Contributed by CAMERA intern Lilia Gaufberg
On November 3rd, CAMERA fellow David Enav brought Neil Lazarus to come and speak with University of Houston students as well as with Jewish professionals about running a pro-Israel group on campus. Neil also discussed strategies to promote growth and success in the long run with these types of groups. This event aimed to have students learn from an experienced professional about how to run a pro-Israel group at the University of Houston.
The event was publicized mainly through social media. The hosts created a Facebook event page and invited hundreds of students. Personal invites were also sent. Those who came to hear Neil speak remained engaged in the discussion throughout the duration of the event. Many of the participants had heard of Neil or had attended one of his seminars in the past. One question that was asked is as follows: “Which are some groups on campus that we should work with?” Neil responded by saying that the groups do not necessarily need to be political, and that cultural clubs are important to reach out to as well.
The most effective aspect of the event was being exposed to Neil’s positive attitude and contagious enthusiasm. Neil came and led a very engaging discussion with the attendees; his big personality and eloquent speaking skills did not disappoint!
