilities and caring, compassionate staff and programming. Aleh Negev is a beautiful, open community where both adults and children with special needs are able to reside and experience the highest quality of life. We toured the community and had the opportunity to see their swimming pool, music garden, petting zoo and advanced technology, providing nonverbal residents an alternative form of communication. |
What stood out the most to me, though, is the great care and compassion displayed by the staff and volunteers, and the trust and appreciation displayed by the residents. It's clear that the residents at Aleh Negev genuinely feel safe and cared for. I think the US would greatly benefit from exposure to this approach towards people with special needs; I know I was extremely inspired by it.
Rachel Krause, Brandeis University '17, participated on the Jewish National Fund Alternative Winter Break program.
LEARNING AT THE TECHNION |
August 6, 2016
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Israel! After much practice of the Hebrew language and participation in Jewish immersion programs, I finally got to see much of what I had imagined for so long! Thanks to the stipend from the Combined Jewish Philanthropies of Greater Boston, I am studying at the Technion Israel Institute of Technology for the summer in medicine and entrepreneurship. I am learning much about the classes and engaging with the “start-up” aspect of the nation, as I get to culminate my projects in the classes with a pitch for a startup idea. I got the time to appreciate the visual beauty; pristine beaches, bustling markets, and amazing food (hummus is an addiction for me). I also am able to practice and refine my Hebrew in about every interaction I have with the locals. People told me before my trip that I would have a difficult time navigating Israel because it would be too dangerous, but I did not feel uncomfortable at any time. The Technion program has many social events and short trips that were very worthwhile, like the Dead Sea and the Golan Heights; they were very helpful getting me settled in.
I hope to come back to this country again. I do feel inclined to continue with my studies regarding the Jewish culture; I never knew before how dynamic and crucial it is for Judaism to thrive. At my college, I hope to promote Judaic Studies, because there is a very low demographic doing so there. I am not Jewish; I am a son of Caribbean immigrants. However, I do recommend this destination for anybody wanting to see a place that has many levels of complexity. Thank you, Combined Jewish Philanthropies of Greater Boston. |
Trent Shillingford, Dartmouth College '19, interned at the Technion Israel Institute of Technology. A co-founder a campus chapter of TAMID - Israel Investment Group, he is interested in science and sociology.
VISITING JERUSALEM |
March 17, 2016
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This past spring break I attended a volunteer trip through Volunteers Through Israel that specifically volunteered at an IDF base. I was raised in a Christian household and was not taught about any other religions in depth during my childhood. My mom was very nervous about me going on this trip and I was equally nervous to tell her about it. With my safety and well being in mind, I knew she would assume it would have been too dangerous and wouldn’t want me to go.
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Taking the opportunity to travel to Israel was one of the best decisions of my life. Not only did I learn first hand about the Jewish and Israeli culture and people, but I personally experienced the palpable spirit and pride everyone had. It was amazing to give back through the IDF during the volunteer days. It was so fulfilling to help a country who is in great need and to see the impact we made on the base and the soldiers. Engaging with the soldiers was one of my favorite aspects of the trip. Since everyone in Israel has to join the IDF for at least 3 years, they all had an extremely different perspective than we as Americans had. Even though they live such different lives, ultimately they were just teenagers too and had the same hopes and aspirations we do.
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Visiting the historical locations in Jerusalem was absolutely moving. I loved seeing all of the places with so much history and submerged myself in what happened there. Everything was so beautiful and memorable and I want to stay active in the Jewish community to keep making a difference!
Erin Burchfield, Northeastern University '19, traveled to Israel with the Volunteers for Israel program in conjunction with Northeastern University Hillel.
THINKING ABOUT ISRAEL |
March 16, 2016
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My ten-day experience in Israel, though very short to get a full understanding of what the country has to offer, was an eye-opener. We spent two days in Tel Aviv, four days in an IDF base, and then two days in Jerusalem. The two days spent in Tel Aviv mostly consisted of relaxing and resting from the long trip. We did get the chance to go out and look around the city, and it was more of an adjustment period. Everyone was new to each other so it was a time to get to know other people and make friends. After the two days were over, we were divided into groups and sent to different bases. My base was the Beit Lid base, and my group was assigned to two madrichas, guides, who were in charge of giving us tasks and making sure everything was alright. Our everyday jobs varied: cleaning the rooms, washrooms, warehouses, or kitchen, weeding, sorting and packing boxes in the warehouse, cooking or helping in the kitchen, folding maps, etc. The day consisted of having three meals: breakfast, lunch, and dinner, at 8:00 am, 12:00 pm, and 6:00 pm, respectively, and working in between those timings. At 7:00 pm, everyone was supposed to gather up and talk bout their day and perform one activity as a group. The activities mostly consisted of giving us an exposure of what a life in the army looks like. After those few days in the base, we spent two days in Jerusalem. By that time, everyone had bonded pretty well and we were a bit more comfortable with each other. We had the opportunity to go around the Old City or Jerusalem and experience the purity and holiness of the land.
