Project Connect Israel

Elie Pieprz and Avi Marcovitz, Co-Founders

“The only source of knowledge is experience” --Albert Einstein

How to create 400,000

non-Jewish pro-Israel

activists for $75 each?

Why Project Connect Israel (PCI)?

• Jewish students’ support for Israel has plummeted• Christians students are next• Jewish students feel lack of connection to Israel• Christian support from Israel is likely to wane, in part due to

the impact of anti-Israel propaganda on Christian students

PCI’s Vision• PCI will facilitate peer educational trips to Israel for high school

(seniors) and early university students• PCI will engage participants across denominational and racial

lines through Hafgashot, daily group discussions leveraging the sites effectively

Jewish Attachment to Israel

Over 65 50 to 64 35 to 49 Under 350

102030405060708090

Jews Who Care About Is-rael As Important to Being JewishJews Who Have Low Attachment to Israel

What A PCI Trip Provides

• Develop a rich understanding of the unique challenges and contributions made by Israelis

• Create a personal connection with Israel • Facilitate a stronger relationship with their own faith

Project 20/20 Commitments During the trip, participants

communicate with 20 people

NetBooks on buses facilitate real-time social networking

Post-trip, present to 20 people (20 photos/videos for 20 minutes)

$220 deposit returned when 20/20 commitments are complete

Pre- and Post-Trip Activities

Provide coursework pre- and post-trip

Develop original and leverage existing materials

Create a job bank, with mentoring and networking opportunities for participants

Direct participants to continue pro-Israel activism

Projected Number of Participants

2012-3 2013-4 2014-5 2015-6 2016-70

50001000015000200002500030000

Participants

Participants

Projected Scope of the Program (Total Reach)

2012-3 2013-4 2014-5 2015-6 2016-70

200000

400000

600000

800000

1000000

1200000

ParticipantsTotal Reach

Why Christians Embrace PCI

• Christians are concerned about engaging the “Joshua Generation”• Youth pastor/chaperone will minister to students throughout trip• Curriculum demonstrates how Israel is integral to their faith• Connecting teens with their faith on their own, in a fun, exploratory,

hands-on, inspirational environment• Sponsoring (Christian) organization has latitude in choosing itinerary • PCI will continuously motivate and excite youth pastors/chaperones so

that they remain motivated to take their free trip every year

PCI Trip Extensions• Project Impact: Follow-up trip during junior/senior year of university• PCI Parents: Unique trips for parents of participants, paid by attendees• PCI for Other Faiths and Races: Trips for Catholics, Mormons,

non-denominational, Hispanics, Blacks and Iranians• PCI International: Expansion to non-English speaking countries

Most Likely Christian Student Trip to Succeed

• Specific focus on high school seniors allows for a targeted, educational approach at a very impressionable time of students’ development

• PCI’s relationships with Christian organizations span 20 years, and facilitates partnerships (churches, schools, universities, religious organizations)

• Funding model designed to engage sponsoring organizations, demands participants take the trip seriously and shoulder some of the burden

• Unique 20/20 follow-up ensures benefits spread well beyond actual participant

Who Supports PCI?• US elected officials: Rep. Trent Franks & Rep. Cathy McMorris-Rodgers• Israeli officials: Ambassadors Dore Gold and

Yoram Ettinger• Rabbis: Rabbi Daniel Lapin• Pastors: Pastor Jay Hellwig (Dallas),

David Pearson (Seattle), Pastor Lisa Depew• Jewish organizations• Christian organizations (PJTN, CBN, Texans

for Israel)• Academics (Professor Rafi Vago, Tel Aviv University)• Pop culture personalities

Why the Israeli Government Should Support PCI

• Organized by Jews with strong, long-term US Christian connections• Attracts organizations and capital that

currently do not focus on Israel• Bolsters next generation of Christians,

who are likely to be less supportive of Israel than their parents

• Creates grassroots network; next-generation supporters of Israel

• Involves Christians who will ensure the organization will be self-sustaining

Follow-Up: Office of the Prime Minister• Open lines of communication with the Office of the Prime Minister• Introductions to the Ministries of Diaspora Affairs,

Foreign Affairs, Hasbarah and the Jewish Agency• Considerations for funding:

– What metrics are necessary for the government to consider partial funding?

– What could we include in the trips to make it more attractive?

• A letter supporting PCI and its mission

PCI Team

• Elie Pieprz, Co-Founder and Executive Director• Dr. Avi Marcovits, Co-Founder and Education Director• Joe Perlov, Tour Experience Director• Project 20/20 Director (to be determined; US based)

Elie Pieprz, Co-Founder

• Former DC based lobbyist focused on the Christians• Veteran of US federal & state political campaigns• Microsoft Marketing Director, Launch Team of

Windows ME & XP• Development Director for national Jewish organization facilitating

cooperation between Jews and Christians• Producer of Tuesday Night Live in Jerusalem, Jerusalem-based TV

show “bringing a taste of Israel to America,” broadcasting into 32 million American homes (primarily Christians)

Dr. Avi Marcovitz, Co-Founder

• Director of World Jewry Division at the International School at Yad VaShem; trains educators in 30 countries on pedagogic approaches to teaching the Holocaust

• CEO, Best Buddies Israel , an organization focusing on the social needs of individuals with intellectual disabilities throughout Israel

• Senior educational leadership at Jewish Day Schools throughout US• 20 years of experience in the educational world

Joe Perlov, Israel ExpertsTour Experience Director

• IsraelExperts Group will be PCI’s exclusive tour operator• Fully-licensed Israel tour operator since 1999• Recognized by AIPAC for organizing their student missions• Operates dozens of Taglit-Birthright trips annually• Facilitates its faith-based trips under the “Israel Pilgrims

Tours” label

Thank You!

Elie Pieprz, Co-FounderProject Connect IsraelEmail: elie@projectconnectisrael.orgPhone: 052-379-0810

Avi Marcovitz, co-FounderProject Connect IsraelEmail: avi@projectconnectisrael.orgPhone: 050-300-7232

Headquarters:PCI International Kiach Building42 Agripas St.Jerusalem