Our mission - Israel Institute · Our mission The Israel Institute is dedicated to strengthening the field of Israel Studies in order to promote knowledge ... École supérieure de

2016-2017 PROGRAM CATALOG

Enhancing Knowledge and Study of M O D E R N I S R A E L

SHAI RODITTY

Our mission The Israel Institute is dedicated to strengthening the field of Israel

Studies in order to promote knowledge and enhance understanding of

modern Israel. The Israel Institute works in partnership with universities

and think tanks to increase opportunities for the study of Israel and

catalyze deeper engagement with the country in the academic, cultural,

and policy sectors.

In the United States and around the world, the Institute provides scholars, policy

experts, and artists with the resources to study and discuss Israel in a comprehensive

and rigorous manner. Through its various programs, the Institute advances exemplary

scholarship that provides in-depth coverage of Israel for students and policy makers while also

serving as an access point for new learners to become familiar with the country.

ContentsAcademics

Building the Next Generation of Scholars ............6

Bringing Israel into the Classroom ..........................10

Supporting Teaching and Research ............................12

Efforts Abroad ...........................14

Arts & Culture

Showcasing Israeli Culture ....16

Tracing Impact ..........................18

Public Discourse

Enriching Discourse ............... 20

Engaging Students ................. 24

Expanding Our Reach.............26

Contact Us ....................................27

YONI LERNER / FLICKR

THE ISRAEL INSTITUTE

2016-2017 PROGRAM CATALOG 1

Why We ExistIsrael – as a prominent member of

the global community, a significant

ally of the United States, and a

frequent topic of news media –

is a complicated yet important

country to study. We believe that

it is crucial to create and foster

quality opportunities for individuals

to learn more about the complexity

and diversity of modern Israel and

its place on the world stage. The

Israel Institute provides a space

for exploring and engaging with

a diverse range of Israel-related

topics in order to encourage a

comprehensive and multi-faceted

understanding of the country among

students of Israel, old and new.

What We Do In pursuit of our mission, the Institute supports a diverse

range of programs and activities.

Our flagship ACADEMIC

PROGRAMS place senior

experts and emerging

scholars of Israel Studies at

campuses across the United

States and abroad, where they

can share their knowledge, connect

with students and colleagues, and

engage as members of the greater

campus community. We also sponsor

high-level academic research, which is

crucial to the growth of the field of Israel Studies and adds

to the body of scholarship for use by future generations of

students and scholars.

To reflect the diversity of Israeli ARTS & CULTURE,

we sponsor the placement of Israeli artists at universities

across the United States and, for the first time ever in 2016,

in Europe.

Finally, we foster enriched PUBLIC DISCOURSE on Israel

by leading and co-hosting conferences, lectures, and inter-

institutional collaborations on matters of scholarly interest,

current events, and important developments relating to Israel.

The Israel Institute is an independent, nonpartisan organization founded in 2012 by its

president, Ambassador Itamar Rabinovich, in partnership with the Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family

Foundation. The organization does not participate in advocacy efforts but, rather, aspires to promote a

flourishing and expansive field of Israel Studies through the sponsorship of programs to promote young

scholars, faculty exchanges, inter-institutional collaborations, research grants, and public programming.

2 THE ISRAEL INSTITUTE

Our vision is to exponentially

expand the field of Israel Studies into

more classrooms, campuses, and

countries, affording new opportunities

for new audiences to study and

engage with Israel.

NOAM.ARMONN / WIKIMEDIA COMMONS DANA FRIEDLANDER / ISRAELI MINISTRY OF TOURISM (WWW.GOISRAEL.COM)


The modern state of Israel is a topic of frequent and intense political and

diplomatic discourse around the world. It evokes powerful emotions, and

its challenges are often the subject of highly politicized debate. This context

has made it difficult to study, teach, and research Israel with the dispassion

that other countries and regions have enjoyed as an academic issue.

The field of Israel Studies, now in its fifth decade as a self-standing

discipline, was developed to create a substantive framework for the study

of modern Israel, to overcome the narrow focus on Israel as merely a nexus

of conflict, and to address information gaps about the country. Individuals

and institutions in this field endeavor to expand Israel-focused study to

encompass the complex, modern Israeli experience, including its dynamic

society and economy, its entrepreneurial culture, and its vibrant arts scene.

