New Study: The Truth About Israel Advocacy

Lisa Eisen, the national director of the Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation, writing in The Times of Israel:

When asked to describe the activities of young Israel advocates, people often conjure up a rather stereotyped image: right wing and religious, protesting on the quad, arguing with speakers and student activists.

The fact is, those depictions could not be further from the truth.

A new study examining 4,000 young Israel advocates – from teenagers to young adults – paints a very different picture. The first and largest study of its kind, “Next Generation Advocacy” is invaluable in explaining what until now has been mostly guesswork: what compels young people to engage in Israel advocacy? Why do they stay involved? What can we do to ensure that they are effectively trained and their commitment nurtured?

The data revealed rich information about the motivations, interests and needs of young people involved with Israel through a wide array of organizations, ranging from BBYO, Hillel and Moishe House to AIPAC, Israel on Campus Coalition, David Project, AEPi and iCenter, to Hasbara Fellowships, Masa Israel and StandWithUs. In particular, a strong group of leader advocates – those who demonstrate the highest levels of involvement and mobilize their peers – clearly emerged.

The study, Next Generation Advocacy: A Study of Young Israel Advocates, was conducted by Ezra Kopelowitz and Dr. Daniel Chesir-Teran, of Research Success Technologies, Ltd., and can be downloaded here.