Israeli Student Organization

The Israeli Student Organization (ISO) is a University of Michigan student club. I founded the group in 2004. After being part of the university community for some time, I believed that the Israeli voice was missing from campus. There are many Jewish organizations on campus (and they are awesome!), many have been known to support Israel and to represent Israel on campus. I have a lot of respect for these groups, as they do a wonderful job. However, there are many Israeli students (faculty and staff) on campus (at least 80) and I believed that what they have to say might be a little different than what American Jews had to say. Therefore I thought it would be a good idea to create this group.

At the time that I organized the ISO I was an alumni of U of M not a student but a staff member. Therefore, I was involved more behind the scenes working as an advisor for the group. Or Shotan took the role of the chair of the ISO and did a great job! In it's first year of activity the ISO was involved in various projects: 1. "peace talks" - invited Palestinian, and Jewish groups on campus to meet and talk about the Middle East. 2. "Israeli Movie Night" - a bi-monthly event of Israeli movies shown at Hillel with the help of other organizations. 3. Participated in events around campus that helped promote Israel, like International Day. 4. Co-sponsored vigils after terror attacks. 5. Established relationships around campus with various organizations.

I certainly hope that the ISO will continue to be an active organization and a voice for Israelis in Ann Arbor.

Letter's to the editor from the ISO:

Students Find Common Ground on Mideast Conflict

Israelis, Like Palestinians, Want Peace for the Region (3rd letter)

Campus Climate Troublingly Accepts Ignorance, Prejudice (2nd letter)

Dearborn Student Govt. Pushes for Israel Divestment

Divestment a Misguided Solution for the Middle East

Speakers Recall Struggles in Occupied Territories

Some See Chance of Peace in Abbas

Group Leaders Invite ‘U’ to Discuss Arab-Israeli Conflict (2nd letter)

Terrorism is Not a Legitimate Means of Resistance