Christians United for Israel on Campus develops student leaders and equips them to become effective advocates for Israel on their college campuses. There are more than 75 official chapters of CUFI on campuses in the United States, with more than 300 additional ones on the verge of becoming official.
The student group was established by Christians United for Israel (CUFI). Christians United for Israel (CUFI) is an American pro-Israel Christian organization that defines itself as "a national grassroots movement focused on the support of Israel." It seeks to “educate Christians about the Biblical and moral imperatives about supporting Israel,”
In fact, CUFI on Campus is a counter to the growing presence of the Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) on American university campuses. SJP was first established at the University of California, Berkeley in 2001 with a mission statement that states: "SJP is a diverse group of students, faculty, staff and community members organized to promote justice, human rights, liberation and self-determination for the Palestinian people." Members believe the United States should stop supporting Israel in the conflict.
CUFI on Campus has field organizers that travel America in order to educate and to assist students in developing Campus Chapters at both secular and Christian universities. They seek out student leaders who will work to raise awareness of Israel and counter anti-Semitism at their school, mobilizing fellow students toward specific, action-based initiatives focused on the biblical, moral and socio-political reasons to support Israel.
John Winchester, the National Campus Field Organizer of CUFI on Campus, said: “The majority of students who are involved are exactly what our base is,” he continued: Evangelical Christians, Catholics and others. “We're using Israel as a means to unite the Christian voice, period, and specifically uniting it for Israel.” “Some people get involved strictly for political reasons, they believe in a US relationship with Israel,” “Others do it for theological reasons.”
CUFI has enjoyed significant support from Jewish allies. Jacob Harmon, a College of Southern Nevada sophomore, said “The Jewish community has been amazing. I really feel like this is something that God has totally manufactured.” “The Jewish community [has] taken to us and given us everything we need. We have really strong ties to Hillel. It has been nothing but good things coming from our relationship thus far.”
The CUFI chapter at the University of Arizona has had a similar experience. “On our campus we have been incredibly accepted by the Jewish community,” said Borchardt, the president of CUFI’s chapter at the University of Arizona.
“We have been invited to participate in most of the events that are hosted by Hillel and other Jewish clubs,” she said. “These events provide CUFI a way to get oriented with other Jewish allies and to promote what our club on campus does. They also provide an opportunity for each of our club members to get a little more educated on current issues.”
Just like many other campus clubs and organizations, CUFI on Campus holds events throughout the year. Many have an educational component related to the situation in the Middle East and how that impacts what campuses believe about Israel.
The list of activities and programs organized by CUFI on Campus chapters sounds a lot like the programs organized by other Israel advocacy organizations. “Every campus is different in their activism,” Organizer John Winchester explained. “Some of the programs have been Israeli cultural days... [others] have been speakers like Holocaust survivor Irving Roth. One student built a mock bomb shelter to protest [Israel] Apartheid Week. See picture of CUFI roberts wesleyan college campus chapter above.
“We have done educational events where we just showed materials so as to educate the attendees on the situation in the Middle East and also what the majority of U.S. campuses believe about Israel,” said University of Arizona CUFI chapter president Rainbow Borchardt.
Jacob Harmon talked about the upcoming Night to Honor Israel event at the College of Southern Nevada. “We invite members of the Jewish and Christian community out, and basically celebrate Israel,” he said. “It’s really just a nice event to show that though we are Christians, we're here to support Israel.”
Many CUFI chapters – on and off campus – hold Night to Honor Israel events. Many of the NTHI events this year will feature Holocaust survivor Irving Roth as the guest speaker. In the past week alone, NTHI events have been held at the University of Texas at San Antonio, the University of Arizona, Vanderbilt University, and New Mexico Highlands University.
In 2009, CUFI on Campus launched its first annual advocacy mission to Israel. This fully subsidized two-week trip, offered to CUFI’s most accomplished student activists, allows them to explore the land of Israel and learn the complexities of the historical conflicts first-hand from top Israeli and Arab leaders.
Emily Schrader, University of Southern California, found: “my experience in Israel has taken my passion for the Jewish state to a completely new level. Seeing and interacting with the Israeli people has changed the way that I think and feel about Israel, and has lit a fire under me to fight harder for pro-Israel activism.”
Jacob Harmon visited Israel for the first time during the summer of 2010, loved the experience and came back to the United States looking to make a difference on his campus. By January, less than a year after the Harmon's trip to Israel, the College of Southern Nevada sophomore had played a key role in establishing the College of Southern Nevada chapter of CUFI.
On July 17 – 20, 2011 Christians United for Israel (CUFI) with more than 700,000 members held its 6th annual Washington Summit in the nation’s capital. CUFI is a national group for all Christians, no matter their political affiliation, in order to “speak and act with one voice in support of Israel in matters related to biblical issues.” CUFI managed to draw a crowd of over 5,000 Christians – including over 500 CUFI on Campus student activists –from 228 campuses and every state in the USA.
As a part of its educational efforts, 350 students were assisted to attend by CUFI on Campus scholarships. CUFI set aside a day exclusively for students to come and receive specific training and materials they can use on their college campuses.
This special Advocacy Day provided instruction in forming a Campus Chapter, building relationships with congressmen and speaking up for Israel in the classroom as well as in student media. Students also attended special advocacy training breakout sessions on a variety of topics from “Israel 101” to “How to reach the apathetic and overextended.”
The Rev. John Hagee, senior pastor of Cornerstone Church in San Antonio, Texas, and founder of CUFI in 2006, affirmed the importance of student leaders at the Summit. “The battle is being waged on U.S. campuses, but we will win it,” he said.
Holocaust survivor Irving Roth told them: “Jews have a home and a future because you [students] are sitting here. We are indebted to you and thank you.”
Sergeant Benjamin Anthony of the Israel Defense Forces, also the founder of Our Soldiers Speak, talked during a student leader luncheon. “No effort is being spared in ruining Israel,” he said. “For we, the friends of Israel, to wait to defend is to await defeat.”
Ryan Barnett, president of CUFI on Campus at Colorado Christian University (CCU), commented on the opportunity to attend the Summit. “I am very thankful to have been part of this exciting conference and will use what I’ve learned about Jewish-Christian relations to combat the false beliefs on my campus,” he said.
University of Minnesota student Cheyenne Richardson said that the Summit stirred up her passion for God’s chosen people. She hopes to open a CUFI campus chapter this fall.
“I will attend next year and every year that I can to show support for Israel on Capitol Hill,” she said.
Jacob Delargy, vice chairman of CUFI on Campus at CCU, judged the Summit an incredible event. “It was neat to see a lot of people turn out behind one cause that was a-political,” he said. CUFI on-campus student leaders are rallying support for Israel as the new school year begins.
Anthony said: “You are not kids; you are leaders with the capacity to impact change. You have to know that.” Jeremiah Nasiatka, national campus coordinator, said: “Our faith is based in Judaism. We are not to keep silent when God’s people are threatened.”
Further Reading:
Jessica Felber: Fighter against Hatred on the Campus of the University of California at Berkeley
Israel Law Center Launches Student Hotline to Combat Anti-Israel Hostilities on American Campuses
Tammi Rossman-Benjamin: fighter against Hatred on the U. of California campuses
Aaron Marcus continues the fight against hatred at Rutgers University
