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Israel Engagement Internship Join the Conversation Make a Difference
Hillel of Greater Toronto 1
JOIN THE CONVERSATION MAKE A DIFFERENCE Introduction As Hillel professionals we strive to foster a unique Israel education program and advocacy agenda. As a result, we set up a model to improve our outreach by offering an innovate program: the Israel Engagement Internship. We acknowledge the challenges Israel engagement poses and want to tap into the network of engaged and passionate students. Interns will work among a broad range of student audiences, Jewish and NonJewish to integrate Israel naturally into the campus conversation. Interns will initiate and promote innovative programs that engage wide circles of students and inspire other students/ student groups to think creatively and proactively about sophisticated and resonant Israel engagement.
2
JOIN THE CONVERSATION MAKE A DIFFERENCE Internship Goals 1. Interns will work among a broad range of student audiences, Jewish and Non-Jewish, to integrate Israel naturally into the campus conversation. 2. Interns will plan and promote innovative initiatives to encourage wider circles of students to think creatively about long-term Israel engagement. 3. Specifically, interns will plan/launch four initiatives based on the following criteria: Weaving Israel into the campus calendar of events Developing the Israel-Diaspora Relationship by connecting Canadian and Israeli students Building connections with Birthright/ Masa students 4. Interns will participate in monthly professional development seminars, and bi-weekly check-ins with their supervisor to ensure their goals are met and next steps are set
3
JOIN THE CONVERSATION MAKE A DIFFERENCE Relationship Building Interns are responsible for cultivating 40 relationships across their campus, ideally 20 Jewish, and 20 Non-Jewish students. Interns are also encouraged to discuss Israel in an approachable way that other students can relate to, i.e “You did your study abroad in Spain? I did mine in Israel, let me tell you about it…” These conversations usually take place over coffee dates, but have also been successful in informal environments such as: campus events, dorms, before/after class and at the library.
Students are taught to search within their existing networks and invite someone they may not know very well out for coffee. From there they generate conversations that lead to a topic connected to Israel.
4
JOIN THE CONVERSATION MAKE A DIFFERENCE Relationship Building “During my tabling days we arrived early in the morning, when not many students were around. However, there were students in the neighbouring tables. I approached 3 female students and started a conversation about Israel. We spoke about a variety of topics both conflict and non-conflict related. I even drew some maps and visuals. The students were from east Asia and had no prior knowledge of Israel or the Middle East.”
Adir Krafman, University of Toronto
“I had the unique opportunity to develop relationships with a wide array of campus leaders. I also had the pleasure of hosting Sigal Haber, an Israeli professor at York, to speak about entrepreneurship and Israel. Her presentation served as a springboard to further discussion. One student shared with me details and musings from her own relationship with Israel. It was a unique experience to hear about this girl's positive relationship with the Jewish homeland when she herself isn't part of our community.”
Beca Bookman, University of Toronto
5
JOIN THE CONVERSATION MAKE A DIFFERENCE Relationship Building
427 engaged in meaningful conversations about Israel 275 Jewish students 152 Non-Jewish Students 26 new initiatives 2 emerging campuses
6
JOIN THE CONVERSATION MAKE A DIFFERENCE Initiative Development Student interns are responsible for planning and launching four initiatives, programs or events over the course of the academic year.
Students will be able to successfully advocate among their peers through several specifically targeted initiatives aiming to cultivate strategic relationships. Events the interns plan aim to not only reach out to otherwise uninvolved students, but also to reach half their attendance by non-Jews.
7
JOIN THE CONVERSATION MAKE A DIFFERENCE Initiative Development Some successful initiatives have included:
8
JOIN THE CONVERSATION MAKE A DIFFERENCE Personal and Professional Development Training Sessions: Israel Engagement Interns met once a month as the “Israel Team” to advance their own personal and professional development. Each session addressed a campus issue and taught the interns how to have sophisticated conversations, explain and program around various aspects of Israel
ad-
vocacy.
