Israel On Campus Coalition
Encyclopedia
The Israel on Campus Coalition is a pro-Israel umbrella organization
Umbrella organization
An umbrella organization is an association of institutions, who work together formally to coordinate activities or pool resources. In business, political, or other environments, one group, the umbrella organization, provides resources and often an identity to the smaller organizations...
founded in 2002 under the auspices of the Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation and Hillel: The Foundation for Jewish Campus Life
Hillel: The Foundation for Jewish Campus Life
Hillel: The Foundation for Jewish Campus Life is the largest Jewish campus organization in the world, working with thousands of college students globally...
. The organization was created in order "to evaluate the worrisome rise in anti-Israel activities on college campuses across North America."
Today, "the ICC serves as the central coordinating and strategic body to address campus issues and intelligently impact a pro-active, pro-Israel agenda on campus."
Speakers Bureau
The coalition coordinates a speakers' bureaus that incorporates numerous speakers from its member organization.Grants
The ICC offers Israel Advocacy Grants "to provide seed-money for student-initiated Israel advocacy initiatives that produce a more positive view of Israel on campus."Controversy
In late 2006 and early 2007, a controversy arose within the Israel On Campus Coalition when one the more left-wing member groups, the Union of Progressive ZionistsUnion of Progressive Zionists
The Union of Progressive Zionists was a North American network of Jewish student activists who have organized around principles of social justice and peace in Israel and Palestine...
(UPZ) sponsored speeches by former Israeli soldiers who spoke out against alleged human rights abuses in the Israeli-occupied Palestinian territories
Palestinian territories
The Palestinian territories comprise the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. Since the Palestinian Declaration of Independence in 1988, the region is today recognized by three-quarters of the world's countries as the State of Palestine or simply Palestine, although this status is not recognized by the...
. This was not appreciated within the coalition's more conservative (right-wing) "pro-active pro-Israel agenda" members of the coalition. The Zionist Organization of America
Zionist Organization of America
The Zionist Organization of America , founded in 1897, was one of the first official Zionist organizations in the United States, and, especially early in the 20th century, the primary representative of Jewish Americans to the World Zionist Organization, espousing primarily Political Zionism.Today,...
called for the expulsion of the UPZ. Jewish National Fund
Jewish National Fund
The Jewish National Fund was founded in 1901 to buy and develop land in Ottoman Palestine for Jewish settlement. The JNF is a quasi-governmental, non-profit organisation...
did not call for the group's exclusion, but demanded that the UPZ end the speakers’ activities. The World Zionist Organization
World Zionist Organization
The World Zionist Organization , or WZO, was founded as the Zionist Organization , or ZO, in 1897 at the First Zionist Congress, held from August 29 to August 31 in Basel, Switzerland...
supported the UPZ, as did a group of 100 academics from Israel. Although the coalition's steering committee voted 9-0 against expulsion in January 2007, the issue resulted in a debate among major Zionist organizations. The American Jewish Congress
American Jewish Congress
The American Jewish Congress describes itself as an association of Jewish Americans organized to defend Jewish interests at home and abroad through public policy advocacy, using diplomacy, legislation, and the courts....
threatened to quit the coalition out of dissatisfaction with the decision to allow the UPZ to remain.
Member organizations
The ICC comprises 33 organizations "committed to a pro-active, pro-Israel agenda on college campuses":- Aish HaTorahAish HaTorahAish HaTorah is a Jewish Orthodox organization and yeshiva. Aish HaTorah is actively pro-Israel and encourages Jewish people to visit Israel and connect to the land and its history. Some consider the organisation to reflect a more Religious Zionist philosophy in its attachment to Israel, promoting...
/ Hasbara FellowshipsHasbara FellowshipsHasbara Fellowships is an organization that brings students to Israel and trains them to be effective pro-Israel activists on college campuses. Based in New York, it was started in 2001 by Aish HaTorah in conjunction with the Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs... - Alpha Epsilon PiAlpha Epsilon PiAlpha Epsilon Pi , the Global Jewish college fraternity, has 155 active chapters in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom and Israel with a membership of over 9,000 undergraduates...