While Israel Studies has grown in campuses across America and even

Europe, there is more to be done. For this reason, in 2012, I accepted an

invitation from the leadership of the Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family

Foundation to become the founding president of a new institute that

would help increase knowledge and study of Israel. Our programs, which

expand teaching and research of Israel-focused content at universities

and other institutions, offer students, scholars, and laypeople a platform

for rigorous exploration of Israel. In so doing, they help generate a deeper

understanding of the country and its role in the world.

Our vision is to exponentially expand the field of Israel Studies into more class-

rooms, campuses, and countries, affording new opportunities for new audiences

to study and engage with Israel. We hope you will join us in our efforts.

Sincerely,

Itamar Rabinovich

President, Israel Institute

A Message From

Ambassador Itamar Rabinovich, President of the Israel Institute

Itamar Rabinovich

• Founding President of the Israel Institute

• Former Ambassador of Israel to the United States and chief negotiator with Syria

• Former President of Tel Aviv University

• Professor Emeritus of Middle Eastern History at Tel Aviv University

• Distinguished Global Professor at New York University

• Non-Resident Distinguished Senior Fellow at the Brookings Institution’s Center for Middle East Policy

• Recent books include The Lingering Conflict: Israel, the Arabs, and the Middle East (2011) and The View from Damascus (2009)

• Ph.D. from the University of California, Los Angeles


Around the Globe

NORTH AMERICA American UniversityBarnard CollegeBoston UniversityBrandeis UniversityBrown UniversityBryn Mawr CollegeCalifornia Institute of the ArtsCalifornia Institute of TechnologyCatholic University of America

Columbia College ChicagoColumbia UniversityConnecticut CollegeCornell UniversityDartmouth UniversityEmory UniversityFlorida State UniversityGeorgetown UniversityGeorgia Institute of TechnologyGeorge Washington University

Harvard UniversityHoward UniversityJohns Hopkins UniversityKennesaw State UniversityLehigh UniversityMiddlebury CollegeMassachusetts Institute of

TechnologyMichigan State UniversityNortheastern UniversityNorthwestern UniversityNew York UniversityPortland State UniversityPrinceton UniversityReed CollegeRhode Island School of DesignRutgers UniversitySan Diego State UniversityStanford UniversitySUNY BinghamtonSUNY PurchaseSwarthmore CollegeTufts UniversityUniversity of California, BerkeleyUniversity of California, DavisUniversity of California, IrvineUniversity of California, Los AngelesUniversity of California, Santa CruzUniversity of California, San DiegoUniversity of ChicagoUniversity of ColoradoUniversity of FloridaUniversity of GeorgiaUniversity of KansasUniversity of MarylandUniversity of MichiganUniversity of MinnesotaUniversity of OklahomaUniversity of Pennsylvania

Since our founding in 2012, we have supported programs and scholars

at over 100 universities on four continents.

University of PittsburghUniversity of Southern CaliforniaUniversity of Texas, AustinUniversity of TorontoUniversity of VirginiaUniversity of WashingtonUniversity of Wisconsin-MadisonVirginia TechWesleyan UniversityYale University

ISRAELBar-Ilan UniversityBen-Gurion UniversityHebrew University of JerusalemInterdisciplinary Center (IDC)

HerzliyaTel Aviv UniversityUniversity of Haifa

AROUND THE GLOBE Ankara UniversityBerlin Technical UniversityBundeswehr University MunichCambridge UniversityCity University LondonCharles UniversityÉcole supérieure de journalisme

de LilleEötvös Loránd UniversityFrench Institute of Geopolitics Heidelberg UniversityKing’s College LondonLudwig Maximilian University of

MunichMasaryk UniversityOriental Studies Institute, Russian

Academy of SciencePeking University

Roma Tre UniversitySciences Po Lille (Lille Institute

of Political Studies)Sciences Po MentonSciences Po ParisShanghai International

Studies University Sorbonne UniversityTsinghua University Tubingen UniversityUniversity of AntwerpUniversity of GenevaUniversity of GrazUniversity of LondonUniversity of OxfordUniversity of São PauloUniversity of ViennaUniversity of WarsawViadrina European University



Doctoral Fellowships The Israel Institute offers fellowships for up to

two years to Ph.D. candidates in the advanced

stages of their degrees, who are researching

and writing their dissertations on topics related

to Israel or incorporating Israel as a case study.

