By: Abram Shanedling

Last week, I had the pleasure of visiting several Georgia universities to meet with pro-Israel activists on campus, Greek leaders, as well as campus professionals. During my visit, I led several successful activism training sessions and discussed new strategies for strengthening the pro-Israel campus movement.

A recent cartoon in the UGA campus cartoon, unfairly portraying campus pro-Israel efforts.

At the University of Georgia, I was graciously hosted by Dawgs for Israel (DFI), headed by co-presidents Lauren Light and Leslie Herskowitz. Arriving amid rising tension in both UGA’s Student Government and campus newspaper, regarding a proposed pro-Israel resolution, I led a well-attended training session on how to deal with the most common claims against Israel at universities. Besides DFI members, the event also brought a few Student Government members, several sisters of the local Sigma Delta Tau sorority, Chabad, as well as participants in the Israel Inside/Out online course. Thank you again to all of the DFI board members, Hillel Director Joel Marcovitch, Chabad Student President Julie Skirboll, and Hasbara Campus Advisor Rabbi Shlomo Gelbtuch for planning this productive workshop!

Earlier in the week, I visited the major universities in the Atlanta metro region. At Emory University, I led an activism training session and met with members of the Emory Students for Israel, as well as the Emory-Israel Public Affairs Committee, which had just published a thoughtful editorial on the shared values of the U.S. and Israel. Special thanks to ESI and EPAC members, Gail Axelrod and Sarah Green, Grinspoon Intern Danielle Eisenberg, and Hillel program director, Daniel Reiser.

And at Georgia Tech, I had the chance to give a guest session at Hillel’s weekly lunch and learn about current events in the Middle East, hosted by Hillel Director, Shira Rothman. During my time on campus, I also discussed new opportunities for students to help raise money for Israeli charities, such as Save a Child’s Heart.