Who is Hamas and How did they come to Power?

Founded in 1987, following the outbreak of the First Intifada, Hamas established itself as a militant islamic organization closely partnered with larger militant organizations, such as the Muslim Brotherhood. For much of the late-20th century, Hamas was focused on gaining influence, following, and authority in the West Bank. While involved in terrorist activity against Israel, they would only see publicity for infighting with other militant islamic groups who looked to maintain authority amongst the Palestinian people. Today, Hamas is the ruling body in the Gaza Strip. How did this come to be? Certainly, unrest from the intifada factored into a change of leadership, but I attribute optimal timing and a strategic political approach as the root for Hamas success in the 2006 election. 

Before delving into the circumstances around Hamas’ rise to power it is important to note that the Gaza Strip, is a strip of land amounting to 150 sq. miles that sits on the western border of Israel. It borders both Egypt to the South and Israel to the North and East. Through years of unrest and terror, Ariel Sharon, the PM of Israel, gifted this land to the Palestinians as an act of peace and goodwill. Such an act was thought to inspire peace between Israel and the Palestinians. This, however, was not the case. In January 2006, government elections were held in Gaza whereby Hamas won 76 of the 132 seats, declaring them majority leaders of the Gaza Strip. Below are the circumstances that allowed for this to happen: 

One circumstance that allowed Hamas to gain control was the Islamic nature of the Hamas charter. The Hamas charter represented a more “authentic engagement” with the aspirations of the Palestinian people as compared to the PLO, whose goals were rooted in a more secular approach. Hamas highlighted a more Islamic interpretation of an armed struggle against the Jews to liberate Palestine. Hamas worked with local Imams and used the media wing of their organization to seize the moment as Palestinians began populating in Gaza. The timing of Israel’s evacuation worked very well with the timing of the election. Hamas leveraged this timing to relate to the Palestinian people, claiming that “Hamas’ resistance compelled Israel to leave Gaza” … a vindication of their strategy. Their media slogan became, “4 years of resistance surpassed 10 years of bargaining.”

While today, Hamas uses violent tactics and threats to maintain political power, in 2005, Hamas took a more political approach that targeted the immediate needs and wants of the Palestinian people over the organizations’ long-term aspirations. Hamas seemingly dropped their Islamic agenda in claiming that they would “refrain from attacks on Israel…if Israel ceased their offensive against Palestinians” and endorsing Palestinian sovereignty over the Palestinian territories, as opposed to all of Israel. The Palestinians wanted peace and did not want a continuation of bloodshed. Hamas understood this, and tailored their political approach around it. 

 Understanding the War in Gaza between Israel and Hamas 

On October 7th 2023, Hamas terrorists launched an attack against innocent Israeli citizens at multiple locations - Nova Music Festival, Kibbutz Kfar Aza, and Kibbutz Be’eri - that saw the brutal and savage murder of more than 1,200 civilians. While armed conflict between Israel and Hamas, such as exchanged rocket fire, was common throughout the 21st century, this attack marked the first time since 1948 that Arab militants invaded Israeli territory. 

Was this an act of defiance against the “occupation”? Did Hamas believe that such an attack could unite the Arab world against Israel to push Israel into the sea? 

I believe that this was a calculated attack that looked to achieve the following: 

1. Deal tremendous violence and terror on Israeli civilians
2. Take mass hostages that would force Israel to return Palestinian terrorist in hostage negotiations that could lead future attacks against Israel 
3. Have Israel respond to the terrorist attacks with tremendous force that would show Israel as they aggressor dealing out disproportionate violence against the Palestinians 
4. Engage the populace, international media and world leaders to pressure Israel into actions beneficial to Hamas and the Palestinians (giving over land, etc.) 

I believe Hamas knew that they could not overpower Israel militarily, after all, Israel has far superior military technology, combat numbers, and the backing of United States forces. However, Hamas understands the international populace and the power of the media. Hamas military fortresses are strategically located in densely populated civilian locations, such as hospitals. In fact, there have been reports that top Hamas military operatives would be dressed as doctors and nurses within hospitals to maintain control of these areas. 

