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Accomplishments & Highlights

 

Highlights and Accomplishments 2010

• Hasbara Fellowships brought 185 top student activists from more than 60 universities across North America to Israel for intensive Israel activism training.  The training programs in Israel provided the participants with crucial information, strategy, tools and motivation to return to campuses as effective Israel activists.  In addition, during winter vacation 2010-2011, Hasbara plans on training 150 additional students, including specialized programs for Canadian and New England student leaders.

Since its inception, Hasbara Fellowships has brought over 1,800 students for in-depth Israel Activism Training.

• Analysis of the 2009 participants on the Hasbara Fellowships Israel activism training programs to Israel was impressive.  Before the program, it was deemed that 94% of the participants were either “Minimally” or “Somewhat Involved” as Israel activists.  12-18 months after they participated on the Hasbara Training Program, 83% at least “Met Expectations” of returning to campuses as pro-Israel activists (many “Exceeded Expectations” as well).

• Hasbara Fellows ran over 550 pro-Israel campus events, including activism training courses, educational initiatives such as presentations of “Israel 360” and films such as “Crossing the Line: The Intifada Comes to Campus”, informational campaigns on topics including Hamas terrorism, civil liberties and minority rights in Israel, and Israel’s efforts toward environmental sustainability, rallies or celebrations for Israel, many in the face of significant anti-Israel propaganda, and speaking engagements on topics such as human rights and democracy in Israel, the Iranian nuclear threat, incitement by the Palestinian leadership, and Israel’s pursuit of peace.

• Hasbara Fellows held dozens of leadership positions in campus Israel organizations.  Thirty-five Hasbara Fellows served as president of their campus pro-Israel organization, and Hasbara Fellows held over 50 additional executive board positions.

• The Hasbara Fellowships staff has dramatically expanded and re-structured to meet the local needs of as many universities as possible.  Hasbara now has 8 regionally located campus coordinators, as well as 2 regional directors, based in New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Cincinnati, Washington DC, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Montreal, Toronto and Winnipeg. Plans are underway to have local staff in Atlanta, Miami, Chicago, and Vancouver as well. Hasbara’s staff offered students strategic advice, materials, tools and specific programming ideas on visits to over 100 campuses.  In many instances, Hasbara staff conducted activism training courses on Israel-related topics including effective communication, debating and answering difficult questions, current events and trends, running successful programming, speaking properly to the media, and building coalitions.

• Hasbara has also established a Young Leadership Board of a dozen Hasbara alumni committed to enhancing Hasbara Fellowships through fundraising, mentorship, and development of post-university activism opportunities.

• In partnership with Jerusalem Online University, Hasbara Fellowships enrolled 210 students in “Israel Inside/Out,” an innovative online Israel education and activism training course. Using captivating and informative films, the course covers topics including History of the Land of Israel, History of the Modern State, Issues of the Peace Process, Israel in the Media, Israel's Global Contributions, Communicating for Israel, Advocating for Israel and more. Classes feature experts such as Martin Gilbert, Bernard Lewis, Alan Dershowitz, Dore Gold and Danny Ayalon.

• Hasbara Fellowships and Hillel International formulated a strategic partnership dedicated to enhancing Israel activism and education. Hillel International directly engaged 100 local Hillel directors, eliciting their support for the Hasbara Fellows on their campuses.  Forty Hillels used a condensed version of Hasbara’s Israel education online course “Israel Inside/Out” as part of their Birthright orientation. A modified version of “Israel Inside/Out” is also being incorporated as a standard component of the Jewish National Fund’s high school education curriculum.

• Hasbara Fellowships unveiled a beautiful and exciting new website, filled with helpful resources, innovative campaigns and viral videos, many of which have been produced by Hasbara Fellows as part of our new focus on viral activism. The website features a daily blog, “The Hasbara Campus Pulse,” an up-to-the-minute snapshot and analysis of campus Israel programming and trends, as well as anti-Israel activity. “Current Events: The Hasbara Angle” is a weekly analysis of current events, including talking points, designed specifically for campus activists. Hasbara has also greatly increased our social media presence, with daily updates and opportunities for connectivity via Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

• Hasbara Fellowships produced two new campaigns. “Take Initiative on Iran” is a campaign to teach pro-Israel students how to effectively educate their campus about Iran’s nuclear quest, the danger of a nuclear Iran to Western interests and global stability, and action items to prevent a nuclear Iran.  “Support Human Rights? Support Israel.” is a materials campaign that showcases Israel’s record of human rights and democratic values. This series of attractive and informative postcards covers topics such as freedom of the press, gender equality, democratic government, civil liberties, and religious freedom in Israel.