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The most beautiful part of the trip was that I got to experience the life of people of my age leading a whole different life from mine in a whole different part of the world. In those four days, I met and shared so much with several soldiers, one of them being Nicole, who became truly special to me. My friends usually refer to me as one of the most mature person they know, but I experienced what maturity truly looks like at our age when I met these soldiers. They were similar to us in many ways, such as all of them had dreams, aspirations, goals, and ambitions they wished to accomplish someday in their lives. Their army experience had given their life a sense of purpose, that most of us lack even at a further age. They knew the importance of living life to the fullest and they valued the importance of family. Their way of looking at life was completely different than ours. I remember when Nicole introduced me to one of her closest friend on the base, she told me that the friend was punished for violating a rule. The friend was supposed to go to another base for 28 days and could not return home until after she finishes her 28-day service. I felt bad for her, but Nicole hugged her friend and held her tight and said to me, “don’t worry, I have backed and packed many cookies for her to take, she will be fine”. It was such a simple and beautiful gesture. I felt so safe and good about the fact that they were not alone, they have people like Nicole around them to take care of them. In general, the soldiers were all very hospitable and nice. I do not know exactly why, but I do have a love and admiration for people in the army from early childhood. I have grown to have immense respect for them in my heart, and now, even more. It was truly a wonderful experience that will stay with me forever. It is true that I did not plan this trip, but the best things come unexpectedly.
Mansi Lakhyani, Northeastern '19, traveled to Israel for the first time on the Volunteers for Israel Mission.
UNDERSTANDING
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March 15, 2016
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When I first found out that I had been chosen to go to Israel as part of Northeastern’s Volunteers for Israel trip I was so excited since traveling to the cradle of modern Judaism, Christianity, and Islam has always been a dream of mine. I am not Jewish and had never been to Israel before, but had heard only good things from all of my Jewish friends about Birthright trips spent exploring the Negev on the back of a camel or summers in Haifa lounging on the beach. Israel seemed like some sort of magical adventure and I could not wait to step foot in this land.
After returning to Boston, I was surprised to realize that the thing I missed most about our amazing ten days was not the beach in Tel Aviv but the magical time we spent volunteering on an Israel Defense Forces base. We wore some very ill-fitting uniforms, spent eight hours a day weeding under the hot sun, and mourned over the loss of our cell phone data plans. It was much less fantastical than my daydreams of the trip had been, but it was much more meaningful. My entire perspective changed with the chance to live and volunteer alongside Israelis, so many of whom were exactly my age. The Israelis we volunteered with were incredibly appreciative of our willingness to not go on Spring Break to Miami or to Las Vegas, but rather to come to Israel and volunteer. Seeing first-hand the connection that these Israelis felt with the land they stood on was eye-opening, and helped me to cut through the fog of negative media coverage about Israel that is so persistent at home. I didn’t want to leave our community service work because I felt at home with the Israelis; they had transformed from nameless figures on a TV screen into real people that I could empathize and connect with, not unlike my connection with my friends back home. After our time volunteering, our VFI group traveled to Jerusalem for our final weekend. We spent a very full Friday touring the Old City, including a visit to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. Walking through two of the holiest sites in the Christian faith, surrounded by hundreds of people from Christian traditions across the globe, was one of the most moving experiences of my life. Not only was it moving to be there with hundreds of Christians, but to go there together with the Jews and people of diverse backgrounds on my VFI trip made the experience all that more meaningful. It also taught me an important lesson about the Jewish state; this country is not only a place for Jews, but is a tolerant democratic country where people of all faiths, ethnicities, and sexual orientations are respected. Later that evening, our group gathered at the Western Wall to say Shabbat prayers just as the sun was setting. As the Jewish members of our group sang out the prayers, other worshipers began to gather around our circle to listen and join in. As the crowd grew, a larger circle of IDF soldiers formed, linked arms, and began to sing “Am Yisrael Chai” with us at a truly astounding decibel. After such a spiritually charged day, it felt absolutely surreal to be standing at Israel’s heart, sharing a song with people who put their lives on the line to protect a place that is so clearly central to their identity. I felt privileged to be a part of that, and I felt like I also finally understood why Israel and its status as the Jewish national homeland are so terribly important; the Jewish people were once again free in control of their own destiny in their ancestral Jewish homeland after 2,000 years. My whimsical pre-departure impressions were nothing compared to the weight that Israel really carries with it as a place where millions come to belong in the only Jewish state in the world. |
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VFI showed me that Israel is so much more than its misconceptions and its critics. Israel is a culture, a tradition, a home, and will forever have a place in my heart.