Understanding that Israel lost more than 1,000 civilians, Hamas knew a strong Israeli response was in the cards. A response that would aim to eliminate Hamas leadership, militias, and infrastructure. Thus, when Israel responded with targeted rockets, some of which resulted in civilian casualties, Hamas made sure to activate western media to highlight what was happening. Despite the noise being made by Hamas sympathizers across the world, world leadership is privy to the facts of the situation and are not fooled by Hamas-manipulated media. Leaders across the West continue to stand with Israel and defend their right to self-defense. 

It is important to mention that while targeted missiles cause significant damage, they were being used to target Hamas militants and NOT civilians. That being said, war is chaotic. Civilians do get caught in the cross-fire. Avoiding civilians becomes that much more difficult when Hamas uses women and children as human shields. 

The Palestinians of Gaza are victims here. While many of them have been brainwashed by their education systems, developed by Hamas, others desire a life of peace and quiet, not controlled by the demands of Hamas leadership. 

IFF Partners with Sensory Odyssey

 A political science graduate of Columbia University, Ben Chevlin serves as a senior consultant with Ernst & Young, where he specializes in organizational workforce transformation. In this role, Ben Chevlin has successfully led transformation engagements, including a major organizational design effort for International Flavors and Fragrances (IFF).

IFF announced its partnership with Sensory Odyssey, an international multi-sensory exhibition that focuses on facilitating immersive guest experiences of nature and its diversity. Sensory Odyssey goes beyond visual displays to engage other senses through sound and scent. As an industry leader, IFF has a reputation for delivering innovative scent products to markets and has partnered with Sensory Odyssey to handle all the scent-related affairs of the exhibition.

IFF Scent Asia regional general manager Ramon Brentan spoke to the press, acknowledging IFF’s eagerness to work with Sensory Odyssey with the prime aim of leveraging scents to reveal the beauty of nature. These scents play a vital role in creating a vivid and comprehensive experience, ranging from the animalic scents of the savannah to the floral notes of the prairies, according to IFF.com.

The New York Giants’ Three Most Recently Retired Jerseys

 A professional experienced in political science, Ben Chevlin worked as a people advisory services consultant at Ernst & Young in New York, New York, from September 2019 to April 2023. He joined Deloitte in February 2023 and works as a senior product strategy and technology transformation consultant. A sports enthusiast, Ben Chevlin is an avid fan of the New York Giants, a professional football team that competes in the National Football League (NFL).

Established in 1925, the Giants won four NFL championship titles and four Super Bowl titles. The franchise has produced some of the finest and most dominant players in the history of the league. The Giants have honored some of their best players, retired their jerseys, and hoisted them on the rafters of the MetLife Stadium, the Giants’ home arena. The following are the three most recently retired Giants jerseys.

1. Michael Strahan, No. 92, retired on November 28, 2021

Strahan was one of the Giants’ most dependable players. He holds the franchise’s record for the most regular seasons played at 216. He was selected in the Pro Bowl seven times, in the first-team All-Pro four times, NFL’s Defensive Player of the Year in 2001, and the captain of the Giants’ championship run in 2007. He belonged to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, class of 2014.

2. Lawrence Taylor, No. 56, retired on October 10, 1994

The Giants selected Taylor second overall in the 1981 NFL draft, and played his entire 13-year career with the Giants. He was the NFL Rookie of the Year in 1981 and the NFL Most Valuable Player in 1986. He appeared 10 consecutive times in Pro Bowls and was enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1999.

3. Ken Strong, No. 50, retired in 1968

One of the more versatile players to ever don the Giants uniform. Strong excelled in running, passing, blocking, defense, punting, and placekicking, By the time he retired from the game, Strong holds the Giants’ leader in points at 324. He was named an All-NFL in 1934 and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1967.

AIPAC Extends Congratulations to Israel for Forming New Government

 A graduate of Columbia University, Ben Chevlin worked in sales, marketing, and as a consultant for various companies. Outside of his current role as a consultant for Ernst & Young, Ben Chevlin is a member of community organizations like the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC). The organization relies on bipartisan relationships in Congress to strengthen the US-Israel relationship.

A December 2022 AIPAC press release reported that the organization congratulated Israel and Benjamin Netanyahu on the formation of the country’s new government. In the official statement released in the December 2022 press release, the organization spoke about looking forward to working with both governments to advance the US-Israel relationship.

