Project Connect Israel
“The only source of knowledge is experience”
--Albert Einstein
Elie Pieprz and Avi Marcovitz, Co-Founders
Why Project Connect Israel (PCI)?
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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
100
80
Jews Who Care About
Israel As Important to
Being Jewish
60
40
Jews Who Have Low
Attachment to Israel
20
0
Over 65
50 to 64
35 to 49
Under 35
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
Participants
30000
25000
20000
15000
10000
5000
0
Participants
2012-3
2013-4
2014-5
2015-6
2016-7
Projected Scope of the Program
(Total Reach)
1200000
1000000
800000
600000
Participants
400000
Total Reach
200000
0
2012-3
2013-4
2014-5
2015-6
2016-7
Why Christians Embrace PCI
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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?
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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
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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
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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 Experts
Tour Experience Director
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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-Founder
Project Connect Israel
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 052-379-0810
Avi Marcovitz, co-Founder
Project Connect Israel
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 050-300-7232
Headquarters:
PCI International
Kiach Building
42 Agripas St.
Jerusalem