WELCOME to SAFI...

2009-02-26T13:31:00.012-04:00

DIVESTMENT isREAL

Over 800 signatures at Hampshire College have been put into a petition to divest from Israel. The student government at the University of Massachusetts Amherst is considering following in their footsteps. The calls for divestment are only a small part of the anti-Israel sentiments being heard throughout Western Massachusetts.

It's time to speak up!
It's time to speak out!

RALLY FOR PEACE!
Come support Israel's right to exist, come support peace.

SPEAKERS:

Steven Grossman former national chairman of the DNC and AIPAC, Dexter Van Zile, Anat Berko, and more...

Sunday, March 8th, 2pm
Amherst Commons - Amherst, MA

Directions: From I-90 (Mass Pike), take exit 4 I-91 north to Exit 19. Turn right onto Route 9. Travel approximately 6 miles. Amherst Commons is on the left.
For more info contact: umasssafi@gmail.com
Sponsors: CJP, David Project, Hillel, JCRC, Hagshama, ZOA, CAMERA, JNF

What the F#@K is going on in Israel!?

2009-02-17T20:15:00.007-04:00

Chaos?! War!? BUT WHY!?

This past winter break Israel made its way into the headlines again. Newscasts, protests on campus, articles in the Collegian, everyone seems to have an opinion about Israel, but what's Israel's point of view?

Come hear Elliot Chodoff, a political and military analyst specializing in the Middle East conflict, speak about the conflict and the events that lead up to it. But most of all, he will attempt to answer the question that too few protesters are asking: "WHY did Israel act the way it did?"

Elliot Chodoff teaches and lectures on the topics of the Middle East Conflict, Terrorism, and the Military Aspects of International Conflict at Haifa University in Israel.

Come learn about what the F#@K is really going on in Israel.

When: Tuesday, February 24, 2009 @ 7:00pm

Where: Campus Center 101

Co-sponsored by: CAMERA

Sweet Mud

2009-02-02T03:20:00.002-04:00

AN EXPLORATION INTO ISRAELI CULTURE:

Join SAFI at our first of a four-part Israeli film series!

The Israeli kibbutz is commonly thought of as a place of social utopia, where all its members essentially work on the kibbutz to provide for everyone else in their tight-knit socialist community.

This month's featured film, SWEET MUD, set in the mid 70's, tells the story of 12-year-old Dvir and his life on a kibbutz. The movie focuses on his relationship with a very unstable mother, and in doing so, shows a side to kibbutzim that otherwise would never be imagined of such a perfect place.

WHEN? Wednesday, February 11th, 7pm
WHERE? Campus Center 904

To join our Facebook event clink this link or search for: Sweet Mud

Last SAFI event of the semester - Israeli Film Night!

2008-12-05T11:50:00.000-04:00

Come relax with your friends and enjoy snacks at SAFI's monthly Israeli film night this Wednesday, December 10th at 7pm in the Campus Center 174.

This month's featured film is...

AHAVA COLOMBIANIT
(Colombian Love)

Join our Facebook event here .

A NIGHT IN EILAT - Israel's Hottest Tourist Destination Comes to UMass!

2008-11-19T17:32:00.003-04:00

Say goodbye to the semester at SAFI's A Night in Eilat.
Take a break from winter and go to the beach!

Join us for a fun night with a DJ, dancing, an Israeli-style kosher dinner, and socializing.

*Summer attire optional*

When: Thursday, December 4, 2008 at 7:00pm

Where: Earthfoods (Commonwealth Room in the Student Union)

This event is co-sponsored by the Office of Jewish Affairs.

Join our Facebook Event page here.

Life in Sderot: The Daily Struggles

2008-11-07T12:44:00.002-04:00

Since May 2007, over 2,300 rockets have been fired from Gaza into the residential town of Sderot in Israel. With an average of 6 rockets a day, the residents of Sderot have only 15 seconds to take cover from when the Red Alert siren goes off to when the rocket indiscriminately crashes into any random local.

NOAM BEDEIN, a photojournalist and the director of the SDEROT MEDIA CENTER in Israel, will be coming to speak at UMass Amherst, on November 13th.