(AEPi) Fraternity and Foundation - Alpha Epsilon PhiAlpha Epsilon PhiAlpha Epsilon Phi is a sorority and member of the National Panhellenic Conference. It was founded on October 24, 1909 at Barnard College in New York City by seven Jewish women; Helen Phillips Lipman, Ida Beck Carlin, Rose Gerstein Smolin, Augustina "Tina" Hess Solomon, Lee Reiss Liebert, Rose...
(ΑΕΦ) Sorority and Foundation - American Israel Public Affairs CommitteeAmerican Israel Public Affairs CommitteeThe American Israel Public Affairs Committee is a lobbying group that advocates pro-Israel policies to the Congress and Executive Branch of the United States...
(AIPAC) - American Jewish CommitteeAmerican Jewish CommitteeThe American Jewish Committee was "founded in 1906 with the aim of rallying all sections of American Jewry to defend the rights of Jews all over the world...
(AJC) - The American Jewish CongressAmerican Jewish CongressThe American Jewish Congress describes itself as an association of Jewish Americans organized to defend Jewish interests at home and abroad through public policy advocacy, using diplomacy, legislation, and the courts....
- American-Israeli Cooperative EnterpriseAmerican-Israeli Cooperative EnterpriseThe American-Israeli Cooperative Enterprise is a non-profit 501, "non-partisan" organization in the United States established in 1993 "to strengthen the U.S.-Israel relationship by emphasizing the fundamentals of the alliance." It is a member of the Israel on Campus Coalition. Its Executive...
(AICE) - Americans for Peace NowAmericans for Peace NowAmericans for Peace Now , the United States partner of Israel’s Shalom Achshav organization, is an American coalition working to help Israel achieve a secure peace with the Arab states and the Palestinian people...
(APN) - Anti-Defamation LeagueAnti-Defamation LeagueThe Anti-Defamation League is an international non-governmental organization based in the United States. Describing itself as "the nation's premier civil rights/human relations agency", the ADL states that it "fights anti-Semitism and all forms of bigotry, defends democratic ideals and protects...
(ADL) - Committee for Accuracy in Middle East Reporting in AmericaCommittee for Accuracy in Middle East Reporting in AmericaThe Committee for Accuracy in Middle East Reporting in America is an American non-profit pro-Israel media watchdog group. The group says it was founded in 1982 "to respond to the Washington Post's coverage of Israel's Lebanon incursion", and to respond to what it considers the media's "general...
(CAMERA) - Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation
- Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations
- The David Project Center for Jewish LeadershipThe David Project Center for Jewish LeadershipThe David Project, is a non-profit educational organization located in Boston, Massachusetts, with satellite offices in New York and Israel. The David Project's stated aim is "to educate and inspire strong voices for Israel through dynamic educational seminars, workshops, and curricula." It was...
- Hillel: The Foundation for Jewish Campus LifeHillel: The Foundation for Jewish Campus LifeHillel: The Foundation for Jewish Campus Life is the largest Jewish campus organization in the world, working with thousands of college students globally...
- Israel Program Center
- Israel University Consortium (IUC)
- Jewish Council for Public AffairsJewish Council for Public AffairsThe Jewish Council for Public Affairs is an American Jewish non-profit organization that deals with community relations. It is a coordinating round table organization of 14 other national Jewish organizations as well as 127 local Jewish federations and community relations councils...
(JCPA) - Jewish National FundJewish National FundThe Jewish National Fund was founded in 1901 to buy and develop land in Ottoman Palestine for Jewish settlement. The JNF is a quasi-governmental, non-profit organisation...
(JNF) - Jewish Virtual LibraryJewish Virtual LibraryJewish Virtual Library is an online encyclopedia published by the American-Israeli Cooperative Enterprise . Established in 1993, it is a comprehensive website covering Israel, the Jewish people, and Jewish culture.-History:...
- KESHER - Union for Reform JudaismUnion for Reform JudaismThe Union for Reform Judaism , formerly known as the Union of American Hebrew Congregations , is an organization which supports Reform Jewish congregations in North America. The current President is Rabbi Eric H...
(URJ) - KOACH - United Synagogue of Conservative JudaismUnited Synagogue of Conservative JudaismThe United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism is the primary organization of synagogues practicing Conservative Judaism in North America...
(USCJ) - Media Watch InternationalMedia Watch InternationalMedia Watch International is a media monitoring organization founded by Sharon Tzur and based in New York. It describes itself as "an independent, non-profit organization dedicated to advancing Israel's image by promoting accurate, impartial media coverage of, and providing timely, factual...
(MWI) - StandWithUsStandWithUsStandWithUs is a non-profit pro-Israel education and advocacy organization based in Los Angeles. As of 2009, it has branches in Los Angeles, New York, Denver, Michigan, Chicago, Seattle, Orange County, San Francisco, Santa Cruz, the UK, Australia, and Israel....
- Union of Progressive ZionistsUnion of Progressive ZionistsThe Union of Progressive Zionists was a North American network of Jewish student activists who have organized around principles of social justice and peace in Israel and Palestine...
- Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America (OU)
- United Jewish CommunitiesUnited Jewish CommunitiesThe Jewish Federations of North America , is an American Jewish umbrella organization representing 157 Jewish Federations and the Network of Independent Communities, 400 smaller Jewish communities across North America. The JFNA was formed from the 1999 merger of the United Jewish Appeal, the...
(UJC) - USD - Hagshama of the World Zionist OrganizationWorld Zionist OrganizationThe World Zionist Organization , or WZO, was founded as the Zionist Organization , or ZO, in 1897 at the First Zionist Congress, held from August 29 to August 31 in Basel, Switzerland...
- Yavneh OlamiYavneh OlamiYavneh Olami is an international Religious Zionist student organization that works to inspire and educate Jewish students from the Diaspora to strengthen their connection to Israel and the Jewish People...
- YJ Impact!, sponsored by HadassahHadassahHadassah, the Women's Zionist Organization of America is an American Jewish volunteer women's organization. Founded in 1912 by Henrietta Szold, it is one of the largest international Jewish organizations, with around...
- Zionist Organization of AmericaZionist Organization of AmericaThe Zionist Organization of America , founded in 1897, was one of the first official Zionist organizations in the United States, and, especially early in the 20th century, the primary representative of Jewish Americans to the World Zionist Organization, espousing primarily Political Zionism.Today,...
(ZOA)
(Affiliate Members)
- BlueStar PRBlueStar PRBlueStar , "The Jewish Ink Tank", is a San Francisco-based nonprofit organization which produces "visual media that strengthens existing efforts to gain popular support and interest for Israel and Judaism." Blue Star creates and distributes pro-Israel posters, rally signs, postcards, and...
- The Israel ProjectIsrael ProjectThe Israel Project is a US-based 501 non-profit, educational organization that gets facts about Israel and the Middle East to press, public officials and the public.” The Israel Project is not affiliated with any government. TIP has offices in the USA and Israel, and "works tirelessly to help...
(TIP) - MASA Israel JourneyMASA Israel JourneyMasa Israel Journey is an umbrella organization of long-term gap year, study abroad, and post-graduate programs in Israel for Jewish young adults. Programs range from 5–12 months and Jewish participants ages 18–30 can receive grants from the organization to subsidize the cost of programs...
- Simon Wiesenthal CenterSimon Wiesenthal CenterThe Simon Wiesenthal Center , with headquarters in Los Angeles, California, was established in 1977 and named for Simon Wiesenthal, the Nazi hunter. According to its mission statement, it is "an international Jewish human rights organization dedicated to repairing the world one step at a time...
Campus Outreach
External links
- Israel on Campus Coalition
- Israel on Campus Coalition: About Us: Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation
- Israel on Campus Coalition: Members
- Israel on Campus Coalition: Speakers
- Voices of Oklahoma interview with Lynn Schusterman. First person interview conducted on September 14, 2010 with Lynn Schusterman. Original audio and transcript archived with Voices of Oklahoma oral history project.