Unsafe at MIT
5 min read
15 min read
5 min read
As Gen Z drifts toward anti-Zionism, TalkIsrael empowers young creators to fight misinformation with authenticity, culture, and personal storytelling online.
“The moment every Jewish girl looks forward to each week.”
That is the title of a video featuring Lauren Kagan, an Instagram influencer, who is lighting Shabbat candles and saying the blessings over them. Lauren, whose Instagram tagline is “Your certified blonde Jewish friend,” is a creator for TalkIsrael, a nonprofit that works to positively change the conversation about Israel amongst US Gen Z by harnessing the power of social media.
View this post on Instagram
Originally from Boston, and the daughter of immigrants from the Soviet Union, Lauren has spent her entire life engaging with her heritage, culture, and religion.
“When my parents moved [to the U.S.], they wanted to ensure my brother and I could grow up proud of our Judaism and connected to Israel,” she said. “I was very engaged from a young age. I went to Jewish day school, spent summers in Israel, and went Jewish sleepaway camp.”
Now, Lauren posts pro-Israel, pro-Jewish content on Instagram and TikTok, where she has an impressive total of over 85,000 followers. She opened her accounts in 2020 and really ramped up her efforts in 2023. She makes videos on her appearance, debunking the myth that Jews don’t have blonde hair and blue eyes, shows herself wearing Jewish swag, like star of David necklaces and a shirt that says, “Pretty girls love Hashem,” and videos of herself with prominent figures, including Former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and attorney Alyza Lewin. She reposts other TalkIsrael creators as well.
While Lauren worried what people would think at first, she said, “the response has been overwhelmingly positive. Of course, there are always going to be negative comments and people who disagree, but honestly those motivate me to keep going. From the people I love and care about, and even friends who weren’t as aware of what’s going on, I’ve heard so much appreciation. Many have since then reached out to tell me they’ve learned from my content.”
TalkIsrael’s goal is to share accurate information about Israel at a time when younger Americans are more likely to sympathize with Palestinians over Israelis and adults under 30 are “less likely than older Americans to say that Israel’s reasons for fighting Hamas are valid: 38% say this, compared with around half or more in each older age group,” according to Pew Research Center.
Maya Vorobyov, executive director for the nonprofit, said, “Gen Z is the first generation to truly grow up on social media, and platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube are their primary sources of information. That makes them especially vulnerable to misinformation, oversimplified narratives, and antisemitic tropes that spread quickly online.”
The mission of TalkIsrael, which started in 2022, is threefold. They are dedicated to supporting and showcasing emerging creators, highlighting the beauty of Israel’s culture through its music, food, art, and more, and reaching English-speaking Gen Z who don’t know much about Israel.
Maya speaking to a group of young Jews
“A recent research project we conducted with 100 U.S. Gen Z respondents reported that prior to watching our content, 8.7% said they had a somewhat positive perception of Israel,” said Maya. “Following exposure to our content, 86% of respondents said that they now had positive sentiments about Israel, and a few even said they’d be interested in visiting someday.”
When creators are accepted to become part of TalkIsrael, they gain access to workshops, programs, and partnerships. They learn how to become better at what they do, increase their follower count, and make friends – all while making a difference as well.
“The most effective way to break through the echo chamber of misinformation and misconceptions is with personal storytelling and genuine authenticity,” said Maya. “By doing so, we believe we can shift perceptions of Israel on social media in a meaningful way – making an impact, one post at a time.”
As for Lauren, she sees that her work is changing the false narrative already.
“One of the most inspiring things has been seeing people — especially those who aren’t usually vocal or don’t know much about the subject — actually take the time to stop scrolling, read, and listen,” she said. “When my non-Jewish followers message me that they’re learning and engaging through my content, that’s incredibly meaningful.”
Ultimately, her goal is to not just stop the spread of misinformation, but also to inspire her people, she said.
“[I want] to build a strong community and inspire both my generation and the younger generation to weave Judaism and Israel into our daily lives — not as something separate, but as something we celebrate and love as part of who we are.”
To apply to become a TalkIsrael creator, you can reach out on their website: http://www.talkisrael.org/get-involved.
Beautiful inside and out--may she go from strength to strength!
Name checks out
Got lots of brunettes in my family. Come to Israel, you’ll see every color of the rainbow in skin, hair and eyes in all possible combinations.
And yes we are history - past and future.
May your work continue to bear fruit!