December 9, 2009
Andrew Cohen, Lauren Fialkow, Dakota Johnston, and ICC's Tracy Altman.
By Dakota Johnston, Grinspoon Israel Advocacy Intern
This past Sunday I had the pleasure of attending my first UJC General Assembly. I packed my bags full of business attire and my matching shoes, articles of clothing that are surely foreign to the college student, and boarded the plane headed for Washington, D.C. With my nerves by my side I walked into the conference and to the excitement of what would be the next couple of days. Right away I sat down for my first session on the “International Campaign to Delegitimize Israel.” The session was filled with passionate speakers, all experts in their field. It was extremely educational and eye-opening to learn the major implications of the Goldstone report and the effect it has had Israel and Jews today. I had no idea what to expect of the GA but after this first workshop I knew I was in for a treat. Although I found it difficult as a student to fully participate in the sessions I felt that just being able to sit and observe was extremely informative. I had the chance to see how the difficult issues I face each day on my college campus are being dealt with and discussed in the greater Jewish world. Being aware of what is being done among the Jewish leadership made me feel supported and not alone in my convictions on my campus.
One experience I feel honored to have gotten the chance to participate in was to meet with the individuals who make the Grinspoon Israel Advocacy Internship, the internship I do on campus, possible. It was amazing to meet the very people who have given me such an opportunity to grow as an individual and to do the work I do on campus advocating for Israel and providing Israel programming. Along with the other Grinspoon Interns who attended the GA, I sat down and ate lunch with Harold Grinspoon, Harold Grinspoon Foundation board trustee Winnie Sandler, and Executive Director of the Harold Grinspoon Foundation Joanna Ballantine to talk about what we are doing on campus, the successes we have had, and the challenges we face. The personal connection of this meeting was a unique opportunity and one I am grateful for having.
It is safe to say that the first plenary where both Natan Sharansky and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke had a profound affect on me and made the GA experience an incredibly memorable one. Seven rows from these passionate and heroic leaders of the Jewish world I sat and listened to their speeches with a heart filled with inspiration, hope, and a deep sense of pride. On my college campus I face a problem that is not unique to other campuses in North America: apathy among the non-Jewish and Jewish students. This reality can be frustrating and daunting at times, trying to motivate or inspire other Jews to be active in engaging their Jewish identity. It can be discouraging and on occasion I find myself asking, “Well, if they don’t care, why should I?” Getting the chance to hear the words of Sharansky and Netanyahu at the GA reminded me why I do care so much and why I can’t get discouraged. As Jews, we are responsible to help each other gain a connection to Jewish identity and make that connection strong.
I left the GA with a handful of great experiences, a recharged battery to continue putting my all into creating Jewish life on campus, and the chutzpah to do so.