Berlin Jews rally support for Israel on Facebook

Young Jews in Berlin are trying to rally support for Israel among their friends by using Facebook.

Dima Kletsel, 28, of Berlin, launched the campaign with several friends on May 31, encouraging Facebook contacts to change their profile image to a logo featuring the Israeli flag and the words “We Stand with Israel, now and forever.”

According to Kletsel, the campaign has taken off fast, spreading among friends of friends, from Germany to the former Soviet Union, to England and elsewhere. Though he could not determine how many had permanently or temporarily changed their profile image, Kletsel said he had received numerous responses, both positive and negative.

“A few non-Jewish friends called and said ‘You are crazy, do you think Israel is right?’ I said of course, and it started a discussion,” he told JTA

Kletsel said he was inspired by a “nonsense” Facebook campaign last year in which girls shared the color of their underwear with each other. The media picked up the story, he said.

“If even nonsense can make waves, then what if we start something that is not nonsense?” he said. “I am very pro-Israel and I cannot do a lot, and this is really almost nothing. But if everyone would do this almost nothing, it would be great.”