Sarah Cohen (Hasbara Fellow-Northeastern University)
When I pictured myself starting college, I always knew I wanted to be involved in the Jewish community. I knew I loved Israel and wanted to keep the culture a part of my life, but I never envisioned myself being a strong voice and advocate on campus.
I grew up in a modern orthodox home. I attended an orthodox day school and synagogue. In the summers I went to a pluralistic sleep away camp. I loved the diversity and perspective I gained from spending so much time with so many different people. I felt stronger in my beliefs because I had been exposed to various ideologies, and knew that mine were a conscious choice that I had made.
The downside to living in these two different worlds simultaneously is that a part of me never truly felt like I fit in. At school I worried that people were judging me for being less “frum” since I didn’t go to an orthodox camp like the rest of my peers. At camp I was afraid to vocalize my opinions, because I was scared I would offend someone by being too conservative or radical. These insecurities kept me quiet for many years and because of them I never really pictured myself as a leader.
When I decided to go on Hasbara, it was a spur-of-the-moment decision. I knew every little about the program, but I wanted to get back to Israel after my year in seminary, and I had a friend who went and loved it. While I was in Israel for the year, I grew to truly love Israel. I learned about the rich history that the Jews and other peoples have there, and experienced the culture firsthand. I heard about the struggles that Israelis face and felt what it really meant to be part of the community. I knew I loved Israel.
On Hasbara, I was exposed to a completely different side of Israel. The culture and Jewish religious history was obviously still there, but I had never previously studied the politics of Israel and the Middle East. On Hasbara I learned about the details of the conflict between Israel and its bordering countries, about the internal struggle between Jewish Israelis and Arab Israelis. I experienced what it’s like to live in areas of contention, with two different peoples living side by side.
My Hasbara trip introduced me to a new perspective about Israel, one where I don’t just have a deep love for the country. I now also have a strong passion for and desire to defend Israel and help the rest of the world see what I do: a small but powerful nation that is committed to helping the world around us.