Katie Brown, Northeastern '18, is a Catholic Center member who traveled to Israel for the first time on the Volunteers for Israel Mission 2016 with 30 student participants.
VOLUNTEERING IN ETHIOPIA |
March 1, 2016
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Yesterday began the main part of our visit here, restoring the Jewish cemetery in Azezu. There, the tombstones are decayed or missing entirely, the land is overrun with vegetation, and the wall surrounding the property is crumbling. The cemetery and its plight was discovered over a year by a local member of the community who brought it to attention of the Project TEN Israeli volunteers, who then made plans to do restoration work, and recruited us to help. While we originally expected to be working alone, we did outreach to the local Jewish community to inform them of our plans, and their response was overwhelming. Thus, the worksite is filled with Brown RISD Hillel volunteers, Israelis from Project TEN, the local Jewish community, and even residents around the site and passers by who take interest in our work. We have also spent time with a number of young children from the community who come out to watch us working the site, shake our hands, follow us around, call out to us, and even try to pitch in.
The chazan of the synagogue, Gashow, is the foreman of the project. He has chosen to start by building up the wall surrounding the site, first repairing a crumbling section downhill, and then constructing a new section of wall uphill. Without powertools or construction vehicles, this is highly labor intensive. First hired labor breaks up large stones delivered to the site. Then, we move the stones from the top of the hill to the wall down below, throwing them part of the way, and passing them along chains of volunteers for the rest. At the bottom, hired workers pour mortar and arrange the stones in the wall. We are excited that the lower wall is nearly complete, and we will hopefully begin the top section shortly. Meanwhile, we have also been cutting vegetation with the limited number of shears we have, and are planning to improve signage at the location: restoring an existing sign with names some of those buried, and designing a new sign to designate the place as a burial site that should be respected.
The chazan of the synagogue, Gashow, is the foreman of the project. He has chosen to start by building up the wall surrounding the site, first repairing a crumbling section downhill, and then constructing a new section of wall uphill. Without powertools or construction vehicles, this is highly labor intensive. First hired labor breaks up large stones delivered to the site. Then, we move the stones from the top of the hill to the wall down below, throwing them part of the way, and passing them along chains of volunteers for the rest. At the bottom, hired workers pour mortar and arrange the stones in the wall. We are excited that the lower wall is nearly complete, and we will hopefully begin the top section shortly. Meanwhile, we have also been cutting vegetation with the limited number of shears we have, and are planning to improve signage at the location: restoring an existing sign with names some of those buried, and designing a new sign to designate the place as a burial site that should be respected.
Sam Rubinstein, Brown University '17, traveled with Brown-RISD Hillel on ASB in Ethiopia.
AMAZING RACE CHANUKKAH |
December 15, 2015
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I recently got back from Israel and wanted to share some of the amazing experiences I had. Fortunately, this trip was made affordable thanks to the Amazing Israel Race in which I took part. Aside from the generous prize, I had a great time at the race and enjoyed learning more about Israel, Boston and the connection between the two. I was excited to visit Israel after a year of absence. Hugging my parents, brothers and best friends shortly after landing was probably the best part of the trip. I was extremely happy when I discovered the dinner table at my parents house was full with homemade Israeli food I missed so much! The craving for Israeli food didn’t stop there and I was enjoying Falafel, Shawarma and Sabich (the last is practically impossible to find in Boston) on an almost daily basis.
The switch from the Northeastern freeze to the mild Israeli “winter” was a welcomed change and I spent most of my time at the beaches of Netanya, Herzlyia and Tel Aviv surfing the warm waters of the Mediterranean. I was fortunate to arrive at the time of Hanukkah which meant every dinner eventually turned into a party with friends and family singing holiday songs and having a good time. |
I had a great time in Israel and am already looking forward to my next visit. Thank you to CJP and the Israel Campus Roundtable for helping to make this trip possible!
Adam Scharf is a graduate student at Boston University, where he participated in the Amazing Israel Race and came in second place, earning him $350 toward a flight to Israel!
RECOVERING HISTORY: A SERVICE TRIP TO REMEMBER POLAND'S JEWS |
November 15, 2015
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I had the opportunity to take a five-day journey through more than 1,000 years of Polish and Jewish history on CJP’s “Together, Restoring Their Names” service trip to Poland. Time traveling between my Wellesley College student life and the events that took place throughout the Holocaust has inspired me to reflect.
