Gap-year participants in Israel engage with plethora of experts during the 3-day “Israel in Focus-Australia” advocacy seminar

They came to Israel out of both curiosity and love. For most of them, their love has only increased as they have known Israel through multiple experiences by volunteering, studying, learning, meeting new people, talking Hebrew, eating, and, for 58 young Australians, becoming advocates to speak in support of Israel in a world that many many fear is becoming increasingly vitriolic toward the Jewish homeland.

On 15-17 April, 58 participants from shnat underwent the first part of “Israel in Focus-Australia,” an advocacy seminar sponsored and organised by StandWithUs, Zionist Federation of Australia (ZFA) and Australasian Zionist Youth Council (AZYC). The 58 participants came from the long-term gap year programs Israel by Choice, AUJS Aviv and Australian Zionist youth movement shnat programs (Betar, Bnei Akiva, Habonim Dror, Hineni and Netzer).

“I don’t think that even the most optimistic of us expected such a great success,” said ZFA Israel Programs Director Yigal Sela. “We were very fortunate for the quality, dedication and hard work not only from the organisations and speakers who planned and led the seminars, but also from the participants. This wouldn’t have been possible without so many people, most especially the leadership of Michelle Rojas-Tal from StandWithUs and Reuben Bolaffi of AZYC in supporting the ZFA. Moreover, we couldn’t have asked for a better calibre of young advocates: They have unbelievable enthusiasm, energy, thoughtfulness and intelligence, all of which augurs well for the Australian Jewish community. Coming from different groups, they compose a cosmopolitan force to defend Israel in different places and for different audiences.”

In all, 12 expert speakers informed the participants about a wide range of issues, including a brief history of Israel territory and maps, multiple inside views of Palestinian society, a geo-strategic tour of Jerusalem, international legal issues. Speakers included McGill University Professor Gil Troy; Ministry of Foreign Affairs legal expert Sarah Weiss-Maudi; former Israeli spokeswoman and retired Col. Miri Eisin; and Prime Minister’s Spokesman Mark Regev, who is originally from Australia.

“We’re really excited about this seminar because it is an important part of their time in Israel and a very important part when they come back to Australia as well,” said AZYC Chairperson Reuben Bolaffi. “The skills and knowledge they are learning on this seminar are invaluable as bogrim of the movement: Being in a youth movement and having ideologies, they know what it’s like to believe in something and stand up for what they believe. When they come back to Australia they will be confronted by the BDS [Boycott and Divestment Sanctions] and de-legitimisation of Israel. The seminar really gives them an opportunity to learn how to respond, and we’re very proud and excited for them to learn.”

During the second round of “Israel in Focus-Australia,” which is scheduled for May (IBC and Aviv) and September (AZYC), the young advocates will be trained to respond to specific types of groups and claims made about Israel.

“We are delighted to partner with the Zionist Federation of Australia and the Australasian Zionist Youth Council to bring this seminar to the Australian community,” said Michelle Rojas-Tal, StandWithUs’s Director of Diaspora Education. “My greatest passion for teaching comes from the overwhelming emotion I receive when I am able to teach, learn and share with a new group of talented and dedicated young adults, and it was a pleasure getting to know all of the participants over the three days they were here, and I look forward to continuing my work with them in the next seminar.”

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Photo captions
1. Col. (retired) Miri Eisin explains the Jerusalem separation line during the “Israel in Focus-Australia” Geo-strategic Walk.
2. Participants from “Israel in Focus-Australia,” advocacy seminar in Israel, with Prime Minister’s Spokesman Mark Regev.

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Pesach is over, so now it is time to think about Hashanah ha’ba’ah b’yerushalyim: spending next year in Jerusalem or Tel-Aviv or Haifa or anywhere else in Israel.

