The Israel Experience College Scholarship Program's website. Photo: Israel Experience College Scholarshi.p

JNS.org – A group of 17 Christian college students recently traveled to Israel to take part in a three-week program to bolster their skills as pro-Israel advocates.

Described as “Christian Birthright,” a play on the popular 10-day Taglit-Birthright program for young Jewish adults, the Israel Experience College Scholarship Program, which is in its 10th year, offers students a free trip to Israel to expand the knowledge and skills that will enable them to be stronger advocates for Israel in college and in life.

According to the program’s website, the students learn about the Jewish roots of their faith, a history of Christian anti-Semitism and the Holocaust, modern Zionism, and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

“Despite being the only beacon of freedom and democracy in the Middle East, we are losing the battle for public opinion on university campuses,” Josh Reinstein, director of the Knesset Christian Allies Caucus, told the Jerusalem Post during a meeting the students had at the Knesset.

The pro-Israel Christian students believe that the program will be an effective tool for them to counter anti-Israel bias when they return to campus.

“The Israel Experience College Scholarship program is equipping me with the knowledge to counter speech directed against Israel, educate the misinformed and promote peace,” Danielle DosSantos, a student at Rutgers University, told the Jerusalem Post.