Elie Pieprz and Avi Marcovitz CoFounders The only source of knowledge is experience Albert Einstein How to create 400000 nonJewish proIsrael activists for 75 each ID: 323389
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Project Connect Israel
Elie Pieprz and Avi Marcovitz, Co-Founders
“The only source of knowledge is experience” --Albert EinsteinSlide2
How to create 400,000
non-Jewish pro-Israel activists for $75 each?Slide3
Why Project Connect Israel (PCI)?Jewish students’ support for Israel has plummeted
Christians students are nextJewish students feel lack of connection to IsraelChristian support from Israel is likely to wane, in part due to the impact of anti-Israel propaganda on Christian studentsSlide4
PCI’s Vision
PCI will facilitate peer educational trips to Israel for high school (seniors) and early university studentsPCI will engage participants across denominational and racial lines through Hafgashot, daily group discussions leveraging the sites effectivelySlide5
Jewish Attachment to IsraelSlide6
What A PCI Trip ProvidesDevelop 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 faithSlide7
Project 20/20 Commitments
During the trip, participants communicate with 20 peopleNetBooks on buses facilitate real-time social networkingPost-trip, present to 20 people (20 photos/videos for 20 minutes)
$220 deposit returned when 20/20 commitments are completeSlide8
Pre- and Post-Trip Activities
Provide coursework pre- and post-tripDevelop original and leverage existing materialsCreate a job bank, with mentoring and networking opportunities for participantsDirect participants to continue pro-Israel activism Slide9
Projected Number of ParticipantsSlide10
Projected Scope of the Program (Total Reach)Slide11
Why Christians Embrace PCI
Christians are concerned about engaging the “Joshua Generation”Youth pastor/chaperone will minister to students throughout tripCurriculum demonstrates how Israel is integral to their faithConnecting teens with their faith on their own, in a fun, exploratory, hands-on, inspirational environmentSponsoring (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 yearSlide12
PCI Trip Extensions
Project Impact: Follow-up trip during junior/senior year of universityPCI Parents: Unique trips for parents of participants, paid by attendeesPCI for Other Faiths and Races: Trips for Catholics, Mormons, non-denominational, Hispanics, Blacks and Iranians PCI International: Expansion to non-English speaking countriesSlide13
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’ developmentPCI’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 burdenUnique 20/20 follow-up ensures benefits spread well beyond actual participantSlide14
Who Supports PCI?US elected officials: Rep. Trent Franks & Rep. Cathy
McMorris-RodgersIsraeli officials: Ambassadors Dore Gold and Yoram EttingerRabbis: Rabbi Daniel LapinPastors: Pastor Jay Hellwig (Dallas), David Pearson (Seattle), Pastor Lisa DepewJewish organizationsChristian organizations (PJTN, CBN, Texans for Israel)Academics (Professor Rafi Vago, Tel Aviv University)Pop culture personalitiesSlide15
Why the Israeli Government Should Support PCI
Organized by Jews with strong, long-term US Christian connectionsAttracts organizations and capital that currently do not focus on IsraelBolsters next generation of Christians, who are likely to be less supportive of Israel than their parents Creates grassroots network; next-generation supporters of IsraelInvolves Christians who will ensure the organization will be self-sustainingSlide16
Follow-Up: Office of the Prime Minister
Open lines of communication with the Office of the Prime MinisterIntroductions to the Ministries of Diaspora Affairs, Foreign Affairs, Hasbarah and the Jewish AgencyConsiderations 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 missionSlide17
PCI TeamElie
Pieprz, Co-Founder and Executive DirectorDr. Avi Marcovits, Co-Founder and Education DirectorJoe Perlov, Tour Experience DirectorProject 20/20 Director (to be determined; US based)Slide18
Elie Pieprz, Co-Founder
Former DC based lobbyist focused on the ChristiansVeteran of US federal & state political campaignsMicrosoft Marketing Director, Launch Team of Windows ME & XPDevelopment Director for national Jewish organization facilitating cooperation between Jews and ChristiansProducer 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)Slide19
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 HolocaustCEO, 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 US20 years of experience in the educational worldSlide20
Joe Perlov, Israel ExpertsTour Experience Director
IsraelExperts Group will be PCI’s exclusive tour operatorFully-licensed Israel tour operator since 1999Recognized by AIPAC for organizing their student missionsOperates dozens of Taglit-Birthright trips annuallyFacilitates its faith-based trips under the “Israel Pilgrims Tours” labelSlide21
Thank You!
Elie Pieprz, Co-FounderProject Connect IsraelEmail: elie@projectconnectisrael.orgPhone: 052-379-0810Avi Marcovitz, co-FounderProject Connect IsraelEmail: avi@projectconnectisrael.orgPhone: 050-300-7232Headquarters:PCI International
Kiach Building42 Agripas
St.
Jerusalem