Bring Israel On Campus
Ideas for students to engage in and be active about that will ideas strongly developed in Israel onto the campus
Make it real, bring it onto campus
We want students to learn and grow in their understanding of what could be a uniquely Jewish response to global challenges.
We want to give them an opportunity to act in the world - when dealing with the attacks faced by Israel on campus and when engaging with poverty and injustice - in a authentically Jewish manner.
When they think of addressing these issues, they choose to do so through Chabad.
Here are a few ideas that illustrate how we can bring initiatives inspired by Israel on to campus in a prominent manner, at once promoting chesed in our students, and pushing back in a creative and positive manner against the negativity being spread against Israel (and thereby also the Jewish People).
Hydroponics on a rooftop
Hydroponics involves growing crops without soil, which is highly convenient for a country with so little of it – especially the fertile variety. Israel is a world-leader is this field, with many innovations to its name. Among the many advantages of hydroponics is that it is most environmentally friendly.
An Israeli organization, Livin' Green (Yarok Ba'Ir) set up hydroponic greenhouses on the car park roof of Dizengoff Mall in Tel Aviv. We shall be working with them to bring their know-how to American campuses.
Recycling collection cages
Israel is the world leader in recycling bottles due to the extensive system of collection points and incentives that are available. This one of several areas where Israel is achieving great things to benefit the environment and society.
Israel has a recycling NGO called ELA that oversees a a highly successful bottle recycling system. We plan to work with them to promote a variation of their system on campus.
Medical clowning
While Israel did not invent the idea, it is now the world's most advanced country when it comes to medical clowns, also known as Dream Doctors. They operate in hospitals, helping mainly children to better cope with the hardship of illness.
While in Israel medical clowns can be involved in many aspects of treatment, we would only be looking to provide very basic training so students can occasionally volunteer in a local children's hospital waiting areas to bring cheer to worried children.
Mentoring children at-risk
Israel has a unique mentoring system across all universities that encourage students to provide regular mentoring to children who need the support in return for incentives - in Israel this is a reduction in university tuition costs.
The organization that set this up is called PERACH, and has been operating in Israel for several decades. We would like to work to create a system similar to this on campuses that do not have such opportunities.