We want to know WHY you care about Israel. This part of the site is designed for you, the reader, to share your story. It can be anything, from an experience you had visiting the Kotel to simply how great the hummus and shwarma are. The important thing is that they are your experiences. You will be “changing the brand” of Israel so we want to hear your voice! Why does Israel matter to you?
Learn more about Change the Brand by visiting the who we are tab or read about the staff and send us a question on the “Ask Us” page.
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While in Israel last summer, a good family friend of ours’ father died. My family went to the funeral and at the funeral was an old camp merakez of mine. It just shows what a small world it is in Israel and how close communities are.
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I was in Tiberius. My father and I wanted to see Rashi’s grage. We first saw Rambam’s and we then went Rabbi Yechyal’s where the Hasid maintaining it got mad at us because we didn’t want to pray and we were looking for Rashi’s grave.We had been following a trail on our map that was showing us to the graves. We then continued and in the middle of the trail a big random appartment building was blocking the path. We tried getting around the building but the onlyh way was off a cliff. We then started taking other trails, but they kept leading back to the same building. EWventually we got lost and we asked a kind teenager who happened to be a soldier on a month off who lead us to the grave.
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When I was ages 10 and 11 I lived in a small yeshuv on top of a mountain in northern Israel. The yeshuv was called Har Halutz. Every Wednesday I can clearly remember a woman (my family called her the “Pita Lady”) would come and sell two different kinds of pita: Red (onion) and Green (zatar). I still remember me and my friends would buy our pitot for 5 shekels each then play basketball at the migrash (basketball court). This is the kind of memory that seems insignificant but in fact, will go on in my memory and be a part of me. So even obviously insignificant moments that happen at any time in your life will connect you to something beautiful.
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My first time in Israel was at age 9. I went there for my brother to be Bar Mitzvahed. We went to the Western Wall for him and it almost felt like that was the place I belong. The feeling of writing a note to God or a wish especially as a little kid was amazingly satisfying and I really felt like I was fitting in.
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What would you guys at CTB say to people that accuse Israel of building settlements in times of negotiations, and see it as a political move to shatter talks while appearing to care about them? (And for that matter any user of the page)
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I would first clarify which “settlements” Israel is building on. Most construction on settlements is simply adding on to the Jewish areas (Area C) in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. According to many, these areas will be annexed as part of a peace agreement with land swaps. If people understood that the land Israel is building on is inevitably going to be part of Israel in the future, I don’t think they would accuse Israel of trying to halt peace talks.
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Regardless of where they are being built though, why do they have to continue construction if they know it halts peace talks? Why cant Israel just slow down, make peace, and then keep building. Building you can do forever, peace unfortunately can’t. It seems like it only gets harder
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Change the Brand is apolitical, and will not take a stance on this issue. However, this is a great question and I will answer it as an individual. Your question assumes two things: the settlement building is an impediment to peace and the Palestinian Authority is a reasonable partner for peace. I have a question that casts doubt on these assumptions. Why, if the PA is a reasonable peace partner, would they object to Israel building on land they know will become part of Israel? The best answer is they would not if they were a reasonable partner. I believe that the PA genuinely wants peace and does not view Israeli construction in the Jewish areas as an obstacle to peace. However, they may believe that they must act like they view the building as an impediment to peace to appease the general population. If this is the case, they need to be honest with their people. Whether building in the Jewish areas is antagonizing them is another question. It should not be an obstacle to peace with a reasonable, willing partner.
If you have any other questions please email me at kevinlefkowitz@changethebrand.com. We appreciate your questions and welcome the discussion that follows.
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In December 2008-January 2009, me and my family went to Israel for the first time for my 2nd cousin’s Bar Mitzvah. Luckily, it happened to be Channukah at the tim, so we also celebrated the holiday there. We stayed in Herzilyah, its such a beautiful city. We went up north to Nazareth, east to Jerusalem to pray at the Kotel, and also to Tel Aviv and Yaffo. I remember going to see a relative at a Kibbutz, and her house was the size of my room! It was so surreal. I loved being in Israel and want to return soon. I also do Israel Advocacy via BBYO, and I love advocating for my beloved country to my fellow Jews.
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I love Israel because during times of either total sorrow, or overwhelming joy, its people can and will unite together to mourn, or to celebrate, regardless of race or religion.
