Meet Julia Cinnamon

Julia Cinnamon, ’15, is a “Jersey Girl” who grew up in the bay area of California but has returned to the Garden State to attend Rutgers University. Julia is deeply committed to social issues and has great respect for the tapestry of diversity represented by the Rutgers student body.  Julia, whose birthmother and father are Jewish, is no stranger to diversity as her stepmother is Vietnamese who combines between being Buddhist and Roman Catholic.

Julia Cinnamon leading a RHCIE program

Julia was active with her local BBYO in California and visited Israel with the group during the summer between her junior and senior year of high school. Julia speaks with pride about her Jewish identity, her strong connection to the Jewish people and her love of Israel.  She dreams of making the world a better place, and she views politics as a tool to implement her vision about education, the environment, equality and Israel. Israel provides the opportunity to satisfy her multiple interests, pointing to Israeli-created technology and its positive impacts on the environment.

Although conceding that politics have a less than stellar reputation today, Julia believes  she personally can improve that image and anyone who knows has no doubt. Julia’s self confidence and respect for multiple points of view and her ability to “connect” with others serve her well in her Israel Advocacy efforts.

This past summer Julia attended the American Israel Public Affairs Committee’s Saban Leadership Seminar. Saban inspired Julia to become active in the efforts of the American-Israeli Alliance at Rutgers.  She firmly believes a strong America is important to Israel’s prosperity and vice versa and underscores the importance of the values, such as freedom of speech, shared mutually by the Israeli and American people. 

Though only a freshman, Julia’s impact is already being felt on the Rutgers campus.  Julia was a leader in establishing the Rutgers Israel Public Affairs Committee (RIPAC), an organization whose goal is to promote bi-partisan support of the American-Israeli alliance at Rutgers University. RIPAC has a cadre of devoted leaders who share her mission commitment. One can only imagine the positive effect this young leader will have on the Rutgers community over the next three years. 

Working with Lihi Rothshild, Israel Program Coordinator at Rutgers Hillel Center for Israel Engagement – also in its initial year at the University -- the mission of Israel advocacy will be well served. 

 learn more about Rutgers' Israel advocacy:

1. facebook fan page. Link
2. Twitter. Link
3. Blog. Link