Craig Dershowitz Delivers Keynote at MTF Annual Conference

Artists 4 Israel CEO, Craig Dershowitz, delivered a keynote speech at the Maccabee Task Force (MTF) annual conference last week on Wednesday, January 29. The MTF is an organization that provides significant funding to pro-Israel groups on campus to fight delegitimization and demonization campaigns. Craig had the honor of following speeches given by student representatives from national Zionist organizations representing France, South Africa and Australia, respectively.

Dershowitz began his speech by asking for another standing ovation for these heroic men and women fighting for the land and the people of Israel in the face of, oftentimes, violent opposition. While Dershowitz celebrated their victories, his remarks looked forward, discussing the connection between Artists 4 Israel and the Maccabee Task Force and how it was reshaping the face of Israeli activism on campus.

Likening it to his own unique upbringing and unusual development as a leader in the field, the keynote speaker found much similarity between the mission of MTF and himself; and exhorted students to find their own, particular passions and abilities to satisfy the specific needs and concerns of their campuses. While Craig spoke about the power of individuality and fighting against conformity and failed tactics in the pro-Israel space, MTF continued to give the students with whom they work, the resources to his recommendations.

As is customary, Craig opened with a joke about his exceedingly distant cousin Alan Dershowitz and ended with a loving commentary on his wife and child. After all, as he often remarks, our  public actions and our personal lives are more interconnected than we imagine, honoring the latter will help us make the former more unique and resonant. Send Craig a note here.

MTF is funded by Sheldon and Dr. Miriam Adelson, mega-philanthropists who have given millions to Birthright Israel, the Israeli-American Council and other Jewish organizations.