I originally got involved with ZOA mainly for the free flight to Israel, but the student leadership mission to Israel was actually really informative and inspirational. Through it I found my vision in Israel Advocacy, and it taught me how to actualize that niche. I am looking forward to working with ZOA to create an effective and strong advocacy program for my college.

From my very first contact with the ZOA I have felt nothing but empowered. Over the summer as an intern at their West Coast Office, I experienced first hand what the ZOA does and what it takes to run a ZOA Chapter. As a Student Fellow, I got to put that experience to action as the representative of the ZOA on my campus. Going with ZOA Campus over the winter break has given me the confidence to discuss Israel with anyone from the perspective of having been to the locations and talking to the experts. Personal experience, for me, is the strongest form of empowerment and every step of the way, ZOA has given me the tools to be an effective advocate for Israel. The common theme, as seen in nearly every sentence of this paragraph, is that the ZOA was with me, providing the support to apply my talents and knowledge to grow Zionistically.

I first got involved with the ZOA my freshman year when I co-directed the Future Leaders for Israel conference at FAU. Since then, I continued to work with them through my leadership roles in Owls for Israel. This winter I had that amazing opportunity to go to Israel with the ZOA on their leadership mission trip. I learned so much about being an advocate and gained new perspectives about Israel that I would not have been exposed to if I did not go on this trip. I also gained lifelong friends and unforgettable experiences. 

My involvement with ZOA increased after I attended the Student Leadership Mission Trip to Israel, because I recognized the importance of having a Jewish state and advocating for our self-determination. Not only did I become more educated on the history and the the political culture of Israel, but I learned how to effectively advocate for Israel. As a ZOA Campus Fellow, I am thankful to work with a passionate and dedicated team who support my efforts in hosting events and tabling on campus. I could not be more proud to be a Zionist and represent Israel on campus with the help of ZOA.

My involvement with ZOA increased after I attended the Student Leadership Mission Trip to Israel because I recognized the importance of having a Jewish state and advocating for our self-determination. Not only did I became more educated on the history and the the political culture of Israel but I learned how to effectively advocate for Israel. As a ZOA Campus Fellow, I am thankful to work with a passionate and dedicated team who support my efforts in hosting events and tabling on campus. I could not be more proud to be a Zionist and represent Israel on campus with the help of ZOA.

Very fortunately, my school is non-political regarding Israel issues. Therefore, my events focus more on Zionism and Israel culture itself, rather than heated and polarizing politics. For my first event with ZOA, I gave a speech on how Zionism reflected on that week’s parsha (Torah portion) and we were fortunate to advertise ZOA’s incredible trip at a Hillel party. We have two more Israel events coming up shortly: a movie screening about the story of an IDF soldier, and a Krav Maga lesson to learn self-defense.

At the beginning of Fall 2016, I was merely a ZOA Campus Fellow. After participating in the ZOA Student Leadership Mission to Israel, I have learned so much about the Jewish state. Additionally, I have been given opportunities through working with ZOA Israel Director, Jeff Daube, such as testifying at a Knesset hearing discussing Israel’s relationship to Jews in the Diaspora, attending a panel discussion with the authors of “Our Separate Ways,” and, most of all, attending a breakfast with the President of Poland. For the past 5 months, ZOA has provided me with a plethora of information and opportunities that I am beyond thankful for, and I hope to give them justice on my campus.

ZOA Campus for me started with the summer Student Leadership Mission to Israel. I feel like I came back with a truly enforced understanding of the difficult situations in Israel, and that I had the tools to hold a conversation with anyone about it. The West Coast campus coordinator for ZOA, Leore Ben-David, has been absolutely amazing in turning what we want to do into a reality. Every time that we host a table on campus, we always have support from her – she would show up with SodaStream root beer floats and enough attitude and energy to wake up the entire school (even when she was sick)! Whenever any local Israel related events are happening, I always get a text or a call from her to invite me and other members of our club to attend. That being said, we also never feel like we are being told what to do. All of our events are our own ideas, and no agendas are pushed on us which allows us to really feel connected to and proud of our events on campus.

Before my involvement with ZOA Campus, I considered myself a Zionist and an Israel supporter, but I was not active in my support. Since then, I have been involved with ZOA Campus for more than two years, interning with them for the past two summers and attending the Student Leadership Mission to Israel this past summer as well. It is no overstatement to say that ZOA Campus has changed my worldview with regards to Zionism and activism in general; ZOA gave me the drive and the ability to energetically fight for the homeland of the Jewish people both on and off campus. The strong support for Zionism and Israel exuded by the organization is rubbed off on everyone it touches, myself included.

As a ZOA Campus Fellow and intern I have gained valuable experience that has been instrumental to my Israel advocacy. Working with dedicated ZOA staff has given me a greater appreciation for the state of Israel and a more profound knowledge of its history, culture, and politics. Additionally, I have learned techniques to effectively advocate for Israel through both written and verbal means. The ZOA has recommended me as a speaker for several pro-Israel events in New York State, allowing me to share information about anti-Semitism and anti-Zionism on campus as well as techniques to effectively combat these issues. Promoting education and advocacy for Israel at these events has been a highly rewarding experience. I am extraordinarily grateful to the ZOA for all of the amazing resources and relationships it has provided me with and look forward to my continued involvement with the ZOA.