What is Im Tirtzu’s main arena of activity?
Im Tirtzu is a non-profit organization that works to strengthen and advance the values of Zionism in Israel.
Im Tirtzu was established in 2006 after the Second Lebanon War by Israeli intellectuals, students and IDF reservists. Im Tirtzu‘s main objectives focus on working towards a renewal of the Zionist discourse, Zionist thinking and Zionist ideology, to ensure the future of the Jewish nation and of the State of Israel and to advance Israeli society in coping with the challenges it faces.
A major portion of Im Tirtzu’s efforts is devoted to combating the campaign of delegitimization against the State of Israel and to providing responses to post-Zionist and anti-Zionist phenomena.
Im Tirtzu operates twenty branches at universities and colleges throughout Israel, based on the understanding and the recognition of the fact that the student population plays an integral role in the future of Zionism and Israel.
In recent years, Im Tirtzu has become one of the most important and influential organizations in the Israeli public arena. The movement maintains close ties with various actors in the Israeli political sphere, and its representatives have access to decision makers and high-ranking government officials in Israel. The movement’s reports and activities have become an important instrument in the formation of public opinion and in policy formulation by various parties in Israel.
What is Im Tirtzu’s definition of Zionism?
Since its inception, the Zionist movement has consisted of ideologies and ideas that sometimes contradict each other.
We believe one of the main reasons for the crisis that Zionism and the State of Israel is undergoing is due to the fuzziness and lack of a clear definition of Zionism’s principles, goals and methods of operation. Therefore, we seek to generate a clear definition of Zionism today and what it entails.
In our opinion, the concise and incisive definition of Zionism is the belief in the right of the Jewish people to an independent sovereign nation-state in the Land of Israel with defensible borders and a united Jerusalem as its capital. In addition, we believe that a crucial tenet of Zionism is the right of the State of Israel to exist as a Jewish-democratic state and to defend its existence and its citizens by the necessary means.
Is Im Tirtzu a political party?
No. Im Tirtzu is an extra-parliamentary movement that works in order to influence the public, political, intellectual, media and cultural discourse in Israel but it does not operate as a political party.
Im Tirtzu’s membership includes activists who identify with the range of Zionist political parties in Israel.
The movement is involved in political issues but not in political campaigns. Zionism is a political ideology that is concerned with the ways of realizing the political goals of the Jewish nation. Therefore, Im Tirtzu is a movement that aims to strengthen popular belief in the justness of the Zionist cause.
What is Im Tirtzu’s position on the issue of the unity or division of Jerusalem?
Im Tirtzu believes it is crucial to preserve the unity of Jerusalem under Israeli sovereignty in any future political settlement. We believe the Jewish people’s moral-historical connection to historical-Jewish Jerusalem (the Temple Mount, the Western Wall, the Old City, the City of David, the Mount of Olives, etc.) is the basis of the Jewish people’s right to an independent sovereign state in the Land of Israel. The issue of the unity of Jerusalem should stand above any disagreements within Israeli society and the Zionist ethos, based on our moral rights to the Land of Israel with a united Jerusalem as its capital should be retained forever.
In the words of the late Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin z’l ten days before he was assassinated in Tel Aviv: “In Israel we have no disagreements on one issue: the unity of Jerusalem and its continued establishment and consolidation as the capital of the State of Israel. There is no such thing as two Jerusalems. There is only one Jerusalem. As far as we are concerned, Jerusalem is not an issue to compromise on and there is no peace without Jerusalem.”
How can I make a 501(c)(3) tax-deductible contribution from the United States?
Tax-deductible contributions in the United States (501(c)(3)) can be made to Im Tirtzu via credit card, check or bank transfer.
How can I make a tax-deductible contribution from the United Kingdom?
Credit Card tax-deductible contributions in the United Kingdom can be made to Im Tirtzu via Jgive.
UK tax-deductible contributions to Im Tirtzu via check or bank transfer are not yet available.
How can I make a tax-deductible contribution from Israel?
Tax-deductible contributions in Israel (Section 46) can be made to Im Tirtzu via credit card, check or bank transfer.
Do your activities take place only in universities and colleges?