In America, many who supported the installment of the new government talked about working with it to promote peace, prosperity, and security throughout the region. President Biden stated that the US is willing to work with Israel to deal with the challenges both countries face in the Middle East.

The Israeli Knesset, the country’s legislature, ratified the new government on December 29, 2022. The new government's first order of business is to advance into and develop settlements in the West Bank, with Mr. Netanyahu agreeing to legalize 100 outposts in the West Bank that formerly had been built without the government’s authority.

3 Steps to Implementing an Innovation Mindset and Driving Growth in 2023

As the holidays slow to a close, organizations are beginning to look inside and set their goals and agendas for the upcoming year. These decisions and conversations are being had in times of increasing economic uncertainty, calls for more sustainable processes, and more competitive markets. While these times may be financially daunting for organizations, these are also times of opportunity where the right investment in change and innovation can be the differentiator between growth and decline. Below I explain three key steps that organizations can take in 2023 to build a more resilient and innovative organization. I have come to these three behaviors through assessing various organizations across industry over the last 4 years.

1. Assess and understand the innovation mindset and resiliency across your organization

Understanding how your organization thinks about innovation and incorporates into daily activities and strategy is the first step to building an innovation muscle. There are a variety of tools that can be used to gather this all-important information, ranging from interactive surveys, interviews, focus groups, etc.. Questions should center around “openness to change and thinking outside of the box” to “what type of innovation is used in day-to-day processes” and even “how are brainstorming sessions held”. Asking these questions to the right leaders/stakeholders across the organization will not only highlight strengths/gaps in innovative thinking, but also help identify change champions that believe in the power of innovation and its deepened need within the organization. 

2. Ready your leadership and change champion network

To change the way an organization thinks about innovation and adopts innovation, a group of fearless leaders with strong networks and pull must be engaged and activated as change champions. Without the right leadership sponsorship, any organization-wide change becomes extremely difficult. This group of leaders or change champions will be strong advocates for innovation, involved with creating strategy, and must be equipped with strong talking points on why now? why this? and how do we do this? Leaders will share this messaging with those who report up to them and have such messaging cascaded through the organization. 

3. Build an innovation strategy that incentivizes and invests in innovative thinking and learning opportunities 

Once the right leaders are onboard and there is a clear picture of innovation readiness/openness across the organization, an innovation strategy must be designed. Such a strategy will include town halls, learning requirements, and rewards for raising innovative ideas. Some activities will be tailored to specific groups of the organization, seeing that some may need to more support as they adopt innovative thinking into day-to-day practice. 

In any case, the sooner an organization assesses their innovative muscle and prioritizes building innovative capabilities the more effective they will be in adopting to market change, responding to customer needs, and moving with technology. 

Rediscovering Sports as a Young Adult in Manhattan

I am in my mid-20s, work a 9-5 job, and am bored with life. I went from playing varsity soccer in college and drinking with friends, and now I find myself coming home from work, with nothing to look forward to, and having a beer as I watch whatever ESPN has to show me that night. This is a reality for most mid-20 aged men in NYC. 

About a year ago, I stumbled upon a beautiful turf field on 90th and York, by the name of Asphalt Green. Each night I would walk by, I saw 40-50 men and women competing in adult soccer leagues. I tried to step in and join, but I was told games were organized through GothamSports and ZogSports. 

I signed up immediately and was placed on a free agent team. With ZogSports, you can sign up as a team and play with your friends or join individually and get placed with others who signed up as individuals. In short, I was playing with a team of random men and women. It took us a couple games to build chemistry and rapport, but soon enough, we were in full swing. After losing in shootouts to end our first two seasons, we won 3 straight championships and went from a team that started as free agents to a tight knit team of players, each knowing their role and laughing throughout. 

While playing weekly and winning leagues is enjoyable, our team created a tradition of going to a local bar at the conclusion of each game. We have group chats, celebrate birthdays together, and even watched world cup games at each other’s apartments. 

I would like to take a moment to thank ZogSports and promote adult soccer in Manhattan for not only allowing me to get great exercise and play a game that I love, but also create a social group that I look forward to seeing week to week. 

