By Rachel Henderson, ICB Reporter 
Thirty people gathered in Rochester, NY, one evening last week to learn about the challenges to Israel's legitimacy on college campuses. Some of them were students, but the group also included members of the Jewish and Christian communities who are committed to Israel's security.
They had come together for a screening of the 30-minute film "Crossing the Line," which documents the extent to which Israel's foes will go to portray the country in a negative light on campuses across the country, and to learn about efforts to educate, train and empower students who support Israel's right to exist.
The presentation by Jerusalem Online University (JOU) and its
Step Up For Israel campaign was organized by local community activists and included representatives of the Rochester Jewish Federation,Christians United for Israel and others. David Coleman, JOU's director of film distribution, stressed the importance of training students to advocate for Israel and to respond to anti-Israel provocations.
In the film, students describe events they have witnessed on their campuses and talk about how they can provide their peers with a more accurate picture of Israel. (
Click here for previous
ICB coverage of classroom intimidation and some of the tools available for students who encounter it.)
Coleman used the film to introduce JOU's four-part Israel education mini-course, which teaches about Israel and provides tips for making the case for Israel on campus and elsewhere.
“Everyone’s our partner,” he told the community representatives in Rochester, noting that Hillel, Israel on Campus Coalition, Hasbara Fellowships, StandWithUs and many other organizations collaborate with JOU as it seeks to strengthen the campus Israel community.
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