“Parents need to start thinking about gap year programs for their teenager not only because there are so many different options for programs but also because there are administrative needs – such as filling paperwork and setting up visas and passports – not to mention, and most importantly for parents, applying for grants and scholarships. Deadlines pop up quickly, so it’s important to get on the ball soon,” said ZFA Israel Programs Director Sarah Myerowitz.

The information sessions will provide a broad overview of the available Israel Programs and answer questions about Masa Grants and Scholarships. Programs include traditional gap-year programs such as the Shnat program through the Zionist youth movements, Israel by Choice (IBC) and AUJS Aviv; career training programs in all different fields; volunteering opportunities; religious and academic study programs; and more. The ZFA Israel Programs team is also glad to see other major gap-year programs relaunched this year geared toward Australians: the Maccabi Sports Leadership Program and Hebrew University.

“With so many formal programs, we are confident to offer a program for nearly every interest – whether he or she is doing a gap-year before studying, launching a career, taking a break in his or her 20s, and so on,” Myerowitz said.

Information nights are scheduled for 7:30 PM on the following dates
• 2 May, Melbourne: Beth Weizmann, 306 Hawthorn Road, Caulfield South
• 7 May, Perth: Perth Hebrew Congregation, Freedman Road, Menora
• 14 May Sydney (East): Shalom College, ECLC, UNSW, Kensington
• 15 May Sydney (North): Masada College, 9-15 Link Road, St. Ives.

The ZFA is the Australian representative for Masa Israel, the umbrella framework enabling Jewish young-adults aged 17-30 to spend from 5-10 months in Israel on more than 200 different Israel programs.

For more information, contact israelprograms@zfa.com.au.Leadership program;

Top Australians prepare for World Bible Quiz

Update below

Photo by Peter Haskin

The two Australian representatives for the World Bible Quiz have left Australia and are on their way to Israel, preparing for the final rounds of the competition.

Zahava Rosenblum, 16, of Beth Rivkah Ladies College, gained first place and Matthew Lichtig, 14, of Leibler Yavneh College, gained second place in the Zionist Federation of Australia’s (ZFA) national finals in October 2011.

Both Australians are scheduled to compete in the written exam on 18 April, in Israel. The top performer from each country outside of Israel will compete in the Diaspora Quiz on 19 April. The overall championship round is scheduled for Yom Ha’atzmaut, 26 April, with the top 16 scorers from the written test contending for the top young scholar in the world in front of a worldwide audience. The final will be streamed online from Israel’s Arutz Echad television station, www.iba.org.il, at 6 p.m. EST on 26 April.

“On behalf of all Australian Jews, we wish both Zahava and Matthew hatzlacha in this challenging competition against the world’s best,” said ZFA President Philip Chester. “This will be an amazing experience for them, and I know that they will make all of us here in Australia proud. The Zionist Federation of Australia is a proud to be able to support these teenage scholars and encourage youngsters in our community to connect to Israel through the Tanach.”

In addition to the quiz, competitors also spend two weeks on an intensive program touring all over Israel, meeting dignitaries including visits to the offices of the Prime Minister and the IDF Chief of Staff, and making lifelong connections with other young scholars from across the world.

Update 20 April

Facing a more difficult competition than in years’ past, Zahava was one place shy of making the grand final, finishing in tenth place behind a four-way tie on the 18 April written exam. The finalists this year needed a score of 35 points out of 50, whereas last year’s finalists needed only 27 out of 50. But she qualified for the Diaspora championship.

For Yom HaShoah, contestants had a ceremony and watched Holocaust films. They went to Mount Herzl and went on a tour of the Old City in the context of Moses Montefiore’s reforms to extending Jerusalem. On Friday, the group went to Yad Vashem before getting away for family Shabbat.

Zahava, who shares a room with Canadian, Romanian and Dutch girls, wrote “I am making global friends and having a really great time .”

Update 26 April

Zahava placed 6th in the Diaspora competition. See a picture of her and the other competitions with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (she is the third to the left of him).

