In a quick and inspiring display of dedication, student Israel advocates mobilized on campuses across the continent to stand with Israel during Operation Pillar of Defense. Many student groups are still taking action or reporting their efforts; here is a sampling of some of the commendable reports so far.

Boston University students rally for Israel.

Social Media

        Thousands of students, including many Hasbara Fellows, utilized social media to stay updated, spread information, and make Israel's case to their peers.

        Students at schools like Boston University, Tufts University and Temple University used social media to highlight the threat Hamas poses to Israeli and Palestinian civilians, and to stress the measures Israel takes to protect civilian lives during combat. Students also mobilized against anti-Israel photo fraud, such as the use of pictures from other wars being portrayed as Gaza casualties.

        Students spread information from formal channels, such as the Israeli Defense Forces and Ministry of Foreign Affairs alerts and updates, as well as informal channels like Hasbara Fellowships' Facebook, Twitter and "People to People. Nation to Nations." feeds.

Image of an Israeli doctor giving life-saving surgery to a Palestinian child was shared over 1600 times from the Hasbara Fellowships Facebook feed.

         Some of the most popular social media streams, such as the "Israel Under Fire" Facebook group, set up to spread news and visuals, were created by former campus activists. Other young activists, including Hasbara Fellows, manned a 'social media war room' at the Interdisciplinary Center in Herzliyah.

        Students also created their own pictures, maps and other visuals to communicate with their peers online. Hasbara Fellows at Penn State University encouraged students to post pictures of themselves with captions explaining why they supported Israel.   

A Penn State student explains why she loves Israel on her Facebook page.

        Dozens of students at UC Berkeley posted this status on Facebook:

        "I am a UC Berkeley student. I am pro-Israel, pro-Palestinian, and pro-peace. In the last year, Hamas has fired 1,197 rockets into southern Israel - 396 since Wednesday. Schools, homes, synagogues, and hospitals have been destroyed and placed in danger. And through the attacks, I stand with Israel, the only democracy in the Middle East. I stand with Israel, and I support Israel's right to defend its people and the values of openness that make it unique."

        American students in the Hasbara Fellowships Israel Advocacy course at Bar Ilan University also utilized social media to communicate their experiences and observations of the Hamas threat to their friends and family back home.

Rallies

        Faced with an onslaught of graphic, aggressive anti-Israel demonstrations, pro-Israel students organized impressive Israel solidarity demonstrations at schools including New York University, George Washington University, Clark University, UC Davis, York University and University of Toronto.

Students at York University stand up for Israel despite virulent anti-Israel sentiment.

        Hasbara Fellows also helped organize pro-Israel rallies at universities like University of Florida, University of Minnesota, UC Irvine, Brandeis University, San Diego State University, and Hunter College.

University of Florida rallies for Israel.

Campus Media

        Eloquent Israel supporters on many campuses made the case for Israel in opinion pieces published by their campus newspapers, including UCLA, UC Santa Barbara, and Purdue University.

        Hasbara Fellows at Concordia University, Florida State University, and Rutgers University defended Israel eloquently on camera.

Read the post-cease fire analysis written by Hasbara Fellowships managing director Alan Levine.

US-Israel Partnership

        Some Israel groups focused their energies on publicly thanking America for its support of Israel.

        At Northwestern University, College Republicans and Democrats co-authored a letter of solidarity with Israel for the campus newspaper, and attended a leadership dinner where they were briefed on Operation Pillar of Defense by a Hasbara Fellow.

        After an info briefing, Columbia University students wrote thank you letters to their Members of Congress.

Columbia University briefing and letter-writing session.

        Hasbara Fellows at University of Wisconsin and University of Texas briefed Hillel students on Israel's actions.

Israel advocates at the University of Wisconsin brief their peers.

Briefings and Displays

        Hasbara Fellows at Emory University and University of Michigan organized high-level briefings with Israel military experts.

        At the University of Pennsylvania, Ohio State University, SUNY Albany, University of Illinois and University of Ottawa, campus activists created large displays that showed the amount and intensity of rocket fire experienced by Israeli civilians.

Ohio State University students raise awareness about Israelis under attack.

         Many Israel groups utilized Hasbara Fellowships' "People to People. Nation to Nations." materials, which highlight Israel's partnerships with countries around the world to eradicate poverty and disease, and increase environmental sustainability. Hasbara Fellows at schools including Florida International University, McGill University, Michigan State University and Carleton University erected displays with these materials.

        Hasbara Fellows at Drexel University and Northeastern University organized fundraisers for Israeli residents and soldiers affected by Hamas rockets.

Michigan State University students showcase Israel's global contributions.