By: Abram Shanedling

Hoos for Israel, the pro-Israel advocacy organization at the University of Virginia is growing rapidly and has already made a name for itself and its mission this semester: educating UVA students about the history, culture and politics of Israel.

Under the leadership of President Carrie Filipetti, Culture Vice President and Hasbara Fellow Shoshana Spiro and Advocacy Vice President Joel Taubman, UVA's main Israel activism group has run a combination of successful lecture series, materials campaigns and advocacy training seminars.

Along with hosting Neil Lazarus for a session on Israel and the media, beginning in the past few weeks, HFI has also sponsored a new, year-long lecture series, “Coffee with Professors,” inviting top experts on Israel to UVA to speak to students about the complexities and challenges of life in Israel.

But besides educational events, HFI shines at its ability to attract and cultivate young leadership – a crucial element to the success of any student organization. Through the group’s Year Leadership Development program, several first-year students are given board positions and the chance to plan and coordinate their own pro-Israel campaigns. This year, five students have been a part of HFI’s program.

Filipetti, who also joined HFI her first year, says Year Leadership Development has succeeded because it exposes new students to Israel advocacy and the responsibilities of programming, while allowing everyone to benefit from fresh and creative perspectives.

“I joined Hoos for Israel my first year because I was interested in politics and thought working through Hoos for Israel would give me a new perspective on important issues that also affect America,” Filipetti says. “It really has opened my eyes to my life-long passion.”

With help from Hasbara Fellowships, HFI continues to offer a wide variety of programming to demonstrate to students the value of strong support for Israel. The group has invited IDF soldiers, former Knesset members, Jerusalem Post reporters, and has also held fundraisers for Israeli charities such as Save a Child’s Heart.

This week, HFI is hosting a discussion about women’s rights in Israel, followed a day later by a session about lobbying local Virginia senators and congressmen.

While building awareness on any campuses about Israel – a country thousands of miles from the US – is no easy challenge, students in HFI find with creative programming and thoughtful recruiting, it’s a challenge that can easily be overcome.

For more information about Hoos for Israel and their upcoming events, visit there website.