guest column »
continued from page 6
However, our biggest challenge is
not from those that are anti-Israel;
it is from students (both Jewish and
non-Jewish) who don't have an
opinion, don't care and don't want
to care. We are putting our greatest
efforts into helping them explore
their Judaism and further their Jewish
journey. That is the most effective
Israel advocacy I have ever seen —
students taking part in the many
options Hillel offers are the people
challenging themselves to defend the
Jewish world and defend Israel.
The students who are willing to
expose themselves to more knowl-
edge or those who are deciding to
take it one step up are our most effec-
tive weapon against ignorance. They
are making a real change, they are
change agents and they are making
our world better.
We are making the change by
creating personal relationships on
campus, by being authentic and real
and not telling only part of the truth.
We're OK to say that Israel, as all of us
are, is sometimes wrong but mostly
beautiful. Israel is our national home.
And for those who see what hap-
pens on campuses or watch Crossing
the Line and feel fear and don't under-
stand how Jewish young students can
feel comfortable on campus, I would
like to use what Scott Kaufman,
CEO of the Jewish Federation of
Metropolitan Detroit, said at the
event regarding the anti-Israel boy-
cott, divestment and sanctions move-
ment (BDS):
"While the BDS movement is an
extremely important issue facing our
Jewish community, it cannot be seen
as the defining aspect of Jewish life
on campus. The richness of Jewish
life on campus — through Hillel,
Jewish Studies departments, Chabad
and other organizations — involves
cultural and educational programs,
religious events, social activities,
volunteerism, trips to Israel, plus a
plethora of other engagement oppor-
tunities including social justice and
Israel advocacy.
"If incoming freshmen, many who
have little or no connection to their
Jewish identity or to Israel, think
that getting involved in Jewish life on
campus or going to Hillel means that
they have been drafted as soldiers in
a war on BDS ... most of them are
going to turn away before we even get
to say hello, and this would be a pro-
found loss for our Jewish future:' *
Eviatar Baksis is the Jewish Agency for Israel
program associate at Hillel of Metro Detroit.
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