CAMPUS ISRAEL FELLOWS
On-campus Israeli emissaries forming strong connections while supporting and empowering college student efforts to counter antisemitism and anti-Israel sentiment
CAMPUS ISRAEL FELLOWS
On-campus Israeli emissaries forming strong connections while supporting and empowering college student efforts to counter antisemitism and anti-Israel sentiment
Throughout 2022, 65 Israel Fellows served 62 universities in North America, engaging with 9,750 students.
Nethanel, a Campus Israel Fellow | Photo provided by Nethanel
“As an Israel Fellow, I am representing Israel as the Jewish homeland and making a Jewish connection for the students on campus. All Jewish Agency emissaries bring with us a physical human connection to Israel,” said Nethanel, 26, our Israel Fellow in Montreal, Canada. “And in particular, for Jews outside of Israel, that personal relationship with an Israeli changes Israel from an idea into something more real.”
“I’m on campus to be there for the students, whether they are dealing with Jewish identity issues, encountering antisemitism, wondering about the realities of Israeli life and Israeli diversity or something else,” shared Aviva, a second-year Israel Fellow at the University of Texas-Austin. “And I’m proud that I’ve developed deep relationships with the students so they feel comfortable speaking to me and asking questions.”
Aviva manning a Hillel information table on campus | Photo provided by Aviva
In 2022, unfortunately, students saw a scary escalation in antisemitism on their college campuses, from swastikas graffitied on the sidewalk to protesters holding signs claiming Jews commit genocide, making the presence of our Israel Fellows even more vital.
Yakov, a Campus Israel Fellow | Photo provided by Yakov
“There have been instances of antisemitism on campus, so we focus on building a strong community of Israel-engaged students who feel safe,” explained Yakov, the Israel Fellow who serves Columbia University and Barnard in New York City. “I motivate students to get involved and to continue supporting Israel, providing them with context and understanding. To expel the dark, you need to spread the light.”
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Our other Shlichim (Israeli emissaries), including 180 ShinShinim (service year Israeli emissaries), continued to serve Jewish communities big and small, working in synagogues, schools, summer camps and more, acting as living bridges to the Jewish state.
In 2022, a total of 2,180 emissaries, from Community Shlichim to ShinShinim to Summer Camp Shlichim and more, brought Israel to life in Jewish communities in 65 countries around the world.
Having lived in Israel for 24 years, Diana Zeff Anderson, a Jewish Agency donor in Denver, Colorado, knows firsthand the impact that personally experiencing Israel can have on world Jewry. And outside of visiting Israel itself, building relationships with Jewish Agency Shlichim in one’s own community is the next best thing. To help smaller communities who really need that Israel connection via an Israeli emissary but who lack the means, Diana and her siblings, on behalf of Zeff family foundations, decided to provide funding so that 10 small Jewish communities in the U.S. could host ShinShinim.
Diana Zeff Anderson is a member of The Jewish Agency’s Board of Governors and Chair of the Shlichut Subcommittee
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