Hasbara Fellowships recently concluded an exciting and very successful summer with two of its Hasbara Fellowships Activism Training Seminars in Israel. Seventy students from over 45 campuses attended the programs, which were based at the Aish HaTorah World Center in the Old City of Jerusalem.

“Hasbara Fellowships has really given me the opportunity to ask all the questions that I never knew how to answer, so now I’m not only more confident in my support for the State of Israel, but I’m more confident in my defense of Israel on campus,” said Aliza Fishbein from Johns Hopkins University.

During the seminar, the student fellows worked with experts to learn about Israel’s history and the issues facing the Jewish State today. The Hasbara Fellowships program included lectures from experts such as Jerusalem Post journalist Khaled Abu Toameh and briefings with military personnel such as IDF Lt. Col (ret) Amir Ohad. Students heard from countless other diplomats, historians, and Middle East experts while visiting Israel’s strategic positions along the northern border, the Gaza Strip and around Jerusalem. Topics covered included the history of the Jewish people in the Land of Israel, the history of the Arab-Israeli conflict, current threats from Iran, Syria, and Hezbollah, and Hamas, corruption in the Palestinian Authority, the plight of Sderot, the achievements of Israeli minorities, Israel’s economic miracle, Israel’s contributions to environmental sustainability and much more.

Hasbara Fellowships staff also worked with students to hone skills for campus activism and plan pro-Israel initiatives for their respective campuses for the upcoming school year. This practical activism training included workshops on public speaking, op-ed writing, campus coalition building, viral video seminars, debate training, event planning, and media skills.

Hasbara Fellowships is proud of all the new Hasbara Fellows and looks forward to working with them on their respective campuses across the US and Canada for the rest of their college careers!