As part of Frisch’s Herschmann-Chouake Israel Advocacy Program last week, students and faculty at Yeshivat Frisch heard the unique story and perspective of Yoseph Haddad, an Israeli Arab Christian. Haddad served as a commander in the elite Golani unit of the Israel Defense Forces, where he was severely injured. Since then, he has dedicated himself to making Israel’s society more tolerant and understanding through his organization Vouch for Each Other. He has also served as an ambassador in the fight against BDS on numerous college campuses. Students were inspired by Haddad’s personal journey and appreciated hearing the first hand perspective of an individual who is part of one of Israel’s minorities.

In addition to the political and military insights provided by Haddad, students had the opportunity to view the documentary “Sustainable Nation” (produced by JerusalemU) and learn about the impressive strides being made by Israeli scientist-entrepreneurs in the realm of water. The documentary looked at the process by which Israel, within the past twenty years, has gone from being in a water crisis to becoming an exporter of water. The film followed how Israeli engineering is simultaneously making Israel’s Judean desert bloom; providing cutting-edge water conservation and irrigation technology to farmers in drought-ridden California and bringing clean, pumped water to remote villages in Uganda.