When I landed in the bone-chilling cold of Poland with our group of eight students, I felt uneasy. How could I be here and walk in the streets where millions of our people, the Jewish people, and so many others had been murdered? The answer: our group’s mission was to recover the history, preserve the stories, hear personal narratives, and educate both ourselves and others about Jewish life before, during, and after the Holocaust. As I am still processing the Poland trip and everything that I experienced, here are some of my takeaways: 1) It is important to educate everyone, Jews and non-Jews alike, about the Holocaust. Something that was so special and unique about this trip was that half of the students were Jewish and half were not. Our different backgrounds and cultures allowed us to learn from one another. We witnessed first-hand the experiences of the Jews: we walked in their footsteps in the old Warsaw ghetto, pausing at two of the only remaining original walls with their barbed wire. That night, we had an “Active Memory” vigil with more than 200 Jewish and non-Jewish people, including four busloads of Israeli students, local Polish activists, and others from around the world. No matter where we all come from, this is everyone’s history, and we need to learn from one another. 2) The preservation and restoration of stolen matzevas (tombstones) to Jewish cemeteries is crucial. Jonny Daniels, the founder and executive director of From the Depths, showed us stolen and misused matzevas in the Warsaw Zoo. They were being used as building material, and they needed to be returned to their appropriate place in a Jewish cemetery. We saw more and more matzevas in various cities, all over Poland. Tombstones are eternal memories of someone’s life. By reading Hebrew and looking at carved images, it is incredible to learn so much about a person. By recovering and restoring the matzevas, we are actively demonstrating that small acts of tikkun olam (repairing the world) matter, and if we care so much, the Polish society and world will care and help as well. 3) Survivors and “righteous gentiles” have incredible stories that need to be heard, everywhere. As we trekked up a mountainous path, darkness surrounded us. Far away from any city, Jonny told us about the second known hiding place that is still in existence in Poland. We squeezed through a small tunnel which ended in a cramped cave-like bunker: the hiding place. I teared up as I thought to myself that this could have been me and my family. Imagine spending two years in a completely dark, small, enclosed underground cave. For Anna, who lived there from ages two to four, not feeling fresh air or seeing sunshine was her life. Their savior, Jozeph, was 14 years old at the time when he smuggled food to Anna and her family and enabled them to survive the war. This was not only dangerous for her and her family, but this also put him and his family at risk; if they were caught by the Nazis, both families would have been killed immediately. It was emotional and jaw-dropping to be inside the hiding place; furthermore, we sat down and had dinner with Anna and Jozeph in an adjacent town. We listened to their stories, asked questions, and learned what it means to simply be a decent human being and care about those whose lives could have been lost. We are the last generation that will know Holocaust survivors personally, and their stories need to be preserved and remembered for generations to come. We must be their witnesses. 4) Jewish life still exists in Poland and elsewhere in Eastern Europe, and this is fundamental to understanding post-war culture. While the Nazis successfully wiped out the vast majority of the Jewish population and culture in Eastern Europe as a result of the Holocaust, they did not succeed in fully wiping out the Jewish population as a whole. I enjoyed going to the Jewish Community Center in Krakow; there are a few hundred people, Jewish and non-Jewish, that participate. Most people today focus on the lasting effects of the Holocaust and the absence of a big Jewish community in Europe, especially Poland. It is important to recognize that the Jewish communities across that region have grown in the last 70 years. 5) It is vital to acknowledge that the Holocaust could have happened to anyone. When we toured Auschwitz-Birkenau, I felt an overwhelming sense of horror at the fact that so many people were not able to simply be themselves and continue their Jewish lives under Nazi rule. My emotions finally hit me when we walked into the Holocaust/Shoah room in Auschwitz, sponsored by the Israeli government, where we heard music and watched videos of European Jewry before the war started. They all looked happy and like they were enjoying life, and suddenly, within months, their lives changed forever. For me, it was empowering to wear my Star of David necklace in and out of the gates of the camps. It symbolizes that Judaism and its legacy, history, and culture live on, despite the Nazis’ attempt to annihilate the Jewish people. |
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The mission of our “Together, Restoring Their Names” trip was to preserve the names and memories of Holocaust victims in Poland and understand the aftermath of the Holocaust. I truly believe that we met and exceeded these goals. I am so thankful to have had the opportunity to go to Poland with Combined Jewish Philanthropies’ IACT Initiative and From the Depths. I highly encourage all of us to become more aware of and responsible for what happens in this world, and also to become active members of society to prevent genocide from occurring in the future. As Hillel the Elder wrote: “If I am not for myself, who will be for me? If I am only for myself, what am I? And if not now, when?”
Chelsea Roston, Wellesley College '19, traveled to Poland with CJP's Restoring Their Names mission.
AIPAC PROGRESSIVE RETREAT TAKE-AWAYS |
November 7, 2015
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I learned so much at AIPAC Progressive Retreat. I witnessed people give their firsthand perspectives on Israel, the importance of a Jewish State, and politics in the Middle East. I learned about some of the many different definitions people have of Zionism.
