Can a clever and potentially viral video encourage young American Jews to make aliyah?
Apparently the Israeli government thinks so. On Tuesday, the Ministry of Aliyah and Immigration’s Israel Student Authority posted “Come Study With Us,” a tongue-in-cheek video pushing the message that life in Israel is more exciting and interesting than the humdrum, consumerist, suburban American rat race.
“Here can still be somewhere else!” the ad promises. Among Israel’s draws: “The script” is still being written, college is free (at least for new immigrants) and life’s a beach. Oh, and the women are hot. “Find your inner sabra,” the ad extols.
The video already has 27,869 views on YouTube. Not surprisingly, it has become a magnet of sorts for anti-Israel comments.
But there a few problems other than the usual risks of social-media campaigns: The video seems a bit male-oriented — perhaps the government has a version in the works with a female protagonist? And the “click here” link at the end of the video doesn’t work. (Here’s where it should link. Perhaps the video makers took their own “here can still be somewhere else” to heart when they wrote “click here”?)
So let’s see if the aliyah applications start rolling in — at least once “click here” gets fixed.
Help ensure Jewish news remains accessible to all. Your donation to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency powers the trusted journalism that has connected Jewish communities worldwide for more than 100 years. With your help, JTA can continue to deliver vital news and insights. Donate today.
