Advocating for Israel in Sydney

FOLLOWING the success of its Israel advocacy program in May, the Zionist Council of NSW (ZCNSW) has brought another group of young Israelis to Sydney to talk about life in the Holy Land.

Gabriel Bendheim, Charlotte Korchak, Gal Rotem-Bar and Yoni Tokayer are in town to speak in schools and shuls about modern Israel, and to share their personal stories.

US-born Korchak, 27, made aliyah with her family when she was nine. “A couple of years [after making aliyah] the Second Intifada began in Israel, and I talked to the students about what that was and what that meant, and how it affected my life,” she said.

Korchak, who works for Israel education and advocacy organisation StandWithUs, said her connection to Israel “made me feel like I had something to stand up for and something to fight for”.

“Ultimately, you also realise that [Israel] is our home. That’s the place where we’ll always be connected to; it’s where our history started and for me, I think that connection is something that every Jew should have,” she said.

But that connection shouldn’t be forced upon people, Korchak said.

“I think it’s something that we need to find for ourselves and create for ourselves, and that requires a lot of learning and reading, and going to Israel and really immersing yourself in the culture and in everything that Israel stands for.

“That’s what I try to give over to these kids.”

Encouraging people to visit Israel, she said: “Go. You’re always welcome; we love to have visitors, we love to have Jews from around the world coming to Israel and seeing it. The more you learn about it, I think the more you fall in love with it.”

Korchak and Rotem-Bar, 26, were among the 2500 people who participated in the communal challah bake last Thursday, as part of the Shabbat Project, which Rotem-Bar described as inspirational. Born on a kibbutz, she said: “To see this, on the other side of the world, in Australia, all the Jews coming together … it’s really inspiring. It seems like back home, everybody does the same.”

ZCNSW president Richard Balkin said the advocates represent “the best of young Israel” and provide students with both knowledge of modern Israel and its achievements as well as the skills needed in order to advocate.

“During the previous visit approximately 2000 students were taught and it is expected that a similar number will benefit now once again.”

EVAN ZLATKIS

From left: Gabriel Bendheim, Charlotte Korchak, Gal Rotem-Bar and Yoni Tokayer.