Mission

Students Supporting Israel is a rapidly growing Zionist international campus movement that supports the State of Israel. Founded at the University of Minnesota in early 2012 by Ilan Sinelnikov and Valeria Chazin, it currently has multiple chapters across the United States, Canada, Mexico, and Argentina.

Our mission is to be a clear and confident pro-Israel voice on college campuses, and to support students in grassroots pro-Israel advocacy.

We are committed to promoting a better understanding of Israel throughout North and South America as a member of the family of nations, with a fundamental right to exist as a Jewish, democratic state, within secure borders.
SSI wants to provide students on college campuses and universities with the opportunity to support the position of Israel in the Middle East, and to reassure students who oppose the demonization of the State of Israel on campus that they are not alone. We are changing the anti-Israel climate many students encounter on campus. By being part of a united, strong and thriving international movement, students are empowered to express their views in support of Israel.

Our goals and activities include familiarizing students and the university community with current events in the Middle East, sharing the Israeli story and culture on campus, and responding to bias anti-Israel propaganda when spread by other members of the academic community. We believe in sharing knowledge with students about Israel’s history, its diverse people, and its day to day reality, as Israel should not be looked at solely through the lens of conflict but as a nation with legitimate and unique story, values and aspirations.

We believe in the idea of Zionism, and as stated in the Declaration of the Establishment of the State of Israel that the Jewish people have the natural right, "to be masters of their own fate, like all other nations, in their own sovereign state...a Jewish State." 

Students Supporting Israel is an independent, nonpartisan, grassroots campus movement that was created BY students, FOR students, in order to organize a strong and united pro-Israel front on college campuses. We are made up of students from different political, religious, and ethnic backgrounds, all working together as Students Supporting Israel. We believe in grassroots action, and want to empower students who support Israel on campus to lead their fellow students and the campus community. ​​
What makes SSI different
​from other pro-Israel organizations?
Sean Siegel, AIPAC's Associate Director for Northern California,
​SSI at PACE University Alumnus & Current SSI Board Member

WE ARE THE ZIONIST HUB FOR STUDENTS ON CAMPUS, (REGARDLESS OF THEIR AFFILIATION TO OTHER PRO-ISRAEL GROUPS), WHO BELIEVE ISRAEL HAS THE RIGHT TO EXIST WITHIN SECURED BORDERS. SSI CHAPTERS ARE REGISTERED STUDENT CLUBS ON CAMPUS, THAT OPERATE UNDER THE UMBRELLA OF ONE NAME ACROSS MULTIPLE CAMPUSES (SSI), AND CAN INCLUDE INTERNS, FELLOWS, AND STUDENT LEADERS FROM THE VARIOUS COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS WHO SUPPORT ISRAEL.  

SSI IS THEIR HOME ON CAMPUS - BEING PART OF SSI MEANS THE STUDENTS ARE PART OF A UNIFIED GROUP OF ZIONIST LEADERS WITHIN AN ORGANIZED STUDENT CLUB. THE STUDENTS WHO KNOW THEIR CAMPUS BETTER THAN ANY ISRAEL-ADVOCACY PROFESSIONALS CAN, WORK WITH A DESIGNATED ACTIVISM BUDGET, CHOOSE THE MOST RELEVANT PROGRAMMING, AND LEAD THE GRASSROOTS ACTIVISM EFFORTS THAT FITS THEIR CAMPUS CLIMATE BEST, WHILE BEING EMPOWERED BY THE SSI MOVEMENT TO BE PRO-ACTIVE FOR ISRAEL. ​

Recognition and Awards 

Students Supporting Israel is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization. © 2025 Students Supporting Israel. All Rights Reserved.