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Hillel Students Show Pride, Solidarity at GA
November 25, 2003Comments (0) | Add | E-mail this to a friend  Hillel students from around the world joined together in Jerusalem at the November 16-19 General Assembly (GA) of the United Jewish Communities, the premier annual meeting of the North American Federation movement and one of the most important international Jewish gatherings of the year.
The GA was held in Jerusalem this year to demonstrate the Jewish community's support for Israel as it continues to work toward peace while combating nearly three years of terrorist attacks. The 200-member Hillel delegation included Israeli students, North Americans studying in Israel, students from Montreal, as well as 53 student leaders who were selected to travel to Jerusalem for the event.
"This whole experience was incredible," wrote GA participant Malki Karkowsky in the University of Maryland Diamondback newspaper. "It was heartening to see so many Jews gathering together to show concern for the future of the Jewish people and to provide support and love for a country that is experiencing such hate and animosity from its neighbors."
Karkowsky and other students joined GA participants in a symbolic march through the streets of Jerusalem on the opening day of the conference. The Jewish Telegraphic Agency reported that Israelis found the march to be supportive. David Cohen, 59, closed his photo shop along the march route so he could watch "our brothers coming together." "This is the Jewish home of all the world," he said. "We know that the Jewish people of the world are with us."
The Hillel students were fully integrated into the GA program and participated in everything from plenary sessions with the Israeli Prime Minister and President, to workshops on the state of Jewish education, to bus trips that crisscrossed the country to examine the impact of the UJC.
"Hillel has always been an important presence at the GA, but our presence never meant more than this year," said Hillel Interim President Avraham Infeld. "Hillel and the UJC are inextricably linked: We are the Federation community on campus and our students are the future leaders of the Federation movement. The UJC is one of Hillel's most important supporters. We share the UJC's values and agenda. This year, it was important for us to demonstrate our united support for the State of Israel."
In one electrifying plenary session, Hillel International Board of Governors Co-Chair Michael Steinhardt announced that he would personally donate $10 million toward a $100 million fund for free early childhood Jewish education and a trip to Israel for every Jewish newborn. Hillel students immediately took up the challenge and pledged to raise $500,000 for the fund.
More than 450 top Hillel lay leaders, professionals and students joined together with Israeli Government Ministers, Knesset Members and business leaders at a reception celebrating Israel's future at the IDT Call Center in Jerusalem. IDT, a leading provider of wholesale and retail telecommunications services, operates an international hub in the Israeli capital that employs immigrants from around the world. The company was founded and is chaired by Hillel International Board of Governors Member Howard Jonas. Among the participants were Chief Rabbi Yona Metzger, Education Minister Limor Livnat, Minister of Housing and Construction Efraim Eitam, Knesset Member Avraham Burg, and Hillel International Board of Governors Co-Chair Lynn Schusterman.
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