Supporting students in their doctoral years is

crucial to ensuring that talented young scholars

are on track to publish their research and take

their places at the front of classrooms. Israel

Building the Next Generation of ScholarsCreating the next cadre of Israel experts is vital to expanding the scope of Israel Studies course

offerings at universities in the United States and around the world. Our Doctoral and Post-Doctoral

Programs bolster new talent and support emerging scholars in the field, creating a pipeline of top

academics who research and teach about modern Israel.

A C A D E M I C S

“ The Israel Institute Doctoral Fellowship is the most relevant opportunity I have experienced during my Ph.D. process.”

– ANNE-SOPHIE SEBBAN, Israel Institute Doctoral Fellow, 2014-2016

Institute Doctoral Fellowships enable emerging

scholars to complete their doctoral work and,

ultimately, begin careers teaching and researching

about Israel.

The 2016-2017 cohort of Doctoral Fellows have

studied at leading universities worldwide, including

Stanford, New York University, and Oxford. They are

researching topics ranging from poverty in Israel’s

Haredi communities to the effects of ethnic and

religious inclusiveness in domestic security forces.


“ The Israel Institute Doctoral Fellowship

allowed me to complete my empirical work

over the past year, which included conducting

two public opinion surveys, both in Israel and

in Turkey, and employing the assistance of a

professional translator and research assistant

to review Turkish primary sources. Having a

strong institution support you in your doctoral

studies is both empowering and reassuring, as

it is a great privilege. The Institute’s support

will allow me to finish my dissertation in the

coming academic year.”

NIVA GOLAN-NADIR is a second-

year Israel Institute Doctoral

Fellow in the University of Haifa’s

School of Political Sciences. She

recently co-authored an article

in Policy Studies, “The Role of

Individual Agents in Promoting

Peace Processes: Business People

and Policy Entrepreneurship in

the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict.”

“ Israel Institute support enabled me to extend my

journey into avenues I otherwise would not have

not been able to explore. I was able to travel for

research purposes, such as visiting a wind-farm, and

attend conferences which allowed me to present my

research and engage with the academic community.”

YAEL LIFSHITZ GOLDBERG, a JSD

candidate in New York University’s School

of Law, recently completed her two-year

Israel Institute Doctoral Fellowship. She

researches the intersection of energy,

property, and environmental law for her

dissertation, Rethinking Our Renewables:

Who Owns the Wind?


Post-Doctoral Fellowships The Israel Institute offers fellowships to a select group of newly minted Ph.D.s who work on

Israel-focused topics and wish to devote their careers to researching and teaching about Israel. Post-

Doctoral Fellowships last for up to two years and are open to academics across a range of disciplines

and departments. The Institute facilitates the first university appointments for Post-Doctoral Fellows,

providing them with the resources they need to pursue innovative research agendas and launch

successful academic careers.

The 2016-2017 class of Post-Doctoral Fellows have assumed positions at prominent universities such as

Columbia, Yale, and Sciences Po Paris. Research specialties of this year’s group include Hebrew literature,

the history of the Kibbutz movement, and the representation of minorities and women in Israeli politics.

The Institute facilitates the first university appointments

for Post-Doctoral Fellows, providing them

with the resources they need to pursue

innovative research agendas and launch

successful academic careers.

A C A D E M I C S

D L / FLICKR

Former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak u


DR. DANIEL SOBELMAN, an Israel Institute Post-Doctoral Fellow with the

International Security Program at the Harvard Kennedy School’s Belfer Center

for Science and International Affairs, researches the growing phenomenon of

asymmetric conflict, involving state and non-state actors. Currently, his primary

focus is Israel’s conflict with the Lebanese group Hezbollah.