Understanding Change Management through Key Activities in Transformation

 

Change management is a collection of practices to prepare, support, and help individuals, teams, and organizations as they are engaged through organizational change. All organizations undergo some level of change over time. Some changes may be small enough, where they only impact a few members of the IT office that manage a certain process, while other changes may impact the way several teams perform day-to-day tasks. Regardless of size, change management practices must be enacted in order to drive the introduction, adoption, and reinforcement of the change to impacted stakeholders. 

Change management capabilities have become critical to the success of organizational change/transformation. So much so, many organizations have invested in internal transformation offices that specialize in change management skills and help the organization manage large scale changes. Other organizations choose to bring change management consulting in to manage changes or support the transformation office depending on the complexity of change. Below are some of the key change management deliverables and activities which are consistent across most mid- to large- scale transformations. 

Case for Change – This deliverable is critical at the early stages of a change as it is important to have a set of materials that clearly detail why a specific change is happening as well as the key benefits of the change for different audiences. This deliverable is the all-important elevator pitch for change that will be leveraged by the change team as they engage with stakeholders, change agents, and drive buy-in across the organization. 

Stakeholder Analysis – Start by brainstorming and working with the program team to identify all possible stakeholders and impacted parties associated with the change. Once stakeholder groups have been identified, group and prioritize stakeholders on specific criteria (ex. level of engagement, significance, seniority, etc.). This analysis will be critical to other deliverables and strategy associated with the change. 

Change Impact Analysis – This tool serves as the backbone of the change effort as it identifies potential consequences, risks, and impacts specific to different stakeholder groups as a result of change. Change impacts can be determined through interviews, focus groups, surveys, as well as an overall understanding of organizational processes. This tool will inform how the change/program team approaches different stakeholder groups.

Communication/Engagement Strategy – While communication with stakeholders and project sponsors will begin at the initial stages of engagement with the client, the change impacts and stakeholder analysis will be critical to a stakeholder tailored communication plan. In any change effort, some stakeholders will require additional communication and engagement to ensure they feel supported with the right adoption information. 

Training and Reinforcement Planning – Mid- to large-scale changes typically require some degree of training to end users as processes change and new behaviors must be adopted. In some cases, training teams will be brought on if they specialize in a specific tool or technology, however, if changes are focused on process or behavior, the change team will often lead this effort. Activities such as training sessions and focus groups are common, and will be accompanied by training videos, user guides, and instructor-led office hours. Change planning does not end at go-live, instead the right level adoption and reinforcement activities must be planned for well-past go-live. 

A Few Facts to Note about Lobbying

 

Lobbying is a political tool that has taken several dimensions over the years. Historically, it refers to efforts to influence legislators' votes by literally standing in the lobby of the legislative chamber and waiting to address legislators.

Commonly practiced in the United States, lobbying can take many different forms. Sometimes it might require that representatives of certain interest groups be present at the legislative chambers to address legislators regarding why certain legislative policies should be adopted. In other instances, government representatives may be "buttonholed" in hotels, resorts, or private residences.

In some instances, public authorities are contacted by phone calls or letters, and campaigns can be set up specifically for that reason. Favored candidates may receive services and financial support from organizations. To sway public opinion, lobbyists might resort to inundating the public with mass media that do support their cause, utilizing all sorts of contemporary mass communication instruments like social media and instant messaging.

The democratically acknowledged practice of lobbying is sometimes mistaken for bribery. This is not true as public campaigns that the government legally recognizes are usually at the forefront of lobbying as lobbyists expedite efforts to persuade governments to enact particular public policy acts.

Similarly, the constitution and the American-type democracy, which advocates that people should be involved in the governance process, both support the legality of lobbying. The First Amendment of the United States Constitution protects lobbying by granting the right "to petition the government for a redress of grievances." However, the federal government and most states control lobbyists by requiring them to register, report their contributions and expenses, and do the same for the organizations they represent.

The fact that Lobbyists spent $3.47 billion in 2019 alone to influence political policy shows that lobbying has come to stay as a political culture in the United States. The 2019 spending on lobbying is the largest amount spent since the peak of lobbying spending in 2010. Therefore, as lobbyists become more influential and get more opportunities to utilize political influence legislators to enact useful legislation, it is timely to recall the reasons why lobbying is permissible and why it is crucial for a functioning government.

