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Project Connect Israel

Project Connect Israel. “The only source of knowledge is experience” --Albert Einstein. Elie Pieprz and Avi Marcovitz , Co-Founders. How to create 400,000 non-Jewish pro-Israel activists for $75 each?. Why Project Connect Israel (PCI)?. Jewish students’ support for Israel has plummeted

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Project Connect Israel

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  1. Project Connect Israel “The only source of knowledge is experience” --Albert Einstein EliePieprz and AviMarcovitz, Co-Founders

  2. How to create 400,000 non-Jewish pro-Israel activists for $75 each?

  3. Why Project Connect Israel (PCI)? • Jewish students’ support for Israel has plummeted • Christians students are next • Jewish students feel lack of connection to Israel • Christian support from Israel is likely to wane, in part due to the impact of anti-Israel propaganda on Christian students

  4. PCI’s Vision • PCI will facilitate peer educational trips to Israel for high school (seniors) and early university students • PCI will engage participants across denominational and racial lines through Hafgashot, daily group discussions leveraging the sites effectively

  5. Jewish Attachment to Israel

  6. What A PCI Trip Provides • Develop a rich understanding of the unique challenges and contributions made by Israelis • Create a personal connection with Israel • Facilitate a stronger relationship with their own faith

  7. Project 20/20 Commitments • During the trip, participants communicate with 20 people • NetBooks on buses facilitate real-time social networking • Post-trip, present to 20 people (20 photos/videos for 20 minutes) • $220 deposit returned when 20/20 commitments are complete

  8. Pre- and Post-Trip Activities • Provide coursework pre- and post-trip • Develop original and leverage existing materials • Create a job bank, with mentoring and networking opportunities for participants • Direct participants to continue pro-Israel activism

  9. Projected Number of Participants

  10. Projected Scope of the Program (Total Reach)

  11. Why Christians Embrace PCI • Christians are concerned about engaging the “Joshua Generation” • Youth pastor/chaperone will minister to students throughout trip • Curriculum demonstrates how Israel is integral to their faith • Connecting teens with their faith on their own, in a fun, exploratory, hands-on, inspirational environment • Sponsoring (Christian) organization has latitude in choosing itinerary • PCI will continuously motivate and excite youth pastors/chaperones so that they remain motivated to take their free trip every year

  12. PCI Trip Extensions • Project Impact: Follow-up trip during junior/senior year of university • PCI Parents: Unique trips for parents of participants, paid by attendees • PCI for Other Faiths and Races: Trips for Catholics, Mormons, non-denominational, Hispanics, Blacks and Iranians • PCI International: Expansion to non-English speaking countries

  13. Most Likely Christian Student Trip to Succeed • Specific focus on high school seniors allows for a targeted, educational approach at a very impressionable time of students’ development • PCI’s relationships with Christian organizations span 20 years, and facilitates partnerships (churches, schools, universities, religious organizations) • Funding model designed to engage sponsoring organizations, demands participants take the trip seriously and shoulder some of the burden • Unique 20/20 follow-up ensures benefits spread well beyond actual participant

  14. Who Supports PCI? • US elected officials: Rep. Trent Franks & Rep. Cathy McMorris-Rodgers • Israeli officials: Ambassadors Dore Gold and YoramEttinger • Rabbis: Rabbi Daniel Lapin • Pastors: Pastor Jay Hellwig (Dallas), David Pearson (Seattle), Pastor Lisa Depew • Jewish organizations • Christian organizations (PJTN, CBN, Texans for Israel) • Academics (Professor Rafi Vago, Tel Aviv University) • Pop culture personalities

  15. Why the Israeli Government Should Support PCI • Organized by Jews with strong, long-term US Christian connections • Attracts organizations and capital that currently do not focus on Israel • Bolsters next generation of Christians, who are likely to be less supportive of Israel than their parents • Creates grassroots network; next-generation supporters of Israel • Involves Christians who will ensure the organization will be self-sustaining

  16. Follow-Up: Office of the Prime Minister • Open lines of communication with the Office of the Prime Minister • Introductions to the Ministries of Diaspora Affairs, Foreign Affairs, Hasbarahand the Jewish Agency • Considerations for funding: • What metrics are necessary for the government to consider partial funding? • What could we include in the trips to make it more attractive? • A letter supporting PCI and its mission

  17. PCI Team • EliePieprz, Co-Founder and Executive Director • Dr. AviMarcovits, Co-Founder and Education Director • Joe Perlov, Tour Experience Director • Project 20/20 Director (to be determined; US based)

  18. Elie Pieprz, Co-Founder • Former DC based lobbyist focused on the Christians • Veteran of US federal & state political campaigns • Microsoft Marketing Director, Launch Team of Windows ME & XP • Development Director for national Jewish organization facilitating cooperation between Jews and Christians • Producer of Tuesday Night Live in Jerusalem, Jerusalem-based TV show “bringing a taste of Israel to America,” broadcasting into 32 million American homes (primarily Christians)

  19. Dr. Avi Marcovitz, Co-Founder • Director of World Jewry Division at the International School at YadVaShem; trains educators in 30 countries on pedagogic approaches to teaching the Holocaust • CEO, Best Buddies Israel , an organization focusing on the social needs of individuals with intellectual disabilities throughout Israel • Senior educational leadership at Jewish Day Schools throughout US • 20 years of experience in the educational world

  20. Joe Perlov, Israel ExpertsTour Experience Director • IsraelExperts Group will be PCI’s exclusive tour operator • Fully-licensed Israel tour operator since 1999 • Recognized by AIPAC for organizing their student missions • Operates dozens of Taglit-Birthright trips annually • Facilitates its faith-based trips under the “Israel Pilgrims Tours” label

  21. Thank You! Elie Pieprz, Co-Founder Project Connect Israel Email: elie@projectconnectisrael.org Phone: 052-379-0810 Avi Marcovitz, co-Founder Project Connect Israel Email: avi@projectconnectisrael.org Phone: 050-300-7232 Headquarters:PCI International Kiach Building 42 Agripas St. Jerusalem

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