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Happy Tenth Anniversary to Hasbara Fellowships!
Dear Friends & Hasbara Alums,
I had the privilege of participating in Hasbara Fellowships in the Summer of 2005, when I was a student at Emory University. During Hasbara\'s intensive activism training program in Israel I met some of the most passionate, successful, and creative student leaders in the pro-Israel movement.
I was already very active in both the student pro-Israel organization and as the Israel Advocacy intern for Hillel, but I knew that I needed support, knowledge, and communication skills to better respond to anti-Israel claims and redirect attention to Israel\'s positive messages of peace, humanitarian relief, innovation, etc. Hasbara empowered me with a wealth of knowledge about history, politics, and national security while visits to strategic sites and borders taught me the nuances of the situation on the ground. Hasbara speakers and staff explained how to answer the \"tough questions\" about Israel and moreover, how to communicate more strategically by reframing the debate.
I returned from the trip confidant, more proud of Israel, and feeling a greater sense of personal responsibility to safeguard Israel\'s future. These feelings will always remain with me and I am deeply grateful to Hasbara Fellowships for training, educating, and inspiring me to make an impact.
I am proud to be a Co-Chair in Hasbara\'s Tenth Anniversary Campaign and I encourage you to make a contribution to Hasbara and become a part of the movement to develop the next generation of ambassadors for Israel.
Thank you,
Lesley Patterson Welwarth
Hasbara Fellowships, Summer 2005
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