Noam's and the Center's goal is to uncover and publicize the voices of a population marginalized by the conflict in Israel. Over 10,000 rockets have fallen on Sderot yet the attacks are often ignored by main stream media.

Noam will be speaking about living under the daily fear of rocket attacks as well as his perspective as a photojournalist in Sderot.

The event will start at 7:00pm in Campus Center room 165.

Be sure to not miss this incredibly unique experience to hear about how ordinary people, must struggle with the inevitability of rocket attacks on a daily basis.

Join our FACEBOOK EVENT PAGE here.

Cosponsors: David Project, Hasbara, Stand With Us, Israel Campus Round Table.

Israeli Film Night!

2008-10-30T21:47:00.000-04:00

Come join the Student Alliance for Israel at our showing of...

The Syrian Bride

Bring your friends and come ready for a good flick, good food, and good times. All welcome!

WHEN:
Thursday, November 6th, 7pm
WHERE:
Campus Center 174

Join on our Facebook event page!

Ambassador Dore Gold Will Speak at UMass

2008-10-13T16:27:00.007-04:00

Facing Tomorrow: Steps Forward for Israel and the Next U.S. Administration

The Student Alliance for Israel is bringing to UMass Ambassador Dore Gold.
Dore Gold holds many prestigious positions including:

-President of Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs
-Director of U.S. Foreign and Defense Project, Jafee Center for Strategic Studies
-Negotiator on behalf of Israel with Lebanon, Syria, and France
-Israel's 11th Permanent Ambassador to the United Nations

Amb. Gold will be speaking about the situation with Iran and its relation to the Arab-Israeli peace process and what the challenge for the next administration will be.

The event is on Tuesday, October 28th in BARTLETT HALL, room 65. Doors open at 7:00 PM.

Join on our Facebook Event.
For directions visit our page on the UMass event listing.

Israeli Film Night!

2008-09-17T16:32:00.008-04:00

SAFI is starting a monthly Israeli film night!
Come join a relaxed atmosphere, hang out with friends, and eat some fantastic food!

THIS MONTH'S FEATURED FILM IS...

THE BAND'S VISIT

When:
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
7:00-9:30pm
Where:
Campus Center, Room 162-175

We can't wait to see you/meet you there!

Check out our facebook event page!

--
Tomer Radbil & Eliana Bronstein
PR Coordinators

SAFI's First Open Meeting!

2008-09-15T00:52:00.002-04:00

Join the Student Alliance for Israel
at our first open meeting of the semester!

Learn more about SAFI events, become more involved
and share your ideas!

When: Wednesday, September 17, 7:45-8:30pm
Where: SAFI Office, 407 Student Union

--
Tomer Radbil & Eliana Bronstein
PR Coordinators

HAVE AN ENJOYABLE SUMMER, SAFI!

2008-05-14T02:30:00.001-04:00

Dear SAFI members,

Thank you to everyone who played a role in SAFI this past semester. We've had a lot of great events! From the 140 people who laughed with Yossi Vassa as he shared his stories about moving from Ethiopia to Israel, to the 100 people who were filled in on the plan to have 100,000 battery-operated cars on Israeli roads by 2011, to the 20 people who attended our vigil in memorial to the victims of the school massacre in Jerusalem, to the Israeli Independence Day / Yom Ha'atzmaut Party, we have all had a blast. We've enriched our circle of friends, all the while educating ourselves about Israel, advocating for Israel on campus, and enjoying the culture that Israel provides for us. We commend you - whether you attended one event or all of our events.

As we wish you luck on your final exams, we'd like to announce the results of our elections from Monday night. The board members for the 2008-09 school year are as follows:
President - Michael Feder
Vice President - Hannah Grossman
Event Coordinator - Sam Kaplan-Zantopp
Event Coordinator - Sophia Krentzman
PR Coordinator - Eliana Bronstein
PR Coordinator - Tomer Radbil

Please join us in welcoming these enthusiastic students as they commence their term in steering SAFI towards an ever brighter future. Additionally, if you would like to help these board members lead SAFI, please get in touch with us indicating your interest in joining either the Event Planning or PR Coordinating Student Advisory Panels. Thanks again!