As a Post-Doctoral Fellow, Dr. Sobelman has engaged in research, published

a number of articles, and contributed to Belfer Center publications. He also

arranged for former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak to come to the Belfer Center

and speak about the current state of U.S.-Israel affairs, the Iran deal, and the

Palestinian question, at both an off-the-record dinner and a public event.

“ My Israel Institute Post-Doctoral Fellowship enabled me to realize a professional dream, to become part of the unique and vibrant intellectual community at Harvard University. Having pursued my entire academic studies in Israel, the exposure to such a vast international academic community has been all the more important in my case.”

Tipping the Balance?Implications of the Iran Nuclear Deal on Israeli Security

December 2015

The Belfer Center’s Iran Project


Bringing Israel into the ClassroomThere is no better way to broaden students’ exposure to Israel worldwide than through

interactions with renowned Israeli instructors. Our Visiting Israeli Faculty bring to the classroom

a thorough and nuanced perspective on the country through the lens of their chosen academic

disciplines, ranging from history and literature to sociology and political science.

A C A D E M I C S

Visiting Professor and Faculty Fellow Programs The Visiting Professor and Faculty Fellow

Programs bring Israeli faculty to universities

in the United States and Europe to teach

courses on modern Israel. These two

flagship programs enable Israeli professors

to spend an academic year abroad lecturing

and expanding their academic circles,

while granting students and surrounding

communities unparalleled access to leading

Israel experts. Ultimately, these two programs

aim to both deepen and broaden academic

instruction and student understanding about

Israel on college campuses throughout the

United States and Europe.

The Visiting Professor and

Faculty Fellow Programs help introduce Israeli scholarship to new audiences in the United

States and around the world.

HANAY / WIKIMEDIA COMMONS


“ What I miss the most from my experience at Columbia

Law School (CLS) are my wonderful students. They

contributed substantially to the mutually enriching

experience of exploring sensitive issues on the role of

the Israeli Supreme Court in democracy. I also miss my

great colleagues at CLS who warmly welcomed me

into their faculty. Thanks to the Israel Institute, and CLS

faculty and students, for such a great year.”

PROF. RIFAT AZAM is an Associate Professor of Law at IDC Herzliya’s Radzyner School of Law, where he

researches and teaches in the fields of tax law and policy, international taxation, e-commerce, and human

rights. As a 2015-2016 Visiting Professor, he spent the past year conducting international taxation research

and teaching a course entitled, “The Role of the Israeli Supreme Court in Democracy and Society,” at

Columbia Law School.

“ When student evaluations were submitted at the

end of last semester, not only did my course get

good scores but the written comments were very

rewarding, including students who suggested that

the course ‘should be a required course for all

International Relations majors.’ It is feedback like this

that inspires me to teach at Michigan State University

again and continue to interact with American

students, with the hope that more students will find

the subject matter interesting and engaging.”

PROF. YUVAL BENZIMAN is a current Visiting Professor in the Jewish Studies Program at Michigan

State University. In Israel, he teaches in the Conflict Resolution Program at Tel Aviv University and

in the Lauder School of Government Diplomacy and Strategy at IDC Herzliya.


Research Grants The Israel Institute offers grants for scholars, academics, and

independent researchers to conduct substantive research on issues

related to modern Israel. Areas of study include, but are not limited

to, Israeli history, politics, economics, and law. Grants are aimed at

facilitating the research and writing of books or scholarly articles that

promote a greater understanding of modern Israel.

Publication Support The Israel Institute promotes the publication of academic books in neglected areas of Israel Studies

by commissioning works and by financially supporting authors in completing the publication process,

after their manuscripts have already been accepted by an academic press. These grants ensure that

pressing topics within Israel Studies receive the attention they deserve. The Institute also supports

the translation of works by promising Israeli authors into English, as part of a project to promote

international access and exposure to modern Hebrew literature and Israeli culture.

A C A D E M I C S

Supporting Teaching and Research

Support from the Israel Institute helped Princeton Professor Jonathan Gribetz complete his book, Defining Neighbors: Religion, Race, and the Early Zionist-Arab Encounter.

The Israel Institute also provided support to Professor Lihi Ben Shitrit for her book, Righteous Transgressions: Women’s Activism on the Israeli and Palestinian Religious Right.