I love Israel because in no other country does a crowd of people go to the airport to greet random people they’ve never met, just because they decided to move to Israel.
I love Israel because seeing chayalim dressed in their uniforms all over the country, ready to fight for and protect me whenever they are called upon, makes me feel safer.
I love Israel because walking through the shuk, hearing Hebrew and Arabic yelled from every direction, somehow gives me comfort.
I love Israel because in no other place can you repel down mountains in the morning, go tanning at the beach in the afternoon, splash through waterfalls in the evening, and sleep in the desert at night.
I love Israel and cannot wait for the day when I can call my favorite country my home.
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When I got home from Israel and saw all my friends and family, I told them about my five weeks on Machon: about snorkeling, about hiking, about site-seeing. But the parts of this trip that are nearly impossible to put into words are the connections that I have made with the people who I have met in Israel. These indescribable connections are not often spoken about, but we know that they exist, and that they always will exist. These are the connections made when I am hanging out with the guys or when I am sitting on the bus for two hours for what should have been a thirty-minute bus ride. The idea of friendship is what Machon is truly about. Friendships formed, forged, and fortified. These would stay with us for the rest of our lives because no matter what, the fires of brotherhood and sisterhood can always be rekindled, brought back to life with almost no effort. A text, a message, a letter, keeping in touch with my Machon “family” takes no time, but helps to forge the bonds that will endure for all of time. Whether we realize it or not, these words are true. It may have taken me a while to realize it, but this entire Young Judaea program is the ultimate catalyst for the conception of unending friendships. For me, it took almost four weeks to understand idea. Getting off the bus after special-interest week, I was M2-sick. I did not only miss the people on my bus, but I needed my best friends back. And at that moment when I walked off the bus, dirty as could be, and was returned to my family, I knew that Machon was about bonding the holiest of places. I knew that this trip was about togetherness unity, and self and group growth. To me, that is what Machon was about.
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I think there are problems inherent to Zionist ideology in a theoretical sense that can be seen played out in the modern state of Israel. The idea of a Jewish state seems to privilege a certain subsection of the state’s population at the expense of everybody else. There is no way Israel can exist simultaneously as a Jewish state and a democratic state. In fact, it doesn’t – it’s not democratic, because Palestinians clearly are not equal in status de jure or de facto to Jews in Israel. In the occupied territories, Palestinians don’t even have the right to vote! Are you guys aware of that? I DO believe in Israel’s right to exist as a democratic state composed mostly of Jews, as long as those Jews don’t get special privileges – is that not a rational position? I know you’ll bristle when I say this, but I think many young American Jews’ political socialization has indoctrinated them in such a way that they can’t think about Israel intellectually. They defend the country without interrogating their reasons for doing so. They’re operating from a completely emotional space, and these emotional defenders of Israel deliberately ignore any and all evidence that paints a picture of Israel as anything other than a Jewish paradise/safehaven.
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The title of a Jewish state does not privilege anyone over any other person. There is no problem in having a Jewish state grant full rights to all its citizens. Arab Israeli’s enjoy equal rights as Jews in the Jewish state only they don’t have to draft into the army. Sounds like a deal to me. And just because you don’t think its possible for the Jewish state to also be Democratic doesn’t mean Israel is going to stop trying. Israeli society and government have been battling with the moral and ethical questions that come along with the task of being the only religious and democratic state and will not stop trying to reach this milestone. Palestinians do have the right to vote! They vote for their officials in their territories. Hamas and the PA hold 100% of the political seats in Area A of the disputed territories. What they don’t vote for is the Israeli elections, well because they’re not Israeli. G-d forbid we made them Israeli then the world would cry that were forcing nationalities on other nations, but were not. Israel consistently respects the identity of the Palestinian people and allows them to elect their own officials (of which btw haven’t run for re-election in 8 years). I advise you to get your facts straight before you enter a highly inflammatory comment that does nothing but distort the purposes of this website. Change the Brand is trying to brand Israel in a positive way without mention of political alignment and you have ruined this chance at reaching unanimous agreement despite of political affiliation.
