Adam Milstein appointed National Chairman of the Israeli American Council; Gila and Adam Milstein named “Humanitarians of the Year” by American Friends of Magen David Adom

/in /by

Press Release                                                                                                                          Media Contact

October 7, 2015                                                                                                                         Nathan Miller

For Immediate Release                                                                                                               310.571.8264                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  [email protected] 

Major honors reflect the Milstein family’s longstanding leadership in support of Israel and the Jewish people

(Los Angeles) – This month, Adam Milstein, the co-founder of the Adam and Gila Milstein Family Foundation, will become the Chairman of the National Board of Directors of the Israeli American Council (IAC) during the organization’s annual conference, which will take place in Washington, DC from October 17-19. The IAC’s new leadership announcement comes at a moment of significant expansion for this national movement, which has grown in recent years to include nine interstate regional offices and a significant membership presence across the country.

“I am honored to become Chairman of the IAC’s National Board at this exceptional moment of growth and opportunity for our organization,” said Adam Milstein. “Israeli-Americans are involved and engaged as a community like never before. The IAC is leading a movement that has incredible potential to strengthen the U.S.-Israel alliance, safeguard the Jewish State, and bolster the Jewish people in America – and well beyond.”

“As a co-founder of the IAC, Adam has played an instrumental role in our organization’s success over the past eight years, driving our outreach efforts across the country,” said Shawn Evenhaim, National Chairman of the IAC. “I know that Adam will bring his exceptional leadership, passion, and vision to the IAC Chairmanship.”

In the week following Adam Milstein’s appointment to Chair of the IAC, Gila and Adam Milstein will be honored with the Humanitarian of the Year Award by the American Friends of Magen David Adom (AFMDA) in recognition of their outstanding philanthropic work and continued dedication to making the world a better, safer place. They will receive the award on October 22nd in Los Angeles at the “Red Star Ball” – a gala event featuring a special guest appearance by comedian Jerry Seinfeld.

“As a nurse in Israel, I saw firsthand the great importance of Magen David Adom. MDA’s state-of-the-art emergency response capabilities are critical for a country like Israel, which is under constant threat,” said Gila Milstein. “Since Magen David Adom is not a government agency, it requires outside funding and volunteers to stay afloat. Our family is deeply committed to supporting this organization’s work, which makes the difference between life and death for countless Israelis.”

“Gila and Adam Milstein tower among our community’s great leaders for their tireless advocacy on behalf of the State of Israel. Their commitment to the Jewish people is remarkable,” said Dina Leeds, Chairman of the American Friends of Magen David Adom’s Western Region. “American Friends of Magen David Adom is privileged to honor these two great humanitarians, whose good work is making an incredible impact, which will go on in perpetuity.”

About the Adam and GIla Milstein Family Foundation: the Milstein Family Foundation works to safeguard and strengthen the Jewish People and the Jewish State by igniting Jewish pride in the next generation, providing pro-Israel Americans with knowledge and expertise to advocate for the State of Israel, and bolstering the critical U.S.- Israel Alliance.

About the IAC: Headquartered in Los Angeles, the IAC is committed to building an engaged and united Israeli-American community that strengthens our next generations, the American Jewish community, and the State of Israel. The IAC strives to achieve these goals through programs and events for all ages – and by empowering and supporting a wide array of non-profit organizations within the Israeli-American community.

ABOUT AFMDA: Magen David Adom is Israel’s national ambulance, blood-services, and disaster-relief organization, serving as emergency medical first responders for the state’s more than 8 million people. MDA is also Israel’s representative in the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. MDA is the only organization mandated by the Israeli government to serve in this role, but it’s not a government agency, so it relies on funding from donors around the world. AFMDA is MDA’s U.S.-based fundraising affiliate, raising more than 80 percent of the charitable dollars MDA receives annually.

#          #          #

adam_cnn.jpg

CNN Interviews Adam Milstein about Active Philanthropy and his support for the US-Israel Alliance

/in /by

The State of Israel continues to be a very relevant topic in the news on an almost daily basis. It is a state of rich history and continues to evolve, however most of us read about Israel but that is about as far as it goes. Adam Milstein has made it his mission to do what he can to support Israel for younger and older generations. It is clear what his mission is and how he is going to get there. I urge you all to watch the video and learn more about Adam and his strategic vision. Adam Milstein is a leader of the Israeli-American community and passionate champion of the U.S.-Israel relationship. Learn about his vision for strengthening the ties between these two likeminded nations. http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-1273681

 

adam_and_romney.jpg

IAC Names Businessman Adam Milstein As Chair Ahead of National Conference

/in /by

(JNS). The Israeli-American Council (IAC), an organization providing various means of support for the estimated Israeli-American population of 500,000-800,000, has named new top professional and lay leaders in advance of the group’s second annual national conference.

