We brought a group of 48 young Israelis to the United States for a speaking tour. They all had completed their military service, speak English very well and love their country. They were divided into groups of three and traveled all over the country, with major stops in California, Texas, Colorado, Arizona, Florida, Georgia, New York, Massachusetts, Illinois, Pennsylvania, and Washington DC. In each state they spoke at colleges, high schools, synagogues, media outlets, political arenas, and other similar venues. The purpose of their trip was to help explain to Americans what daily life is like in Israel. These young men and women told their personal stories to people of similar age who were hopefully able to identify with many of the issues Israelis face today. While they answered questions related to politics, it was certainly not their focus. They were much more interested in conveying the message of how they struggle to carry on normal lives in abnormal times. One of Israel's strength is the diversity of its people, consequently, these representatives were chosen from all parts of its society. They are all eloquent and deeply committed to Israel's survival. We hope they conveyed the message that Israel is a place to visit and even a place worth taking time to study in, whether it be for a summer program or a year of studies at one of the major Universities. Our group also stressed the importance of being educated about the conflict in the Middle East so that people can defend Israel against verbal attacks by its enemies. Only an educated student can stand up and respond to the many false accusations made by Israel's adversaries. As this trip was funded privately by a New York businessman, the students did not represent any political party or interest group and were free to represent themselves however they wished. We were fortunate enough, however, to have the support of the Israeli Consulate and appreciate the help where they provided it. For any questions you may have please contact us at info@israelatheart.com.
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