By David Plotkin

Greetings from the Great White Northeast!

I am thrilled to be writing my first newsletter as Campus Coordinator for Montreal and Ottawa. A graduate of the Hasbara Fellowships Israel Program in ’09-‘10 and the NY2DC trip just a month ago, I am eager to put my knowledge to good use and help support the growing number of Israel activists in my region.

This past week was a smashing success for democracy and the undermining of a fringe radical group on a Montreal campus. A coalition of various political, cultural, lifestyle, philanthropic and academic student organizations teamed up for the QPIRG Opt-Out Campaign. The Quebec Public Interest Research Group-McGill (QPIRG), a supposed “non-profit, student-run organization that conducts research, education, and action on environmental and social justice issues” has supported bigoted and extremist causes (such as Israel Apartheid Week). While taking $7.50 from each registered student, it only represents a fringe of the McGill student body. It is believed that this campaign, spearheaded by Hasbara Fellow Jess Weiser of Conservative McGill has significantly limited their funding. Kol Hakavod!

In other exciting Montreal news, a new student club has been created, by yours truly, called “McGill Friends of Israel” (M.F.I.), whose main mission is to advocate for the Jewish State on campus, while highlighting Israel’s shared values with Canada. The new Board consists of Hasbara Fellows Zach Paikin, Russell Sitrit-Leibovich, Michael Morgenthau and Mikey Schwartz, as well as aspiring activists Joni Mestel and Leah Balass. We are so excited to work in conjunction with Hasbara Fellow Vic Shore and Hillel McGill to further our campus activism.

Don’t miss the much-hyped and “controversial” screening of “Iranium” (see news footage & Canadian government response) - This Sunday, Feb. 6^th at 7pm, at the National Library and Archives in Ottawa! What Super Bowl?! This is the place to be!

The film will also be screened at McGill University, February 10^th, 7pm in Leacock 219, co-sponsored by M.F.I. and Conservative McGill.

Keep Warm!

-   David