Philanthropist and businessman Adam Milstein—president of the Adam and Gila Milstein Family Foundation, which supports more than 60 Jewish and pro-Israel organizations—will be the new chairman of the IAC’s board of directors. Shoham Nicolet, a social entrepreneur who co-founded the collaborative messaging platform hivve.me, will be the IAC’s new CEO.

The IAC’s stated mission is “to build an active and giving Israeli-American community throughout the United States in order to strengthen the State of Israel, our next generation, and to provide a bridge to the Jewish-American community.” The organization has regional offices in Los Angeles, Boston, Florida, New York, New Jersey, Las Vegas, and Washington, DC.

 

“I am honored and excited to assume the IAC chairmanship at this important moment for the Jewish people,” Adam Milstein said. “By educating, engaging, organizing, and mobilizing Israeli-Americans, the IAC will continue to play a vital role in strengthening the Jewish people, the State of Israel, and the U.S.-Israel alliance.”

From Oct. 17-19, the IAC will hold its second National Israeli-American Conference in Washington, DC. Last year’s major speakers included former Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney and former Democratic vice presidential nominee Joe Lieberman.

Nicolet is returning to the IAC staff after previously serving as its founding CEO for four years.

“What began as a conversation amongst a few friends in 2007 has grown into a national movement—and a critical bridge between the U.S. and Israel,” he said.

iac_appoints_adam.jpg

Israeli-American group names new leaders ahead of national conference

/in /by

(JNS.org) The Israeli-American Council (IAC), an organization providing various means of support for the estimated Israeli-American population of 500,000-800,000, has named new top professional and lay leaders in advance of the group’s second annual national conference.

Philanthropist and businessman Adam Milstein—president of the Adam and Gila Milstein Family Foundation, which supports more than 60 Jewish and pro-Israel organizations—will be the new chairman of the IAC’s board of directors. Shoham Nicolet, a social entrepreneur who co-founded the collaborative messaging platform hivve.me, will be the IAC’s new CEO. 

The IAC’s stated mission is “to build an active and giving Israeli-American community throughout the United States in order to strengthen the State of Israel, our next generation, and to provide a bridge to the Jewish-American community.” The organization has regional offices in Los Angeles, Boston, Florida, New York, New Jersey, Las Vegas, and Washington, DC.

“I am honored and excited to assume the IAC chairmanship at this important moment for the Jewish people,” Adam Milstein said. “By educating, engaging, organizing, and mobilizing Israeli-Americans, the IAC will continue to play a vital role in strengthening the Jewish people, the State of Israel, and the U.S.-Israel alliance.”

From Oct. 17-19, the IAC will hold its second National Israeli-American Conference in Washington, DC. Last year’s major speakers included former Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney and former Democratic vice presidential nominee Joe Lieberman.

Nicolet is returning to the IAC staff after previously serving as its founding CEO for four years.

“What began as a conversation amongst a few friends in 2007 has grown into a national movement—and a critical bridge between the U.S. and Israel,” he said.

Adam Milstein to Chair National IAC Board; Shoham Nicolet to become Chief Executive Officer

/in /by

Los Angeles, California (PRWEB) September 17, 2015

This week, the Israeli American Council (IAC) announced new appointments to its top lay leadership and professional positions, with Adam Milstein becoming Chairman of the organization’s National Board of Directors and Shoham Nicolet taking over as Chief Executive Officer. Milstein and Nicolet will begin their new roles in October, taking the helm of America’s fastest growing Jewish organization, which now includes seven regional offices, and a significant membership presence across the country. Both appointments will be marked in a ceremony during the National Israeli-American Conference, hosted by the IAC, which will take place in Washington, DC from October 17-19, 2015.

“I am honored and excited to assume the IAC chairmanship at this important moment for the Jewish people,” Adam Milstein said. “By educating, engaging, organizing, and mobilizing Israeli-Americans, the IAC will continue to play a vital role in strengthening the Jewish people, the State of Israel, and the U.S.-Israel alliance. I look forward to working with our national and regional leadership, nationwide staff, and partners to advance the IAC’s mission on a range of issues – from promoting Jewish and Israeli identity, to fighting the delegitimization of Israel, to building bridges between our community and others across the United States.”

