Partnering with Ethiopian and Hindu students at York and Concordia

PLUS: Student initiatives, solidarity panels, and other events in Calgary, Vancouver, and Montreal

Students join AVI for our dinner at Arada Bar in Toronto for a traditional Ethiopian meal (Photo Credit: @bluesboyproductions)

Last week, Allied Voices for Israel (AVI) was proud to present an evening at Arada Bar and Restaurant to bring together Jewish and Ethiopian students to bond over traditional Ethiopian cuisine and hospitality.

Students joined from campuses across Toronto for this collaborative event hosted by AVI with members of Students Supporting Israel (SSI) at York University and the Ethiopian Student Association at York!

Our students got to learn so much about Ethiopian culture, as well as the unique history of Ethiopian Jews. We hope to partner on many more evenings like these in the future. 

To view more pictures, and to hear Common Ground Ambassador and SSI York President Michael Mandel's moving speech, click here.

AVI Common Ground Ambassador Abhinav Deshwar led a tabling at Concordia University

At Concordia, our Common Ground Ambassador Abhinav Deshwar led a tabling on the ancient Indian and Jewish connection at Concordia University, in partnership with the Hindu Student Council at Concordia University.

The campaign was a new initiative developed by AVI and Abhinav to promote awareness of the Jewish-Indian relationship on campus.

⁠Please click here to see more pictures and videos of this special tabling celebrating #HinJew solidarity.

Common Ground Ambassador Lary Epshtein organized a lively 3-on-3 hockey tournament in Calgary

At the University of Calgary, Common Ground Ambassador Lary Epshtein organized a 3-on-3 Hockey Tournament with support from our West Coast Campus Advisor Jean-Luc Mudingayi. The tournament took place at Calgary’s Optmist Arena 🏒🥅⛸️.

During the game, students were asked how they believe the great game of hockey promotes allyship and brings people together 🫱🏼‍🫲🏾!

Please click here to see who took home Lary’s handmade AVI Cup 🏆

Our West Coast Campus Advisor Jean-Luc participated in two alllyship panels this week!

West Coast Campus Advisor Jean-Luc Mudingayi and fellow panelists Caroline D’Amore, Dakshima Dilipani Haputhantiri, and June Simantov spoke at the “Chai Fives: Jewish Allyship in Action” Panel at Benevity in Calgary. ⁠

The conversation consisted of sharing lived experiences, providing practical allyship strategies and offering resources for continued learning⁠. 

Jean-Luc was also a panelist at the “Stronger Together - The Power of Allyship” panel organized in partnership with Calgary Jewish Federation.

Four diverse panelists – Caroline D’Amore, Dakshima Dilipani Haputhanthri, Jean-Luc Mudingayi, and June Simantov – shared their personal journeys and insights on meaningful allyship, and the importance of standing with the Jewish community.

To hear Jean-Luc speak a bit about our AVI programs in Israel, please click here.

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AVI's Director of Campus Affairs with University of British Columbia students

Our University of British Columbia students had a blast decorating cookies with AVI in partnership with Hillel BC and Hillel UBC. Our staff connected with our Common Ground Ambassadors Cole and Kirsten, as well as new students interested in becoming Common Ground Ambassadors next semester.

To see students showcasing their cookie decorating talents, please click here.

Common Ground Ambassadors Cole and Kirsten led a happy hour at UBC

Our UBC Common Ground Ambassadors Cole and Kirsten also hosted an Israeli Happy Hour this week to catch up with students and learn more about educational programs in Israel. The event took place ahead of Hillel BC‘s conversation with Amanda Berman, Founder & Executive Director of the Zioness Movement.

Director of Campus Affairs Idaliah also led a challah bake while in Vancouver!

AVI is proud to present Tragic Awakening: A New Look at the Oldest Hatred with Rawan Osman, generously sponsored by The Bissell Family Foundation with support from The Association des Médecins Juifs du Québec (AMJQ) and Federation CJA.

Please join us in Montreal on Monday, April 7 for an evening of conversation and bridge-building with this incredible Syrian-Lebanese activist dedicated to advancing peace and fostering dialogue between the Arab world and Israel.

Osman recently gained recognition for her address at the United Nations, where she testified that “Israel is not the problem” and condemned the IRGC and its terror proxies in the Middle East.

To register, please click here.

Director of Quebec & Atlantic Canada Noa with the girls of Herzliah High School in Montreal

Our AVI High School Ambassadors led an AVI tabling at Montreal's Herzliah High School last week with Director of Quebec & Atlantic Canada Noa Peretz Benchaya!

The students engaged their peers about Israel as part of the collective Jewish experience and shared more about AVI's High School Ambassadorship.