Impact Stories

Hasbara Fellows Share Their Experiences

Learning the conflict firsthand. Developing lasting relationships with Israel advocates across the globe. Being empowered with current and historical data. Meeting and conversing with real-life Israelis and Palestinians. Our Israel program participants share the indelible impact Hasbara Fellowships has had on them.

The perspective I’ve gained from going to Israel and experiencing the reality in person doesn’t parallel any other experience I could have possibly learned from home. From going to the West Bank, the border of Gaza, the border of Lebanon, and being able to speak to Palestinians and Israelis about the conflict myself, I can’t think of how I could have possibly learned more on this trip.

David Tahoor

Cal State University, Northridge

“I come from a city and attend a university with a small and unnoticeable Jewish community. Before Hasbara I was quiet, ignorant, and even ashamed about my Judaism and my Zionism. When the escalations in Israel took place in May, 2021, I was frustrated with my inability to address questions my uneducated and opinionated friends were asking the only Jew they know, that is when I signed up for the trip. I thought I would learn some facts from the program, but what I got was so much more – firsthand experience, a community, and pride.

Dorit Gerov

University of Calgary

I went on Hasbara Fellowships Israel Program to learn how to effectively advocate and make a positive impact for Israel. My Hasbara experience more than exceeded my expectations, I came away from the trip with the tools, language and connections to be able to stand up for and educate about Israel on my campus. The other students on this trip inspired me and gave me new and creative ways to talk about Israel on my campus. It also showed me that I am not alone in my advocacy and love for this country and people, which gives me the strength to continue standing up for what I believe in and know to be right.

Samantha Ginsberg

The Ohio State University

My time on the Hasbara Fellowships Israel program was a life-changing experience. It provided me with an unprecedented first-hand look at the nuance of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the realities on the ground. Experiences such as speaking to Palestinians at the Gaza border and in the West Bank, and spending time at Israel’s northern border with Lebanon, opened my eyes to the complex conflicts that Israel faces

Avi Teich

Queens University

Over 3,000 Students Impacted and Counting...

"I went on the Hasbara Fellowships Israel Program hoping to become more familiar with the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and its connection to antisemitism in Canada, and the trip more than exceeded my expectations. The places we went to, the people we spoke with, and the conversations we had were unforgettable, and really brought to life the complex issues facing Israelis and Palestinians today and why they matter."

"Hearing from speakers from across the spectrum of the conflict while in their hometowns greatly enriched my knowledge. Through Hasbara, I have gained tools that I can bring back to campus to both fight anti-semtism and BDS as well as add to the already existing Israel education. I have also made lifelong Jewish friends. I am forever grateful to the Hasbara Fellowships for giving me this incredible opportunity. "

"In a time of a lot of unspoken truths on mainstream media, hasbara offered me an opportunity to gain firsthand insights into the Israel-Palestine conflict; to understand its unprecedented complexities and to see the humanity on both sides. A much needed experience for a conflict that is portrayed in an extremely polarized fashion."

Hasbara Fellowships