I received a link to the video below in the mail a day or two ago, and put aside the 40 minutes to watch it. I hope whoever reads this will do the same.
Step Up for Israel, in my mind, is where it's at! It is an initiative of JersualemOnlineU.com, an organization committed to teaching and inspiring people of all ages about Judaism and Israel. It is a grassroots Israel education campaign created to promote broad awareness of the growing anti-Israel movement on college campuses in North America, especially as too many young Jews feel disconnected from their heritage and lack a solid understanding of Israel, its history, and its challenges.
On many campuses, anti-Israel rhetoric and anti-Jewish sentiment are becoming accepted and some faculty indoctrinate and intimidate students in the classroom, as administrators look the other way. Through innovative educational methods, SUFI seeks to energize communities and individuals to confront and combat these harmful actions.
Much of the media also seeks to delegitimize the state of Israel. There is power in knowing what’s out there and to spread the word. The fact is that Israel is committed to improving the world through its innovative ideas, technologies, and its humanitarian aid and relief efforts around the globe. Israel values freedom, human rights and cultural diversity, and has the only western democracy in the Middle East. Arabs that live in Israel have a better quality of life than in any Arab state.
The video, Israel Inside: How A Small Nation Makes A Big Difference, is narrated by bestselling author and acclaimed former Harvard lecturer, Dr. Tal Ben-Shahar, and showcases Israel’s unique relationship with the rest of the world.
The contributions of Israel are incredible, especially if one considers the obstacles it has overcome, and which remain. Imagine if the stupidity of humankind could cease, and Israel was freed to use it resources as it wishes, rather than as it must. Some of the greatest beneficiaries would be the Arabs, but we would all be better off.
SUFI tells us:
All of us are responsible for the future of Israel and the Jewish people. If we don’t take a stand and become personally involved today, we will deny future generations the opportunity to understand their role in Israel’s history, and to be part of Israel’s future.Enjoy the video. It may even bring a tear to your eye. Then, spread the word!
(cross-posted at oldschooltwentysix)
Thank you for this, School.
ReplyDeleteAccording to a study cited at the SUFI site:
DeleteThe majority of non-Jewish students simply do not know what to think about the most wide-spread anti-Israel statements. The vast majority do not blame either the Palestinians or Israel for failure to achieve peace in the Middle East. Whether this represents a gap in opinion or in
knowledge is unclear. It is an important finding, signaling the opportunity to educate about Israel and the need to develop more engaging approaches.
http://jewishresearch.org/quad/12-11/alone-quad.html
Although it is necessary to also educate about the actions of Jew haters, these kids are not into the demonization approach, but relate more to the positive approach.
Spreading the accurate word is much harder than the opposite, and building up harder than tearing down.
Yeah, this -
ReplyDelete"Imagine if the stupidity of humankind could cease, and Israel was freed to use it resources as it wishes, rather than as it must. Some of the greatest beneficiaries would be the Arabs, but we would all be better off."
I sure hope I live to see that day...