9
JOIN THE CONVERSATION MAKE A DIFFERENCE Personal and Professional Development Educational Curriculum:
Date Time October 29, 6:15-9:00 2012 November 12, 7:30-9:30 2012 December 3, 2012 January 27, 2012 February 10, 2012 February 25, 2012 March 18, 2012
7:30-9:30 7:30-9:30 7:30-9:30 7:30-9:30 7:30-9:30
Topic Introduction and Israel Update with Neil Lazarus Reverse Mifgash and the Value of Immersive Learning Opportunities in Israel Coalition Building and Strategic Relationships Branding and Marketing Israel Hugging and Wrestling: Asking Tough Questions Overcoming Political Apathy: Israel Peace Week and Beyond Debrief and Wrap Up
10
JOIN THE CONVERSATION MAKE A DIFFERENCE Personal and Professional Development Syllabus: Introduction and Israel Update
Introduction to internship program, Hopes , Expectations Schedule bi-weekly supervision, handed out seminar schedule Listened to Neil Lazarus give a briefing about the current situation in Israel
Reverse Mifgash See Page 13
Coalition Building and Strategic Development Michael Soberman, National Director Canada Israel Experience (CIE) Spoke about how to tell stories about Israel- getting your message across, allowing the person you are speaking there to really get involved and interested Hashem Hamdy, Regional Coordinator, Canada, Hasbara Fellowships How to effectively partner with other campus groups
11
JOIN THE CONVERSATION MAKE A DIFFERENCE Personal and Professional Development Syllabus: Branding and Marketing Israel Robert Sarner, Marketing Director, Roots Canada and Avi Pollack Vice President, Innovation and Strategic Planning at RBC How we can effectively market our message to an otherwise apathetic crowd
Hugging and Wrestling: Asking Tough Questions How to ask and answer tough questions about Israel “How one can simultaneously take issue with and be proud of any part of Israel society?” How does this relate to having conversations about Israel?
Overcoming Political Apathy: Israel Peace Week and Beyond Richard Bass, Founder J.E.d Institute How we can disseminate false claims about Israel For example: the Right of return, Jews having no historical connection etc. Steve McDonald, Associate Director of Communications Centre of Israel and Jewish Affairs How to articulate your message allowing outsiders to see its relevance
12
JOIN THE CONVERSATION MAKE A DIFFERENCE Personal and Professional Development Sample Session:
“Reverse Mifgash and the Value of Immersive Learning Opportunities in Israel” was a session designed around visiting Israelis who had recently participated in the Mifgash program on a Taglit-Birthright Israel trip. The session was about what the value of immersive learning is, and why it is important to talk to students who are apprehensive about visiting Israel. Additionally, the session stressed the importance of the Birthright/ Masa programs and the value of follow-up.
13
JOIN THE CONVERSATION MAKE A DIFFERENCE Personal and Professional Development Reverse Mifgash and The Value of Immersive Learning in Israel November 12, 2012 7:00-9:00pm Welcome, Warm-up and Introductions (7:00-7:10) Go around in circle; introduce yourself (What is your name, Where were you born? Where do you go to school? What unit were/are you in? What is one word that comes to mind when you think about Israel?) About Mifgash (7:15-7:30) Mifgash Coordinator: What is Mifgash? Why is it important? What can we learn from it? How does this experience translate to connections to Israel when participants return What can we do to foster this connection? Why Immersive Learning is important (7:15-7:30) Why is it important for people to see Israel? How does this change the kinds of conversations we have? How can this effect that campus environment? Three levels of engagement and conversations Deeper and more meaningful conversations Issues you will have with engagees- is it unsafe? Is it religious? Etc. Soldier panel (7:30- 8:00) What was good about the Mifgash experience? How do they view the connection with Canadians? What was useful about the program? What would they change? How do they understand the connection differently now that they see the community? What do they hope to see happen as a result of this program? Hugging and Wrestling, Session 1 (8:00-8:30) Being simultaneously proud and uncomfortable with Israel issues i.e. Gilad Shalit release, checkpoints, “Just the beach”, Olso Accords, the Western Wall etc. How to talk about Israel from this perspective Goodbye/Thank you to Soldiers Tie In and Take Home Value (8:40-9:00) Why was this session important? What issues will you have in your programming? What kind of programming will be most useful in addressing these issues? How does firsthand experience in Israel/with IDF Soldiers change your ability to have 14 meaningful conversations?
JOIN THE CONVERSATION MAKE A DIFFERENCE Personal and Professional Development Supervision: Interns meet bi-weekly with their supervisor to discuss event planning, engagement, issues, and ideas. Supervision sessions typically follow this pattern: Check-in
How are things going? What is going well? What are you struggling with?
Initiative Management Where do we stand? How many have you completed? What are you working on now? What ideas do you have and how can we bring them to fruition? Challenges Is there something that is not completed that should be? Here’s what I am expecting of you. What are you expecting of me? Growth and Next Steps What steps need to be taken to meet your goals? Who do you need to contact? What resources can I help you connect with?
15
JOIN THE CONVERSATION MAKE A DIFFERENCE Summary Each campus has its own unique character and Hillel works hard to deliver programs that both reflect this diversity and promote campus-wide cohesion and Jewish student unity. With such a broad scope so many students from different backgrounds, interests, knowledge and connection to Israel will all be able to participate in our program. Coalition building, with an advocacy focus will also be at the forefront of this initiative. Because our students keen ability and interest to build connections across campus many students saw their first candid look at a positive picture of Israel. Meaningful conversations coupled with positive initiative development can and will change the campus culture.
