Project Connect Israel: Strengthening Pro-Israel Support
Project Connect Israel (PCI) aims to address the decline in Jewish support for Israel by creating a network of non-Jewish pro-Israel activists. Through educational trips and activities, PCI seeks to foster stronger connections between participants and Israel, promoting understanding and advocacy. By engaging individuals across different backgrounds, PCI hopes to build a diverse community dedicated to supporting Israel.
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Project Connect Israel The only source of knowledge is experience --Albert Einstein Elie Pieprz and Avi Marcovitz, Co-Founders
How to create 400,000 non-Jewish pro-Israel activists for $75 each?
Why Project Connect Israel (PCI)? Jewish students support for Israel has plummeted Christians students are next Jewish students feel lack of connection to Israel Christian support from Israel is likely to wane, in part due to the impact of anti-Israel propaganda on Christian students
PCIs Vision PCI will facilitate peer educational trips to Israel for high school (seniors) and early university students PCI will engage participants across denominational and racial lines through Hafgashot, daily group discussions leveraging the sites effectively
Jewish Attachment to Israel 100 80 Jews Who Care About Israel As Important to Being Jewish 60 40 Jews Who Have Low Attachment to Israel 20 0 Over 65 50 to 64 35 to 49 Under 35
What A PCI Trip Provides Develop a rich understanding of the unique challenges and contributions made by Israelis Create a personal connection with Israel Facilitate a stronger relationship with their own faith
Project 20/20 Commitments During the trip, participants communicate with 20 people NetBooks on buses facilitate real-time social networking Post-trip, present to 20 people (20 photos/videos for 20 minutes) $220 deposit returned when 20/20 commitments are complete
Pre- and Post-Trip Activities Provide coursework pre- and post-trip Develop original and leverage existing materials Create a job bank, with mentoring and networking opportunities for participants Direct participants to continue pro-Israel activism
Projected Number of Participants Participants 30000 25000 20000 15000 Participants 10000 5000 0 2012-3 2013-4 2014-5 2015-6 2016-7
Projected Scope of the Program (Total Reach) 1200000 1000000 800000 Participants 600000 Total Reach 400000 200000 0 2012-3 2013-4 2014-5 2015-6 2016-7
Why Christians Embrace PCI Christians are concerned about engaging the Joshua Generation Youth pastor/chaperone will minister to students throughout trip Curriculum demonstrates how Israel is integral to their faith Connecting teens with their faith on their own, in a fun, exploratory, hands-on, inspirational environment Sponsoring (Christian) organization has latitude in choosing itinerary PCI will continuously motivate and excite youth pastors/chaperones so that they remain motivated to take their free trip every year
PCI Trip Extensions Project Impact: Follow-up trip during junior/senior year of university PCI Parents: Unique trips for parents of participants, paid by attendees PCI for Other Faiths and Races: Trips for Catholics, Mormons, non-denominational, Hispanics, Blacks and Iranians PCI International: Expansion to non-English speaking countries
Most Likely Christian Student Trip to Succeed Specific focus on high school seniors allows for a targeted, educational approach at a very impressionable time of students development PCI s relationships with Christian organizations span 20 years, and facilitates partnerships (churches, schools, universities, religious organizations) Funding model designed to engage sponsoring organizations, demands participants take the trip seriously and shoulder some of the burden Unique 20/20 follow-up ensures benefits spread well beyond actual participant
Who Supports PCI? US elected officials: Rep. Trent Franks & Rep. Cathy McMorris-Rodgers Israeli officials: Ambassadors Dore Gold and Yoram Ettinger Rabbis: Rabbi Daniel Lapin Pastors: Pastor Jay Hellwig (Dallas), David Pearson (Seattle), Pastor Lisa Depew Jewish organizations Christian organizations (PJTN, CBN, Texans for Israel) Academics (Professor Rafi Vago, Tel Aviv University) Pop culture personalities
Why the Israeli Government Should Support PCI Organized by Jews with strong, long-term US Christian connections Attracts organizations and capital that currently do not focus on Israel Bolsters next generation of Christians, who are likely to be less supportive of Israel than their parents Creates grassroots network; next-generation supporters of Israel Involves Christians who will ensure the organization will be self-sustaining
Follow-Up: Office of the Prime Minister Open lines of communication with the Office of the Prime Minister Introductions to the Ministries of Diaspora Affairs, Foreign Affairs, Hasbarah and the Jewish Agency Considerations for funding: What metrics are necessary for the government to consider partial funding? What could we include in the trips to make it more attractive? A letter supporting PCI and its mission
PCI Team Elie Pieprz, Co-Founder and Executive Director Dr. Avi Marcovits, Co-Founder and Education Director Joe Perlov, Tour Experience Director Project 20/20 Director (to be determined; US based)
Elie Pieprz, Co-Founder Former DC based lobbyist focused on the Christians Veteran of US federal & state political campaigns Microsoft Marketing Director, Launch Team of Windows ME & XP Development Director for national Jewish organization facilitating cooperation between Jews and Christians Producer of Tuesday Night Live in Jerusalem, Jerusalem-based TV show bringing a taste of Israel to America, broadcasting into 32 million American homes (primarily Christians)
Dr. Avi Marcovitz, Co-Founder Director of World Jewry Division at the International School at Yad VaShem; trains educators in 30 countries on pedagogic approaches to teaching the Holocaust CEO, Best Buddies Israel , an organization focusing on the social needs of individuals with intellectual disabilities throughout Israel Senior educational leadership at Jewish Day Schools throughout US 20 years of experience in the educational world
Joe Perlov, Israel Experts Tour Experience Director IsraelExperts Group will be PCI s exclusive tour operator Fully-licensed Israel tour operator since 1999 Recognized by AIPAC for organizing their student missions Operates dozens of Taglit-Birthright trips annually Facilitates its faith-based trips under the Israel Pilgrims Tours label
Thank You! Elie Pieprz, Co-Founder Project Connect Israel Email: elie@projectconnectisrael.org Phone: 052-379-0810 Headquarters: PCI International Kiach Building 42 Agripas St. Jerusalem Avi Marcovitz, co-Founder Project Connect Israel Email: avi@projectconnectisrael.org Phone: 050-300-7232
