Advocacy
ROSE PROJECT LEADERSHIP COUNCIL Co-Chairs Jeffrey H. Margolis James Weiss, MD Members Steven L. Edwards Shalom C. Elcott Douglas K. Freeman Eugene Spiritus, MD Gerald Solomon Lisa Armony, Director www.JewishOC.org/ Rose
Jewish Federation & Family Services is grateful to our partners and investors who have made possible the development and impact of the Rose Project. Ernest & Irma Rose Foundation Margolis Family Foundation Adam & Gila Milstein Family Foundation Michael & Amy Morhaime Samueli Foundation Robert & Linda Yellin
Leadership
SpaceIL Co-Founder and CEO Yariv Bash shared the excitement of Israel’s race to the moon, and the technology behind it, in a series of exclusive Orange County engagements sponsored by the Rose Project. SpaceIL is Israel’s entrant in the Google Lunar-X Prize, an international competition to land an unmanned, robotic spacecraft on the moon. The team is competing against 23 privately funded space teams and is among the top five contenders that could nab first place prize earnings of more than $30 million. It is supported by illustrious experts from the Israeli aerospace and technology industries and universities, along with nearly 300 volunteers who are building the craft and seeing it through to its Rose Project Co-Chair expected 2015 launch. Jeff Margolis introduces Inspired by the “Apollo SpaceIL at Israel Expo effect,” which , following the 1969 moon landing, drove hundreds of thousands of young Americans into science and engineering careers, Bash and his partners established SpaceIL as a non-profit organization to interest young Israelis, and Jews worldwide, in space science. Any winnings will support science education in Israel to inspire the next generation of Israeli scientists and engineers. CSUF AEPi brother Jevon Tabar presents SpaceIL CEO Yariv Bash with a T-shirt following his presentation
On Campus Bash delivered a seminar on SpaceIL’s cutting edge nanotechnology to mechanical and aerospace engineering students and faculty at UCI’s Henry Samueli School of Engineering. The event was coordinated by Professor Kenneth Mease, who heads UCI’s Flight Dynamics and Control Lab.
Education
Dialogue
SpaceIL CEO Yariv Bash with UCI engineering students and faculty
Bash said his team will leverage Israel’s expertise in developing small satellites and other technologies to make the most efficient craft ever launched into space. Specialized sensor equipment will help the craft avoid the moon’s temperature extremes, as well as rocks and craters that could destroy it. The craft is controlled by a Broadcom computer chip and Broadcom has been a major sponsor of the project. The SpaceIL team is also creating a special video camera to withstand the moon’s harsh climate and transmit high definition videos back to earth, using Israeli fiber optic technology. Following the seminar and a lunch-andlearn with advanced graduate students, ten students of diverse faiths engaged Bash further at a private Shabbat dinner. The encounter also gave Jewish students a chance to share their personal connections to Israel with their peers. Bash and SpaceIL Chief of Staff Ronna Rubinstein also addressed students at Cal State Fullerton at a program coordinated by the campus’ AEPi and Hillel. Their trip to OC culminated in a community lecture at Jewish Federation & Family Services’ Israel Expo, where they were joined by former Project Apollo Chief of Development Dr. Joseph Robinson. Robinson drew parallels between Apollo and SpaceIL, noting the ways the Apollo mission changed civilization and the benefits the global community could reap from a successful Israeli lunar landing. Bash’s and Robinson’s presentations at Israel Expo can be viewed at www.JewishOC.org/Rose.
