Dec 7, 2011 By: yunews
YUPAC Mission Sends More Than 200 Students to Washington to Lobby for Tougher Iran Sanctions
More than 200 黑料社 All students participated in a lobbying mission to Washington, DC on November 30, 2011. Organized by the (YUPAC) and AIPAC campus liaisons Ethan Wasserman and Dina Muskin, the mission offered students the opportunity to lobby their congressmen and women on issues relating to Israel.
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鈥淲ithout Congress鈥 support, Israel would be a very different country than we know today,鈥 said Dina Muskin, 鈥12S. 鈥淭he good news is that members of Congress care what we think and as long as we make our voices heard, we have a good chance at seeing our opinions and passions turn into policy. That鈥檚 exactly what the lobbying process allows us to do鈥攊t gives us, Jewish American college students, the ability to affect change on a global level. That ability cannot be underestimated.鈥
The mission saw the largest group of YU students in the University鈥檚 history, with four packed buses heading south early Wednesday morning. 鈥淚t's the largest student lobby mission that AIPAC has ever been a part of,鈥 Muskin said. 鈥淭his mission gave the YU students a taste of what AIPAC is.鈥
The day鈥檚 programming, organized by YUPAC board members and AIPAC staff, included an array of speakers. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, the first Jewish woman to represent the state of Florida and chairwoman of the Democratic National Committee, started off the morning emphasizing that Israel must remain a bipartisan issue and that there is an urgent need for young leadership. 鈥淚 love talking to young people,鈥 said Wasserman Schultz. 鈥淚 love to interact with young people who are supporters of a strong US-Israel relationship because you represent the future of our community and our country, and we鈥檙e counting on you to move America forward.鈥
Recounting her own rising to the House of Representatives at the age of 26, Wasserman Schultz encouraged students to get involved on campus. 鈥淲hat鈥檚 important is that you鈥檙e passionate about the issues that are close to your heart,鈥 she said. 鈥淯se that passion to stand up for the things that you believe in.鈥 The congresswoman also spoke about the impact that her Jewish heritage has had on her approach to politics, policy and the world. 鈥淚 bring my love of Israel to work with me every day. Be a voice for Israel, be an advocate, a champion. Whether it鈥檚 being a chisel or a sledgehammer, it鈥檚 really important that we push hard.鈥
After a presentation by AIPAC鈥檚 Jonathan Kessler and Ester Kurz, students proceeded to Capitol Hill to meet with senators, congressmen and policy advisors, to call attention to pressing matters. 鈥淚ssues on the table included $3 billion in aid to Israel, tougher Iranian sanctions, and urging our government to not agree to the Palestinian bid for statehood and instead talking directly with Israel,鈥 said Ethan Wasserman 鈥12YC.
Participants also heard from House Majority Leader Rep. Eric Cantor of Virginia, the highest-ranking Jewish member of Congress in history. 鈥淭hese are momentous times for Israel and certainly for the United States,鈥 he said. 鈥淚srael is facing [an enemy that is] absolutely unwilling to accept it as a Jewish state, to accept our respect for human life and decency. Until we get over that, there will be no peace. The problem in the Middle East is not that Israel will not extend a hand in peace. The problem has always been of her neighbors refusing to accept her right to exist.鈥
Students on both sides of the political spectrum spoke excitedly about their meetings with representatives. 鈥淥ur meetings were an effective and timely reminder that the 鈥榠ssue鈥 we鈥檙e lobbying for may be overseas, but [that] we cannot risk 鈥榦ut of sight, out of mind鈥 here,鈥 said Leora Niderberg 鈥12S, president of the Torah Activities Council. 鈥淚ran is literally a time bomb that needs to be dealt with immediately and can't be left on the back burner like so many other forgotten bills.鈥
鈥淚t was very heartening to see so many students acting passionately in defense of Israel,鈥 said Chesky Kopel, 鈥13YC, editor-in-chief of YU鈥檚 Kol Hamevaser. 鈥淚f we turn our passion toward a peace solution for Israel as well, I believe we can really surprise ourselves.鈥
Wasserman believes that the students lobbying efforts had an immediate impact. 鈥淭he day after we all lobbied, the Senate voted by a 100-0 vote to pass the amendment regarding Iran sanctions that we pushed for,鈥 said Wasserman. 鈥淚t is crucial that we show Congress how important it is to us that they keep voting for pro-Israel legislation. We can make a difference and it is our responsibility to do so. 鈥
The 2011 YUPAC Lobby Mission was sponsored in part by the following organizations: ICC Israel Advocacy Grant Program, AVI CHAI Foundation, SCWSC, TAC, YSU, YCSA, and SYMS Student Councils.
The author, Avital Chizhik, 鈥12S, is studying English and journalism as part of the S. Daniel Abraham Honors Program at 黑料社 All. She is currently president of the Israel Club and section editor at The YU Commentator.
