Hasbara Fellowships

I haven’t seen NAZA, and most people haven’t. But the record-breaking ovation it received at the Venice Film Festival made headlines around the world, and it’s been on my mind ever since. A film pushing the biggest antisemitic lie of our lifetime, that Israel committed genocide, gets the longest standing ovation in the festival’s history. Many of you saw the clip of the festival director checking his watch as the applause went on, as if waiting for the record to fall. Others have already called the ovation staged. What I haven’t heard anyone ask is why. Who is behind it? Where is the funding coming from? Who are the investors and producers, and what does the room owe them? When everyone in the audience knows who the bosses are, getting a crowd to clap for 25 minutes isn’t hard to arrange. As a community, we’re good at calling out antisemitic lies. We’re not asking nearly enough about who funds them, who produces them, and who benefits when they go viral. That ovation wasn’t an accident. It was a weapon in the PR war against Israel, and we can’t fight it effectively until we understand where it came from. To our @hasbarafellowships network on campus and beyond: don’t just attack the ovation. Ask who’s behind it.

When something gets repeated so frequently, it becomes an automatic reflex instead of an actual thought 🤖🦜. The “Blame Israel” campaign released by PM Netanyahu’s office exposes how Israel is constantly blamed, especially in the UN, as an automatic reflex without justification. 💬 Comment LIES to view evidence that the UN Agencies executed systematic informational bias against Israel regarding Gaza War

Was 2021 the dress rehearsal for the anti-Israel information war we saw after October 7? Lazar Berman, senior political correspondent for The @timesofisrael , discusses with Habara CEO, Alan Levine, how Hamas and its supporters used social media, hashtags, and coordinated messaging during the 2021 conflict—and how those tactics became even more prominent after October 7. Understanding how the information war has evolved is essential to understanding the conversation around Israel today. Comment HEADLINE to watch the full recording!

For thousands of years, Jews around the world have gathered on Yom Kippur to pray, reflect, and renew their commitment to their faith and one another. From generation to generation, we continue. G’mar Chatimah Tovah. 🤍

Wishing everyone a Shabbat Shalom!💙🌟🇮🇱

Understanding the facts matters. And when critical context is missing from the news, it becomes even more important to educate ourselves, ask questions, and seek out the full story. It has become clear that a consistent imbalance has been represented in The New York Times. Palestinian suffering received extensive coverage, while Israeli casualties, hostages, Hamas fighters, and Palestinian violence after October 7 are left out almost entirely. This begs the question of whether readers are receiving the full story—and whether journalism can be called objective when critical context is repeatedly missing. The more informed we are, the better equipped we are to advocate for the truth. It is our job to make sure the narrative, on college campuses and beyond, is based on truth. Swipe through, and remember to never stop asking questions.

What’s really happening with Israel—and how can we make sense of it all? We were honored to have a chat with Lazar Berman, senior political correspondent for The Times of Israel, as he breaks down the issues shaping Israel, its relationship with the United States, and what students need to understand as they navigate the conversation on campus. 💬Comment HEADLINE to receive and watch the full recording!