SSI Student Spotlight: Amanda Cetina, Binghamton University
This is Amanda Cetina’s first official year as a Students Supporting Israel chapter President. Binghamton University hosts one of SSI’s newest chapters, founded by Junior, Politics Philosophy and Law (PPL) and Hebrew double major, Amanda Cetina, during the off-campus COVID-19 restrictions of 2020.
Amanda wanted to start SSI Binghamton because there wasn’t a space for everyone.
“We needed a space for right-wing and left-wing Zionists, a space for those that know nothing about Israel, and those that are Israeli to their core.”
Amanda chose SSI because of the student-led methodology where students have autonomy to run their own programs, and can serve as a resource for other students facing antisemitism and anti-Israel rhetoric on campus and in their classes.
It seems with the pandemic, antisemitism escalated, as groups with a vendetta against Israel took to their keyboards bringing in a wave of cyberbullying directed at Jewish and Zionist students alike. This didn’t stop Amanda, or her SSI Binghamton team from blossoming a pro-Israel message across Binghamton’s campus. Since established in August of 2020, SSI Binghamton has grown to have the greatest social media following of any other Israel organization on Campus, organizing over a dozen of Israel-education programs.
Amanda explained that they have already faced adversary with the rocket fire in Israel, multiple anti-Israel professors, encounters with a Students for Justice in Palestine group increasing local and on-campus antisemitism, and even a “Free Palestine” protest on shabbat.
“We had to change our dynamic from mostly focusing on cultural events, to becoming a resource for students for facing antisemitism and anti-Israel rhetoric.”
In a nearly overnight strategy SSI Binghamton planned a 100-person assembly of Zionist students. At this assembly, Amanda spoke to students on how to peacefully confront the protest, and avoid behaviors that could escalate the situation. She added that SSI Binghamton provided students with a, “safe space,” where students could share their feelings and experiences, and offer one another comfort and advice.
In the past, Amanda was a StandWithUs Emerson Fellow, and currently holds a fellowship with ZOA and Israel 210C. Amanda’s long-time connection to Israel is the fuel behind her Zionist activism.
“Israel is the only place I could call home. Hebrew, although I am not fluent, is the only language I feel connected to. My family is not Israeli and cannot speak Hebrew, but raised me to see Israel as my country, and Hebrew as my voice. The first time I arrived in Ben Gurion Airport at age 15, I cried. I cried because I was finally home, surrounded by a community of people that accept and support me as Jew. I no longer felt alone.”
“Zionism,” as Amanda puts it, is “the right to, and support for, self-determination of the Jewish people in their ancestral homeland.” She adds that Zionism is the key for students to understand that it is inherently a progessive cause, and an integral component of Jewish identity expressed in culture, ethnicty, religion, and/or national orgin. Amanda strives to educate all students that they can identify as a Zionist, regardless of their viewpoints on Israeli politics, settlements, or the creation of Palestinian State alongside Israel.
In the upcoming school year, Amanda and her team at SSI Binghamton have big plans. She intends on hosting many social events, including BBQ’s, Israeli Movie Nights, Krav Maga Lessons, and Israeli cooking lessons. They have also planned educational programs including an Israeli book club and Israel 101 presentation.
Students Supporting Israel is excited to work with Amanda and her team at Binghamton for the first time in-person in the upcoming 2021–2022 school year! To stay connected with what’s going on at the SSI Binghamton chapter, follow their Instagram at @SSI_bing. Go Bearcats!