SpaceIL’s Yariv Bash and Ronna Rubinstein at SpaceIL’s Israel Expo exhibit
Message from the Co-Chairs While college is meant for studying, exploring new interests and having fun, proIsrael students on California campuses this year were compelled to defend Israel to student governments weighing resolutions calling for divestment from companies with operations in the West Bank. Inspired by the international Boycott, Divest and Sanction (BDS) movement, the resolutions were deliberated at eight UCs and at Stanford. By year’s end, they had passed on three campuses, failed on four and were tabled at another. In most cases, they inspired vitriolic comments and false accusations of Israel from divestment proponents. Heated, emotional debates lasted long into the night and were often accompanied by Facebook events, Twitter hashtags and live video feeds that fueled the BDS fire. That divestment resolutions were put to student legislatures this year is disturbing, but not surprising. Since 2005, BDS actions have been pursued on at least 20 US campuses. In no cases have university investment portfolios been altered. The decision by anti-Israel activists to target the UCs may have been an attempt to shake the UC Regents’
unequivocal rejection of divestment from Israel, approved in 2005 and reaffirmed in 2010. Swift rebuff from the chancellors of UC Irvine, San Diego and Berkeley, where BDS legislation passed, let supporters know that their resolutions were out of order; their victories symbolic at best. At UCI, the 200-plus students of Jewish and other faiths who stood up against BDS showed their government that it was not speaking for the campus community. That’s not to say that we should be unconcerned with BDS activity. Some proBDS legislators used tactics this year that violated student government bylaws, and incidents of BDS opponents being bullied or harassed have been reported. Hardly the model for democratic governance, these episodes should put administrators on notice that careful monitoring of Israel-related debates is needed to ensure student safety and to prevent democratic processes from being thwarted. Equally concerning is that by cloaking their resolutions as human rights initiatives, BDS proponents are forming small but vocal coalitions with some campus activists who see themselves at the forefront of opposing racism, bigotry and injustice. One wonders if these students are aware
of the illogic of finding common ground with a movement that calls itself rightsbased, yet denies Israel’s right to exist. Their anti-oppression coalitions ring hollow when Israel is the only target of defamatory legislation, and when the inspiration behind the resolutions is not peace, but Israel’s elimination. As you will see in this report, the Rose Project, in partnership with students, campus organizations, faculty and administrators, is bringing alternative messages to OC campuses, educating community members about Israel while helping them build personal connections to Israelis. Meanwhile, UCI continues to deepen its ties to Israeli academia in many disciplines. These efforts are the most effective ways to create an understanding of Israel based on truth and shared experiences that will leave a lasting, positive impact on individuals and the climate for Israel on campus.
Jeffrey H. Margolis Co-Chair, Rose Project
James M. Weiss, MD Co-Chair, Rose Project
SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS NAMED Launched in 2012, this competitive program provides up to four renewable $5,000 scholarships to incoming UCI Jewish students.
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Matthew Honig of San Diego and Jordan Elcott of Aliso Viejo will begin their undergraduate studies at UCI this fall as recipients of the 2013 Rabbi Allen Krause Memorial Scholarship and Hillel Jewish Student Leadership Scholarship. They were selected from among a strong pool of prospective UCI students. Launched in 2012 as a joint initiative of the Rose Project and Hillel Foundation of Orange County, this competitive program provides up to four renewable $5,000 scholarships to incoming UCI Jewish students. The program is designed to recruit outstanding Jewish students with leadership and Israel experience to UCI
and to support them as they pursue leadership roles within the campus community. Matthew and Jordan will join David Friedman, Sharon Shaoulian and Rachel Weiner, last year’s scholarship recipients, who are set to begin their sophomore year. Among their campus leadership roles, David and Sharon will serve on the 2013-2014 Hillel executive board. Rachel was social action chair for Chabad and is incoming vice president of Women in Information and Computer Science. Applications for 2014-2015 scholarships will be available this fall at www.JewishOC.org/Rose. For more information, contact rose@jffs.org.
JEWISH HIGH SCHOOL COUNSELORS SEE THE REAL UCI
“I was pleasantly surprised and impressed at the amount of effort the school is putting into ensuring that Jewish students feel comfortable, welcome, and consider themselves a vital part of the diverse campus community.”-- Gary Berger, President, CAJUE.
Southern California high school guidance counselors explored Jewish life at UCI as the university hosted the West Coast regional meeting of Counselor Advocacy for the Jewish University Experience (CAJUE) in conjunction with the Rose Project, in February. The day-long event gave counselors representing Jewish high schools and independent practices a chance to dig beneath the headlines to understand the campus climate for Israel and the educational, religious and social opportunities available to Jewish UCI students. CAJUE members help Jewish students in private and public schools in the U.S. and Canada understand their options for Jewish life at the postsecondary level. “When the West Coast chapter chose to have its meeting [at UCI], I was flooded with emails questioning the motive behind having a meeting on a campus that is often in the news for being a school that Jewish Hillel President Laryn Hineman students would not speaks to CAJUE members feel comfortable attending,” said Gary Berger, CAJUE President. “I was pleasantly surprised and impressed at the amount of effort the school is putting into ensuring that Jewish students feel
UCI Chancellor Michael Drake addresses CAJUE counselors
comfortable, welcome, and consider themselves a vital part of the diverse campus community.” UCI Chancellor Michael Drake met with the group to discuss UCI’s five-year endeavor to create an inclusive atmosphere that is respectful to all cultures and religions. He said that his
administration takes seriously tensions that arise with regard to Israel, and works to ensure that all students act in accordance with campus values and codes of conduct. Rose Project CAJUE President Gary Berger and UCI Chancellor Michael Drake Director Lisa Armony addressed the group on campus anti-Israel activity in a national and global context; and Rose Project Co-Chair James Weiss, MD discussed how the organization’s partnerships with the administration and Jewish campus organizations have helped to reduce anti-Israel tensions on campus. The counselors also met with UCI Assistant Vice Chancellor for Enrollment Services Brent Yunek; Hillel of OC Executive Director Daniel Y. Harris; Chabad of UCI Director Rabbi Zevi Tenenbaum; UCI Jewish Studies Program Director Professor Matthias Lehmann; and Jewish student leaders Laryn Hineman, Kevin Hekmat and Alyssa Wolk. The Rose Project thanks UCI Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Dr. Thomas Parham and his staff for their support in hosting this event.
