As sophomore Cailey Hansen-Mahoney sat at her first Israel Advocacy Club meeting Feb. 8, she said she wanted to continue learning about the country.

“Israel is definitely a topic I want to learn more about,” Hansen-Mahoney said. “I want to learn more about Israel and I thought (attending a meeting) would be a good way to educate myself.”

Steve Hunegs, executive director of the Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) of Minnesota and the Dakotas, spoke at the meeting.

“The Israel club was kind enough to invite me to speak, so we talked a little bit about the JCRC’s role in Israel advocacy in Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota,” Hunegs said.

Hunegs said he enjoyed speaking but also enjoyed hearing what students had to say both about their personal thoughts and their political views.

“I was more interested in people’s views towards Israel, what their connections are towards Israel, why Israel is important to them (and) what Israel means to them,” Hunegs said.

Israel Advocacy Club (IAC) adviser Jeff Cohen said he thought the speaker engaged the students.

“I thought (Hunegs) did a very nice job of getting the kids to talk about issues confronting U.S.-Israel relationships in 2017 and beyond. He was very passionate about the topic (and) very accessible to the students.”

Hansen-Mahoney said she found the speaker to be informative.

“I thought Mr. Hunegs was really educated and really knew what he was talking about and I thought he had a lot of interesting things to say that resonated with me,” Hansen-Mahoney said.

Cohen said students should be aware of Israel’s relationship with the U.S.

“It’s important that our next generation is aware of how important our relationship with Israel is. They’re the only free place in the whole Middle East, the only democratic country in the Middle East and they’re very a valuable friend of democracy and freedom,” Cohen said.

According to Hansen-Mahoney, discussing relations between the United States and Israel prove important because they affect so many people.

“I think it’s really important to the United States to engage with other countries, and especially since so many of our citizens have such strong connections to Israel, I think it’s important that we discuss it. I think they’re an important, strategic ally,” Hansen-Mahoney said.

Hunegs said he believes students play a big role in thoughts and opinions about Israel relations.

“(Students) are our future leaders right here, so the attitudes and thoughts and views that students have towards Israel are really important, not only because it frames their own views, but because it influences your friends and your colleagues and your teachers and that’s important,” Hunegs said.

Israel Advocacy Club meets on various Wednesdays throughout the year in room C361.