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Buy a T-shirt, help change the world
Nu campaign seeks to connect youth worldwide to Israeli causes. 'We hope to use people’s talents and artistic abilities for the good of Israel and have it keep spreading,' says project's initiator
Stacey Maltin
The "Nu campaign"
is an international T-shirt campaign that seeks to connect young people to the human side of Israel.
Each shirt carries a different design printed on the front, which is symbolic of a different cause in Israel. Inside the shirts, the personal story that inspired it is printed and worn close to the heart.
The project's creator, David Kramer explained that, “Often, when I would stand in front of student groups from Birthright, I could tell them the story of the Middle East and try and teach them historically what is happening here, but as soon as I would tell a personal story, the connection all of a sudden became a lot stronger.
"They come and see the beautiful aspects of Israel like the Dead Sea, and then they leave. With us they can buy a shirt, stay in touch, and become a long term spokesperson for Israel around the world.”
Photo: Aharon Hyman
The name for the campaign, “Nu”, is an Israeli slang word that means “So?” which is a challenge for people to react to different situations in Israel and respond to what is happening here. “Nu,” or, “So what are you gonna do about it?” is meant to give a powerful push for people to remember that there is something they can be doing to speak for the State of Israel.
The first Nu Campaign shirt says 15 on the front, which recognizes the time it takes for a Qassam rocket to hit Sderot. The idea was inspired by 17-year-old Ella Abekasis, who threw herself on top of her little brother to save his life when a rocket fell near them and in doing so died of injuries she sustained. The shirt celebrates her heroism while reminding people of the situation that made what she did a necessity.
Another shirt is inscribed with “The Shark and the Fish,” which is a story that kidnapped soldier Gilad Shalit wrote when he was only 11-years-old. A shark and a fish become friends but their parents are against the relationship until, after years of friendship the parents finally recognize each other.
Anyone can submit T-shirt ideas on the website and share their personal story behind it. Kramer explained that, “We want to work with people and the community around us. We hope to use people’s talents and artistic abilities for the good of Israel and have it keep spreading so eventually we will have volunteers for the campaign in many communities around the world. We are open to work with whoever wants to work with us.”
A significant portion of the money raised from sales will go directly to the cause that the T-shirt supports. The Sderot shirt proceeds will benefit a high school girl’s youth movement in the city, which as a part of a therapy group to deal with the rockets, has developed a theater troupe. With the right funding they will be able to travel around Israel and eventually the world in order to shed light on their experiences.
"The Shark and the Fish" proceeds will be donated to habanim.org, the official organization dedicated to ensuring Gilad Shalit’s safe return to Israel, which is run by Gilad Shalit’s family and friends.
“One of the beautiful things about the project is that we are inviting people to have an ongoing relationship with Israel just by buying a shirt. We work within the framework of online networking sites (like facebook) and can consistently update people with where their financial contribution has gone,” Kramer said.
All T-shirts are 100% cotton and can be shipped internationally. Shirts cost $25 including the cost of shipping. All shirts are made in Israel, supporting local Israeli business.
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