Educating and informing legislators is a crucial part of lobbying as it plays an important role in filling in any information gaps. Lobbyists give information and data about their subject and then attempt to urge the government to take action with each issue brought to legislators' notice. Further, since the issue they advocate for is their only interest and the purpose of their work, lobbyists will bring the greatest, most extensive knowledge and skills to the table. In the long run, the legislature's constituents, as well as lobbying organizations, profit from policy decisions that are made with the finest information available.

It is almost impossible for an individual to gain access to government legislatures without the help of lobbying. Lawmakers tend to pay more attention to lobbyists when they represent the interests of many rather than just one voter by combining individual aims into a lobbying goal.

The Numerous Benefits of Playing Soccer

 Soccer is a team sport with 11 players on each side. One game lasts 90 minutes. Players pass the ball with their legs and heads to score goals. While soccer is fun to watch and participate in, it has several positive effects on your body and mind.

Playing soccer can improve your cardio better than running on a treadmill. It is possible that over the game's tenure, an average player will cover between five and seven miles. All this running benefits your cardiovascular health as it improves your aerobic fitness. It increases your heart's capacity to pump blood to the muscles and reduces atherosclerotic plaque buildup within the arteries. This makes it less likely that you will have a stroke or other health problems in the future.

Soccer is a great way to improve bone density because of the frequent weight-bearing demands placed on the body. As a highly active sport, soccer is great for maintaining muscular tone since it keeps players' muscles working for extended durations. This can help you prevent injuries and shattered bones in the long run.

The sport promotes better coordination due to the constant transitions between walking, jogging, and sprinting. It also involves multidirectional actions like dribbling, passing, and sharp turning. All these movements help you develop better body awareness and control. Furthermore, your hand and eye coordination develops due to the constant kicking and receiving off the ball on the ground or at head height. In addition to enhancing your body coordination and response time, playing soccer makes you more nimble, and improved coordination means better success on the field.

Playing soccer also improves your levels of focus, self-discipline, and tenacity. You are constantly searching for territorial advantages by positioning yourself to receive a ball or block a possible attack.

Being able to work effectively with other people is a powerful real-life skill. Soccer teaches you to put aside your egos and focus on the team's greater good, a skill that is valuable in other aspects of life. The bond you form with your teammates may be unrivaled, and the lessons you learn on the field can apply to other parts of your daily life.

Soccer can help players build up their self-confidence and self-worth, which are essential for their emotional health. Setting objectives, working diligently to accomplish them, and acquiring new skills and talents all boost players' confidence and sense of value. This highly enriching and powerful event will leave them with a greater understanding of self.

Soccer also provides an excellent opportunity for athletes to practice and improve their interpersonal and communication abilities. Soccer is a fantastic way to learn valuable life lessons, such as how to work together as a team, communicate well, and support one another.

Regarding team sports, soccer is a fantastic option for youngsters who may not have exceptional athletic skills but would still want to compete. Soccer is great because it allows people of all genders and sexual orientations to play together, under the same rules, and in the same divisions as they are able.

TAMID Program Offerings Give Pathways to Israel’s Investing Landscape

Established in 2007, TAMID Israel Investment Group offers participants access to experiential business education. The idea began at the University of Michigan after two students recognized the lack of interest in Israel-related campus activities. In response to this lack of interest, the students created TAMID to attract business-minded students to connect with the Israeli economy.

TAMID’s educational program has expanded to take a multi-faceted approach to help participants gain experience working with the economy in Israel. This preparation for business in the country includes an educational program, consulting opportunities, the investment fund program, and the fellowship. The program also offers post-graduate opportunities to invest in the Israeli landscape for those who have graduated.

TAMID turns traditional business education on its head by placing great emphasis on experiential learning. Not quite an educational platform where students listen to a classroom lecture, this program relies heavily on workshops and challenges to learn more about finance, technology, and other areas involved with consulting. In addition to learning core concepts, students also learn about the country’s startup culture to facilitate building connections.

