New Initiative Empowers Students Against Deceptive Proselytizing
Exciting news for Jewish high school and college students and their families! Jews for Judaism’s Community Mobilization Initiative, sponsored by the Jewish Community Foundation and the Jewish Venture Philanthropy Fund, is in full swing with much more to come. Designed to make college and high school students less susceptible to Christian missionary proselytizing and their slick, student-directed tactics, the initiative includes a user friendly website, prep kit, interactive DVD, Campus Rep Program, and an all-day conference and comedy night.
Since July 2007, our dedicated staff has been vigorously promoting our innovative program which has already been presented to more than 2,000 students at 34 different venues, including Jewish Culture Clubs, Hillel Student Boards, and college events at USC, SMC, UCLA and Cal State Long Beach.
Our consistent efforts have created an essential awareness of growing deceptive peer to-peer proselytizing that targets Jewish students and threatens Jewish survival. As a result of our activities, students who previously knew nothing about proselytizing or Jews for Judaism now want to be on our mailing lists. They are eager to receive our materials, emails, as well as information about our Campus Rep Program, all-day conference and more.
Building on our collaboration with JSU (Jewish Student Union), LA Hebrew High, JCA Shalom Institute, and LA Hillel Council, Jews for Judaism is also reaching out to more organizations, such as BBYO, Aish Los Angeles, SULAM (a project of the BJE), AEPi, Hasbara Fellowships, the Temple Isaiah Youth Department, and the Temple Beth Am Youth department. These important relationships are generating exposure to more Jewish high school and college students, and more requests for our programming, than ever before. We look forward to establishing additional associations and reaching out to our Jewish young people on a regular basis.
Jews for Judaism extends a very special thanks to the Youth Department at Temple Beth Am for inviting us to their wonderful USY Shabbaton in December. Our well received presentation to more than 120 students from the western United States and Canada incorporated role playing, scenario exercises and facilitated discussions.
We also truly enjoyed our participationin LimmudLA and Jewlicious, and look forward to many more conferences, such as AIPAC, and to local Jewish festivals. And now, to report on some of the exciting elements of our progam…
DESIGN AND BRANDING:
With the assistance of our designers, Reason Media Group (RMG), our Community Mobilization Initiative has a new name that rings true to our mission.“Be-True” is short, snappy and can ensure our programs remain fresh’n’hip. We plan to incorporate really cool Be-True taglines into all our individual campaigns. Working with our student committee, RMG has also developed innovative branding to reach our Jewish students through their own special media.
WEBSITE:
We’ve already compiled the content for our website. Separate links provide detailed information about Be-True, our sponsors, student initiatives, press releases, at-aglance fact sheets, answers to FAQ’s about Judaism, the differences between Judaism and Christianity, basic answers to missionary text challenges, in-depth information about Christian and Jewish texts, materials for professionals who work with students, regularly updated event info, downloadable pamphlets, Campus Rep Program info and much more.
CAMPUS REP PROGRAM:
Our Campus Rep Program is already a winner! For starters, we’ve just completed our guidebook. Santa Monica College, UCLA, CSUN and USC have their Campus Reps in place. Applications from other colleges in the Greater Los Angeles area are currently under review. Several high school Reps are in place and potential new Reps were identified at our recent conference. All Campus Reps will have their own website login and the ability to post blogs. These Reps will be able to alert their peers to the proselytizing on campuses, warn their friends about devious missionary tactics, and announce and invite their friends to upcoming Be-True events.
CONFERENCE AND COMEDY NIGHT:
On April 6, 2008, at UCLA Hillel, Jews for Judaism hosted an exciting, enlightening all-day conference followed by a comedy night, with all our dynamic speakers tailoring their presentations and workshops to our target group. The day’s speakers included Gavriel Sanders, former evangelical Christian minister who converted to Judaism; Rabbi Bentzion Kravitz, founder of Jews for Judaism; Rabbi Michael Skobac, Education Director of Jews for Judaism, Toronto; and Rabbi Zalman Kravitz, Education Director of Jews for Judaism, Los Angeles. Topics included “Improving Jewish Identity,” “How to Raise Awareness of Proselytizing on Campuses,” and a workshop centered on “Using the Media” and “Teaching Students How to Use their Film, Reporting and Camera-Savvy Talents.” At a special presentation, Campus Reps were introduced to Be-True and received basic training in preparation for their new, vital responsibilities. To end on a lighter tone, a comedy night, featuring local talent, gave students a relaxed opportunity to meet’n’mingle with each other, the speakers and community leaders. For Jews for Judaism, Be-True represents an extraordinary opportunity. Now we can reach out to an essential segment of the Jewish community, namely high school and college students, and we can do it on their turf, in their language. Be-True can empower our youth with vital information and invaluable tools designed to refute and repel the missionary onslaught. As well, Be-True can enhance their appreciation and understanding of our cherished Jewish values and timeless traditions.
