Off Campus, Off Israel?
by Ruthie Isler
I squinted, fanning myself from the humidity of the room. I had already been standing there for hours. I never before imagined spending that amount of time in the Student Union, let alone for this purpose. I was so tired and hungry; I didn’t want to be there anymore.
But I knew that it was important. It mattered.
“Free Free Free Palestine!” They jeered, shoving their flags up high into the air. I grimaced and only held my Israeli flag higher. I stood shoulder to shoulder with my peers, silently staring down the protest.
The protests. There have been so many of them. It had been so hard to feel so helpless when this war across the ocean began, and then as if God had heard my calls to help, He dropped the campus protests on my lap. And so I stood there, a silent anti-protester, as they cheered their vile threats and casually cried out hate speech.
“From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free!” I clenched my jaw in frustration, gripping my flag tightly. They had no idea what river or what sea. Yet still, here they were, clamoring for the attention of the students, the administration, anyone who would listen.
But deep down, even though it angered me to my core, it felt good to be doing something. To be able to do my part in this ugly war that had been thrust upon the Jewish people. I was fighting the good fight, I was doing what needed to be done. I was doing something that truly mattered. It felt good. It felt right.
And then it became summer.
I squinted, fanning myself from the humidity of the room. I wandered aimlessly around my living room, as if I had something important to do but simply could not remember it. For a moment, I stared out the window, watching the squirrels rapidly chase one another in a tree. My eyes drifted away as I lowered myself onto the couch listlessly. I felt emptier. It had been weeks since I had been on campus. No more protests, no more anti protests. No more tearing down flyers or rallies or…anything. I feel lost, I feel unproductive. Disconnected.
Just because I’m off campus, does that mean I have to be off Israel? I’m desperate for something, anything I can do to feel that inspiration of purpose again. To fight the good fight, to do something that matters.
Now is our chance to make a difference by planning for how we can return to our campuses smarter, stronger, and more determined.
We all can, and should, declare our pride in this fight for justice, morality and truth by standing as Virtual Citizens of Israel with one united voice. We can brainstorm strategies, and share new ideas, develop program plans, and use the resources that organizations like Israel Forever are putting at people’s fingertips. We can carry our activism from the campus to our communities, and be a part of the growth of Jewish leadership everywhere it is needed.
But there is some sweetness that comes along with the bitterness of the radical movement that has spread throughout the country. Jewish students are united. Keep that unity. Do not lose it when you graduate or simply move back home for summer break. Keep that unity. Help spread the truth.
By becoming a VCI and learning about the multitude of resources from the Israel Forever Foundation, you are pushing yourself to be involved with the greater Jewish community, moreover, you are helping the Jewish community continue to thrive.
QUESTIONS FOR CONSIDERATION:
- Why do you think the protests caught on so quickly on college campuses?
- What else can students be doing on campus to help support Israel? What else can they be doing when they’re not on campus?
- Are anti protests effective? Or do they draw negative attention?
- How can we help support and empower students on and off campus?