A native of Israel and a co-founder of the IAC, Milstein is the managing partner of Hager Pacific Properties, a private commercial real estate investment firm, and the President of the Adam and Gila Milstein Family Foundation, which focuses on strengthening the State of Israel and the Jewish People. Over the past two years, he has spearheaded the effort to rapidly grow the IAC by setting up local councils across the U.S. He recently formed the organization’s task force dedicated to fighting the delegitimization of Israel. Milstein also co-founded the IAC’s IAC Keshet program, a Hebrew and Jewish family engagement literacy initiative that mails free, high-quality Hebrew Jewish children’s literature and music on a monthly basis to children ages 2-8 throughout the United States.

Milstein serves on the boards of more than a dozen non-profit organizations, including StandWithUs, the Israel on Campus Coalition, the Jewish Funders Network, Hasbara Fellowships, the Los Angeles Board of Birthright Israel and the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) National Council. Milstein served in the IDF during the Yom Kippur War and graduated from the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology in 1978. Upon arriving in the U.S. in 1981, he earned a master’s degree in business administration from the University of Southern California.

Shoham Nicolet will take over as the Chief Executive Officer of the IAC. A seasoned social entrepreneur, Nicolet was the founding CEO of the IAC eight years ago, serving in that role for four years, until he transitioned onto the IAC National Board in 2011. A native Israeli, Nicolet was a lieutenant in the IDF. He is an expert in collaborative technologies and online learning. Nicolet is the co-founder of the collaborative messaging platform hivve.me, a board member of the Reut Institute — a strategy group focused on issues related to Israel and the Jewish world — and a board member of ICON, a non-profit connecting Israelis and Americans working in the Silicon Valley. He received his B.A. in Business and MBA from American Jewish University.

“I am thrilled to be returning to the IAC full-time as CEO,” said Shoham Nicolet. “What began as a conversation amongst a few friends in 2007 has grown into a national movement – and a critical bridge between the U.S. and Israel. I have been honored to be a part of this effort – and look forward to joining forces with Adam Milstein, our national and local boards, and our professional staff to help build on the organization’s great success and advance its vital mission in the years to come.”

About the IAC: Headquartered in Los Angeles, the IAC is committed to building an engaged and united Israeli-American community that strengthens our next generations, the American Jewish community, and the State of Israel. The IAC strives to achieve these goals through programs and events for all ages – and by empowering and supporting a wide array of non-profit organizations within the Israeli-American community.

For more information about the Israeli-American Council, please visit http://www.israeliamerican.org

For more information about the second National Israeli-American Conference and to register, please visit http://iackenes.org

zionistgators2.jpg

How to Help: Suggestions for Pro-Israel Advocates (Part II)

/in /by

At the Adam and Gila Milstein foundation, we often find ourselves doing a million things at once: evaluating grant applications and pitches from organizations seeking our support, linking our partner organizations with one another, responding to media outlets seeking our input, and (my personal favorite) getting new and exciting initiatives off the ground. The list goes on and on.

We try our best to remain connected with every single passionate person looking to become more involved in the fight to defend Israel and safeguard the Jewish homeland.

At the Foundation, we answer every single email looking for the opportunity to get involved with pro-Israel activism or looking for a place to critically engage with Israel.

In the hopes of offering a more comprehensive and efficient platform to have everyone’s questions answered, I’m writing a three-part series of blogs offering advice on how you can get involved to make a big difference today. Below you will find my second blog. _______________________________________________________________________________

Part 2: Campus Battlegrounds

In my first post, I talked about the vital role education plays in developing a community of activists.  The atmosphere on American college campuses today crystallizes the importance of education in our fight to defend the Israel. American college campuses are at the epicenter of a growing movement to delegitimize and destroy the state of Israel. With the effective advocacy strategies, we can harness the power of our community to reverse the growing tide of anti-Zionism and anti-Semitism on college campuses. Here’s how:

1.On Campus:

For the first time in history, American college campuses no longer have a pro-Israel majority. The movement to delegitimize Israel is gaining traction, and there is a pressing need for our pro-Israel students, academics, and community leaders to fight back.

