Hasbara Year Book |
Netanella Refael
Where you living now and what are you up to? Are you married and/or have any children? Living in New York, currently working for Hasbara Fellowships as the Administrative Coordinator & I'm single What is your favorite memory from your HF trip to Israel? My favorite (and most unforgettable) memory is from staffing the Winter 09/10 trip and getting stuck at JFK during a snowstorm for a day and a half! We started sessions and programming in the terminal...now that's dedication. What was the greatest lesson you learned from your Hasbara Fellowships training? Or greatest pro-Israel activism success story? I was trained as a junior in college who was trying to get her newly founded Hillel on the path to Israel Advocacy greatness. A lesson that really helped me a student leader was how to build up my pro-Israel group. I was a newbie to this world and was forming my Hillel while learning the basics of how to run a student group. Through Hasbara I learned 1. the importance of having a mission as well as both short and long term goals, 2. recruitment : its always important to recruit the younger crowd so that your student group continues to live and grow once you graduate. The more members, the more man power (and make sure your have sign in sheets while tabling!) 3. Always make people feel included. If someone shows interest in your group, make sure they don't feel like an outsider. Personally invite them to your next event or group meeting and introduce them to other members-- your never know where or who this can lead to, they may bring their friends next time which will help your group grow and improve! What does Jewish leadership mean to you? I think the greatest Jewish leaders are those who are proactive and reach out to others. By reaching out to others and sharing knowledge and personal experience, leaders have the ability and the power the make the world a better place for generations to come. Jewish leaders' most important responsibility is to preserve the history of their people and make that the story keeps on going. Future generations rely on our leadership today. If you could share any wisdom with current campus activists what would it be? Its up to you. Do the best that you can during your four short years of college, because if you reach out to even just one person, know that you are making a BIG difference. |
Galia Nurko
Where you living now and what are you up to? Are you married and/or have any children? I live in Columbus OH. I am a senior at OSU and I am the Ohio and Pittsburgh Campus Coordinator for Hasbara Fellowships. What is your favorite memory from your HF trip to Israel? Going to Barta'a really put everything we had learned into perspective. What was the greatest lesson you learned from your Hasbara Fellowships training? Or greatest pro-Israel activism success story? Greatest lesson I learned is that we have the truth on our side and as Jews it is our responsibility to spread the truth about Israel to the average person. What does Jewish leadership mean to you? It means that individual Jews take on the role of a leader to educate other Jews and other non-Jews on various topics. If you could share any wisdom with current campus activists what would it be? Never be afraid. The truth is on our side. |