We have always been committed to the promise, “Never Again,” and to the dream of Israel flourishing as a successful state living in peace. When the second Intifada broke out in 2000 and Israel was increasingly misunderstood in the media, misrepresented on campuses, and singled out at the U.N., we dreamed of educating people. We wanted to tell them about Israel’s rich history, its extraordinary achievements, and its side of the story in this tragic, ongoing conflict. We wanted to create understanding, not for any particular government policies, but for the Zionist dream that had become the Jewish state. Because we found kindred spirits who shared our dream, today that dream is being realized through StandWithUs.
We began as a group of determined volunteers and grew into a professional organization with a mission to educate. Many call StandWithUs a “phoenix” because we have grown so rapidly, having formed fourteen offices and chapters in just seven years in places as far away as Australia, the U.K., and Israel.
If a blessing has emerged in the last eight years, it is that Jews and non-Jews want to know more about Israel’s history, geography, and strategic threats.
If there is a lesson, it is that profound commitment and hard work from a few can light a candle that will help educate the world and inspire understanding and support, and that a dream can definitely become a reality.
Roz Rothstein and Esther Renzer are co-founders of StandWithUs. www.standwithus.org
