By: David Plotkin

I have just begun my first semester at Canada’s best law school and boy is it tough! But you know what’s even more tough? Getting college students motivated for Israel Advocacy on campus with early-semester distractions like Frosh, Orientation, Beer, “I forget,” More Beer… But this “frosh apathy” has not been a problem for Montreal and Ottawa leaders. Not to say that our leaders aren’t cool. They just have strong motivations to get down to business (… and party).

Montreal and Ottawa had significant representation on the summer Hasbara Fellowships and Binyan trips and their subsequent excitement and motivation to get involved on campus has been evident from the get-go.

The Ottawa Israel Awareness Committee (IAC), under the direction of Hasbara Fellow par excellence Hashem Hamdy, has already had a significant success in September. A joint IAC-Hillel weekend getaway focused on building Jewish leadership and Israel advocacy initiatives on campus. Several sessions on effective communication, tabling techniques, and even a history lesson “From Bible to Bibi” were gleefully received by the audience of over 50 students, from all walks of life and levels of advocacy involvement. A spark was created and I look forward to seeing these students participating this semester! Next up is THE social event of the semester, the annual “Israeli Wine and Canadian Cheese” event being held September 22^nd at 7pm. You don’t want to miss it!

Montreal planning is well underway. The McGill Friends of Israel (MFI) had their preliminary meeting to set roles and plans for the semester. Under the supervision of Senior Hasbara Fellow Michael Morgenthau, the executive of Hasbara Fellows and Binyan graduates is diligently working to alter the campus narrative when it comes to Israel. I congratulate, in particular, newly-minted President Lainie Schwartz and new recruit Kelly Benisty for accepting their roles with eagerness.

A few blocks away, Hasbara Fellows Dana Remer and Ehle Shachter have taken it upon themselves to establish a new club for Israel advocacy at Concordia University. The “in the works” Concordia Students for Israel (CSI) should be a smashing success on a campus that has been yearning for such a group for years. Kol Hakavod to them for this admirable undertaking. Are you a Concordia student? They need your help!!

Anyone who wants to get involved with the Ottawa IAC is asked to contact City-Wide President Hashem Hamdy at iac.president@hillelottawa.ca. For Montreal involvement (McGill, Concordia or any of the CEGEPs or francophone Universities), please contact yours truly, Campus Coordinator David Plotkin at dplotkin@hasbarafellowships.org so that I can set you up with the appropriate individuals.

While one Unilateral Declaration may be looming at the U.N., let us make sure that there won’t be a unilateral voice on our campus this semester.

Israel Wants Peace with a legitimate Partner. But unfortunately, our Friend Request is still Pending…