WASHINGTON — Among the more than 6,500 people who flocked to Washington, D.C., this week to attend the annual Policy Conference of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee were more than 1,000 college students, who on the first day of the gathering, had their own reception on the balcony of the Washington Convention Center.
AIPAC Conference Brings 1,000 Students to Washington
WASHINGTON — Among the more than 6,500 people who flocked to Washington, D.C., this week to attend the annual Policy Conference of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee were more than 1,000 college students, who on the first day of the gathering, had their own reception on the balcony of the Washington Convention Center.
Picking at a dessert buffet composed of chocolate-covered strawberries, carrot-cake muffins, cookies and coffee, the students – representing some 325 campuses from all of the 50 United States, plus the District of Columbia – milled around a string of booths, including those set up by the Chabad on Campus International Foundation, Hillel, and the historically-Jewish Alpha Epsilon Pi fraternity.
And while the explicit aim of the conference was to jumpstart this year’s grassroots lobbying efforts on behalf of Israel in the corridors of the U.S. Congress, the student reception was also designed to foster a greater connection to the biblical Land of Israel among Jewish students, many of whom have never been to the Holy Land. The Chabad on Campus booth was co-sponsored by American Friends of Lubavitch and staffed by several campus-based Chabad-Lubavitch emissaries.
“Chabad instills a warmth and enthusiasm for Judaism,” said Miriam Malnik, who graduated from Howard Community College in Maryland with a nursing degree. “AIPAC, [in turn], strengthens students to be advocates for Israel.”
According to Rabbi Yudi Steiner, the new director of the Chabad House serving George Washington University, the event was an opportunity for students to become familiar with what Chabad Houses have to offer on their campuses, particularly in the realm of Israel-related activities. Chabad Houses are among the most active recruiters of free Taglit-birthright israel trips to the Holy Land provided by Mayanot, and Chabad on Campus runs Israelinks, an advanced educational experience for birthright alumni.
“This presented a prime opportunity to engage our people’s future leaders and explore ways in which all segments of Jewish activism can reach out to the uninitiated,” said Steiner, “inspiring them to discover their own heritage.”
For Michael David, an information technology major at California State University Channel Islands, the entire conference left him better prepared to deal with anti-Israel viewpoints at his school.
“I plan to bring Israel awareness and advocacy to my campus,” said David. “I want to get Israel out in front, so people know the truth.”
Ruth
I was at the Conference and the students were amazing! They have such a hard task with the current anti-Israel poison infecting college campuses, but these kids are bright, motivated and brave. Kol HaKavod!