The Israel Institute devotes

several programs to the

development of Israel-

focused research and

teaching, in an effort to

enhance scholarship and

knowledge of modern Israel

in the United States and

around the world.

Lihi Ben Shitrit

Righteous Transgressions

WOMEN’S ACTIVISMON THE ISRAELI AND PALESTINIAN RELIGIOUS RIGHT


Teaching Fellows The Israel Institute works with universities across the United

States that are interested in expanding their course offerings

in Israel Studies. The Institute partners with select schools to

recruit and support faculty who will then teach courses on topics

related to modern Israel. Teaching Fellows have the opportunity

to further develop their own academic networks, while students

gain access to new classes taught by first-rate instructors.

Faculty Development Grants The Israel Institute’s Faculty Development Grants enable

faculty members to create new courses in Israel Studies.

This program provides eligible scholars with the opportunity

to travel to Israel, hone language skills, or take part in other

activities that qualify them to develop and teach Israel Studies

courses at their home institutions.

Women’s Faculty Leadership Initiative This initiative assists women at

top-tier universities in achieving

senior academic positions in Israel

Studies by sponsoring teaching

relief. Ensuring the strong

representation of women in the

field of Israel Studies is a crucial

step in creating a community

of Israel experts that includes

a diversity of backgrounds and

perspectives.

“ For ten weeks, a dedicated group of undergraduate students in my new ‘Dance

and Conflict: Israel, the Middle East and Beyond’ course investigated the impact

of social, political, and cultural conflict, including war, on selected 20th and 21st

century dance practices in Israel. Using a variety of texts, including dance clips,

readings, and a guest lecture with Guy Baum, a Tel Aviv-based dance critic, the

course explored the often-ignored political dimension of dance historically and the

equally unexplored subject of the aesthetic responses to political conflict in Israel.”

PROF. JANICE ROSS, of Stanford

University’s Department of Theater

& Performance Studies, used her

Faculty Development Grant to

examine the intersection of social

sciences and the arts.

Ka’et, the Jerusalem-based company of Modern Orthodox men who do contemporary dance, was featured in Ross’ “Dance and Conflict” course.


Israel Studies in China The Israel Institute, with the assistance of the Diane P. & Guilford Glazer

Donor Advised Fund and the Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family

Foundation, has been working to develop Israel Studies and Hebrew

language instruction at elite Chinese universities.

The Israel Institute is continuing its partnership with Peking University

for the third year in a row, bringing visiting Israel experts to Beijing to

give guest lectures, teach Israel Studies courses, and offer Hebrew

language classes. This academic year, for the first time, we are also

sending two visiting professors to Tsinghua University and one visiting

professor to Shanghai International Studies University.

Visiting Faculty in China We wish to send Israel Studies and Hebrew language

experts to Beijing in 2017 and 2018!

Our program for Visiting Faculty in China enables

Israel experts and Hebrew teachers to spend one

semester or an academic year at elite universities in

Beijing, teaching up to two classes each semester to

top Chinese students. This selective program is open

to post-docs, junior and senior scholars, and qualified

Hebrew teachers. Generous stipends, round-trip

airfare, and housing are provided. For more information

or to apply, please visit israelinstitute.org/china.

Efforts AbroadAcross the globe, there is a desire for in-depth, nuanced information about Israel. From Western

Europe to East Asia, the Israel Institute is actively working to increase access to college-level

course content as well as expand the breadth of research and teaching on modern Israel.

A C A D E M I C S

“ China is a dynamic place and

the young people studying at

Peking University are informed,

inquisitive, and engaged with

regard to the contemporary

Middle East. There was a sincere

curiosity and respect for Israel

and its role in the region.”

– PROF. BRANDON FRIEDMAN, Moshe

Dayan Center, Tel Aviv University, on his

experience at PKU during the 2015-2016

academic year.

維基小霸王 / WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

UNITED KINGDOM• For the first time this year, the Institute is supporting

a Visiting Israeli Professor in the U.K., at SOAS University of London.

FRANCE• Thanks to an Israel Institute Faculty Development

Grant to a local professor in 2014, Israel Studies has blossomed at Sciences Po Lille, comprising ongoing courses and public lectures by visiting Israeli scholars as well as new courses on modern Israel taught by local faculty.