16 Talia Rotman & Shirin Ezekiel Hillel of Greater Toronto
JOIN THE CONVERSATION MAKE A DIFFERENCE
17
Hillel of Greater Toronto 1
JOIN THE CONVERSATION MAKE A DIFFERENCE Introduction As Hillel professionals we strive to foster a unique Israel education program and advocacy agenda. As a result, we set up a model to improve our outreach by offering an innovate program: the Israel Engagement Internship. We acknowledge the challenges Israel engagement poses and want to tap into the network of engaged and passionate students. Interns will work among a broad range of student audiences, Jewish and NonJewish to integrate Israel naturally into the campus conversation. Interns will initiate and promote innovative programs that engage wide circles of students and inspire other students/ student groups to think creatively and proactively about sophisticated and resonant Israel engagement.
2
JOIN THE CONVERSATION MAKE A DIFFERENCE Internship Goals 1. Interns will work among a broad range of student audiences, Jewish and Non-Jewish, to integrate Israel naturally into the campus conversation. 2. Interns will plan and promote innovative initiatives to encourage wider circles of students to think creatively about long-term Israel engagement. 3. Specifically, interns will plan/launch four initiatives based on the following criteria: Weaving Israel into the campus calendar of events Developing the Israel-Diaspora Relationship by connecting Canadian and Israeli students Building connections with Birthright/ Masa students 4. Interns will participate in monthly professional development seminars, and bi-weekly check-ins with their supervisor to ensure their goals are met and next steps are set
3
JOIN THE CONVERSATION MAKE A DIFFERENCE Relationship Building Interns are responsible for cultivating 40 relationships across their campus, ideally 20 Jewish, and 20 Non-Jewish students. Interns are also encouraged to discuss Israel in an approachable way that other students can relate to, i.e “You did your study abroad in Spain? I did mine in Israel, let me tell you about it…” These conversations usually take place over coffee dates, but have also been successful in informal environments such as: campus events, dorms, before/after class and at the library.
Students are taught to search within their existing networks and invite someone they may not know very well out for coffee. From there they generate conversations that lead to a topic connected to Israel.
4
JOIN THE CONVERSATION MAKE A DIFFERENCE Relationship Building “During my tabling days we arrived early in the morning, when not many students were around. However, there were students in the neighbouring tables. I approached 3 female students and started a conversation about Israel. We spoke about a variety of topics both conflict and non-conflict related. I even drew some maps and visuals. The students were from east Asia and had no prior knowledge of Israel or the Middle East.”
Adir Krafman, University of Toronto
“I had the unique opportunity to develop relationships with a wide array of campus leaders. I also had the pleasure of hosting Sigal Haber, an Israeli professor at York, to speak about entrepreneurship and Israel. Her presentation served as a springboard to further discussion. One student shared with me details and musings from her own relationship with Israel. It was a unique experience to hear about this girl's positive relationship with the Jewish homeland when she herself isn't part of our community.”
Beca Bookman, University of Toronto
5
JOIN THE CONVERSATION MAKE A DIFFERENCE Relationship Building
427 engaged in meaningful conversations about Israel 275 Jewish students 152 Non-Jewish Students 26 new initiatives 2 emerging campuses
6
JOIN THE CONVERSATION MAKE A DIFFERENCE Initiative Development Student interns are responsible for planning and launching four initiatives, programs or events over the course of the academic year.
Students will be able to successfully advocate among their peers through several specifically targeted initiatives aiming to cultivate strategic relationships. Events the interns plan aim to not only reach out to otherwise uninvolved students, but also to reach half their attendance by non-Jews.
7
JOIN THE CONVERSATION MAKE A DIFFERENCE Initiative Development Some successful initiatives have included:
8
JOIN THE CONVERSATION MAKE A DIFFERENCE Personal and Professional Development Training Sessions: Israel Engagement Interns met once a month as the “Israel Team” to advance their own personal and professional development. Each session addressed a campus issue and taught the interns how to have sophisticated conversations, explain and program around various aspects of Israel
ad-
vocacy.