Sincerely,

Matt Hoffman
President
UMass Student Alliance for Israel (SAFI)

Yom Hazikaron / Israeli Memorial Day

2008-05-14T02:20:00.001-04:00

We’d like to thank the 23 students who attended our memorial to fallen Israeli soldiers and victims of terrorist attacks.

We began the evening with a reading of Yizkor, a Jewish memorial prayer, in both Hebrew and English. Participants then lit a memorial candle and read the Prayer for the Soldiers of Israel. We then stood at attention for 2-minutes as a recording of a siren sounded. In Israel on this day, sirens sound throughout the country. Israelis stop what they are doing – even getting out of their cars – and stand to honor those who have fallen defending their homeland.

The main event of the evening then commenced with a screening of the documentary A Hero in Heaven.
The movie is a documentary about Staff Sgt. Michael Levin, from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, who moved to Israel in his teenage years. While serving in the Israel Defense Forces during the conflict that Hizbullah started in the summer of 2006, he was killed by terrorists.

This event was co-sponsored by SAFI, Hillel, The Jewish Student Union, Kehillat Hillel Hazeinu, and the Department for Judaic and Near Eastern Studies

Thank you

2008-03-22T19:56:00.001-04:00

Thank you to the 40 people who attended the screening of The Forgotten Refugees, a documentary which details the forced flight of 1,000,000 Jews from their homes in Arab lands in the 20^th century. This topic is important because it shows that anti-Jewish attitudes inculcated by Arab leaders into Arab citizenries is behind so much of the hatred of Jews that persists today in Arab countries.

Please contact The David Project if you would like to buy the documentary.

This screening was co-sponsored by UMass Student Alliance for Israel (SAFI), The David Project, and The Department for Judaic and Near-East Studies.

Back by Popular Demand!

2008-03-04T13:18:00.002-04:00

THE STUDENT ALLIANCE FOR ISRAEL

@ UMASS PRESENTS:

Screening of

“Forgotten Refugees”

Award-winning documentary

detailing the forced flight of

1,000,000 Jewish people

from their homes in Arab countries

in the 20^th century

March 11 @ 7 PM

Campus Center 174

Cosponsored by The David Project &

Department of Judaic and Near Eastern Studies

Thank you, Khaled!

2008-03-04T01:13:00.001-04:00

Thank you to the 50 of you who showed up to "FORCED BIAS: Why does the Palestinian Authority Censor Journalists?"

At the event, Khaled Abu-Toameh, an Israeli-Arab-Muslim journalist working for the Jerusalem Post spoke about his experiences writing both in Israel and under the Palestinian Authority.

Khaled was clear to mention that he does not have an agenda to be for one side or the other.

However, he noted that in Israel, he finds an open and free press, whereas in the Palestinian Authority, he was forced to write what the government wished to be published.

FORCED BIAS: Why does the Palestinian Authority Censor Journalists?

2008-02-21T14:38:00.003-04:00

A Lecture by:
Khaled Abu-Toameh

FORCED BIAS: Why does the
Palestinian Authority Censor Journalists?

Wednesday, February 27 @ 7 p.m.
UMass Campus Center Rm 911

What does the lack of freedom for reporters in Palestinian areas indicate about the news we receive on Palestinian matters?

Abu-Toameh is an award-winning Israeli-Arab journalist for The Jerusalem Post and NBC News. He speaks about the censorship he encountered and the continual violence orchestrated by the Palestinian Authority.

Abu-Toameh uncovered the Hamas staged blackouts of Gaza in which the Palestinian government abused its own people by canceling electricity to Gaza in a "media ploy" to make Gaza look worse than it actually is.

Co-Sponsored by Hasbara Fellowships
& UMass Democrats

To join the Facebook event: http://umass.facebook.com/event.php?eid=10518195964

How did the Renewable Energy event go?

2008-02-20T15:05:00.002-04:00

FEBRUARY 19, 2008 –
FROM THINK TANK TO GAS TANK:
RENEWABLE ENERGY OPPORTUNITIES

To the Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Boston,

I would like to thank you for helping the Student Alliance for Israel (SAFI) to plan Michael Granoff’s talk about the “invasion of electric cars set to invade the highways of Israel by 2011” at UMass-Amherst on February 19th.