UCI INTRODUCES JEWISH RESOURCE GUIDE UCI’s new Jewish Resource Guide showcases opportunities available on campus for students to explore their Jewish identity, learn about and experience Israel, and have fun with other students who share common interests and values. A joint project of the UCI Department of Student Affairs, Hillel of Orange County and the Rose Project, the guide is available in print or online at www. JewishOC.org/Rose. For more information, contact Lisa Armony at lisa@jffs.org.
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THE YEAR IN REVIEW The Rose Project provides grants, subsidies and guidance to empower Orange County college students and campus organizations to engage in positive, proactive Israel advocacy and education and to advance the Jewish student experience on campus, including:
2012 September – Anteaters for Israel and
Hillel of UCI kicked the school year off with Welcome Week, sharing information about the organizations and Jewish life at UCI with new and returning students.
UCI students came ready to network with Israeli high tech industries at the Irvine Global Innovation Group Summit
More than 100 students celebrated Sukkot at the home of UCI Professor Dan Hirschberg at a sukkah party sponsored by Chabad of UCI.
October – Irvine Global Innovation Group,
a UCI student organization, hosted its first Irvine Global Innovation Group Summit. The day-long event showcased Israeli technology and innovation and offered UCI students and faculty a networking platform for academic collaboration and work opportunities. Speakers included Consul General of Israel David Siegel; Clinical Director of UCI’s Sue & Bill Gross Stem Cell Research Center Steven C. Cramer, MD; Technion Technology Transfer Managing Director Benny Soffer and Angel Investor Terrence Yang.
November – UCI students Rachel Weiner,
David Friedman and Naomi Warfield attended StandWithUs’ annual Israel in Focus conference in Los Angeles to learn advanced strategies for discussing Israel on campus. Hillel of UCI screened the acclaimed Israeli documentary, Voices of El-Sayeed. The film documents the impact of a family’s decision to have their young son undergo cochlear implant surgery in a predominantly deaf Bedouin village in Israel. The film’s director, Oded Adomi
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Leshem, and Dr. Hamid Djalilian, Director of Otology, Neurotology and Skull Base Surgery at UCI School of Medicine’s Cochlear Implant Center, led a discussion after the film.
2013 February – Rose Project Director Lisa
Armony and Chabad of UCI Director Rabbi Zevi Tenenbaum facilitated a roundtable discussion for student Israel advocates on SoCal campuses at the West Coast Chabad on Campus Jewish Student Retreat.
March – Twenty students from UCI, Chapman
University and Cal State Fullerton attended the AIPAC National Policy Conference in Washington, DC with support from the Rose Project. The student delegation included campus leaders of Jewish and other faiths. They attended educational forums, plenary sessions and workshops with experts and political figures from around the world.
April – Four Israeli medical students from
Ben Gurion University (BGU) arrived in Irvine for a two-month internship at UCI’s School of Medicine. They were part of an ongoing medical student exchange developed by UCI Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Care Chairman Dr. Zeev Kain. Two UCI students studied at BGU August 2012 with a grant from the BGU medical students with Rose Project. Dr. Zeev Kain of UCI’s School of Medicine
May – Anteaters for Israel’s 6th annual iFest
celebrated and educated UCI students about Israel’s rich culture, history, diversity, achievements and contributions to the world. Highlights of this week-long festival, the largest and most dynamic Israel program on campus, included a kick-off Shabbat dinner attended by more than 150 students and guests, an Israeli street festival, and an Israeli-style party for the campus community at a local club. The week also featured a panel discussion co-sponsored by the Azerbaijani Student Association, “Making the World a Better Place,” that examined international environmental issues.
