Manhigim Institute: The "Magic" of Israel

Date: January 10, 2012

The January session of Manhigim focused on Israel and its unique and special qualities. We always hear about Israel in the context of conflict; this session involved sharing positive experiences about Israel. An inspiring panel of Israeli and American speakers shared the tremendous impact Israel had on their lives, what Israel means to them, and why they have devoted their professional lives to advocating for Israel.

The panelists included Elad Morad, a fellow from StandWithUs and a former Israeli soldier; Adina Wollner, who made Aliyah to Israel and joined the IDF when she was 18years old; Shoshi Bogoch, the community shlicha for the Israel Overseas Centre for the Jewish Federation in San Diego; and Tina Malka, ADL Associate Director. 

Each speaker talked about the “magic” of Israel and the unique influence it had on them.  Elad described some of the challenges he faced while completing his Masters degree in Conflict that involved living with Palestinian and Lebanese students in Italy. He also demonstrated for the Manhigim students that ignorance can significantly cause prejudice and misconceptions about the “other” and that open dialogue can mitigate these and improve relationships.

Adina Wollner spoke passionately about what inspired her to travel to Israel and eventually join the IDF. She shared her experiences in the IDF working in a tank unit and how serving in the military is a rite of passage for all Israelis and bound her more closely to Israel.

Tina Malka’s strong connection to Israel began when she took part in the Federation summer trip to Israel while she was in high school.  This visit left an indelible mark, and three days after graduating from UCLA, Tina returned to Israel as a volunteer and stayed for five years – ultimately attending Hebrew University for her graduate studies.

Shoshi Bogoch conducted an activity that asked the students about the connection between being Jewish and identification with Israel. This activity energized the students and allowed them to think critically about why Israel is important to them.

The night concluded with a competitive game of Israel Jeopardy. Students were excited to realize how much they already knew and were enthusiastic about learning new information about Israel.