Participatns and staff surround Natan Sharansky at Do The Write Thing

For three days, from November 6-8, twenty-seven college students and young professionals from across North America gathered at the General Assembly of United Jewish Federations of North America to discuss journalism, Israel, Zionism, and how to communicate their passions for each in an effective manner. The students were attending the 22^nd annual Do The Write Thing (DTWT) seminar, a leadership track held during the JFNA GA, sponsored by the American Zionist Movement and the World Zionist Organization. The attendees were selected from an applicant pool that included undergraduate student activists, young Zionist leaders, and aspiring journalists. The elite group assembled represented each of these groups, all of whom came together to participate in workshops, listen to speakers, and gain professional experience while enjoying the experience of attending the GA.

The Do The Write Thing curriculum is broad and varied. Sessions that participants attended included workshops on effective uses of social media, Zionist history and identity, and the ins and outs of reporting and interviewing. There were also special opportunities and unique experiences that participants were able to enjoy as a benefit of being a part of this unique leadership track. In addition to attending the mainstream GA plenary sessions and breakout sessions, Do The Write Thing participants had exclusive sessions with noted leaders in the Zionist community, including Chair of the Jewish Agency for Israel Natan Sharansky and Col.(res) Miri Eisin, the Israeli government’s spokesperson during the Second Lebanon War. Eisin was able to share her experiences working with the press as a representative of the State of Israel, and discussed the challenges that she faced making the case for Israel to the global media. She was also able to explain some of the intricacies that go into Israel’s media image, noting that the broad scope of Israeli public opinion is mirrored in the number of different, sometimes contradictory statements coming from different members of the Israeli government. While for many this confusion might be seen as a detriment, Eisin emphasized the beauty of Israeli diversity of thought and freedom of speech, allowing for such open dialogue and discourse.

Do The Write Thing participants were able to participate in dialogues themselves, discussing topics relating to Zionism, Jewish identity, and Israeli policy. Notably, young professional attendees had the opportunity to attend a cocktail party with Aluf Benn, the new editor-in-chief of Haaretz. After hearing him speak, they had the

Three of the Young Professionals at Do The Right Thing having some fun at the Aluf Benn reception

opportunity to meet with him and have their questions about the current state of affairs in Israel answered. This, coupled with the opportunity to hear Ambassadors Michael Oren and Dan Shapiro address the GA from the front row of a plenary session, served as highlights of the experience for many of the participants.

Do The Write Thing brought together a diverse group of activists and leaders. In addition to benefiting from the high quality of speakers brought in to address them and the networking opportunities provided, participants had the opportunity to learn from their peers, with more experienced writers mentoring emerging leaders in the field and open discussion about how to appropriately and effectively combine passions for writing and Israel. This discussion will take on immediate importance as participants return to their home communities and bring the skills that they learned to the field, by writing for local and community publications, as well as the ViZions of Zionism blog. The American Zionist Movement and the World Zionist Organization provided the attendees with an amazing opportunity to attend one of the key gatherings of North American Jews, the GA, and put together educational programming and training that made the experience one whose effects will assuredly reverberate long after the closing session.

Every year, the World Zionist Organization (WZO), together with the American Zionist Movement (AZM), brings elite Jewish journalism students and young professionals in North America to the Jewish Federation of North America's General Assembly for a conference within the conference aptly titled “Do the Write Thing” (DTWT). Participants are provided with the opportunity to interview high-ranking officials, hobnob with the who’s who of the Jewish world, and learn from seasoned journalism professionals. The young journalists are provided with all the necessary tools and connections to help further their careers in both the near and distant future.

Do the Write Thing

AS OF SEPTEMBER 22, THE APPLICATION PROCESS IS FORMALLY CLOSED.  HOWEVER, IF YOU ARE INTERESTED, PLEASE SUBMIT AN APPLICATION AND YOU WILL BE CONSIDERED SHOULD MORE SPACES BECOME AVAILABLE.

IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, PLEASE CONTACT SBAUMOHL@AZM.ORG.  THANKS AND GOOD LUCK!

Application for Undergraduates

Application for Graduate Students and Young Professionals

Do the Write Thing is sponsored by American Zionist Movement, WZO Department for Diaspora Activities, and the Ministry for Public Diplomacy and Diaspora Affairs.

World Zionist Organization

Nir Braudo, representative of the WZO Department for Diaspora Activities, addresses the group.

These terms, and many others, were discussed in great detail during a day-long seminar on Zionism organized by the World Zionist Organization/American Zionist Movement. Over sixty leaders in the pro-Israel community gathered to discuss Zionism, participate in discussions and Zionist text study, and to hear from speakers about the various challenges facing the Zionists in America. The group that gathered was diverse with regards characteristics ranging from age to religious affiliation to political beliefs. With all of these differences, the one unifying factor that joined all of these individuals together was the overarching theme of the day: Zionism and Israel.

Zionism as an ideology has different meanings for many people, and can manifest itself in a variety of ways. The lack of one single form of Zionism is nothing new, and stretches back to the development of the movement when various thinkers and visionaries each took the idea of Jewish nationalism and the creation of a Jewish State and developed the various streams of Zionist thought and ideology. This diversity of thought and opinion that marked the beginning of the Zionist movement was mirrored in this gathering of professionals.

Organized by the staff of the American Zionist Movement and the World Zionist Organization, this day of learning and networking included speakers, Zionist text study, programming ideas, and multiple opportunities for the participants to speak with one another. These informal portions of the day allowed for networking and the developing of relationships between members of the Zionist community in the United States who might not normally interact with one another. For many present, it was the first time that they were able to hear such diverse perspectives on what it means to be a Zionist, and many expressed enthusiasm about having the opportunity to have so many different voices present in the discussion.

Headlining the event, in addition to the educational and interactive programming, were presentations given by Professor Gil Troy of McGill University, and Ambassador Ido Aharoni, the Consul General of Israel to New York. Having the opportunity to hear from both of these experts was an invaluable experience, and it provided participants with a better sense of reality in terms of the various challenges facing Israel advocates, as well as the numerous opportunities that there are to promote Israel and Zionism in an effective manner.

The concept of Zionism, how it factors in to ones own identity, what the connection is between an individual and Israel, and how all of this relates to being Jewish and American, is something that many struggle with. Declaring oneself as a Zionist often invites questions, criticism, or even condemnation. Still, over forty individuals of varying circumstances chose to do just that, while acknowledging that Zionism isn’t something that can be clearly defined. Rather, it must be explored and challenged by those who call themselves Zionists. Zionism today is a movement that spans religions, nationalities, age, and political affiliation. This was apparent at the seminar, and is something that the member organizations of the AZM/WZO exemplify by their broad reach. By unifying such groups under the banner of Zionism, we are able to truly demonstrate the diversity of the movement, and the wide span of individuals who support Israel.

www.doingzionism.org.il

The Department for Zionist Activities of the World Zionist Organization is dedicated to promoting the Zionist idea and the Zionist movement as vital elements of contemporary Jewish life.

It strives to enhance the impact of Zionist ideology and activity in Jewish communities around the world by encouraging the growth and development of Zionist Federations, and by providing a variety of centralized services emanating out of Jerusalem.

The Department for Zionist Activities has been charged by the Zionist Executive in particular with nurturing the next generation of Zionist leadership. It has also been mandated with the development of the Mt. Herzl Park in Jerusalem, including the Herzl Museum and the cemetery of the Great Leaders of Israel and the Zionist Movement. It has also been given the responsibility for facilitating the smooth functioning of the legislative institutions and democratic processes of the Zionist movement, including the Zionist Congress, the Zionist Action Committee, and the Zionist Supreme Court.

Click here to learn more.