  • “Know Your Rights” is a new legal handbook for students that was created at the request of students and with the input of constitutional lawyers. The booklet informs students of their rights on campus and apprises them of effective ways to fight anti-Semitism, anti-Zionism, and BDS.
  • https://www.standwithus.com/legal/or 1.844.END.BDS7 are a website and hotline that connect pro-bono lawyers with pro-Israel students, faculty, community members, and businesses combatting anti-Israel activity in need of legal help. Students and others can complete an online intake form or call the hotline to receive free legal help.
  • University faculty are encouraged to join Scholars for Peace in the Middle East (SPME).
  • Students are encouraged to join one or more of the following pro-Israel student organizations:
  • Become a campus fellow for one of the following organizations:
  • Apply for micro-grants for pro-Israel activism*:
    • Hasbara Fellowships – Grant Request Form
    • Israel on Campus Coalition (ICC) – ICC Microgrants
    • Milstein Family Foundation (yes, self-promotion) – Milstein Coalition Building Grants

* I am not a student, and I am sure that there are plenty of other wonderful opportunities out there for grants – please write to me to inform me of other resources that are available to students.

  1. In High School:

Engaging students is a critical part of cultivating pro-Israel activism. But we can’t limit our focus to college campuses — we need to engage students at a young age, beginning in high school.

There are numerous organizations and programs specifically for high school students. Some of the best include:

  1. Parents:
  • Send your child to Israel, period. Exposing teenagers and young adults to Israel can be an important step in cultivating a relationship with Israel. Birthright Israel, for example, is both fun and educational.
  • Make sure your son or daughter is familiar with all of the aforementioned organizations, as well as:
  • AIPAC 
  • The Israeli American Council (IAC)
  • Christians United for Israel (CUFI)
  • Get involved yourself. Parents can request to meet with school officials to discuss what the administration is doing to ensure that the campus is a safe, open, and friendly environment for Jewish and pro-Israel students.

4.Engage your alma mater:

For those of us who went to university, our alumni networks are a powerful, yet often untapped, network for pro-Israel advocacy.

  • Connect with Amcha Initiative and CAMERA, who will help you contact college administrators and offer advice on how to engage your alumni network.
  • Read and engage with your college’s newspaper. You may be shocked to learn that your campus has become increasingly hostile to Israel, and it’s important that you have facts to support the concerns you will share with college administrators and other alumni.
  • If you’re a campus donor – leverage that to demand a better environment for Jewish students.

Student organizations need financial support, professional guidance, and resources. As Jewish students face increasingly hostile campus environments, support from their community is more important than ever.

—

To learn more about the philanthropic work of Adam Milstein and the Milstein Family Foundation, visit http://milsteinff.org. Also – check out Adam Milstein and the Milstein Family Foundation on Facebook!

 

america-israel-mcs.jpg

How To Help: Suggestions for Pro-Israel Advocates (Part I)

/in /by

Volunteer: “What can I do to help?”

Me: “How do you want to help?”

Volunteer: “Tell me what the options are, and I’ll tell you where I can fit in”

Me: “I don’t think that’s a good idea, it’ll take me a week”.

This is an abbreviation of a real conversation I have often (including my bluntness).

As the Executive Director of the Milstein Family Foundation, I hear the question “What can I do to help?” all the time. Day after day, I meet dedicated people who want to do SOMETHING to advocate for Israel. Many just aren’t sure where to get started. And I don’t have all the answers myself. But by working for a foundation that collaborates with so many great organizations – I have some ideas.

I decided to take note of the conversations I share with our committed volunteers and streamline them into a three-part series of blogs, which offer advice on how to productively get involved in the Pro-Israel community. You’ll find my first post below.

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Part 1: Education

Before anything else, education is key for becoming an effective community activist. How can you defend something you may not fully know about? How can your efforts make headway if nobody else knows what you know? How can you use the tools at your disposal to advance your cause? Here are the first few steps I recommend for success:

1. Educate yourself

Get informed. It’s tough to defend Israel without understanding what you’re defending it from, and without being fluent on the facts and talking points.

Take the time to learn the issues.  There’s no one place to learn everything, so here is a bevy of suggestions to read with your morning coffee. Most of these sources send weekly newsletters – sign up to learn what’s happening in the world and in your community! You’ll be a far more effective advocate for it. Many of these sources have Facebook and Twitter accounts worth following, as well.