Student Leadership Program to Launch This Fall
Israeli dancing at iFest
Panelists included Deputy Consul General of Israel Dr. Uri Resnick; Consul General of Switzerland Bruno Ryff; and Deputy Consul General of Azerbaijan Ramil Gurbanov. The program was moderated by Professor Richard Matthew of UCI’s Center for Unconventional Security Affairs. Consul General of Israel David Siegel addressed the Jewish community of North OC at “Israel at the Crossroads,” a town hall meeting co-sponsored by the North Orange County Chabad Center. Following the meeting, the Consul General met privately with teen members of Shevet Tapuz, Consul General David Siegel addresses the OC chapter North County Jewish leaders prior to the of Israel Scouts. town hall meeting
June-August – Students from UCI, Chapman and CSUF attended Israel education and advocacy training programs in Israel and the U.S., including AIPAC’s Saban Leadership Seminar and The Iranian Threat Campus Leaders Response Team Workshop sponsored by Hasbara Fellowships & the David Project in Washington, DC; Birthright Israel; Hasbara Fellowships; internships at The Brand of Milk and Honey; and the AEPi Centennial Convention in New York City.
Empowering Jewish student leadership and self-sufficiency is a cornerstone of the Rose Project’s strategy to create a civil climate for Israel on Orange County campuses. Since 2008, we have partnered with leading Israel advocacy organizations, providing OC students with more than $600,000 in grants and subsidies to attend advocacy and educational programs around the world. This fall, the Rose Project will take the next step of its journey with the launch of the Orange County Jewish Campus Leadership Initiative (JCLI), a cutting-edge leadership development Judith Flacks program that will shape a new generation of Jewish life and Israel advocacy at OC campuses. Grounded in Jewish values and Israel education, the JCLI will teach students the critical skills they need to lead and inspire their peers and to create conditions for a long-term, favorable climate for Israel and a Jewish student community deeply engaged in campus life. The program’s two-year curriculum includes interactive workshops, immersion experiences and seminars with thought leaders and experts in political advocacy, community building, Israel education and leadership development. Students will also enjoy private meetings with top CEOs and be guided in career development by mentors in their professional fields of interest. The program will be led by Judith Flacks, who recently completed her tenure as head of campaigns for the Union of Jewish Students in the UK. Judith has extensive experience and success in countering anti-Israel activity; defeating Boycott, Divest and Sanction resolutions; and developing strong Jewish student leaders on campuses throughout the country. For more information or to apply to the JCLI, contact Lisa Armony at lisa@jffs.org.
Israeli Consul General and members of Shevet Tapuz
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VISITING FACULTY BRING ISRAELI PERSPECTIVES TO OC The Schusterman visiting professor and artist programs bring unique Israeli perspectives to Orange County campuses and the broader community. A partnership of the Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation, the American-Israeli Cooperative Enterprise and the Rose Project, the programs help students, faculty and community members of diverse faiths build personal connections to Israelis, creating the conditions for acceptance and understanding of the country.
UCI’s Political Science department has named Michael Widlanski as 20132014 Schusterman Visiting Israel Professor. A specialist in Arab politics, communications and counterterrorism, Professor Michael Widlanski Widlanski is a former reporter, correspondent and editor of media outlets including the New York Times, The Jerusalem Post, and Israel Army Radio, where he was Arab affairs correspondent during the Lebanon War. He has advised Israeli delegations to peace talks and was Strategic Affairs Advisor to Israel’s Ministry of Public Security from 2001-2002. Currently teaching at Bar Ilan University, he is the author of Battle for Our Minds: Western Elites and the Terror Threat, an exposé of how Western intelligence officials and mass media have failed to confront Arab-Islamic terror. Dr. Widlanski will be available to speak to community groups beginning in October. For more information, contact Lisa Armony at lisa@jffs.org
2013 Visiting Educators Former Knesset Deputy Speaker Anat Maor lectured in UCI’s Political Science department during the winter and spring quarters. Her courses in Israeli politics, legislation and status of women attracted students of diverse religious and ethnic backgrounds. A member of the Meretz party, Anat was a Knesset member from 1992 Students in Anat Maor’s Legislation to 2003, in Israel class chairing the subcommittee for the Advancement of Women in the Workplace and Economy and participating in negotiations with Palestinian delegations. Her direct involvement in the peace process and in social and economic policymaking provided her students with a rich and nuanced understanding of Israeli democracy and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Dance students at UCI’s Claire Trevor School of the Arts enjoyed the double benefit of studying with acclaimed Israeli choreographer Idan Cohen and dancer Noa Shiloh, a soloist with Cohen’s dance company, during the spring quarter. Their engagement at UCI culminated in a student performance on campus of Cohen’s original dance, “Mad Siren.”
UCI dance students with Noa Shiloh
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