Students can also participate in the program’s consulting platform on either technology or management. The technology consulting component involves students generating data analytics development for Israeli clients and their companies. Students in computer science, mathematics, design, and related backgrounds participate in website development, technology integration, and data analytics projects.

The management side of consulting involves students working in TAMID Group teams to offer clients innovative solutions. The projects that management teams work on run the gamut from consumer research, segmentation, and targeting to branding, business development, and product-market fit, among other activities.

TAMID students also get to participate in one of the best opportunities for business students through the TAMID Investment Fund. Israel has the third most traded companies listed on the NASDAQ, making the experience very valuable.

During their time working with the investment fund, students learn and practice due diligence while simultaneously getting the experience of managing a portfolio. This is the chance for students to participate in an organization-wide trading competition with the potential for each member to benefit from research that has a national impact. Student fund managers have faculty and professional investors to gain experience working in the market.

This opportunity can be a bridge to others. For example, some chapters allow students to raise money to manage a real-life portfolio. Alternatively, students have access to TAMID partnership opportunities with businesses such as the media outlet Seeking Alpha.

Fellowship opportunities are offered through a partnership between TAMID and Onward Israel. The eight-week fellowship program is an internship where outstanding group leaders work in Tel Aviv and enterprising Israeli companies.

Here, students are immersed in the Israel business culture through speaking events and workshops across industries (venture capital, asset management, private equity, etc). As part of their internships, students were involved in market research, beta testing, digital marketing web development, financial modeling, and competitor analysis.

When students graduate from their programs, TAMID Group provides them the chance to remain engaged in the Israeli business landscape through TAMID Pro. In a more leadership role, though, graduates serve as student mentors, coaches to investment teams, and recruiters for the programs.

from WordPress https://ift.tt/G0RJTWi
via IFTTT

AIPAC Establishes Policy Agenda to Build US-Israel Partnership

The American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) comprises club members, advocates, activists, students, industry leaders, and synagogue leaders who strengthen and expand the relationship between Israel and the United States. AIPAC also educates those in decision-making positions on the common interests the two countries share, and why strengthening these bonds is important.

At the center of the group’s activities is its multi-pronged policy agenda. The group aims to establish a cooperative missile development program and strategic partnerships across industries. More significantly, the organization works toward establishing peace between the Jewish State of Israel and a demilitarized Palestine.

The organization’s efforts also include addressing shared threats to security that the United States and Israel face. Finally, the group works toward removing Israel’s isolation on world forums and ending boycotts and efforts to divest or sanction the country. In 2021, the group has narrowed its focus on key issues that, once resolved, support the above goals. For example, a pressing issue for the organization is addressing the increasing instability in the Middle East.

Fortifying the relationship between the two countries becomes more important when the key to US security is Israel and helping the country remain a democracy. The first way the organization needs assistance is by providing Israel with the military edge over any possible adversaries. Through the US-Israel missile defense cooperation, the two groups can save lives.

The two groups also emphasize strengthening the relationship between the two countries in the interest of strategic efforts the two have in common. Science, technology, water, energy, health, and agriculture are a few of the sectors the organizations work with each other to address shared challenges.

Since the Israel state was established in 1948, the country has signed peace treaties with Bahrain, United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Sudan, Jordan, and Morocco. All of this has been done through the aid of the United States. The organization believes that the US can set the stage for helping Israel establish peace among other countries.

Existing in one of the world’s hotbeds for terrorist activity, the Israel state faces threats from terrorist groups such as Palestinian Islamic Jihad, Iranian militias in Syria, Hamas, and Hezbollah. With the help of the US, however, threats from terrorist groups that Iran supports can be pushed back. More importantly, the country can defend itself against the myriad of threats against its own democracy. In terms of long-term threats, Iran is one to both countries because of its nuclear ambitions. AIPAC advocates for the US policy that would prevent this country from building a nuclear arsenal.

Finally, AIPAC works toward diminishing anti-discriminatory practices which are disguised as boycotting, divestment, and sanctions. Israel faces discrimination at the United Nations and through efforts to unjustifiably prosecute the country through the International Criminal Court. AIPAC advocates for a relationship with the US that would prevent these efforts to undermine Israel’s progress on the world stage.