It was also fascinating to learn about Israel’s role as a leading global tech innovator, protector of LGBTQ rights, and progressive democracy in the Middle East. Though people have different opinions supporting or condemning Israeli leadership or policies; I now understand how that is separate from condemning Israel as a whole and the idea of a Jewish State. It is this blanket condemnation, usually stemming from ignorance, of everything Israeli and Jewish that leads to extremism and anti-Semitism. My biggest takeaway from AIPAC would be the importance of actively maintaining a strong, bi-partisan US-Israel relationship, as it is key both to strong Israeli security and US relations in the Middle East. |
Marissa Menzel, Wellesley College '18, participated in the AIPAC Progressive Retreat in Washington, DC.
A PLACE TO ENGAGE WITH |
October 4, 2015
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Northern Israel as photographed by Zach Lefenfeld
At Tel Aviv U Graduation
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I have just completed my year in Israel where I was pursuing a Master's degree in Global Migration and Policy at Tel Aviv University. As a secular American Jew relatively removed from the Jewish community, I had never felt a particular affinity towards Israel nor considered it my homeland. I had toyed with the idea of Birthright now and again throughout my twenties, but somehow I never managed to go through with it, making this past year my first time in Israel at the ripe age of twenty nine.
I did not know what to expect. Before I left, several friends who had never given me a particularly dramatic sendoff before any of my other travels were now calling me with heartfelt goodbyes and a strange tone of permanency in their voices. It didn't take me long to realize that these friends were wishing me what they thought might be their final farewell to me; that I may, in fact, perish in the madness of the Middle East. After dozens of drawn out battles with research papers, heated arguments with my Israeli girlfriend, violent struggles with the Hebrew language, and ultimately, a war against the passing of my short time in Israel, it seems I survived to tell the story. In Israel I discovered a vibrant country as diverse in people, culture, and political opinion as it is in landscape. I was visited by family and close friends, and as we conversed over hummus in Acco, inhabited dimly lit Tel Aviv bars, or camped on the northern shores of the Galilee, together we deciphered the complexities of this unique little country, and why it matters for a people to have a homeland. While I still do not consider Israel my personal homeland, I consider it my home, a place I can always come back to, a place where everyday was a lesson in how to listen, how to engage, how to challenge and be challenged, how to live. |
Zach Lefenfeld, Boston University '08, completed a Master's in Migration Studies at Tel Aviv University after receiving a stipend from the Israel Campus Roundtable.
ISRAEL IS A GOOD THING |
April 13, 2015
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Five months ago I was in Boston, Massachusetts. I had just finished my BA in Management from the School of Isenberg at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. For two semesters I lived in the Hillel House (Shout out to Rabbi Yosi), and might I say (Best.Choice.Ever).
I took part in a Maimonides Leader Fellowship program while at UMass and my interest in marrying Jewish ideals into my everyday life blossomed not unlike a Malcolmia Chia. Fast forward a few months -- what have I done since being in Israel? 1. Completed ulpan (and passed!) 2. Made life-long friends 3. Went to more dance parties than I can count 4. Took part in a Jewish Agency Volunteer Program called "At Home Together" Led by Asya Chairsky from the Jewish Agency and won an award 5. Met an adopted family (Shout out to the Schwartzs)! oh and 6. Started a MA degree in National Security Studies at the University of Haifa. |
Like the activities five months before my Aliyah and five months since- the progress in my life emanates from a 'Do' attitude. Taking action I impregnate myself into the vast opportunity network open to Jewish professionals like myself.
Soon I will be enlisting in the IDF and continuing my Israeli saga. Israel has everything I need and everything I could ever want!
Eitan Yariv Sneider, UMass-Amherst '14, is spending his first year out of college attaining a Master's Degree at the University of Haifa.
WELCOME TO ISRAEL! |
November 1, 2014
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Shalom! I have just arrived in Tel Aviv to start my internship in the Office of the Chief Scientist in the Israeli Ministry of the Economy. After 6 weeks of ulpan, and orientation seminars on the history of Judaism and the modern Jewish State, I have finally settled in my Ramat Aviv home for the next eight and half months.
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For the past six weeks I have been participating in the orientation portion of the Israel Government Fellows (IGF), a Masa program run through the Menachem Begin Heritage Center in Jerusalem that provides Jewish young adults with the opportunity to work in Israeli Government positions over the course of 10 months. The program allows participants to explore their connection to the Jewish State through this work experience, educational seminars, and tiyulim (trips) around the country. |
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Our seminars have consisted of hour-long lecture periods by scholars and experts in a wide variety of fields. They have all been chosen by IGF staff because of their specializations in various disciplines, such as the history of Zionism, modern Israeli Economics, and the intersections of modern news media and technology on the wider Middle East. Lectures are followed by question and answer discussions in which opinions are challenged, perspectives are widened, and confusing points are clarified. |
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So far, I have embarked on two tiyulim. The first was part of our planned IGF programming, taking our entire group to the Negev Desert. The trip was organized by Masa Israeli to help us develop a vision for the rest of the year for ourselves as a group and as individuals. For four days, we explored the Israeli desert and discussed our goals and expectations for our upcoming journey.