 

2. Educate others

We are all ambassadors for the groups we belong to. Every day, people take my words and actions as representative of women, Jews, Israelis, lawyers, and UCLA Anderson alumni. So like it or not, all Jews are ambassadors for the Jewish State—we all have networks of friends, neighbors, and colleagues who we can and should educate about Israel. There are a variety of ways to inform others:

 

  • Go to http://talkisrael.org/, an app that collects all kinds of pro-Israel news, and sign up to request their beta version.
  • Attend synagogue board meetings to ensure Israel is a topic of discussion and a proud item of support.
  • Bring Israeli products to work, and share! Most coworkers will love Dead Sea lotions and some good pita and hummus.
  • Step Up For Israel is a revolutionary online education platform. It offer courses and other information for all ages.
  • Organize a movie screening for films like Crossing the Line 2 and Beneath the Helmet.
  • If you’re an Israeli-American, check to see if there is an Israeli-American Council chapter nearby and get your family and friends involved in their activities.
  • Organize a speaking event. The Jewish National Fund’s Speaker Bureau is a good starting point for exciting speakers.

 

3. Social Media

Numerous studies show that people are increasingly turning to social media to get their news. It’s our responsibility to counteract all of the lies spewed about Israel with the truth. Whether you have 1 million or 10 followers, it’s important that you follow, share, tweet and pin pro-Israel content.

Likes and comments on social media are undervalued. The more buzz surrounding a post, the more exposure it will get. It can be difficult for some individuals (including non-Jews) to advertise their pro-Israel stance to the world, but having a constant stream of likes and comments gives novice activists the confidence to stay active. No matter how busy life gets, we all have a few seconds each day to like and share posts online.

Here are a few good groups to follow and share from:

 

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Ultimately, education is the best source of meaningful activism. Learning the issues, teaching them to others, and using the right platforms to do so will work wonders for the effectiveness of your efforts. Stay tuned for the next blog on Campus Involvement for more suggestions!

To learn more about the philanthropic work of Adam Milstein and the Milstein Family Foundation, visit http://milsteinff.org. Also – check out Adam Milstein and Milstein Family Foundation on Facebook! 

 

group_picture_on_top30540e.jpg

Personal Transformation in the Holy Land

/in /by

The Adam and Gila Milstein Family Foundation is proud to support AIPAC’s Campus Allies Mission, which brings non-Jewish, pro-Israel political activists to Israel for the first time. Participants learn about the importance of the relationship between the United States and Israel and gain a deeper understanding of Israel’s strategic, social, and security issues, right in the heart of the Holy Land.

One of our Campus Allies Alumni, Alex Schriver, has shared how the Campus Allies Mission has impacted his life. You can read his post below.

From 2011 to 2013, I served as the National Chairman of the College Republican National Committee. As a representative of the CRNC, I was selected along with four other young leaders to visit Israel for the first time through the AIPAC Campus Allies trip.

I was not exactly sure what to expect from this 10-day sojourn. I don’t use the term ‘life-changing’ lightly, but no other phrase feels quite right for describing my time in the Jewish State. Seeing the bible come to life before my very eyes is something I wish I could share with everyone from my church back home.

While the historical and political education I received in Israel continues to shape my views working on Capitol Hill, my time there was also an incredibly personal religious experience. I prayed at the Western Wall. I was baptized in the Jordan River— the same waters in which John baptized Jesus. I heard Mathew 5-7 read aloud at the Temple Mount, where Jesus first told his followers to “be perfect, as your Heavenly father is perfect.” And I will never forget reading John 19 at the Garden Tomb; reflecting upon our Lord’s resurrection there still gives me the chills to this day. When my plane departed from Ben Gurion Airport, I held an entirely new appreciation for the nation, people, and many cultures of modern Israel.

Today, I serve as Chief of Staff for U.S. Congressman Bradley Byrne of Alabama. I could not be more proud to work for a man who has unequivocally defends the State of Israel in both words and actions.

I will always be indebted to AIPAC Campus Allies. In just 10 days they showed me more about Israel— and myself— then I ever would have thought possible.

To learn more about the philanthropic work of Adam Milstein and the Milstein Family Foundation, visit http://milsteinff.org

Also – check out Adam Milstein and Milstein Family Foundation on Facebook! 

fun_at_dead_sea.jpg

A trip to Israel inspires future leaders

/in /by

The Adam and Gila Milstein Family Foundation is proud to support AIPAC’s Campus Allies Mission, which brings non-Jewish, pro-Israel political activists to Israel for the first time. Participants learn about the importance of the relationship between the United States and Israel and gain a deeper understanding of Israel’s strategic, social, and security issues, right in the heart of the Holy Land.