• The Israel Institute sent an Israeli journalist to the Lille School of Journalism (ESJ) to hold a workshop on asymmetric warfare and his experience covering the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

• The Israel Institute has awarded a number of academic grants to French scholars at the Sciences Po Paris Research Institute (CERI) and the Sorbonne, and brought Israeli scholars to lecture and conduct research at CERI.

BELGIUM• This academic year, the Israel Institute is supporting a

Visiting Israeli Professor at the University of Antwerp.

AUSTRIA• At the University of Vienna, the Israel Institute

sponsored a locally-led lecture series and facilitated a course taught by a Tel Aviv University political scientist.

• The Institute awarded a grant to a University of Graz professor to develop new Israel Studies course content.

GERMANY • The Institute sponsored a yearlong lecture series at

the Jewish Studies Center Heidelberg. • The Israel Institute sent an Israeli professor to Munich,

where he taught two full-semester courses at Ludwig Maximilian University and held public lectures.

• This year, we are excited to send Israeli professors to teach intensive Israel Studies courses at the Bundeswehr University Munich and Tubingen University.

SWITZERLAND• In the current academic year, the Institute is

launching an Israel-focused intensive course on political economics at the University of Geneva.

ITALY• The Institute sponsored a lecture series and two

visiting professors at Roma Tre University, and supported a conference on Israeli-European relations at the University of Cagliari.

CZECH REPUBLIC• The Israel Institute arranged an intensive, graduate-level

course on Israel and the E.U. at Masaryk University in Brno, taught by a Hebrew University professor.

• At Charles University in Prague, the Israel Institute worked with a local professor to launch an intensive introductory course on the history, politics, and society of modern Israel, featuring several Israeli experts as guest lecturers.

HUNGARY • In partnership with a local scholar, the Israel

Institute ran two intensive survey courses at Eötvös Loránd University (ELTE) in Budapest, enrolling over 300 students.

ROMANIA• A partnership between the Israel Institute and the

National University of Political Studies and Public Administration in Bucharest brought a former Knesset member and Tel Aviv University lecturer to Romania to teach a special graduate-level course.

POLAND• For the second year, the Institute is sending two Israeli

professors to guest lecture at the University of Warsaw.

RUSSIA• The Institute sent a visiting research fellow to the

Oriental Studies Institute (OSI) in Moscow, where he collaborated on research and conducted two seminars on Israeli security.

Israel Studies in Europe Over the past two years, the Israel Institute has made significant inroads in expanding the reach of Israel Studies

in Europe, sending Israel experts to teach courses and workshops, conduct research, and organize public

lectures at cities and campuses across the continent.



Showcasing Israeli CultureThrough the Schusterman Visiting Israeli Artist Program, the Israel Institute brings Israeli

artists from various disciplines – including film, music, dance, and the visual arts – to North

America and, for the first time ever this academic year, to Europe. Visiting Artists reside

for two to four months at some of the world’s most esteemed universities. Originally

launched as a standalone initiative in 2008 and integrated into the Israel Institute

in 2013, this program has proven to be overwhelmingly successful at establishing

meaningful connections between students and visiting artists, increasing

collaboration between Israeli artists and their American counterparts, and

spurring a lasting interest in Israel and Israel’s vibrant arts scene.

A R T S & C U LT U R E

One of the largest organized residency programs of Israeli artists ever to launch in the United States, 78 artists have participated in this program to date. The program’s objective is to foster high levels of interaction between Israeli artists-in-residence and the local communities where they are based, through classes, lectures, exhibitions, screenings, readings, and performances.


“ Talking with students at the end of my semester at the University

of Michigan, we felt that the experience had been meaningful for

us all. Several students expressed interest in taking more Israeli

dance courses and some enlisted in intensive Gaga courses in

Israel. I am very grateful for this rare opportunity.”

– BOSMAT NOSSAN, 2015-2016 (University of Michigan)

DAVID SHANKBONE / WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

A R T S & C U LT U R E

Tracing ImpactEach artist residency has an impact far beyond an individual university. Over the past three

years, 27 artists have held lectures, performances, and exhibitions at 69 American campuses

and other public venues.

