Jewish organization attempts to eliminate misconceptions on Israel

By Nicole Zummar / Staff Writer

A large mural stood in the grass surrounded by the Graham Center, Owa Ehan and the Steve and Dorothea Green Library on March 24.

It was multi-colored and graffiti-styled. On the mural was the word “Shalom,” with the University’s Golden Panther jumping through the O.

Several people standing around the mural were eager to talk with anyone who stopped to take a closer look or paint on it. They were members of the University’s organization Shalom FIU, and they were advertising “Israel Peace Week.”

“[We wanted to] showcase Israel as a democratic, peace-seeking state, who is attempting to co-exist with its neighbors,” said Yoel Rotterman, president of Shalom FIU.

The organization is part of the “Pro-Israel, Pro-Peace” movement at the University. They don’t consider themselves a Jewish organization; rather, they attempt to hold events that create awareness about Israel.

“I love learning about people and students in school who have no connection to Israel and still support it,” said Dalia Perez, vice president of Shalom.

According to the members of Shalom FIU, many of the students around campus hold a general misconception about the country of Israel and its beliefs, ideals and culture among other things. The organization’s goal is to educate fellow University students about Israel’s spectrum of components.

“Israel is also human rights, gay rights, freedom of speech and freedom of democracy,” Rotterman said.

Shalom FIU began about seven years ago. A Jewish student and a Christian student created the organization to celebrate Israel’s 60th independence anniversary, enforcing the idea that Jewish and non-Jewish individuals could cooperate as advocates for Israel and what the country stands for.

“It’s a student organization whose purpose is to teach the cultural, social and political [beliefs of Israel],” said Juan Giles, executive board assistant of Shalom FIU.

Since 2007, Shalom FIU’s members have strived to help the organization grow more every year in order for their events to reach more people and create a bigger impact.

“The way [the organization] is going is amazing, especially considering that it was so small, but now it’s really grown and has a really big base and student body,” Perez said.

Shalom FIU counts on approximately 30 to 40 members who are extremely involved in the organization and immersed in some aspect of Israel, whether it be its culture, society or politics. Besides them, they have a large base of members who attend their diverse events.

According to the president, the organization has held a variety of events and activities, including speakers, Israel Peace Week, Shabbat on Friday nights and culture fairs.

Recently, Shalom FIU brought a British-Pakistani Muslim speaker who had a past of vehement hatred towards Israel, its citizens and its supporters. However, after having spent several years in Israel, he realized he couldn’t find a basis for his hatred.

“It was like I had a moment of clarity with my own thoughts to really process things,” Kasim Hafeez said, according to an article in the University’s newspaper. “Here I am, in the state of Israel, the world’s only Jewish state, and we’ve got Christians, Jews and people of all colors.”

“When you say ‘Israel,’ people usually relate it to ‘Jewish,’ so it’s hard to relate to it when you’re not Jewish,” Perez said. “Once they understand that there’s more to it, about its technology innovation, for example, it becomes a lot more relevant.”

The organization has also brought an openly gay Israeli commander who shared his experience with Shalom FIU’s members and event attendees. On some Fridays, Shalom FIU members get together with members of other organizations for Shabbat and share the night with good company and Israeli food. Through culture fairs, the organization also attempts to bring Israeli food and music to the University’s student body to share their culture with non-Israeli Panthers.

The organization is open for all students to become members.

To increase engagement, Shalom FIU partners with many organizations throughout campus. Recently, they partnered with a Brazilian organization for Capoeira — Brazilian martial arts — for their event on Krav Maga, an Israeli style of self-defense.

They intend hold a large variety of events to attract many Panthers. The members of this organization are passionate about the topics Shalom FIU emphasizes, and they are motivated to share them with everyone who has an interest in them as well.

For the University students who don’t have a particular concern for Israel and all that the country encompasses, Shalom FIU members attempt to spark their interest through these events.

“It’s interesting because there are things you can relate to. Israel is a democracy, and there are a lot of similarities to the way of life we have here in America. A lot of things we use in everyday life, Israel has contributed to,” said Giles.

While the organization currently doesn’t hold general meetings very often, they do seek to hold executive board meetings weekly in order to plan out future events and activities. Nonetheless, the e-board keeps in contact with their members through OrgSync, Facebook and Instagram, constantly posting pictures and comments of past events as well as of future ones.

“Many people are just so misinformed about Israel and politics and conflicts, but Shalom has motivated me to become more involved in what is advocacy in the politics,” said Perez. “Once you understand Israel and that it’s representative of the western ideals in that region, it’s easier to understand why we have big support from the United States.”

 

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