Hillel Student Leaders Celebrate Israel’s 75th Birthday on a Mission in Partnership with The Jewish Agency, Engage with Leaders in Israeli Society
Delegation of eight student leaders in Hillel’s Israel Leadership Network is on the ground in Israel
In the lead-up to Yom Ha’atzmaut, Israel’s Independence Day, a delegation of eight top Hillel student leaders arrived in Israel for a week of high-level meetings with government officials, experiences with Israel’s civil society, and briefings with top geopolitical experts. The trip is in partnership with the Jewish Agency for Israel and Israel Experience.
Over the course of the mission, each student leader will gain valuable insight to bring back to campus and expand their already robust leadership in support of Israel. Signifying the importance of Hillel student leaders to the Jewish communal space, the eight students will attend The Jewish Agency’s Board of Governors meeting, as well as the Jewish Federations of North America’s Israel at 75 General Assembly where they will interact with elected officials, philanthropists, and Jewish community activists.
“The eight exceptional students selected for this delegation are not just leaders in the Hillel movement, they represent the many Jewish students who feel a deep connection to Israel and commitment to supporting Israel’s future as a Jewish and democratic state,” said Hillel International President and CEO Adam Lehman. “In Israel this week, they will learn from each other and from the many experts and dignitaries that they meet with, and take those insights back to campus.
“The Jewish Agency is a human bridge between the State of Israel and world Jewry. These exceptional student leaders who are here in Israel are a shining example of the bond between us. They are gaining skills and insight that will empower them to carry on with their essential roles on campus, building understanding and unity while proudly advocating for Israel and the Jewish people,” said Chairman of The Jewish Agency Maj, Gen. (Res.) Doron Almog. “I’m truly delighted to spend time with them and have their presence at our The Jewish Agency Board of Governors meetings.”
The mission is a partnership between Israel Experience, The Jewish Agency, and Hillel International, bringing student leaders to Tel Aviv and Jerusalem for a series of high-level meetings with prominent members of Knesset and noteworthy geopolitical experts. The mission is a project of Hillel International’s Israel Leadership Network (ILN), a new initiative launched this past year that provides support and a national infrastructure for pro-Israel student leaders on campuses throughout the country .
“The Talpins Foundation is thrilled to support Hillel International’s new Israel Leadership Network,” said Oren Eisner, President of the Jeffrey M. Talpins Foundation. “It is critical that we provide pro-Israel student leaders with a national infrastructure to support their important work on campus. We are already active on over 100 campuses, providing resources, programming, and educational opportunities, and will continue to grow from here. And we are delighted that ILN student leaders are part of this important mission to Israel as we celebrate Israel’s milestone 75th birthday.”
The students selected for this week’s mission each hold leadership positions in ILN, and helped organize Hillel’s Israel Summits – two gatherings, one east coast and one west coast, that brought together 500 students with members of Congress and other noteworthy keynote speakers.
The student participants are:
- Jasmine Beroukhim, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)
- Jeremy Davis, The Ohio State University
- Gabriel Diamond, Yale University
- Ariela Moel, University of Southern California
- Gali Polichuk, University of Florida
- Danielle Sobkin, University of California, Berkeley
- Allison Stone, The George Washington University
- Brandon Wisnicki, University of Pennsylvania