Shabbaton 2002 A Success!

Over 120 college students and over 20 fascinating speakers convened this weekend for the Israel Center’s 14th Shabbaton Israel, our annual student leadership retreat. With 10 Bay Area college campuses represented, this year's Shabbaton was our largest ever.

The retreat has historically been a jumping-off point for would-be student Israel activists, as well as a forum for more veteran campus organizers to network with new students, and share their ideas and experience. Those that attended will impart their new-found knowledge to still more students at their home campuses.

The positive feedback from students and Hillel professionals has been overwhelming. Students were particularly impressed with the poetry of Ronny Someck, appearing in the Bay Area as part of the Israel Center's Arts and Politics Series, and the moving personal stories of Semha Alwaya and Gina Waldman of Jews Indigenous to the Middle East and North Africa. Our keynote speaker was veteran Israeli journalist Freda Keet, who called on the younger generation present to renew their efforts on behalf of Israel at this critical time. Workshops by the ADL, AIPAC, Jewish-Palestinian Living Room Dialogue and the JCRC familiarized the students with important local organizations.

The Israel Center would like to thank the JCRC, AIPAC, ADL, New Israel Fund, JIMENA, the Israeli Consulate, USD/Hagshama, the Jewish Agency and all the Bay Area Hillels for helping to make this year's Shabbaton an unbelievable success.