100 people attended the event despite the icy weather. Those in attendance came from UMass, Mt. Holyoke, as well as the general community. The audience was engrossed as Granoff gave an impeccable presentation about the Israeli battery-car plan and its advantages, namely 1) a reduction of global warming, 2) a reduction in pollution, 3) a reduction in costs, 4) the ceasing of paying Islamist fundamentalist regimes, such as Saudi Arabia and Iran that produce oil.

Those in attendance commented on the up-beat nature of this environmental event. Josh Berkowitz, a freshman pre-English major at UMass, noted that, “The presentation was optimistic overall, which gave the subject an air of hope, setting it apart from other similar events.”

Thank you again for supporting SAFI as we worked together to better the environment, create a more sustainable future, and educate the UMass community about the innovation that is alive in Israel.

Sincerely,

Matt Hoffman
President
UMass Student Alliance for Israel

This presentation was co-sponsored by the Student Alliance for Israel, UMass Democrats, UMass Jewish Leaders in Business, UMass Hillel, UMass MASSPIRG, and UMass Students for Environmental Awareness.

Valentine's Day Israeli-style

2008-02-13T19:15:00.001-04:00

Happy Valentines Day!

Although the Hebrew holiday of love - Tu b'av - occurs during the summer months, we would like to help you celebrate the Gregorian holiday of love. For your enjoyment, we have two music videos of very cute Israelis for you to watch!

For those interested in guys -
Watch Harel Skaat, one of Israel's hottest singing sensations, and the President of SAFI's future boyfriend, sing "Kabli Oti" ("accept me"): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tQLdDpbQJfA

For those interested in girls -
Watch Roni "Superstar" Duani sing "Sod" ("secret") on an Israeli beach: http://youtube.com/watch?v=Bt5mrygRG6U

From Think Tank to the Gas Tank: Renewable Energy Opportunities

2008-02-13T16:53:00.007-04:00

Journey into the FUTURE of ENERGY...
Electric Cars Set to Invade the Highways of Israel by 2011!

MICHAEL GRANOFF
will talk & lead a discussion on opportunities for clean energy locally, nationally, and around the globe

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 7:00 P.M.
CAMPUS CENTER ROOM 168, UMASS-AMHERST
The talk is free and open to the public.

Michael Granoff, founder of SAFE (Securing America's Future Energy), a Washington-based advocacy group working to reduce America's dependence on foreign oil, is a seed investor with Israel's Cleantech Ventures and a leading figure in the plan to create an infrastructure for the mass production of electric cars and re-charge stations throughout the State of Israel by 2011.

Co-sponsored with UMass Democrats, UMass Jewish Leaders in Business, UMass Hillel, UMass MASSPIRG, and UMass Students for Environmental Awareness

Below is a video simulation of electric cars in Israel:

Successful Ethiopian-Israeli One Man Play!

2008-02-13T16:43:00.003-04:00

Thank you to all who helped the Student Alliance for Israel (SAFI) to plan Ethiopian-Israeli comedian Yossi Vassa's performance "It's Better in Amharic" at UMass-Amherst on February 5th.

The show was a great success! There were 140 people in attendance.

At the beginning of the show, Adrienne Potter-Yoe of Mt. Holyoke read a brief memorial to the victims of the Palestinian suicide bombing in Israel that had occurred the day before.

Matt Hoffman, President of SAFI, then introduced Yossi and gave background information about the DIVERSITY and TOLERANCE of Israel's populace, sharing with the audience: "Don't ever let anyone tell you that Israel is a discriminatory state."

Yossi himself was hilarious and constantly made the audience laugh. At the end of the performance, about 20 Ethiopian students chatted with Yossi in Amharic.

A great time was had by everyone present. At the same time, 140 students at UMass-Amherst were exposed to the diversity, tolerance, and uniqueness of Israeli culture.

The show was co-sponsored by the UMass Black Student Union, Alpha Phi Alpha (an historically African American fraternity), Alpha Epsilon Pi (an historically Jewish fraternity), Alpha Epsilon Phi (an historically Jewish sorority), UMass Jewish Student Union, UMass Office of Jewish Affairs, Mt. Holyoke Jewish Student Union, Mt. Holyoke African Studies Department, and with significant funding from The Committee for Accuracy in Middle East Reporting (CAMERA) and The David Project Center for Jewish Leadership.