This organization’s policy agenda is supported through the work of the two countries to create a united front. For more information on AIPAC, please visit https://www.aipac.org/about.

from WordPress https://ift.tt/3u6r5at
via IFTTT

Pi Sigma Alpha Supports Political Science Study through Scholarship

The political science fraternity Pi Sigma Alpha got its origins at the University of Texas in Austin in December 1919 and formed the Alpha chapter in October 1920. Its inaugural class, comprised of undergraduate and graduate students, hosted an impressive membership list that included a future Supreme Court judge, US Attorney General, and a US ambassador. In 2021, the fraternal organization has expanded to a membership of 300,000 with almost 850 college campuses around the country.

Pi Sigma Alpha provides its members the chance to support their academic endeavors through various scholarship programs and awards. The organization’s goals focus on understanding the practical and scientific study of government, helping people understand government issues, and fostering reforms in government. The fraternity offers chapter grants and graduate and internship scholarships to students toward supporting the above aims.

One of the opportunities that students have to procure funding is through Chapter Activity Grants, which allow chapters to launch broader projects. One of the central benefits of the program is that it provides student members with grant and proposal writing experience. They also learn how to draft budgets and how to manage funded projects.

The grants awarded are typically for $2,000 a year and usually go to chapters whose project focuses on virtual or on-campus programming instead of taking trips. Further, they usually choose projects that move beyond the initial ceremony. A few of the activities that the grant money has been used for in the past include lectures, film series, writing workshops, speakers series, and community engagement, among other activities.

Students can get funding individually through McManus Washington Internship Scholarships and the Howard Penniman Scholarship for Graduate Study. The McManus Washington Internship Scholarship provides funding for four students for $2,000 to be used in the fall or spring semester.

One of the four scholarships is set aside for students involved with the Washington Center for Internships and Academic Seminars. Students working at the Washington Center for Internships and Academic Seminars can take advantage of another opportunity to give a winner of the scholarship an additional $2,500 to go toward room and board.

The purpose of the scholarship is to assist students working as a part of an internship in Washington, DC. Students can be working under the auspices of their academic institution or a recognized internship organization. Each chapter chooses candidates for the internship scholarship, and the national committee makes the selection based on merit and Pi Sigma Alpha service.

The following academic year, graduate students entering their program qualify to apply for the Howard Penniman Scholarship for Graduate Study. The scholarship program awards five scholarships for $2,000 for one academic year.

Finally, students also support various awards programs, such as Best Class Paper and Best Thesis Award. Both awards provide winners $250 and $100 to those who place second. Another award is the Best Chapter Award given to chapters based on their annual reports and any extraordinary evidence of chapter activity. Winners walk away with $500, and advisors to winning chapters are given $200.

The organization’s purpose in giving students these funding opportunities is two-fold. The first goal is to promote excellence in political science scholarship, and the second is to lay the foundation for expanding the fraternity’s scope in programming.

from WordPress https://ift.tt/3Ihoq1E
via IFTTT

Menachem Begin’s Life before He Became Prime Minister of Israel

Menachem Wolfovitch Begin served as Israel’s first non-socialist prime minister from 1977 to 1983. He helped Israel reach a peace treaty with Egypt, earning him a Nobel Peace Prize in 1978.

Menachem Begin was born on August 16, 1913, in Brest-Litovsk, Poland. His father’s name was Zeev-Dov, and his mother was Hassia Begin. When Menachem was old enough, they sent him to Mizrachi Hebrew School, and he went on to attend the Polish Gymnasium (the equivalent of high school). Afterward he enrolled at Warsaw University, graduating with a law degree in 1935.

Before he turned 13, Menachem Begin served as a member of the Hashomer Hatzair scout organization. After observing several incidents of anti-Semitism throughout Europe, he decided to join a faction affiliated with the Revisionist Zionist Movement (Betar), becoming a steadfast follower of its founder, Vladimir Ze’ev Jabotinsky. The movement was devoted to establishing a Jewish state in Palestine.

Begin rose through the ranks and became the head of Betar’s Organization Department in Poland by 1932. He traveled around Poland on behalf of Betar, and wrote articles for the revisionist press. Later, he was sent to Czechoslovakia to lead the movement there.

