In a humorous yet meaningful plea, Steven Masters, chair of the National Advisory Board of J Street Local, urged the attendee of last night’s event at Hillel to “change their addresses to J Street.”

A passionate crowd gathered at Steinhardt Hall Thursday evening for J Street Philadelphia’s launch event. J Street — an organization originating two years ago with 104,000 supporters — promotes a pro-Israel, pro-peace movement advocating negotiation to end Arab-Israeli and Israeli-Palestinian conflicts.

J Street acquired its name because Washington, D.C. lacks a ‘J’ Street, symbolically implying that J Street is the unheard voice.

Over 200 attendees comprised Penn students and faculty, as well as citizens of the greater Philadelphia area.

The J Street launch featured remarks from Executive Director Jeremy Ben-Ami. Broadcasting on a live webcast to thousands of people around the country, he urged that it is a “fundamental American interest to end this conflict.”

While many take extreme sides, Ben-Ami emphasizes that J Street is a middle ground that advocates the coexistence of the two states, because “pro-Israel does not equal against Palestine.” After the speech, a Q&A; session as well as discussion groups ensued to foster open debate.

Some tension surrounded the event, as students greeted attendees with anti-J Street fliers. While J Street participants congregated on the second floor, an opposing group named Z Street gathered below on the first floor.

Wharton senior Brian Finkel, the founder of the Zionist Freedom Alliance, argued that Hillel should not have welcomed J Street without student input, challenging supporters “to find one event in which J Street is actually pro-Israel.”

Second-year Law student and audience member Joshua Weinberg said, “It is not our place as American citizens to dictate to Israel its legislation.”

Director Ben-Ami was pleased with the turnout and encourages those who are new to the subject to “ask a lot of questions because J Street provides a nuanced perspective.”

Fiorino Danielle, a sophomore in the Huntsman Program, studies Arabic and the Middle East and explained her reason for attending last night’s event: “I came to learn more information about the two sides of the growing conflict.”