SAN DIEGO—Passing out condoms with the double-entendre message, "Israel: It's still safe to come," is part of an unorthodox campaign dreamed up by student members of Hillel of UCSD to promote the image of Israel.

The idea was to attract the attention of college students by creating slogans and positive messages about Israel to counteract negative images that one sees on television or reads in the press, Rabbi Lisa Goldstein, executive director of Hillel of San Diego, told Heritage.

While the Reform rabbi said if it were up to her, she might have toned down the sexual word play on the condom package, she heartily approves the message in a pamphlet that the Hillel students pass out with the condoms.

It says that in Israel, "as opposed to surrounding countries," the rights of women and gays are recognized and protected— issues that are important to students.

Goldstein described the condom distribution as part of a "Got Israel" campaign, patterned after the "Got Milk" television advertising campaign, using humor and interesting facts to get people to think positively about Israel. Funding for the overall campaign was provided by the Avi Chai
Foundation in New York City.

At various times, she said, UCSD students have posted such signs around the campus as "Got Genes?"  "Got Computers?" "Got Snow?" "Got Technology?" leading people to literature telling about Israel¹s contributions in genetic research, or about how one can go skiing on Mt. Hermon, or that "an Israeli invented instant messaging."

Other items that Hillel brings to students' attention include the fact that actress Natalie Portman was born in Israel and that Arabic is one of the official languages of Israel.

"The idea," said Goldstein, is to disseminate positive messages in "a creative, non-inflammatory way" to students on campus.

The program is developing a leadership structure, with a student board of directors formed just last week with nine officers, each in charge of a committee. Goldstein estimated that there is a hard core of 15-25 students involved in the program, with another dozen contributing from time to time.

The campaign has been getting lots of attention off-campus as well. National Hillel has arranged for a photographer to come on campus on May 5 for a photo shoot to be distributed by e-mail to Hillels all over the country.

Additionally, the America-Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) has announced that it will bestow an award May 12 on Rabbi Goldstein in recognition of her efforts promoting Israel activism on campus.