9
JOIN THE CONVERSATION MAKE A DIFFERENCE Personal and Professional Development Educational Curriculum:
Date Time October 29, 6:15-9:00 2012 November 12, 7:30-9:30 2012 December 3, 2012 January 27, 2012 February 10, 2012 February 25, 2012 March 18, 2012
7:30-9:30 7:30-9:30 7:30-9:30 7:30-9:30 7:30-9:30
Topic Introduction and Israel Update with Neil Lazarus Reverse Mifgash and the Value of Immersive Learning Opportunities in Israel Coalition Building and Strategic Relationships Branding and Marketing Israel Hugging and Wrestling: Asking Tough Questions Overcoming Political Apathy: Israel Peace Week and Beyond Debrief and Wrap Up
10
JOIN THE CONVERSATION MAKE A DIFFERENCE Personal and Professional Development Syllabus: Introduction and Israel Update
Introduction to internship program, Hopes , Expectations Schedule bi-weekly supervision, handed out seminar schedule Listened to Neil Lazarus give a briefing about the current situation in Israel
Reverse Mifgash See Page 13
Coalition Building and Strategic Development Michael Soberman, National Director Canada Israel Experience (CIE) Spoke about how to tell stories about Israel- getting your message across, allowing the person you are speaking there to really get involved and interested Hashem Hamdy, Regional Coordinator, Canada, Hasbara Fellowships How to effectively partner with other campus groups
11
JOIN THE CONVERSATION MAKE A DIFFERENCE Personal and Professional Development Syllabus: Branding and Marketing Israel Robert Sarner, Marketing Director, Roots Canada and Avi Pollack Vice President, Innovation and Strategic Planning at RBC How we can effectively market our message to an otherwise apathetic crowd
Hugging and Wrestling: Asking Tough Questions How to ask and answer tough questions about Israel “How one can simultaneously take issue with and be proud of any part of Israel society?” How does this relate to having conversations about Israel?
Overcoming Political Apathy: Israel Peace Week and Beyond Richard Bass, Founder J.E.d Institute How we can disseminate false claims about Israel For example: the Right of return, Jews having no historical connection etc. Steve McDonald, Associate Director of Communications Centre of Israel and Jewish Affairs How to articulate your message allowing outsiders to see its relevance
12
JOIN THE CONVERSATION MAKE A DIFFERENCE Personal and Professional Development Sample Session:
“Reverse Mifgash and the Value of Immersive Learning Opportunities in Israel” was a session designed around visiting Israelis who had recently participated in the Mifgash program on a Taglit-Birthright Israel trip. The session was about what the value of immersive learning is, and why it is important to talk to students who are apprehensive about visiting Israel. Additionally, the session stressed the importance of the Birthright/ Masa programs and the value of follow-up.
13
JOIN THE CONVERSATION MAKE A DIFFERENCE Personal and Professional Development Reverse Mifgash and The Value of Immersive Learning in Israel November 12, 2012 7:00-9:00pm Welcome, Warm-up and Introductions (7:00-7:10) Go around in circle; introduce yourself (What is your name, Where were you born? Where do you go to school? What unit were/are you in? What is one word that comes to mind when you think about Israel?) About Mifgash (7:15-7:30) Mifgash Coordinator: What is Mifgash? Why is it important? What can we learn from it? How does this experience translate to connections to Israel when participants return What can we do to foster this connection? Why Immersive Learning is important (7:15-7:30) Why is it important for people to see Israel? How does this change the kinds of conversations we have? How can this effect that campus environment? Three levels of engagement and conversations Deeper and more meaningful conversations Issues you will have with engagees- is it unsafe? Is it religious? Etc. Soldier panel (7:30- 8:00) What was good about the Mifgash experience? How do they view the connection with Canadians? What was useful about the program? What would they change? How do they understand the connection differently now that they see the community? What do they hope to see happen as a result of this program? Hugging and Wrestling, Session 1 (8:00-8:30) Being simultaneously proud and uncomfortable with Israel issues i.e. Gilad Shalit release, checkpoints, “Just the beach”, Olso Accords, the Western Wall etc. How to talk about Israel from this perspective Goodbye/Thank you to Soldiers Tie In and Take Home Value (8:40-9:00) Why was this session important? What issues will you have in your programming? What kind of programming will be most useful in addressing these issues? How does firsthand experience in Israel/with IDF Soldiers change your ability to have 14 meaningful conversations?
JOIN THE CONVERSATION MAKE A DIFFERENCE Personal and Professional Development Supervision: Interns meet bi-weekly with their supervisor to discuss event planning, engagement, issues, and ideas. Supervision sessions typically follow this pattern: Check-in
How are things going? What is going well? What are you struggling with?
Initiative Management Where do we stand? How many have you completed? What are you working on now? What ideas do you have and how can we bring them to fruition? Challenges Is there something that is not completed that should be? Here’s what I am expecting of you. What are you expecting of me? Growth and Next Steps What steps need to be taken to meet your goals? Who do you need to contact? What resources can I help you connect with?
15
JOIN THE CONVERSATION MAKE A DIFFERENCE Summary Each campus has its own unique character and Hillel works hard to deliver programs that both reflect this diversity and promote campus-wide cohesion and Jewish student unity. With such a broad scope so many students from different backgrounds, interests, knowledge and connection to Israel will all be able to participate in our program. Coalition building, with an advocacy focus will also be at the forefront of this initiative. Because our students keen ability and interest to build connections across campus many students saw their first candid look at a positive picture of Israel. Meaningful conversations coupled with positive initiative development can and will change the campus culture.
16 Talia Rotman & Shirin Ezekiel Hillel of Greater Toronto
JOIN THE CONVERSATION MAKE A DIFFERENCE
17