Meanwhile, here is a picture of Matthew at the Kotel with IDF soldiers and other contestants, courtesy Beverley Honig (Matthew is second from right in the back row). Matthew said: “I now have a global connection to Israel that links me to all of the top brains in the world whilst enjoying the amazing experience of the Tanach Camp with hikes and tiyulim plus visits to Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu and President Shimon Peres. Thanks to the ZFA for making this possible.”:

The Zionist Federation of Australia endorses FM Bob Carr’s reiteration of the Australian government’s support of a two-state solution, and it fully agrees that direct negotiations are absolutely necessary to make progress towards peace. Indeed Israeli PM Netanyahu’s offer to elevate the negotiations to direct talks between himself and Palestinian President Abbas, having made the significant concession of not insisting on Palestinian recognition of Israel as a Jewish state, underscores Israel’s commitment to progressing the process.

We believe that FM Carr’s focus on the issue of the settlements as an obstacle to peace distracts from the real issues which have precluded agreements to date – i.e. the unwillingness of the Palestinian Authority to enter into negotiations, coupled with ongoing Palestinian attacks on Israeli citizens and the promulgation of hatred in Palestinian education and media.

FM Carr noted correctly that trust and confidence are necessary for progress. Indeed these can only be built in the absence of hatred, and will be eroded by rocket fire from Gaza and violent attacks by Palestinians on Israel and its citizens.

The determination of borders, settlements and other final status issues are core to the peace process and can only be resolved as an outcome of the negotiations. Predetermined outcomes on these issues cannot, therefore, be preconditions to the negotiations.

From the early and optimistic Oslo process, through subsequent summits and meetings, Israel has always been and remains willing to negotiate for peace. The Israeli government and people are committed to achieving peace with their Palestinian neighbours. It is hoped that President Abbas will take up the offer of direct negotiations, without preconditions, as a first and important step towards peace.

Expert on Turkey, Middle East relations says Iran, Turkey both posturing

Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has “cornered himself” by responding to Iran’s rhetoric but has failed to combat Israel’s most strained relation in the Middle East by staying mum in response to Turkey, said Tel Aviv University visiting professor and expert on Turkey and Middle East affairs Ehud Toledano.

As the final event during Toledano’s two-week visit across Australia organised by the Israel Embassy and supported by the Zionist Federation of Australia (ZFA), the professor briefed community leaders in Melbourne on 15 March, an event co-sponsored by the ZFA and Zionist Council of Victoria (ZCV).

“We don’t know how effective the (Iran nuclear) program will be,” Toledano said. “Ahmadinejad is not relevant to any decision making. He is a ridiculous buffoon and a bad person. He is not going to make the decision, and he is not going to push the button.”

Toledano concluded that both Iran and Turkey are attempting to enhance their influence in the region and across the world.

“Turkey and Iran are craving status,” Toledano said. “Turkey is doing it through bullying with its economic situation, and Iran wants to do it through its nuclear capabilities.”

In the rest of the Arab World, he is “cautiously optimistic.”

“When free elections occur, Islamic parties succeed,” Toledano said. “They like faith in their politics. All of the parties that have won power are the moderates – they may not seem moderate to the outside world, but they have to be in order to stay in power.”

Toledano’s remarks surprised many of the community leaders in their variance from most of the current news analysis. But the community leaders appreciated Toledano’s viewpoint.

“Professor Toledano brought us a totally different perspective on matters that are of great concern to Jews everywhere. His analysis challenged conventional thinking in a way that was both confronting and enlightening. The Zionist Council of Victoria and the Zionist Federation of Australia are proud to be able to present esteemed experts to the Australian community” said ZCV President Sam Tatarka.

ZFA President Philip Chester said: “He urged great caution in making decisions on what to do with Iran because of the implications of any step against them. He felt that relations between Israel and Turkey are the most negative aspect of what is happening in the Middle East and in need of the most work to repair.”

19 March 2012