From 1936 to 1938 (the time of the Palestine riots), he led rallies protesting British policies in Palestine. Begin protested in Warsaw near the British Embassy, where the Polish police arrested him, holding him briefly. Begin also defied British policies by helping people migrate to Palestine illegally. The British government had imposed restrictions on Jewish immigration to Palestine.

By 1939, Begin had married Aliza Arnold, and they had three children (Benjamin, Chasia, and Leah). Begin became the leader of Betar in Poland in 1939. Not long after, the Germans conquered Warsaw at the outbreak of World War II. Begin fled to Vilna but was captured by Soviet authorities (the NKVD) in 1940. They sentenced him to eight years in Siberian labor camps. However, he was released in 1941 because of his Polish citizenship and the Stalin-Sikorski agreement, which granted amnesty to Polish citizens.

Begin joined the Free Polish Army in exile shortly after his release and traveled to the Middle East in 1943. He revitalized the Irgun Zvai Leumi, a defunct military organization, and assumed command. Also known by its Hebrew name, Etzel, the organization directed its activities against the British control of Palestine with the goal of establishing a Jewish state. Begin was such a thorn in the side of the Palestinian government that it issued a $13,000 reward for information that would lead to his capture. Begin eluded detection, living in disguise in Tel Aviv.

When the State of Israel was established in 1948, the Irgun Zvai Leumi was dissolved, and the Herut (Freedom) party was formed. Begin and his allies produced candidates for the Knesset (parliament), and he remained a member of the Knesset. He led the Herut party for over 30 years.

Begin also was known for his passionate right-wing and patriotic ideals. He was especially adamant about Israel’s right to retain the Gaza Strip and West Bank. A skilled writer, orator, and politician, Menachem Begin is a key figure in Israel’s brief history.

from WordPress https://ift.tt/3p1K9ni
via IFTTT

Improve Your Reaction Time on Tennis

Good reflexes are essential for tennis players. You'll be considerably closer to your opponent, and because the ball will be coming at you at a very fast pace, you must learn to react quickly. Another instance on the court in which rapid responses are essential is when your opponent shoots a drop shot. Essentially, if your response time is slow, you will not reach the ball.

Quick reflexes training should be included in your tennis training regimen at least once a week since it will help you become faster while reacting to your opponent's actions. The first drill requires setting up an agility ladder (flat on the floor) and running through it with high knees, pushing your knees closer to your chest.

Exaggerated actions, such as high knees, help your practice technique, so you're ready for the real circumstance when it arrives. The ladder teaches you to be light on your toes while traveling quickly, which improves speed. This is an excellent practice for increasing endurance and strengthening your hip flexors. It also expands your glutes, allowing you to take longer steps.

For the second, place two cones roughly eight feet apart in front of you. Run through them, bending low enough to tap the tops of the cones as you go. Running erect and then leaning down is a typical error as it is a waste of time and energy. This exercise, like the previous, will help strengthen your quadriceps and glutes, allowing you to pack more force into your squats.

The third drill requires you to dash as fast as you can over hurdles you have set up--a few feet apart across the court. The hurdles test how quickly you can lift your feet off the ground. This practice will help you reach maximum speed over a short distance. Avoid tripping over the obstacles. This will teach you to run faster while maintaining control and forcing you to utilize your arms for extra propulsion.

The fourth drill will have you run two circuits around two cones set four feet apart before continuing to run the length of the court. Lean forward and maintain your center of gravity low so you can spin sharply without falling. The further forward you lean, the more momentum you'll have to drive you ahead.

You can also set up an agility ladder and alternate between putting tennis balls inside and outside each step. Run through the ladder planting both feet in each box, then out, scooping up the balls as you go. This practice will help your heels recuperate. Because your strides are shorter here, you'll need to engage your core to go pick up the balls.

A reaction ball is something you can buy and practice with. It has an unusual form and provides you with an uneven bounce every time you bounce the ball. Toss the ball up against the wall and try to catch it. Each time it bounces back, you'll have to respond quickly and pay close attention to capture it. To make this even more difficult, throw the ball quickly and change how close you stand to the wall.