עם חזק / A Strong People

2008-02-04T23:09:00.000-04:00

Today our thoughts are with the family of the 74-year-old woman Razdolskya Lyobov. She was murdered today by a Palestinian who exploded himself in the shopping district of Dimona, in southern Israel.

We also think of the 38 people who were injured, some of them critically, by the suicide bomber.

Further lives were saved thanks to a quick-acting police officer who stopped a second Palestinian nearby wearing an explosive belt from detonating.

There will be a short vigil tomorrow at the Ethiopian-Israeli one-man play at 7 PM in the Student Union Ballroom.

עם ישראל חי -- The People of Israel live on.

"It's Better in Amharic" - Ethiopian-Israeli One-Man Play

2008-01-30T23:09:00.000-04:00

The UMass Student Alliance for Israel (SAFI) Celebrates Black History Month with a one-man play about the African Diaspora in Israel

"It's Better in Amharic" is a one-man show performed by Yossi Vassa, an Ethiopian-Israeli. Yossi acts out his travels from Ethiopia to his new home in Israel. This performance will delve into what it means to be a Jew in Ethiopia and an African in Israel. Yossi talks about it all - the ridiculousness, the hilariousness, the troubles. He will make you cry. He will make you laugh. And most of all, he's funny.

Come see one of the many Multicultural aspects of Israel!

Tuesday, February 5 -- 7:00 p.m. -- Student Union Ballroom
FREE Admission

Cosponsored by UMass Black Student Union, UMass Jewish Student Union, Alpha Phi Alpha, Alpha Epsilon Pi, Alpha Epsilon Phi, Mt. Holyoke Jewish Student Union, Mt. Holyoke African Studies Department, the Committee for Accuracy in Middle East Reporting (CAMERA), The David Project, UMass Office of Jewish Affairs

HaDag Nachash: Israeli Hip Hop in NoHo!

2008-01-30T21:58:00.000-04:00

Celebrate Israel's 60th with funk/hip-hop/rock/reggae fusion band Hadag Nachash. With sold-out performances all over the USA, Hadag Nachash are now coming to perform to UMass / 5 College students!
Most of the lyrics deal with life in Israel. One of their most famous hits is "The Sticker Song," whose lyrics are the slogans seen on Israeli bumper stickers.
Their song "Hine Ani Ba" won Song of the Year and is featured in the new Adam Sandler movie "You Don't Mess With the Zohan" (you can hear it in the trailer!).

Sunday, February 10 --- 8:00 p.m. --- Pearl St. Nightclub
10 Pearl St, Northampton, MA

TICKETS can be purchased online at www.nbotickets.com and www.iheg.com, by phone at 413-586-8686, and in person at the Northampton Box Office, 76 Main Street, Northampton. Tickets will also be available at the door on the night of the show.

Listen to the music before the show!! HADAG NACHASH LISTENING PARTY - Thursday Feb. 7th, 7pm at the Hillel House (388 North Pleasant St, Amherst). Great music and free food!

TRANSPORTATION: The PVTA runs to Northampton, with stations near Pearl Street - buses B48, R41, R42. Map here: http://www.umass.edu/transit/pdf/northampton_map.pdf

Sponsors: UMass Hillel, Combined Jewish Philanthropies of Boston, MASA Israel programs, Oranim provider of Taglit-Birthright Israel trips, Israel Aliyah Center, UMass Student Alliance For Israel (SAFI)

Successful SAFI Elections :-)

2007-12-26T21:52:00.000-04:00

For Spring 2008, SAFI has a new Executive Board!

Please welcome the following people as board members:

President – Matt Hoffman
Vice President – Hannah Grossman
Event Coordinator – Sumi Das
Event Coordinator – Tovah Fishman-Larsh
PR Coordinator – Anat Goldberg
PR Coordinator – Eliana Bronstein

If you would like to get in touch with SAFI, or to receive notices about events, please send an email to umasssafi@gmail.com

Enjoy the winter break!