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I think you have your facts wrong. and its funny because the facts are written on this website. So let me clarify for you: in regards to what you said about ” In the occupied territories, Palestinians don’t even have the right to vote!” that is taken completely out of context. All Palestinians are offered Israeli Citizenship (which comes with equal voting rights) and some of them accept the citizenship, however many don’t accept the citizenship, so why should they get the right to vote in a nation that they dont belong to. Its like saying that an american should get the right to vote in mexico but the american doesn’t have Mexican citizenship. I advise you to read this website so you look more intelligent.
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I think the difference in your example is that Mexico isn’t occupying the US.
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I’d like to add that Israel doesn’t really need to have its “brand” changed. PR is not Israel’s core policy. What it needs is a real, concerted effort from American and Israeli Jews and Palestinians and everyone else to effect policy changes that create a truly equal state.
Jews have a really cool history of social activism. It makes me sad that many in the American Jewish establishment are defending and funding antidemocratic policies that our great-grandparents in labor unions and affinity groups would have wholeheartedly opposed if they were here now.
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Dear Concerned about you Guys,
This message is coming from the organization itself. Although some of our followers and we Change the Brand would disagree with your comments, we would like to begin by mentioning that we welcome all ideas and intrigued by your response. If this is the way you feel, by all means. The same way Israeli’s come from all racial and religious backgrounds, our website welcomes all ideological backgrounds.
I would like to begin by noting that you have made a political mistake in your statement on the nationalities of the Palestinians in their efforts to cast votes. Palestinians living in the disputed territories of Judea and Samaria do not have Israeli citizenship simply because these territories have not been annexed by Israel. If Israel would have annexed these territories and not granted the Palestinians equal rights, then your comments would tread more water.
Next, within Israel all Israeli’s enjoy equal rights regadless of race or ethnicity. In fact, a Supreme Court Justice in the Israeli court is Arab. There are three Arab parties in the Israeli Knesset and they receive votes every year.
Israel is a Jewish state and has been historically for thousands of years. You can learn about that on our “disputed territories” page. Israel is also a democratic state and you can learn about how and why on our ‘democracy” page.
We understand where your stance comes from but we ask that you continue to respond respectfully. Our mission is to simply change the negative brand Israel has into one based on realities and truths enjoyed by visitors and learners. If you would like to continue this conversation in a more private setting feel free to email myself or any other founder on the Ask Us page.
Again, we welcome you to join our online community that positively brands Israel in the way you see it. Thanks
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Israel proved to me it is okay to ask, and the Israeli’s in return showed me what true hospitality means.
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There are many reasons I love Israel , but there is one story that always comes to my mind when I think of “only in Israel” story’s.
One Sunday morning when I was on my way back to the army (navhal 932) I was at beer Sheba bus station waiting to get Nother bus to my base. Whilst waiting I decided to go to the bathroom, when I was finished with the bathroom I stepped outside to wait for my bus and a man handed me his baby, yup his baby. He looked at me and said please look after my boy for 5 minutes while I use the bathroom. Honestly I couldn’t believe it, i was standing there in my army uniform waiting for a bus to my base with a strangers baby.
That moment made me realize how special of a country I was in, a place where people trust one another. I loved this experience and it really brought back the whole idea of “only in Israel” to me
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During my nine month gap year in Israel, I was privileged to volunteer for Magen David Adom, the country’s ambulance organization. On one of my calls we simply just transferred and older man or “Sabba” to the hospital from his home in Rishon Le Zion. I made small talk with both him and especially his wife in the hospital about what I want to study and where I am going to school this upcoming year. When I had another call and took my next patient to the same hospital the “Sabba” was at, I went to go check on him and to see his wife. The wife told me I was so thoughtful and gave me a kiss and said that I will succeed in life and thanked me so much for what I do. Connections in Israel surpass common courtesy as everyone treats each other as they would their family members. It is very common for people to call any elder person “Sabba or Safta” which translates to Grandpa and Grandma. This shows the close unique connection all Israelis have with one another.
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I also put Tefilin on for the first time at the Kotel.
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It was fun walking around the beach in Tel-Aviv at 2 in the morning. I felt safe and it was a regular thing because the beach was packed.
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Do you somewhere I can go out and have a good time tonite in TLV?
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I just finished my 9 month Year Course in Israel. i can honestly say it’s been the best experience of my life. I’ve met so many amazing people and made true life long friends. If you haven’t considered spending a year in Israel before or after college you have to. I know Israel because I spend so much time there therefore I can go on campus and be an advocate for Israel.
