Students Supporting Israel (also known as SSI) is a Zionist international student activist movement that supports Israel as a Jewish and democratic nation-state. As of April 2015, SSI has more than 45 chapters across campuses in the United States, Canada and Austria.[1] SSI was founded in 2012 in Minnesota and its national offices are in Minneapolis. The founders of the organizations are Ilan Sinelnikov, Valeria Chazin and Naor Bitton.
 | |
| Formation | 2012 |
|---|---|
| Founders | Ilan Sinelnikov (President of the Organization) Valeria Chazin (Chairwoman, Board of Directors) |
| Type | 501(c)(3) non-profit |
| Focus | Pro Israel Campus Activity |
| Headquarters | Minneapolis, MN |
Leaders | Valeria Chazin, Ilan Sinelnikov & Naor Bitton |
| Website | http://www.ssimovement.org/ |
Campaigns edit
- Lt. Col, Eyal Dror Reserves Tour: Chapters of Students Supporting Israel located on various California campuses hosted Lt. Col, Eyal Dror Reserves, the commanding officer of Israel's Operation Good Neighbor that treated thousands of Syrian civilians in hospitals along the border. He presented Israel’s humanitarian efforts, and the story of this important mission.[2]
- "Never Forget" 09.11.2001: This campaign was established to show solidarity with the families of the victims and remember the attacks on America, Israel's greatest ally, on September 11, 2001, while simultaneously drawing the parallels of America's alliance with Israel against terrorism.[3]
Awards and achievements edit
In 2015, SSI won the Outstanding Outreach and Pro Israel Activism Award by Israel’s Consulate to the Midwest.[4] In 2014 it won the CAMERA David Bar Illan award, as well as the Zionist Organization of America Annual Award.[5] As a student group, it has demonstrated influence in student government bodies on several occasions including the Israeli Academic Cooperation position statement at the University of Minnesota, which paved the way for a similar Israeli Support Resolution at the University of Georgia followed shortly by Texas A&M University,[6][7][8][9][10]
References edit
- ^ "List of Chapters". Students Supporting Israel.
- ^ "Lt. Col, Eyal Dror Reserves Tour".
- ^ "Never Forget Campaign". SSI Movement. Retrieved 25 October 2019.
- ^ "Yom Ha'atzmaut celebration for Israel's 67th Independence Day". embassies.gov.il. Archived from the original on 2015-05-18.
- ^ "Students Supporting Israel at the University of Minnesota Honored at CAMERA's Annual Gala | In Focus". Camera on Campus. Retrieved 30 April 2015.
- ^ Ghermezian, Shiryn. "2015′s First Resolution Calling for More Investment in Israel Passed by University of Georgia Students". algemeiner.com. The Algemeiner. Retrieved 1 May 2015.
- ^ Duke, Michael. "Anti-Israel divestment defeated at University of Texas". Jewish Herald-Voice. Jewish Herald-Voice. Retrieved 1 May 2015.
- ^ Reid, Kylee. "Israeli support finds home at Texas A&M". The Battalion. The Battalion. Retrieved 1 May 2015.
- ^ Jacobs, Michael. "Dawgs Pound Home Support for Israel". Atlanta Jewish Times. Southern Israelites. Retrieved 1 May 2015.
- ^ Jakobs, Barry. "The Minneapolis model: Innovating Israel advocacy". Times of Israel. The Times of Israel. Retrieved 1 May 2015.