Daniel Spector, UMass-Amherst '14, is spending his first year out of college interning at the Israeli Ministry of the Economy through the Israel Government Fellows program with the Menahem Begin Heritage Center.
A SEMESTER AT TEL AVIV UNIVERSITY |
July 1, 2014
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During the second semester of my sophomore year at Simmons College in Boston, I decided to study abroad at Tel Aviv University in Israel. I wanted to better understand the Israeli culture and my Jewish heritage by living there for a longer period of time. All of the classes provided by the Tel Aviv University Overseas Program had some sort of connection to either Judaism or Israel. I took classes on the sociology of religion, modern Jewish history, the architectural history of Tel Aviv, the history of Israel through cinema, and the history of Zionism. I also took a month-long intensive Hebrew class. I studied with Jewish students from around the world. One of the great things about this experience was meeting people from all over the world and learning about why they wanted to be in Israel.
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One of the highlights of living in Tel Aviv included celebrating the many Jewish and Israeli holidays. During every major holiday, Rabin Square, the center of Tel Aviv, was shut down for parades and celebrations. When Israel’s basketball team, Macabbi Tel Aviv, won the Euro League Championship, Rabin Square was filled with thousands of Israelis, singing and dancing in celebration. When I wasn’t in class, I spent my days exploring Tel Aviv and the rest of Israel. I visited Jerusalem often, quickly mastering the layout of the Old City. Every Friday I welcomed the Sabbath at a big dinner with my relatives and friends. Saturdays were days of relaxation and catching up with friends, old and new. In the five months that I spent in Israel, I really embraced the Israeli culture and celebrated more Jewish holidays than I knew about! |
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My most memorable session as part of a program called StandWithUs Ambassadors Club was the strategic tour of the security barrier around Jerusalem with its Chief Architect, Danny Tirza. On our first stop in the tour, Tirza began explaining details about the security barrier. He told us why the barrier was built closer into the West Bank rather than pre-1967 Israel. Someone can always find a way to get past the barrier. If it were built closer to Israel, then there would be less time to stop an intruder if they got past the actual barrier. By building it closer to the Palestinian Authority, the Israeli Authority could stop an intruder before they reached homes and civilians. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) has a goal of 5 minutes to get to any call of an intruder. All of these security measures help to stop 5 to 20 terrorists from trying to harm Israel each and every night. In the past year, this security barrier has helped stop 80 terror attacks on the way to Israel. Since the fence and security system is so effective, it is used as the model for a security measure at Buckingham Palace.
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The tour made me think about the thousands of soldiers serving in the Israeli Defense Forces, and how lucky I was to be able to comfortably travel and live in Israel because of their service and this security barrier. If it weren’t for the IDF, I would not be able to study abroad safely in Israel. Although there are many misconceptions in the media about Israel, I traveled to Israel on my own, lived there for six months, and felt completely safe and comfortable.
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I was blessed to be able to study in Israel. Living there for five months made me even more passionate about the country. I came back to America with a better understanding of my religion and heritage. Israel is a country filled with loving and warm citizens, and is a place I call my second home. I urge people to go to Israel and see this beautiful country for themselves.
Allison Moldoff, Simmons College '16, spent her spring semester at Tel Aviv University.
SUMMER CLERKSHIP AT ISRAEL'S SUPREME COURT |
May 1, 2014
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Although I have visited Israel many times, this past summer I had the great privilege of viewing the country through a most intriguing and enlightening lens. As a foreign law clerk, I discovered and played an active role in the inner workings of Israel’s Supreme Court, the Beit HaMishpat HaElyon.
The Court typically enlists foreign law clerks to research the analogous laws of their home countries for matters of first impression or cases that are otherwise particularly significant. The legal approach of foreign countries that have addressed the issue in question are then taken into consideration by the Court and frequently are included in a designated section of the Court’s written opinion.
The Court typically enlists foreign law clerks to research the analogous laws of their home countries for matters of first impression or cases that are otherwise particularly significant. The legal approach of foreign countries that have addressed the issue in question are then taken into consideration by the Court and frequently are included in a designated section of the Court’s written opinion.
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I joined a diverse group of nine foreign law clerks, hailing from Canada, England, France, Germany, and the US. Each of us clerked for a specific justice. I was assigned to Justice Elyakim Rubinstein, whom I had met during his visit to Harvard Law School a few months earlier. Among the many fascinating cases for which I provided research, drafted sections of opinions, and observed court proceedings were issues involving free speech, African refugees, same-sex surrogacy, release of 104 Arab prisoners, settlements, and military draft exemptions for yeshiva students.
