Heritage Florida Jewish News - Central Florida's Independent Jewish Voice

The Jewish National Fund (JNF) has launched its new college Campus Fellows program that will help to better promote Israel at a time of growing anti-Semitism and resentment towards Israel witnessed world-wide during the recent war in Gaza.

The 20 JNF Campus Fellows are students at America’s best universities and from a wide geographical area. Some are alumni of JNF programs at Alexander Muss High School in Israel, the Taglit-Birthright Israel: Shorashim-JNF Israel Adventure, and Alternative Spring Break (ASB). To qualify for the fellowship each student had to make application, submit references, and interview with JNF leaders.

“As a representative on campus I really hope to not only bring awareness about Israel and the situation to my fellow students, but allow the different Jewish groups on campus to intermingle more, said Ryan Hight, a student at the University of Central Florida. “I hope that I can not only spread support for Israel but each other here locally.”

“After spending a gap year in Israel and then time on my university’s campus, I’ve realized how important it is be educated for a time in Israel and how valuable it is to spend time there as more than just a tourist,” remarked Abby Newman, a sophomore at University of Florida. “For me, the biggest connection to the land is through volunteerism and dedicating time to a cause you believe in. I am beyond excited to be a campus fellow and having the opportunity to talk to my peers about a country I adore.”

“We’re so proud of this first-class group of JNF Campus Fellows, all of whom are huge supporters of Israel,” said Mara Suskauer, director of Israel Advocacy & Education at JNF. “Each student is a leader on their respective campuses and we look forward to seeing them use the fellowship to share the highly regarded Positively Israel program and the other events and programming that JNF runs on campuses across the country.”

The Fellows will be responsible for planning and executing on-campus Positively Israel programs (www.positivelyisrael.org), the Tu Bishvat Across Campus program (www.jnf.org/tbsac), and to recruit a team to participate on JNF’s Alternative Spring Break (www.jnf.org/break). Each will be required to complete administrative tasks and complete regular progress reports and all will be supervised by a JNF Israel Advocacy & Education area director.

JNF Campus Fellows will use the resources of local Alpha Epsilon Pi chapters, alumni of JNF’s Alternative Spring Break, Taglit-Birthright Israel, JNF Caravan For Democracy Missions, Alexander Muss High School in Israel, and Faculty Fellows. They are expected to work collaboratively with campus professionals from other organizations including those at Hillel and Chabad, and to build good relationships with college faculty and administration.

For more information on the program visit http://www.jnf.org/fellows.