Ari Lesser has made a reggae video that went viral recently. It garnered 100,000 views in one week. Over a legitimately solid roots groove, "Boycott Israel" exposes the double standard in the BDS-Boycott Divestment and Sanction-movement which calls for boycotts against the only Jewish state in the world. Lesser's message is simple -- If you're going to hold Israel to a certain standard, hold every other country to that same standard.
This new song is a part of a new pro-Israel advocacy organization' called Here Is Israel, (HII) started by Darin Weiss, a film director who works in the California area. Weiss wants to use music and art to show people the beauty of Israel and drown out the clamor of libel.
"Our motif is 'don't just take our word for it. Do your own homework, do your own research, stop believing everything you're told and find the truth for yourself,' he told the Algemeiner.
So far, it appears to be working. Weiss has seen a shift in the demographic to younger people who "LIKE" Here Is Israel's FB's content and increase in video traffic on HII's youtube page.
It also helps that Weiss reached out to Chloé Valdary, a student at the University of New Orleans and Israel activist, to join his team at HII. Valdary, the Social Media Engineer for the new group says to be on the lookout in the next few months for Israel advocacy "like you've never seen before." Somewhat enticingly, she adds, "Be on the lookout. Great things are in the making. "
Here Is Israel's website is set to come out in November. You can check out the music video and their facebook page below:
https://www.facebook.com/HereIsIsrael
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E8bR4EU2eUg