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I was immediately struck by the informality and camaraderie at the Court. When they are not sporting their robes, several of the justices dress as if they are headed to a family picnic. A stroll through the elegant (but somehow familiar and inviting) “U”-shaped chambers hall reveals that the doors to most of the justices’ personal offices are wide open at any given time. On several occasions, I would be walking down the hall when a justice invited me in for a friendly chat. At other times, while conversing with one justice about a legal matter another would drop in for a casual exchange about a pending case, a recent newspaper article, or their weekend plans.
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Overall, my time at the Court was uniquely enriching and gratifying. In the months that followed, I have remained in touch with the very talented and fascinating group of fellow clerks whom I worked with. I have also maintained contact with several of the justices, and they have invited me to return for a full-year clerkship at some time in the future. I will forever cherish the learning experiences, relationships, and memories that I developed over the summer.
Elliot Schwab, Harvard Law School '14, spent the summer interning at the Israeli Supreme Court.
BABSON STUDENTS IMMERSE IN START-UP NATION |
March 26, 2014
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Over Spring Break, along with 23 other Babson students, I had the unique opportunity to visit Israel and learn what really makes it the “Startup Nation.” Although this was my second time in Israel, it was the first time for many of my classmates.
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We began our trip at an IDF training camp, where high school students train to gain acceptance into the most elite units of the military. These high school students certainly put us to shame in running up and down sand dunes carrying tires, but we were able to show off our leadership skills when it came to the mental challenges and team building exercises. It was interesting to see how the military plays such an important role in the day to day lives of Israeli citizens and establishing a culture of teamwork, entrepreneurship and innovation in Israel. |
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Our trip included visits to Microsoft, Google, Imperva, BrightSource, Cedar Ventures, Lool Ventures (for whom we are currently consulting), Dead Sea Works, the Knesset, the Weizmann Institute, and the Chief Scientist’s Office. We heard from industry leaders how Israel became the entrepreneurial powerhouse it is today, and what their next steps may be. A major takeaway from these talks was how Israel turns threats into opportunities. For example, the need for military technology for defense purposes forced the country to develop military technologies which found their way into commercial use.
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We also got to ride camels, swim in the Dead Sea, sleep in a Bedouin tent, climb Masada, visit Yad Vashem, see the Western Wall, and have a Shabbat dinner with a Jerusalem family. Besides the dinner being delicious, it was truly incredible to be immersed in the culture, share the experience and interact with such a welcoming family. The entire trip was such a great time and I learned so much and none of this would be possible without the support of CJP. It’s clear how every aspect of Israeli culture, politics, and environment plays a role in the entrepreneurial ecosystem, making it the number two hub for startups in the world. Perhaps we may soon see it as #1.
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Ryan Narod, Babson College '16, is a business student who helped to oversee the Babson Start-Up Strategy Course with Professor Peter Cohan and fellow classmates.
THE START OF BRANDEIS BRIDGES |
January 9, 2014
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The five Black and five Jewish Fellows from Brandeis University arrived in Israel eager to begin our educational journey and excited to spend time absorbing the culture, the land, and gaining insight from our guide and each other.
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Most of the day was spent in the midst of the Old City of Jerusalem. We were able to trace the border of the city on the Rampart’s Walk, looking down at churches dotting the landscape and even sitting down to enjoy lunch in the Christian quarter with the sound of the Muezzin — the Muslim call to prayer — in the background. As we walked around the city we were able to look at and touch walls that marked where Jordanians ruled before 1967. The tour concluded at the Jaffa gate where one of our very own Fellows joined a street corner group in some a capella to top off an already amazing night!
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Sunday morning began early, as we prepared for our trip to the Ethiopian Absorption Center. At this center we were able to meet and fortunately speak with one of the many Ethiopian communities in Israel. We learned about the plethora of resources provided to them to help with their assimilation process and how many of the members of this community are given opportunities to use computers, experience Israeli grocery shopping, and we had the pleasure of viewing beautiful pieces of handmade art reminiscent of the Ethiopian culture.
From there, we went to the Temple Mount, and subsequently the Kotel, and toured the tunnels underneath. We ended the night with a session with Palestinian journalist Khaled Abu Toameh, who commented on Palestinian and Israeli affairs. |
Amanda Anderson, Brandeis University '17, and Alex Thomson, Brandeis' 15, are two members of the first delegation of Brandeis Bridges Fellows - dedicated to learning about each other's heritage through a joint trip to the Holy Land, aimed at increasing engagement between the Jewish and Black communities back on campus.
BRANDEIS STUDENT EXPERIENCES TAMID |
August 7, 2013
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TAMID connects American business-minded students with the Israeli economy. TAMID’s student-run programs include consulting projects, investing, and the summer fellowship program. This past year TAMID was started at Brandeis. I participated in consulting with two start-up apps over the course of two semesters.