H 2015-2016

H 2014-2015

H 2013-2014



The impact of the Schusterman Visiting Israeli Artist Program can also be measured through outcomes.

Artist residencies often generate future collaborations, artistic partnerships, and even new residency

opportunities for both Israeli and American artists.

“ After watching the company’s work in the United States, most notably through my UC Irvine residency, we were invited by Jordan Peimer, Director of UC San Diego’s Art Power, to close their 2015-2016 season with Gender Bender, a colorful creation set to 80’s punk and pop music. The audience loved the company and the tour, and the performances were a great success.”

– IDAN COHEN, 2009-2010 (Amherst College) & 2013-2014 (UC Irvine)

“ During my residency, I worked on Suddenly, based on Etgar Keret’s book, which I adapted into Puppet Cinema together with two American colleagues – Leslie Strongwater and Eric Berninghausen. It will premiere at Tel Aviv’s Cameri Theatre in July 2017. My experience at UMD led to further collaboration with two professors at UMD’s School of Theater, Dance, and Performing Arts – Patric Widrig and Sara Pearson. We plan to launch a Puppet Cinema show that will include dancers, too. In March 2017, we will hold the first workshop for this project at UMD with both professional dancers and students.” – ZVI SAHAR, 2015-2016 (University of Maryland)

KFIR BOLOTIN

Zvi Sahar working on the Etgar Keret story, Big Blue Bus. Bus attached to camera-dolly, shooting it drive in an anime-style world.”


Leadership Summit The Leadership Summit, convened by the Israel Institute on a biennial

basis, brings together rising and senior experts in academia, the policy

world, and the arts to share different perspectives on the modern Israeli

state. In pursuit of the Institute’s vision to dramatically expand the field

of Israel Studies, this event is designed to create connections, facilitate

collaborative discussions, and nurture meaningful relationships between

professionals who otherwise might not cross paths.

The first Leadership Summit brought 56 Israel experts to Kibbutz Kfar Giladi,

located in northern Israel, in June 2014. The theme of the inaugural summit

was navigating professional challenges in Israel Studies, with an emphasis

on promoting intergenerational and interdisciplinary interactions between

summit participants.

The latest summit took place this past June in Ma’aleh Hachamisha, a

kibbutz just outside Jerusalem. One hundred and six Israel experts from

across the globe explored Israel’s domestic and international challenges

through interdisciplinary dialogue. The three-day event included a

keynote address as well as several breakout sessions, interviews, panel

discussions, networking events, and musical performances. In addition

to academics, members of the security establishment, civil society

practitioners, journalists, and researchers, summit participants included:

• Israeli authors David Grossman and Dorit Rabinyan;

• Members of the Knesset Rachel Azaria (Kulanu); Tzipi Livni, Merav

Michaeli, and Manuel Trajtenberg (Zionist Union); and Ayman Odeh

(Joint List);

• Ambassador of the United States to Israel Dan Shapiro; and

• American diplomat and author Dennis Ross.

Enriching Discourse The Israel Institute convenes and co-sponsors a range of

activities and events that aim to broaden and elevate the

discourse on Israel in the United States and beyond.

P U B L I C D I S C O U R S E


“ The Leadership Summit was a unique opportunity for me to interact with people outside of my normal professional circle – academics, artists, students. Unlike traditional academic or policy conferences, the Leadership Summit not only exposed me to the wide breadth of Israel Studies across the globe but also allowed me to share thoughts and ideas and solicit feedback from experts in a variety of fields with whom I would not normally engage.”

– DR. SARAH YERKES, Brookings Institution



• “Examining U.S.-Israel Relations at a Time of Change in the Middle East” Center for American Progress | April 2015

• “American Jewry and Israel: A Relationship in Transition?” Taub Center for Israel Studies, NYU | April 2015

• 31st Annual Meeting of the Association of Israel Studies Concordia University | June 2015

• Fourth International Workshop on Contemporary Challenges to the Law of Armed Conflict IDC Herzliya | June 2015

• “Paupers and Bankers: Modern Representation of Jews and Money” