Israel’s battle on our doorsteps
MICHELLE Rojas-Tal, the Israel-based Diaspora education manager for advocacy organisation StandWithUs, has been in Australia this past month, mobilising students to proactively combat efforts to delegitimise the Jewish State.
MICHELLE Rojas-Tal, the Israel-based Diaspora education manager for advocacy organisation StandWithUs, has been in Australia this past month, mobilising students to proactively combat efforts to
delegitimise the Jewish State.
The New York native said her visit, which included more than 20 meetings, interviews and speaking engagements, emphasised the value of broadening and expanding the reach of the students’ social networks.In the spirit of the name of the organisation she represents, Rojas-Tal said she intended to help teach students “the importance of building bridges and fostering relationships with people outside the Jewish community” as part of efforts to educate about Israel.
On Thursday, Rojas-Tal made a lunchtime presentation in Melbourne’s CBD to a group of community leaders organised by the Zionist Council of Victoria, which also sponsored her visit to Australia.
Among her remarks to that forum, Rojas-Tal cited the boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) campaign targeting an Israeli cosmetics retailer in Brisbane as an example of provocative activity by Israel’s “delegitimisers” that demanded a forceful response.
“This is not the war of our brothers and sisters in Israel,” Rojas-Tal said. “We can no longer send our care packages to them for them to fight in battle. This is our battle to take on, because it’s happening here, on our very doorstep.”
Rojas-Tal said the consequences of inaction in the face of what she described as a misinformation campaign by Israel’s detractors would be grave. “Wherever you see misinformation, point it out,” she urged. “Name and shame these individuals. Name and shame these journalists. Name and shame these academics, name and shame the campaigners for the BDS movement.”
The Israel-based emissary concluded her remarks with a reference to Holocaust diarist Anne Frank.
“Anne Frank had said in her young wisdom how wonderful it is we need not wait a single moment before beginning to change the world,” Rojas-Tal told the gathering.
“Whether it’s with your co-workers or friends and family members or journalists … wherever it may be, we cannot allow this injustice [of delegitimisation of Israel] to go on.”
This is Rojas-Tal’s second visit to Australia, she lectured last year at Limmud Oz and toured student centres of Australian cities.
AHRON SHAPIRO
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