U.S.-Israel group sponsors student dinner

The American Israel Public Affairs Committee believes today's college student leaders will become political leaders in 10 years. And if campus leaders will be politically active in the future, AIPAC wants to introduce them to the issue of American-Israel affairs while they are still molding their political identities. To do this, 87 students from 12 Philadelphia area colleges were invited to the Philadelphia Leadership Dinner sponsored by AIPAC, an American lobby organization supporting U.S.-Israeli legislation. The purpose of Saturday night's dinner at the Doubletree Hotel was to discuss political activism and the relationship between Israel and the U.S. The night's agenda included opening remarks from Mayor Rendell's Chief of Staff David Cohen and a presentation from Adam Garfinkle, a resident scholar at the Foreign Policy Research Institute. Garfinkle was asked to discuss why Israel is important to the American people. "There are a few reasons -- one is that Israel is a democracy, the other is because it is diverse," Garfinkle said. "As Israel is a democracy formed from diversity, it is of particular interest to America as an example." Cohen, in his speech, said the new wave of voter apathy plaguing American politics concerns him. "I am personally worried about voter apathy and turn off to elections," Cohen said. "My spirits are uplifted to see new, enlightened people involved in the political process." In her speech, Associate Director of Hillel of Greater Philadelphia Rabbi Bonnie Goldberg encouraged students to meet each other and discuss their opinions on the issues presented. "May your dialogues create a foundation of understanding," said Goldberg. "And as you become leaders, build upon that foundation." The event was organized by AIPAC Deputy Leadership Director Jill Werbel and AIPAC campus liaisons. "We asked our liaisons to put together a list of about 15 leaders from different groups on campus," said Werbel. Twenty representatives from the University came from a variety of campus organizations including the United Minorities Council, the Newman Center, Penn Student Agencies and the Bicultural InterGreek Council. "We realize that a large group of campus representatives are not Jewish and that this is the first they have heard of AIPAC," said Werbel. "We hope that they will have a positive experience and will learn that U.S.-Israel relations are mutually beneficial." The Executive Director of Hillel of Greater Philadelphia Rabbi Howard Alpert said the organizers' intent was not to recruit new AIPAC supporters. "We hope that the dinner will give students an opportunity to open their minds," said Alpert. "But there is no institutional agenda. We don't intend for people to go home as AIPAC supporters; we just want them to go home thinking about these issues." The dinner was a catalyst for programming between the groups represented, said the Executive Vice President of the Panhellenic Council Toby Tucker. "I am open to doing any inter-programming with other schools," said the College senior. "The dinner opened pathways for AIPAC and other groups to work together."