(Washington, D.C. -- July 29) Meeting for the first time, the Israel on Campus Coalition resolved to coordinate resources and programs among more than 20 national Jewish agencies working on campuses across North America. The ICC is a partnership of the Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation and Hillel: The Foundation for Jewish Campus Life in cooperation with a network of national organizations committed to promoting Israel education and advocacy on campus. The group provides a united effort to promote a pro-active, pro-Israel agenda and to respond to the resurgence of anti-Israel activity on college campuses.
"Given the grave crisis in Israel and the resurgence of anti-Israel activity on college campuses, it is vitally important that the community join forces to develop a unified approach to educating and training college students to support and defend Israel," said Lynn Schusterman, president of the Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation. "The Israel on Campus Coalition will play a critical role in facilitating cooperation, communication and coordination between key organizations working with students and in deploying resources as strategically as possible."
"The ICC is a natural extension of Hillel's traditional role as the convening infrastructure of Jewish life on campus," explained Hillel President and International Director Richard M. Joel. "We are pleased to be joining with the Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation to support the work of pro-Israel students and organizations on campus."
At the July 29 meeting, ICC members agreed to coordinate speakers' tours, cultural programs and advocacy training as well as to undertake joint national initiatives such as an "Israel Month." The coalition will serve as a central clearinghouse of pro-Israel information and events. It will support a common Web site and coordinate pro-Israel marketing campaigns.
The ICC was conceived at a consultation convened by the Schusterman Family Foundation in March 2002. After the meeting, Hillel regularly organized conference calls of ICC members to coordinate their work. The ICC will continue to meet regularly at the continental and regional level. The ICC will be coordinated by a director and program associate at Hillel's Charles and Lynn Schusterman International Center.
The ICC will be governed by a Steering Committee convened and chaired by the Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation, as the Coalition's primary funder, and will include permanent representatives of Hillel, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, the Jewish Council for Public Affairs, United Jewish Communities, and the Israel Office of Academic Affairs, as well as representatives of other organizations in the Coalition, and one student representative. The ICC also includes Aish HaTorah; Alpha Epsilon Pi Fraternity; American Jewish Committee; American-Israel Cooperative Enterprise; Americans for Peace Now; Anti-Defamation League; CAMERA on Campus; Consulate General of Israel in New York; the Embassy of Israel; Hamagshimim; Jewish Agency for Israel; Jewish Council on Public Affairs; Jewish National Fund; Kesher (Reform Movement); Koach (Conservative Movement); Media Watch International; Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations in America; United Jewish Communities; USD/Hagshama of the World Zionist Organization; and the Zionist Organization of America.