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About the Fellowship

Hasbara Fellowships in Israel Summer Dates May 20th, 2012 - June 8th, 2012 May 20th, 2012 - June 8th, 2012- New England Track June 17th, 2012 - July 4th, 2012 August 5, 2012 - August 22, 2012 Applications Are Now Open! Click HERE to Apply Sample Itinerary

Note: Associated costs of becoming a Hasbara Fellow apply.

1. About Hasbara Fellowships
2. Content
3. Follow-Up on Campus
4. Selection/Requirements
5. Cost

About hasbara Fellowships

Hasbara Fellowships is the largest and most comprehensive Israel education and activism program for North American university students. Founded in 2001, Hasbara Fellowships was the first formal program for students battling overwhelming anti-Israel propaganda on their campuses in the wake of the second Palestinian intifada. Ten years later, Hasbara Fellowships remains the largest program of this type. Hasbara Fellowships uniquely takes hundreds of students to Israel for 16-days of pro-Israel education.

The goal of the Hasbara program is simple: educate, train and motivate university students to be passionate, dedicated and effective pro-Israel advocates on their campuses. We firmly believe that proper Israel advocacy education is the most crucial component of a successful pro-Israel movement on campus. All other components of success for the pro-Israel movement - including programming, materials, speakers, conferences, relationship building, talking points, etc - depend on cultivating well-educated student leaders who can plan strategically and execute effectively.

Intensive Israel activism education is the core strategy of Hasbara Fellowships and remains exclusively our niche. Hasbara Fellowships brings hundreds of students to Israel every summer and winter; over 1,800 students from more than 250 campuses have benefited from the information, tools and confidence provided by the program. Hasbara Fellows return to their campuses as strategic thinkers, organizational leaders and innovative advocates, dedicated to the positive portrayal of Israel on campus.

Content

The Hasbara Fellowships activism training combines education and activism training that go beyond just the time in Israel.

Education: Before the Israel program begins, participants take online course to gain a general understanding of the history of the land of Israel, history of the modernstate, and the Arab-Israeli conflict. During the Israel program, participants gain a more comprehensive knowledge of these topics via lectures by renowned historians and academics. Participants also travel on strategic tours throughout Israel, gaining first-hand knowledge of important sites like Metulla and Kuneitra in the north, Sderot and the western Negev, Gush Etzion and Hebron, Jewish and Muslim neighborhoods of Jerusalem, and Palestinian and Arab-Israeli villages. Students also hear lectures on current topics of particular interest, including Israel’s positive contributions to the world, Israel’s strategic threats and incitement in Palestinian schoolbooks and media. Classes and tours are extremely interactive; over half of lecture time is allotted to question-and-answer periods. Fellows have the opportunity to meet with many important members of Israeli society including journalists, politicians, and prominent Israel activists, and are exposed to a variety of perspectives on the Israeli political spectrum.

For more, view a sample itinerary.

Training: As participants gain familiarity with facts and figures, they simultaneously undergo a ‘practical activism’ curriculum that helps them develop strategic tools to communicate effectively about Israel, as well as workshops that teach the nuts and bolts of good activism. Hasbara Fellows learn the basics of effective communication, including how to stay on message, confidently answer difficult questions, and steer the conversation to relevant topics. These techniques are absorbed through multiple role-playing sessions where participants gain comfort with speaking about Israel in various scenarios, including one-on-one, media, and debating. Training includes sessions on how to build or maintain a campus Israel group, set strategic and achievable goals, foster future leaders, build important relationships with student leaders and administration,developed media and marketing skills, and run successful programming. Hasbara Fellows gain an understanding of the goals and techniques of the anti-Israel movement, and learn techniques for combating anti-Israel propaganda on their campuses.

Jewish Identity: The Hasbara Fellowships program also includes a group Shabbat and many sessions take place in the Old City of Jerusalem. These experiences build students' Jewish identity and knowledge in order to be effective Jewish leaders. Participants and staff come from a range of Jewish background and observance levels.

Follow Up

Upon returning from the program to their respective campuses, Hasbara Fellows receive support from our professional staff, who provide ongoing guidance, resources (including materials, campaigns, speakers and funding), troubleshooting, and motivation. All students who are accepted to the program commit to being activists for Israel on their campuses for at least two semesters on campus immediately following their time in Israel.

 

Selection

Selection for the Hasbara Fellowships is highly selective. Participants must demonstrate:

• A high level commitment to Israel activism on campus and proven involvement

• Notable leadership experience and capability

• Specific goals for how to utilize their experience as a Hasbara Fellow upon returning to campus

• At least 2 semesters remaining as an undergraduate at their current university and two semesters on campus immediately following the Israel program

• Can not have participated in a previous Binyan Israel program

To Apply Click Here!