By Hezzy Segal and Daniel Grossman, Hopkins High School

As high school seniors, it is not an easy task to carve out time for a topic like “pro-Israel activism”. Every day we plow through college applications, rigorous senior-year coursework, and participate in extracurricular activities — it can be easy to forget that we are one of the only high school chapters part of the Students Supporting Israel international movement.

Recently, however, we had an “ah-ha” moment. If last year’s high schoolers (also in our situation) could have had such vehemence to leave their classes to fight for their “cause” of ripping down our posters and doing everything they could to get a pro-Israel voice out of Hopkins High School, we needed to find time to be active in our cause. …

The Superior Council of the University of Buenos Aires has adopted the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of antisemitism.

The resolution to adopt the definition of antisemitism passed in just one day of proposition.

With everything going on around the world right now, I thought this would be a great time to reflect on my past year working with Students Supporting Israel.

Looking back to when I started working with SSI in 2018, I came in new and not knowing what to expect — being new to the pro-Israel world. This year, I knew what to expect when the year started, we had goals, and many relationships have been built since. The year started with a bang when SSI decided to expand and add Sophia Witt to our team. You cannot put a price tag on how much she has meant to our organization since joining this Fall alone. …

A freshman at Pace University, Eden Litvin, is an International Management major.

Her revival of the Pace SSI chapter had a huge impact on her values.

“When I choose to re-open SSI at my school, it gave me motivation and inspired me to work hard at my school work but also to work hard and fight for what I believe.”

Almost eight years ago, Eden moved to the USA from Israel. Most of her childhood she spent speaking, reading, and writing in Hebrew. When she moved to America, her connection to Israel still remained strong,

“I spoke Hebrew with my parents and siblings at home and joined the Israeli Scouts. The Tzofim helped to integrate me into the Israeli Jewish community in Tenafly, NJ, and further strengthened my bond with Israel despite now living in the United…

Rebekah Mann, Founder and President of SSI at Kennesaw State university is a Senior Business Management major. Though she is a senior, Rebekah plans on continuing her Israel advocacy in the non-profit Israel community spectrum. Additionally, she plans to keep her coaching director position for her community’s volleyball recreational program, while continuing to coach for Phoenix Rising Volleyball Club, as well as market for them.

As the President of Kennesaw State University’s SSI Chapter, Rebekah’s roles extend to Budgeting Director, Faculty Outreach, Event Coordinator, Director of Marketing and Social Media, Recruitment Chair, and Reservation Delegate where she serves as the President of SSI at Kennesaw State University. Her duties include running and leading SSI board meetings, leading tabling the tabling committee and tabling on campus, handing out flyers, constantly recruiting students, managing SSI at KSU’s social media team, buying the supplies, and catering for their events, handles their budget, and reaches out to faculty to let them know about SSI events. Among all of these roles she holds, Rebekah also focuses heavily on coalition building, where she reaches out to other presidents of other clubs on campus in collaborating on events. …

Noa Grunfeld, President of Students Supporting Israel at California State University- Long Beach, is a Senior studying Molecular Cell Biology and Physiology. Her future plans are to attend medical school.

As President, Noa finds her self educating students about Israel and organizing engaging events where students can get together and express their opinions, thoughts, and beliefs about Israel. In addition to her role as President, she holds an additional leadership position as a StandWithUs Emerson Fellow.

Born in Israel, Noa moved to California at the age of 15. …

Ofri Avgil is a Junior at UC Riverside studying Biology (Pre-Med). She hopes to attend Medical School upon graduation.

As the President of SSI at UC Riverside, Ofri is responsible for organizing fun events for the chapter, hosting weekly meetings for both the club and her board, organizing food each week for those meetings, reserving rooms for events, contacting speakers/sponsors for events, and organizing conference opportunities for the club. Ofri serves as an ICC Fellow in addition to her high demand position as President of SSI at UC Riverside.

Ofri’s connection to Israel really hits home for her.

“I was born in Israel and moved to San Diego when I was 7 years old. I’ve always had a strong connection to my childhood homeland and always look forward to connect with my Jewish/Israeli communities around me.” Her connection, she says, “motivates me constantly to protect my home and find new ways to have those surrounding me do so as well.” …

Meet Isaac Jolcover, President of Students Supporting Israel at University of Iowa, and member of the National Student Board of Students Supporting Israel. Isaac is a Senior majoring in Finance. His hopes for the future include working in the sports industry in Chicago, IL, and continuing his Pro-Israel advocacy with Students Supporting Israel.

As President, Isaac Coordinates chapter meetings, educates students and faculty on his campus on SSI’s mission, along with organizing events on campus for students to join SSI. …