A Night in Eilat! This Thursday!

2007-12-10T17:40:00.001-04:00

A NIGHT IN EILAT
Dancing, socializing, casino games... and a DJ!
Israel's hottest tourist destination comes to UMass!
Take a break from winter at the beach and say goodbye to the semester!

Thursday, December 13, 7:00-10:30 p.m.
the Commonwealth Room (Earthfoods) in the Student Union
Refreshments will be served

The Forgotten Refugees

2007-11-16T01:11:00.001-04:00

On Tuesday, Nov 13, The David Project presented the documentary "The Forgotten Refugees" about the 900,000 Jews forced out of their homes in Arab countries and into Israel between 1940-1960.

The audience learned about dhimmitude, which is the Islamist concept of "subjugated" people. Jews and Christians in Muslim societies, while not always forced to convert to Islam, were often dominated so as to be what is essentially "not only second-class citizens, but what felt like 10th-class citizens." Dhimmitude included forced wearing of markings on the clothes of Jews and Christians (from where the Nazis got the idea for tacking the Jewish star on Jews' clothes), the inability to build new or refurbish old synagogues, and incitement against Jews.

If you would like to learn more, or help develop a poster campaign to educate the campus community about the plight that Jews faced and continue to face in Arab countries, please contact umasssafi@gmail.com

Ketzev - Israeli Dance Troupe

2007-11-15T23:56:00.000-04:00

SAFI's new dance troupe, Ketzev (Hebrew for "beat") performed at ALANA's Cultural Connections in September, and the Int'l Cultural Experience (ICE) Culture Night in November, both to grand applause!

The audience clapped along with our up-beat song, חייב לעמות אלי by חמסה. We educated the crowd about the diversity of Israel's citizens - which include Black Jews and Jews from Arab countries.

VIDEO OF OUR 1ST PERFORMANCE:

Email umasssafi@gmail.com
if you'd like to be a dancer!

These are the original Hamsa girls, who sing the song we performed to...

SAFI's Great Successful Update!

2007-11-09T22:01:00.000-04:00

To the great members of SAFI,

We'd like to share some successes that The Student Alliance for Israel has had this semester.

In September, 45 foreign-exchange students gathered to meet one another at an Israeli Coffeehouse. They tasted Israeli treats (Bamba, Bissli and Hummus), listened to chill Israeli music (the beats of Etnix), and learned about Israeli life through a picture presentation.

An inspiring part of this event was hearing from six Iranian students who attended to show their friendship with Israel - on the same day that the President of Iran was at Columbia University - a man who has said he will attempt to "wipe Israel off the map."

These Iranian friends of humanity showed compassion with the Israeli people as they are threatened by those who don't want to see Jewish independence. A heartwarming experience occured when, at the end of the event, I watched one of the Iranian students fold the Israeli flag with care. While we see brainwashed people stomping on Israel's flag on the other side of the globe, this young Iranian man showed his respect for the Jewish homeland. This event showed that many students are eager to learn about Israel. Therefore, DON'T BE AFRAID TO TALK ABOUT ISRAEL WITH YOUR FRIENDS :-)

In addition, we hosted a Krav Maga: Israeli Martial Arts training session. Over 40 people, mostly non-Jews, learned the techniques. Clearly, you YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE JEWISH TO HAVE A CONNECTION WITH ISRAEL.

Hope you're all doing well in your studies!

Sincerely,

Matt Hoffman

President, Student Alliance for Israel

- or, as I like to say...

Prez, Student Alliance for Iz REAL

Welcome Back! - Fall 07

2007-11-09T21:53:00.000-04:00

To the wonderful members of the Student Alliance for Israel:

We hope the first few weeks of school have been pleasant and that you are all settled in here at UMass.

BOARD MEMBERS FOR FALL 07:
Matt Hoffman - President
Mitch Markowitz - Vice President
Sophie Krentzman - Event Coordinator
Andy Pankin - Event Coordinator
Bonnie Solomon - PR Coordinator
Tomer Radbil - PR Coordinator

CONTACT INFO: umasssafi@gmail.com
Please get in touch with us if you have any questions!