Hasbara Fellowships

A little taste of Israel right here at UVic! 🇮🇱💙 Such a fun night filled with amazing food, music, and even better company! Thank you to everyone who came out, tried some new things, and helped make the evening so special. We loved getting to share a little bit of Israeli culture with everyone!

When someone wants to learn about Israel or current events, they don't open a textbook or compare articles from five different outlets. They Google it, or they ask their favorite AI tool. And where do so many of those Google results, AI answers and even Reddit replies get their information? Wikipedia. Whatever a Wikipedia article says about a topic quickly becomes how the world understands it. Who gets to tell that story, and whether antisemitism slips into it, is decided by the people writing and editing those pages. That's why we're excited to partner with Oct7 to bring you Alan Sohn, an experienced Wikipedia editor. He'll explain why advocates need to learn this tool, and he'll walk you through the real strategies and steps to become an editor who can write and edit Wikipedia articles. 📅 Wednesday, November 4 🕔 5:00 PM ET, live on Zoom Comment LEADERSHIP to save your spot Spots are limited, so RSVP now to save your place. 💙🇮🇱

"Hurt people hurt people." Really? "I've been hurt before... never occurred to me to drive a truck full of explosives into a preschool." Jihadis hurt people. #antisemitism #moralclarity #israel #jewish

You may have seen it this week: a campaign ad from Cenk Uygur's PAC, backing Abdul El-Sayed for Senate, where a family in a grocery store decides they can't afford food because of U.S. aid to Israel. That isn't a policy critique. It's one of the oldest antisemitic messages there is: because of the Jews, you can't afford groceries. It shouldn't get a pass just because it now comes with a campaign logo. It needs to be condemned and pushed back on.

Slurs. Screaming. “F*** Israel.” This is how Myron Gaines spoke to a Jewish student at the University of Florida. @uncensoredamerica Shame on you. This is what Jewish students are facing on campus. They should never have to face it alone.

The perfect trip to Israel doesn't exist… or does it? Jerusalem's Old City. Sderot and Kibbutz Be'eri (a farming community next to Gaza, attacked on October 7th). Hearing it straight from the people who lived it. A visit to Israel's Foreign Ministry. And a lot of yalla (Hebrew for "let's go"). Our fellows get to see Israel for themselves, and then return to tell its story on campus.

Everyone loves talking about creating a Palestinian state but nobody wants to answer the obvious question. Who's actually going to govern it, Mahmoud Abbas and the PA or Hamas? Either it's going to be a corrupt Arab dictatorship that has to kowtow to terrorists, or it's going to be run by the terrorists. So who do you think would run it?

These are five reasons we think you should stay quiet about Israel on your campus

Abbas just postponed Palestinian elections again, this time to September 2027. The last presidential vote was in 2005 and the last parliamentary one was in 2006, when Hamas beat his party, and the next year Hamas took over Gaza by force. So honestly it's not hard to see why he keeps pushing it off, for him an election is playing with fire. Why do you think this barely gets covered?

The forefront of our war is an education war. 🇮🇱 Advocating for Israel on college campus is an incredibly difficult and daunting feat. Brave students who stand up to take on the job need our support now more than ever before. Nothing prepares student leaders to defend Israel like walking in the footsteps of the Nova festival, seeing and experiencing the Gaza border, and having conversations with world leaders like President Herzog. Hasbara Fellowships takes strong student leaders from over 150 campuses across North America to Israel for an immersive advocacy trip, and sends them home with the tools and skills they need to lead on campus and beyond. Help send the next student leader to Israel and shape the narrative about Israel for the next generation. Join the movement 💙 #HasbaraFellowships #StandWithIsrael #IsraelAdvocacy #JewishStudents #CampusLeaders

For thousands of years, Jews around the world have gathered on Yom Kippur to pray, reflect, and renew their commitment to their faith and one another. From generation to generation, we continue. G’mar Chatimah Tovah. 🤍

Wishing everyone a Shabbat Shalom!💙🌟🇮🇱

Understanding the facts matters. And when critical context is missing from the news, it becomes even more important to educate ourselves, ask questions, and seek out the full story. It has become clear that a consistent imbalance has been represented in The New York Times. Palestinian suffering received extensive coverage, while Israeli casualties, hostages, Hamas fighters, and Palestinian violence after October 7 are left out almost entirely. This begs the question of whether readers are receiving the full story—and whether journalism can be called objective when critical context is repeatedly missing. The more informed we are, the better equipped we are to advocate for the truth. It is our job to make sure the narrative, on college campuses and beyond, is based on truth. Swipe through, and remember to never stop asking questions.

What’s really happening with Israel—and how can we make sense of it all? We were honored to have a chat with Lazar Berman, senior political correspondent for The Times of Israel, as he breaks down the issues shaping Israel, its relationship with the United States, and what students need to understand as they navigate the conversation on campus. 💬Comment HEADLINE to receive and watch the full recording!

When our delegations land, our first day in Israel is always filled with powerful moments together - meeting new people, reconnecting with Jerusalem at the Kotel, and hearing from inspiring speakers. Hasbara Fellowships is all about education, community, and support — inspiring Jewish and Zionist students to stand proudly for Israel with clarity and confidence✨

Hasbara Fellowships is about so much more than advocacy. It’s about education, community, and empowering the next generation of Jewish leaders to stand proudly for Israel. ✨ Through immersive educational experiences, leadership development, and ongoing support, we equip Jewish and Zionist students with the knowledge, confidence, and community they need to navigate campus and beyond. Because when students are informed, connected, and supported, they can make a meaningful difference — strengthening Jewish identity, combating antisemitism, and ensuring Israel’s story continues to be told with clarity and conviction. We are proud to invest in the students who will shape the future of our people and lead the next generation 💪

This Rosh Hashana, tell the people you love that you love them. Stand proudly as a Jew. Choose love over hatred. Today we also remember the nearly 3,000 people murdered on September 11, 2001. We remember their families. We remember the heroes who ran toward the danger. May their memories forever be a blessing. And may this new year bring less hatred, more courage, and more love. Shana Tova, & Never forget 💙

@avciturku is a Muslim student studying at Hebrew University in Israel. This is her experience on campus after October 7.

Shabbat Shalom to all! 💙💙💙