No. In addition to campus activities, Im Tirtzu also works to educate and inform the public by promoting political and cultural discourse in Israel.
Therefore, we conduct public and media campaigns to encourage and strengthen Israel and Zionism; hold demonstrations and protests on issues that emerge on the public agenda; publish articles in the press often appear on leading Israeli TV and radio shows; and conduct tours and trips to Hebron and Jerusalem.
In addition, the movement’s leaders give lectures and participate in discussion panels in schools, pre-army academies, community centers and in local youth and cultural centers, as well as many other venues.
Is Im Tirtzu also active abroad?
While Im Tirtzu’s main focus is in Israel, its leaders are often invited to Jewish communities abroad to conduct lectures. Im Tirtzu also maintains a strong connection with leading pro-Israel groups abroad and strives to work together on various issues on behalf of Israel.
In addition, Im Tirtzu gives lectures to student groups who visit Israel.
What is Im Tirtzu doing to combat anti-Zionism from within?
The State of Israel and Zionism are under attack by a systematic worldwide campaign to discredit Israel, negate its right to exist as a Jewish state, and hamper its right to defend itself. Regrettably, entities that are active within Israeli society have taken the lead in the campaign of incitement and anti-Israel propaganda, such as Israeli professors and academics who stand at the forefront of calls for an academic boycott of Israel, and civil society organizations funded by foreign governments and the New Israel Fund who accuse Israel of war crimes and apartheid policies (such as “Breaking the Silence,” “B’Tselem,” and “Adalah”).
The picture is clear: the major damage in terms of Israel’s image and reputation is caused by Israeli individuals and organizations. It is for this reason that Im Tirtzu focuses much of its efforts in combating this “BDS from within” phenomenon and has been one of the leading organizations in Israel in doing so.
Im Tirtzu has embarked on numerous public campaigns and has conducted many activities that expose and combat the lies that form the basis of anti-Zionist propaganda. The movement works closely with key decision makers and other pro-Israel organizations that are similarly working to combat this anti-Israel propaganda campaign.
Are students the only activists in the movement?
No. Although the movement’s activities are based primarily on campuses, Im Tirtzu is a nation-wide movement that works to influence the public discourse in Israel.
Therefore, the movement is active not only on campuses, but with issues pertaining to various important aspects facing the Israeli public. In the public campaigns, demonstrations, and tours the movement conducts one encounters activists of all age groups, from schoolchildren to devoted activists aged seventy or even eighty. In addition, many students who were involved in our on-campus activities continue to be active in the movement after they complete their studies.
Is Im Tirtzu active also among youths and in schools?
Yes. Although Im Tirtzu’s primary focus in on university campuses, there are many youths who participate in the movement’s activities. Im Tirtzu’s Youth Division conducts activities that are geared specifically towards high school students including lectures, volunteer work, and seminars in schools throughout the country.
Our Youth Division places a large focus on motivating high-school students to enlist for a significant service in the IDF or in the National Service, and opposes the efforts of some young people of conscription age to dodge refuse to serve in the IDF.
How long has Im Tirtzu been active?
Im Tirtzu was established at the end of 2006 by several students at Jerusalem’s Hebrew University, led by Dr. Ronen Shoval who served as the CEO of the movement since its founding until 2014.
Is Im Tirtzu a registered non-profit in the State of Israel?
Yes, Im Tirtzu is Registered non-profit organization, #580471662.
Im Tirtzu also has a Certificate of Proper Management from Israel’s Non-Profit Registrar.
What is Im Tirtzu’s definition of Zionism?
Since its inception, the Zionist movement has consisted of ideologies and ideas that sometimes contradict each other.
We believe one of the main reasons for the crisis that Zionism and the State of Israel is undergoing is due to the fuzziness and lack of a clear definition of Zionism’s principles, goals and methods of operation. Therefore, we seek to generate a clear definition of Zionism today and what it entails.
In our opinion, the concise and incisive definition of Zionism is the belief in the right of the Jewish people to an independent sovereign nation-state in the Land of Israel with defensible borders and a united Jerusalem as its capital. In addition, we believe that a crucial tenant of Zionism is the right of the State of Israel to exist as a Jewish-democratic state and to defend its existence and its citizens by the necessary means.