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Building Jewish Student Leadership. Herzliya, December, 2003. Jewish Student Leadership: The Role of Israel. World Jewry is a critical component of Israel’s national security. Today’s Jewish campus activists are tomorrow’s Jewish leaders.
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Building Jewish Student Leadership Herzliya, December, 2003
Jewish Student Leadership:The Role of Israel World Jewry is a critical component of Israel’s national security Today’s Jewish campus activists are tomorrow’s Jewish leaders Cultivation of Jewish leadership depends on strong Jewish identity and commitment Jewish identity on campus is intimately tied to events in the Middle East Israel shares responsibility for building Jewish student leadership
Jewish Student Life: An Overview Between the Ages of 18-26… Germany: 10,000 Canada: 20,000 Great Britain: 20,000 FSU: 100,000 France: 60,000 USA: 350,000 Rest of Europe: 27,000 Central America: 7,000 Brazil: 15,000 Australia: 10,000 South Africa: 3,000 Argentina: 15,000 650,000 Jewish Students Outside of Israel
Ages 18-26: Pivotal Years College = leaving home, family & community Final opportunity to influence identity formation Campus as breeding ground for future leadership Immersion in open society of competing ideas and loyalties
The Major Threats: From Within: Lack of Involvement in Jewish activities • Affiliation- voluntary • 75% in U.S. not involved in organized Jewish life on campus • Only 23% have been to Israel • Competing activities, ideas, spiritual and social frameworks • Unaffiliated students: confrontation averse
The Major Threats: From Without: Anti-Zionism and Anti-Semitism • 75% U.S. student feel moderate or heavy level of anti-semitism (NJPS 2002) • 26% experienced anti-semitism within previous year (NJPS 2002) • France, 2000-2002: Students chronicle 405 anti-Semitic incidents • University of California, 2002: 126 Professors call for divestment from Israel • Manchester, England 2002: attempt to outlaw Jewish Student Union • Concordia U. Montreal Sep., 2002- mob prevents appearance of Benjamin Netanyahu
Policy Responses : Israel’s responsibility for the next generation of Jewish leadership
Engage more students in Jewish activities • Expose more students to Israel- people, society and history • A year in Israel for every young leader • Train and motivate Israel advocates • Place young Israelis on campus • Prioritize the campus on community agenda Hillel Birthright Leadership Summit Volunteer Shlichim North American Coalition for Israel Education
Building Jewish Student Leadership Herzliya, December, 2003