Caravan Alum Says More Students Should Experience Israel

Micaela Procopio was always interested in Jewish history, despite not being Jewish herself. After a rigorous application process, Micaela, then a student at Michigan State University, was accepted to Jewish National Fund-USA’s Caravan for Democracy for the Winter 2016 session.

Today, Micaela is pursuing her PhD in Holocaust and Genocide Studies at Gratz College and is passionate about fighting rising antisemitism and anti-Zionism. “I realized the impact of having a broader understanding of Jewish history in Israel,” she said, “I think more people need to be open to learning and to experience Israel for themselves.”

Micaela believes that Israel education should be available to everyone, and that Jewish students aren’t the only ones who benefit from exploring Israel’s history and complexities. She shared, “It’s a springboard for understanding other things in our lives, in terms of the assumptions we make. If more young people go and experience Israel for themselves, it could change the trajectory of anti-Zionism on college campuses.”