By Ndeye Aminata Ndiaye
For Mitzpeh
@Mitzpeh
Terps for Israel, the leading pro-Israel organization at this university, gathered to bring awareness to Israeli humanitarian aid efforts and diplomatic relations with countries around the globe outside McKeldin Library last Thursday.
Terps for Israel is a bipartisan group at this university whose mission is to advocate a strong diplomatic relationship between Israel and the U.S.
To promote Israel’s desire for coexistence and peace around the world, Terps for Israel organized a tabling event in front of McKeldin Library. The campaign highlighted Israel’s contributions and connections around the world. This activity was led by Terps for Israel President Jenn Miller, a senior government and politics major, and several other students, including Rebecca Gordon, a member of the outreach chapter and a sophomore community health major.
In her opening remarks, Gordon emphasized the reasons for the event, saying, “This event will show you different NGOs that Israel has been involved with in order to help after a natural disaster, or any developing countries that can benefit from some of Israel’s technology. We are also talking about the diplomatic relations that Israel has with many differents countries around the world, even countries that don’t necessarily align with Israel.”
The group tested students on how well they knew Israel by using flashcards to ask questions and a map of the world to reveal the answers.
During the knowledge game, students could get prizes like stickers or a cupcake. Students had to choose a card with a foreign flag on it, then answer a question that would tell them how Israel has contributed to other countries.
While Gordon was setting up the table, a student coming out of the library stopped and asked for a cupcake. “If you want a cupcake, you will have to play a little game,” Gordon said.
He chose a card with a Japanese flag. When he turned the card around, he answered with an affirmative nod to the questions. He got his cupcake and stayed to listen to Gordon about the importance of a diplomatic relationship between Israel and Japan.
After students answered right or wrong to the question, while enjoying their cupcakes, they were told about the accomplishments of Israel and how students could get involved with the group.
Miller hoped that the event would help students see Israel in a new light.
“The goal of the tabling events is to put a different image in people’s minds. Israel is a democratic country and full of great people and innovation,” she said. “We need to stop associating the Israelis with war. They are great people with good hearts.”
