Coffee with Professors Lecture Series: Asher Biemann

In the second successful part of our Coffee with Professors Lecture Series, UVA religious studies professor and Jewish studies director Asher Biemann gave a lecture called "The Beginnings of Zionism: Basic Ideas and Early Debates."
Students munched on free lemonade and cookies while they listened to the beloved Professor Biemann explain the origins of Zionism and its subsequent criticisms. Students heard Zionism's path from a method of re-unification of the Jews to an alleged form of racism.

Neil Lazarus: Israel and the Media

Famed for his dry wit, British accent, and knowledge of Israel, Neil Lazarus easily drew a large crowd at HFI's Israel and the Media event this October. His entertaining and informative lecture was undoubtedly given higher acclaim than even the free Christian's pizza. Mr. Lazarus showed the audience of students and community members just how easy it is to manipulate audio and video footage to attain a desired political or moral angle. Attendees learned the effects of media framing and saw through real examples how difficult it is to entertain an unbiased account of happenings. Mr. Lazarus used both interactive and recorded examples to make his point, making for a truly experiential affair. Following his presentation, Mr. Lazarus fielded questions from the crowd, sharing his knowledge of Israeli government, media, and culture. It's safe to say that not a student walked out of the overflowing auditorium looking at the media portrayal of Israel or any other piece of news the same.

Coffee with Professors Lecture Series: James Loeffler

James Loeffler kicked off our semester-long Coffee with Professors Lecture Series with a lecture titled "The Israeli Law of Return: Between Moral Obligation and Political Reality." Dozens of students enjoyed free baked goods and coffee while learning about this Israeli founding tenet from one of UVA's renowned History and Jewish Studies professor. Professor Loeffler walked the students through the origins of the presently controversial law and traced its path toward its present reputation. He spoke through both historical and ideological lenses, and within the contexts of Jewish nationalism and the Arab-Israeli conflict. After his lecture, Professor Loeffler took questions from students, entertaining queries ranging from the legitimacy of the Jews' claim to Israel to the future politics of the state.

September 2010: Opening Meeting and Advocacy Training

HFI has started the semester off with a bang, drawing dozens of interested students to our opening meeting and advocacy training sessions.

The opening meeting hosted over 30 students in UVA's historic Jefferson Hall, complete with free dinner courtesy of Basil. Board members Joel Taubman, Carrie Filipetti, and Shoshi Spiro gave presentations of what Hoos for Israel stands for, including an overview of our mission as a CIO and the different ways to get involved.
The meeting was a huge success, generating dozens of signups by newly interested students and spreading awareness about Israel advocacy on Grounds.

New this semester are weekly advocacy training sessions hosted by board member Joel Taubman. Students learn methods of dealing with false, anti-Israel comments and are given the opportunity to practice the techniques in a non-threatening environment. Thanks to knowledge and training amassed at AIPAC conferences, Joel is the ideal leader of these sessions and has been proliferating his advocacy dexterity throughout Grounds.

For photos of the opening meeting, please visit our Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2200179510