With Israel a major aspect of the fabric of the school, RTMA students heard last week from Mr. Paul Friedman, the high school program coordinator for Stand with Us, who spoke on the anti-Israel media bias.

RTMA senior Yair Sohn of Elizabeth made the call to Friedman after interning with him this past summer. “I brought the program to the school because there are a lot of people who are interested in Israel advocacy and will continue when they go to college,” said Yair. “There is a lot of anti-Semitism and anti-Israel rhetoric now, especially by the major media outlets, so it’s important to have people mentally prepared to take it on.”

Using video clips and through an array of role playing techniques, Friedman demonstrated common examples of anti-Israel reporting and showed students how to help influence the public’s perception of the Jewish State in a more positive way.

Following his visit, RTMA announced the formation of a new Israel Advocacy Committee that will be directed by Mr. Friedman. “It’s a great opportunity for our students who are especially committed and passionate about Israel advocacy to learn from an expert in the field,” said Rabbi Yisroel Rich, RTMA’s director of student life, as he shared that the committee slots are already filling up due to high demand and interest.