-Caveat Lector- >From JPost
>>>And the U.S. comes in at what place?<<< }}}>Begin US students learn how to defend Israel Tovah Lazaroff May. 31, 2002 Pictures of IDF soldiers gunning down Palestinians with the statement "this is what you can do on birthright" were plastered this March across Cornell University Campus in response to a campaign for birthright israel, a program that brings thousands of Jewish students annually to Israel. At New York University, the Muslim student groups put two articles on their Web site blaming the September 11 attack on the Twin Towers on Jewish supremacy and the mistreatment of the Palestinians by the Israelis. "As things have gotten worse in Israel, things have gotten worse [for Jews] in the US," said Ruthie Warshenbrot, of the University of North Carolina, one of 400 US Hillel students who spent this week in Israel learning how to combat what, according to the Anti-Defamation League, is a 25 percent hike in anti-Semitism in 2001. The trip was jointly organized by Hillel and the Jewish Agency's "Israel Experience" company. Students did some volunteer work and met with officials, academics, and the IDF to help bolster their advocacy skills to combat anti-Semitism and anti-Israel propaganda, and to help students on their home campuses identify with Israel. Hillel member Aviva Kiesser, who just finished her junior year at Rutgers University in New Jersey, said that on her campus there is a feeling that Zionism is racism and that Israel is an apartheid state. She and other students described how on their campuses they often find themselves in verbal battles with Muslim groups. Debate quickly becomes a monologue, Kiesser said. Benjy Weiss, who just finished his junior year at Cornell University, said he feels the Jewish students are often on the defensive and simply reacting to incidents started by the Muslims groups. Warshenbrot said there is a scant Muslim presence on her campus. It's the Jewish groups who are standing out there against Israel holding signs saying: "Down with the occupation," she said. "One of the most frustrating things for me as an American student is that we have been working on counteracting all of this negativity and hostility for nearly two years," Kiesser said. "It feels like our family in Israel isn't hearing that. They think we aren't doing anything when we are working hard. We are passionate and committed and that message is not getting across." "The message that this mission really needs to send is that we do care and we want to help," Kiesser said. It has been helpful to be in Israel with students from across the country who shared her same experiences with anti-Semitism and anti-Israel sentiments. "When you are on a campus, it's easy to fall into the trap of thinking that you are the only students dealing with the issue of Israel, but when we get together with others, you see you are fighting the same fight, working for the same cause," Kiesser said. "We encounter so much negativity on campus and so much apathy, it's physically and emotionally refreshing to be here in Israel," said Jay Rosen, who just finished his sophomore year at New York University. Weiss said the trip has energized him to return to his campus and rally students on behalf of Israel. "We need to target the students who are wavering and make sure that all of us are well versed on the issues," Weiss said. Hillels will also be focusing on getting more students to come to Israel under the slogan, "Now we stand with Israel, tomorrow we stand in Israel." Students said they are going back home with strategies on how to be proactive. "We really have a feeling of camaraderie here. We want to bring that back home and increase the feeling of unity among Jewish students," Rosen said. This article can also be read at http://www.jpost.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=JPost/A/JPArticle/ Full&cid=1022691064326 [ Back to the Article ] Copyright 1995-2002 The Jerusalem Post - http://www.jpost.com/ End<{{{ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Forwarded as information only; no automatic endorsement + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. section 107, this material is distributed without charge or profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving this type of information for non-profit research and educational purposes only. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + "Do not believe in anything simply because you have heard it. Do not believe simply because it has been handed down for many generations. Do not believe in anything simply because it is spoken and rumored by many. Do not believe in anything simply because it is written in Holy Scriptures. Do not believe in anything merely on the authority of Teachers, elders or wise men. Believe only after careful observation and analysis, when you find that it agrees with reason and is conducive to the good and benefit of one and all. Then accept it and live up to it." The Buddha on Belief, from the Kalama Sutta + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + "Always do sober what you said you'd do drunk. That will teach you to keep your mouth shut." --- Ernest Hemingway <A HREF="http://www.ctrl.org/";>www.ctrl.org</A> DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion & informational exchange list. Proselytizing propagandic screeds are unwelcomed. Substance—not soap-boxing—please! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory'—with its many half-truths, mis- directions and outright frauds—is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRLgives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector. ======================================================================== Archives Available at: http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html <A HREF="http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html";>Archives of [EMAIL PROTECTED]</A> http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/ <A HREF="http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/";>ctrl</A> ======================================================================== To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Om