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I just got back from my school trip to Israel and I loved it! I really want to be back soon.
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My experiences with Israel began when my family hosted an Israeli emissary for four months. Despite my Jewish heritage, I was virtually clueless about Israel and its past. Hosting an emissary was a great experience in that I had the cool older brother I always wanted and I was able to learn about Israel from many standpoints. It opened my eyes to the different types of cultures that exist in the world and the importance of cross-cultural communication.
As my close pal Jon Mühlrad will recall, I also am very involved in a club at my high school, the Israel Club. This is a unique forum to interact with two Israeli young adults and learn about Israel. In retrospect, I have matured immensely through my studies on Israel and visits the good ol’ Holy Land.
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Awesome stuff Doug! Keep up your good work with the Israel Club at your high school even if you’ve already graduated. Helping those behind you with your experiences can help foster a strong community that can be there for the long run.
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My first memory was June 1967. My mom met me off the school bus in England. She was crying. She said Israel was in danger of destruction.
At this precise moment, of course I did not know it then, the man I would marry was fighting with reservist paratroopers and was in the first group to reach the Kotel.
Israel connects us all, it defines us, it unites us and its existence protects us. We all do what we can to fight for it, to love it and to be its friend whatever and wherever.
Am yisrael chai.
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Israel is truly the epicenter for all Jews. I will never forget that one time I was walking down Ben Yehudah Street on a Thursday night and by chance I ran into 32 friends that I had made through various organizations from all across the globe. I saw friends from New York, California, Chicago, Texas, England, and Israel. I hadn’t seen some of those friends in years but we all almost magically ran into each other on the same street hundreds of thousands of miles away from our homes. Israel never ceases to amaze me and it is truly the Jewish homeland. I can’t wait to go back in less than two weeks.
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Just got back from an amazing week hiking from the Mediterranean to the Kinneret. Great experience while site seeing the beauty of the northern region of Israel. I love this country!
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Today a group of us went to Mount Herzel for Yom Hazikaron. There were thousands of people paying respects to the young men and women who paid the ultimate sacrifice to protect the state. At 11:00am, a siren went off and every single person stopped in their tracks for two minutes of silence. The drivers all stopped and got out of their cars to remember the fallen. I cannot believe how fast things will change when we all celebrate Yom Haatzmaut tomorrow. The idea an entire country can go from mourning the loss of 23,000 men and women to celebrating and barbecuing in one day astounds me. This is just another thing that makes Israel so unique. This is a two day emotional roller coaster that shows how much people sacrificed and what that sacrifice was for.
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I went to Israel on a youth trip the summer after my junior year of high school. It was the best experience of my life. The country has so much to offer, from great food to friendly people to beautiful nature. I don’t know of any other place that packs so much culture into such a small piece of land.
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Many other places in the world have nice beaches, interesting history, and fun activities. But none of them has what a trip to Israel offers because to visit Israel is to visit the unbelievable. A people scattered and oppressed for most of the past 2,000 years returned to their ancestral homeland. They then created an island of democracy and progress while engaged in an endless battle for survival against the nations that surround them. Impossible… But true. So much history and religion. At the same time, Israel is falafel and shwarma, beaches and hiking, nightlife, restaurants and fun. There is no place like it.
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I went to the Kotel with a few friends about a two weeks before Rosh Hashana and was blown away at the number of people there. We saw thousands of men, women, and children praying at the wall. It was an incredible moment. After studying the Holocaust in school, I never imagined how I would feel at such a holy site. I cried when I saw so many Jews. So many people who, 70 years ago, never could have imagined being in such a holy site. Just wanted to share.
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Awesome story! Keep enjoying your experiences in Israel. Its an amazing place and clearly you know why!
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Today I went repelling and hiking with a bunch of friends in Nahcal Rachaf, near Masada. Our guides were three ex-IDF soldiers who all served in the same elite unit, Sayeret Shaked, during the 70s. They explained how during the Yom Kippur war, they were the first unit to cross over the Suez Canal, alongside Ariel Sharon (who went on to become Prime Minister). They have been friends for over 40 years because of their service in defending Israel and continue to work together, exploring and showing tourists the beauty of Eretz Yisrael each and every day. I love Israel because of people like our guides Giora, Danny, and Uri, and I will continue to advocate and defend Israel, my true home.
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