CAMERA on Campus had the privilege of being invited to the 8th annual Memphis Friends of Israel Festival. The day-long festival at Audubon Park in Memphis, Tennessee played host to hundreds of visitors from the local community and drew quite a crowd. Camel rides, a falafel eating contest, and performances by Kol Ish acapella group brought the Israel lovers out on a very hot Sunday!
Festival goers strolled by the CAMERA booth and asked questions about Israel bias in the media, the CAMERA on Campus program, and how they can help in the fight against anti-Israel bias. People came from Oklahoma, North Carolina, Illinois, and all the way from Jerusalem to see us!
Memphis Friends of Israel welcomed CAMERA on Campus coordinator Tatiana-Rose Becker to speak to the festival attendees about advocating for Israel on campus and the anti-Israel sentiment behind the BDS movement. Attendees gained knowledge of the sweep of anti-Israel sentiment on campuses all over the country as well as learning about CAMERA’s proactive and powerful methods for combating Israel hatred on campus.
A panel discussion was held at the end of day to discuss the perspectives on how to best contribute to Israel and combat the growing wave of anti-Israel and anti-Semitic sentiment in the US and abroad. The panel hosted such speakers as NYU Professor Dr. Abraham Haak, originally from Jordan, Jonathon Feldstein, the director of Heart to Heart, the American wing of Magen David Adom, author Bill Koenig, and Israel Goodwill Ambassador Earl Cox. Those attending asked questions about Israel’s legitimate claim to Jerusalem, the future of peace negotiations, and what the common person can do to help the cause.
Memphis Friends of Israel hosts this festival and a 5k every year to honor Israel and show their city’s solidarity with the Jewish state. They also created a how-to guide for other cities that wish to plan their own festivals, which can be found here.