One of our Campus Allies Alumni, Micah Fielden, has shared how the Campus Allies Mission has impacted his life. You can read his post below.

The Milstein Campus Allies Trip run by AIPAC in 2012 had a profound impact on my life. At the time, I had just finished my term as the Student Body President of the University of Kentucky. My Christian upbringing and political beliefs made me a strong supporter of Israel, but I had not yet had the chance to visit. AIPAC allowed me to see the Jewish State for the first time. It was, in a word, inspirational.

Thanks to the networking opportunities offered my AIPAC trip, I was able to make connections with high-level staffers on the Mitt Romney presidential campaign and later leverage those connections to get a job. In hindsight, its hard to believe that my path from a Romney campaign project manager in the Digital Department, to a Trip Coordinator planning rallies, events, and other logistics around the country all began with a trip to Israel. My AIPAC trip not only taught me about the Jewish State, it catapulted my career to new heights.

While working on the Campaign, I became great friends with a lady that knew of my desires to attend law school. This relationship led me to accept a position at the Georgetown University Law Center, where I am a member of the Class of 2016. I’m about to enter my final year and will be joining a firm in New York City following graduation.

I can hardly believe all the remarkable things that have come from my trip to Israel, professionally and personally. It helped refine my understanding of the US-Israel friendship, helped me find a job out of college, and ultimately gain admission to the law school of my dreams. I will be forever thankful for the generosity of the Milstein family as well as AIPAC. If my own experience is any indication of the future, I am confident Campus Allies will continue to inspire future generations of young, pro-Israel leaders.

To learn more about the philanthropic work of Adam Milstein and the Milstein Family Foundation, visit http://milsteinff.org

college_republicans_3053cb.jpg

A life-changing experience: Seeing Israel’s values up close

/in /by

The Adam and Gila Milstein Family Foundation is proud to support AIPAC’s Campus Allies Mission, which brings non-Jewish, pro-Israel political activists to Israel for the first time. Participants learn about the importance of the relationship between the United States and Israel and gain a deeper understanding of Israel’s strategic, social, and security issues. What’s best, the AIPAC Campus Allies trip takes place in the heart of the Holy Land.

One of our Campus Allies alumni, Myles Colton Laroux, has shared how the Campus Allies Mission has impacted his life. You can read his post below.

When you grow up Christian in Louisiana, it’s hard not to imagine visiting the lands of the Bible, modern day Israel That being said, as an undergraduate, I pursued a degree in Middle Eastern Studies, which familiarized me with the region. But not even a degree in Middle Eastern Studies could have prepared me for what we experienced in those two short weeks in Israel.

I remember initially receiving the itinerary and thinking, “There’s no way all of this will fit into two weeks!”. The schedule was packed with a seemingly impossible number of adventures, meetings, tours, meals, and Shabbat dinners (not that I really knew what Shabbat was at the time!) Somehow, we managed to finish everything and even today, that myriad of experiences continues to resonate with me.

I have always politically supported Israel, but actually spending time in the Middle East’s only true democracy put faces to the values that bind together America and Israel, as I met Jewish soldiers, Arab taxi drivers, Druze restaurateurs, yeshiva students, and kibbutzniks.

My time in Israel was in fact so meaningful that when I returned home from the AIPAC trip, I applied and was accepted for an internship with the American Jewish Committee in Jerusalem. I was the only non-Jew in the program and, of course, the only Christian, but those 6 months really flew by. I still maintain some of the friendships I made in Jerusalem and even today, I find myself longing to be back in Israel.

Today, I work as an entrepreneur based out of Baton Rouge, where I run a small mobile device repair business. Prior to that, I worked at a consultancy, raising funds for conservatives clients, like Majority Whip Steve Scalise, Governor Bobby Jindal, and Lt. Gov. Jay Dardenne. These men, like any true conservatives, are staunch defenders of Israel and I am proud to have gotten to work on their behalf.

I am so grateful to AIPAC and the Milsteins for the opportunity they extended to me as a new college graduate on the Campus Allies trip. Thank you for making my first trip to Israel possible. It is because of philanthropists like y’all that I am who I am today. I have a heart for the people of Louisiana as well as the people of Israel. I am excited to see what the future holds.

To learn more about the philanthropic work of Adam Milstein and the Milstein Family Foundation, visit http://milsteinff.org