Tim Griffin, the dean of students at Grand Canyon University, one of the world’s largest Christian universities, recently led a delegation of US students to Israel. This visit aimed to demonstrate their opposition to boycotts against the Jewish state.
“I felt it was important to come to Israel, especially at this time, when it is under threat from enemies that surround it, and from those who call for boycotts from afar, like at American universities,” Griffin stated.
Griffin’s visit marks the first student delegation since October 7 organized by Passages, a US-based Christian nonprofit. Passages, with an annual budget of around $15 million, has facilitated trips to Israel for thousands of students to promote study and activism.
Grand Canyon University, located in Phoenix, Arizona, has an enrollment of about 100,000 students across nine colleges. Griffin expressed his hope that this 10-day visit would set “an example for other Christian educational institutions to visit, engage, and partner with the Israeli people.” He also highlighted the strong support for Israel among Grand Canyon University students, contrasting this with sentiments at some other US universities.
The trip’s itinerary included meetings with officials and visits to sites impacted by the October 7 onslaught, as well as places where victims receive assistance and emotional support. Rivka Kidron, cofounder of Passages and a former advisor to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, emphasized that the visit was about “doing and listening, acts of kindness and solidarity,” and gaining a deeper understanding of Israel’s current challenges.