• Hasbara Fellows developed many ground-breaking and successful strategies to counter increased delegitimization of Israel on campus. Hasbara Fellows at Johns Hopkins University, Boston University, University of Rochester, University of Cincinnati, and University of Ottawa created a grass-roots campaign called “Israel Peace Week” to educate their peers about Israel’s true nature as a democratic, peace-seeking nation.  The efforts spread to more than 25 other campuses, eclipsing the so-called “Israel Apartheid Week” events in many instances. Hasbara Fellows at UC Berkeley, UC San Diego ad UCLA led the efforts to thwart divestment movements in their student governments.  Hasbara Fellows circulated a petition to support Ambassador Michael Oren’s commencement speech at Brandeis University when Israel detractors protested the event, and planned a successful week of pro-Israel programming to counter propaganda.  Hasbara Fellows at schools like SUNY Albany, University of Wisconsin, Rutgers University and York University directly challenged critics of Israel in well-attended public forums. Hasbara Fellows at McGill University led the effort to defeat a student government resolution suggesting that the university boycott Israel, then planned a successful Israel ‘buycott’ during a Montreal BDS conference. Hasbara Fellows at Columbia University, Brooklyn College, George Washington University and elsewhere combated provocative anti-Israel guerilla theater on their campuses. These are only a few of the many instances where Hasbara Fellows took a leading role in pre-empting or combating anti-Israel efforts on their campuses.

• Classic Hasbara Fellowships initiatives continue to engage wide and diverse campus audiences. Dozens of campuses featured “Hamas: The Obstacle to Peace,” outlining Hamas’s use of terror against Israel and its own citizens; “Think Green. Think Blue”, a campaign highlighting Israel’s contributions to environmental sustainability; “Flags for Humanity”, showcasing Israel’s humanitarian aid around the world; & “Israel 360,” an engaging presentation outlining the wonders of Israel.

• Many prominent members of the Hasbara Fellowships speakers bureau continue to educate large and diverse audiences at campuses throughout North America. Hasbara brought Jerusalem Post reporters Khaled Abu-Toameh, Gil Hoffman and Yaakov Katz to over 20 universities including Brown University, Princeton University, University of Miami, Tufts University and the University of Illinois, to speak about topics such as corruption in the Palestinian Authority, Israel’s security considerations, and Israeli democracy.  Other experts such as Palestinian Media Watch Director Itamar Marcus, Israeli Bedouin diplomat Ishmael Khaldi, and human rights expert Aryeh Green appeared at universities including Columbia University, University of Pennsylvania, University of Florida, and University of Virginia.

• Hasbara distributed tens of thousands of informational cards and materials, CDs, DVDs, and other important resources on campuses across North America. The materials contain informative facts and quotes, educating students about essential information that is rarely communicated.

• Hasbara Fellowships provides programming, resources and support at more than 100 universities including American University, Arizona State University, Baruch College, Boston University, Bradley University, Brandeis University, Brooklyn College, Brown University, Bryn Mawr College, Carleton University, Columbia University, Concordia University, Cal State University Northridge, Denver University, DePaul University, Drexel University, Emory University, Florida Atlantic University, Florida International University, Florida State University, Fordham Law School, George Washington University, Georgetown University, Georgia State University, Harvard University, Hunter College, Indiana University, Johns Hopkins University, McGill University, McMaster University, Miami University of Ohio, Michigan State University, New York University, Northeastern University, Northwestern University, Ohio State University, Princeton University, Queens College, Queens University, Rutgers University, Ryerson University, San Diego State University, San Francisco State University, Simmons College, Smith College, SUNY Albany, SUNY Binghamton, Temple University, Towson University, Tufts University, Tulane University, UC Berkeley, UC Davis, UC Irvine, UC San Diego, UC Santa Barbara, UC Santa Cruz, UCLA, University of Alberta, University of British Columbia, University of Calgary, University of Central Florida, University of Cincinnati, University of Florida, University of Georgia, University of Illinois, University of Kansas, University of Maryland, University of Massachusetts, University of Miami, University of Michigan, University of Northern Illinois, University of Ottawa, University of Pennsylvania, University of Rochester, University of South Florida, University of Southern California, University of Texas, University of Toronto, University of Victoria, University of Virginia, University of Washington, University of Western Ontario, University of Winnipeg, University of Wisconsin, Vanderbilt University, Virginia Tech University, Washington University, Wellesley College, Yale University, and York University.