I am currently participating in the fellowship program, which consists of a two month long internship in Tel Aviv as well as weekly TAMID-run trips, events, and business lectures. My internship has been with an organization called Ashoka. Ashoka is an international NGO that invests and supports in social entrepreneurs. Ashoka has offices all over the world. |
Danielle (L) on the beach in Israel
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Danielle (L) listens intently during an information session
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Although it is a well-established organization in many places, the office in Israel was only established five years ago. I discovered the Israel office after Googling “social entrepreneurship Israel” and was so excited with what I found. Israel embodies the idea of Tikkun Olam, a Hebrew phrase that means "repairing the world," and it was so fitting for Ashoka to be in the start-up nation. I have truly enjoyed working with my incredible, motivated, and passionate supervisor here and am so thankful TAMID was able to partner me with them.
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In addition to being one of the most unbelievable professional experiences, TAMID has exposed me to so many intelligent students from all over the United States. We all have an interest in the business world of Israel and have enjoyed hearing lectures from Israeli venture capitalists, visiting business and technology related places, and attending networking events. TAMID has also scheduled such fun events for the group such as: going to the Dead Sea, hiking Masada, visiting the Druze and the Bedouins, karaoke night, comedy night, going on a wine tour, and of course bringing us to the all-you-can-eat restaurants.
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TAMID group shot in Jerusalem
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Some free time to check out the zoo
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It is so hard for me to believe that I will be leaving Israel in a week and a half. This has been a truly extraordinary experience for me in so many ways. I am so sad to be leaving my Israeli family here, my friends on the program, my internship, and of course the country that is in the best way like no other place in the world. I truly owe CJP a huge thank you for providing me with what I needed to be able to attend this trip. I do not know what I would have done this summer without it, but I know it would not have been as great as this.
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Danielle Mizrachi, Brandeis University '15, is participating in the TAMID Israel Investments Fellows program, which pairs American college students with Israeli companies for summer internships.
THE HOLY LAND MEETS CURIOUS GEORGE |
April 2, 2013
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Although this was my sixth time in Israel, I recently explored a new perspective of our tiny homeland.
Along with 25 other Babson students, I had the opportunity to visit with startup companies, venture capitalists, and accelerator programs through the "Israeli Startup Strategy" class offered by Babson College. Jews and non-Jews alike, we packed our Spring Break with visits to Israeli business centers, along with the regular sight-seeing any tourist in Israel must see. We learned about some of the factors that make Israel a hi-tech hub of global importance. All Israelis must enter the Israel Defense Forces at the young age of 18, which places upon them tremendous responsibility. Many start-ups are based off of innovative technology that they had worked on during their time in the army. |
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My girlfriend, Juliette, and I brought along our favorite friend to experience Israel firsthand with us: Curious George.
Naturally, because of how curious he is, he joined us everywhere we went with a view right from my shirt pocket. While some students found the pace at which we toured quite tiring, Curious George always had his smile on and was eager to learn more about Israel. A few months ago, Juliette had made Curious George a custom kippah to fit his small head. At Babson, Curious George likes to wear his kippah on Shabbat and had decided that while in Israel he would wear it everywhere. He looks forward to going back soon! |
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Alan Klipper, Babson University '14, is taking the "Israeli Startup Strategy" course offered through Babson College. 26 students visited Israel over Spring Break to meet with venture capitalists and start-up companies.
BIPAC at AIPAC |
March 4, 2013
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The Brandeis student delegation had a very exciting day at the annual AIPAC Policy Conference in Washington, DC. The members of the Brandeis Israel Public Affairs Committee (BIPAC) heard from many exciting speakers and attended fascinating breakout sessions about the Islamist Hamas movement and Iran's suspected attempt to obtain nuclear weapons. BIPAC sent a delegation of over 15 students including the two co-presidents of the club, Alex Thomson and Ryan Yuffe, and the Brandeis University Student Union President, Todd Kirkland. In total, over 12,000 people from across the United States were present for the first full day of the conference. The keynote speaker was Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak. The BIPAC members are looking forward to seeing Vice President Joe Biden address the conference on Monday. The most exciting part of the day was the LGBTQ Reception attended by Alex Thomson, Ryan Yuffe, and J.V. Souffrant. Alex, Ryan, and J.V. had the pleasure of meeting Israeli Ambassador to the United States Michael Oren, the first openly gay Asian Congressman Mark Takano, and the man who saved Representative Gabrielle Giffords' life, Daniel Hernandez. BIPAC is very grateful to the ICR and CJP for their generous sponsorship that allowed so many pro-Israel Brandeis students to attend AIPAC policy conference! |
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Alex Thomson, Brandeis University' 15, studies Political Science and is the Co-President of BIPAC, the Brandeis Israel Public Affairs Committee, organizing around Zionism and its future.