Step Up For Israel


Step Up For Israel was created as an international grassroots campaign to educate individuals and communities about Israel and give them the tools to defend and promote it. It is a project of Jerusalem U and chaired by renowned Middle East experts Professor Alan Dershowitz and Ambassador Dore Gold.

Goals

Step Up For Israel aims to inform and educate people about Israel and its contribution to the world. It also aims to create awareness of the growing movement to delegitimize Israel and to motivate people to learn the facts and step up on Israel's behalf.

Film-based curriculum

Step Up For Israel uses the medium of film to educate and engage, supplementing its visual education with moderator's guides, lesson plans and online resources offering creative ideas, topics for discussion and practical exercises and simulations.
The Step Up For Israel curriculum is based on Jerusalem U's films Israel Inside: How a Small Nation Makes a Big Difference, ', ', and other films and clips.

''Israel Inside: How a Small Nation Makes a Big Difference''

Presenting a side of Israel not so commonly shown in the international media, this unit uses animation, diagrams and original footage to illustrate the power of a people who started with nothing in the aftermath of the Holocaust and transformed a desert land to become one of the world's leading innovators in a whole range of fields.

''Beneath the Helmet: From High School to the Home Front''

Based on a film presenting the real-life coming-of-age of five young Israeli soldiers, this unit discusses the challenges they face and begs comparisons with their peers in the U.S..

''Crossing the Line 2''

A unit examining and analyzing the rising trend of anti-Semitic and anti-Israel activities on college campuses. Particular attention is given to BDS and how Jewish students can respond.

A Nation Reborn

This class presents the historical, legal and religious connections between the Jewish people and its national homeland.

Other topics discussed

Step Up For Israel offers tailored educational products built on the above films for specific target audiences:

Grades 8–12

Professor Alan Dershowitz and Ambassador Dore Gold

Partners

Over 90 organizations are listed as partners with the Step Up For Israel project. Some of the prominent partners listed are: Jewish National Fund, Hillel, Nefesh B'Nefesh and NCSY.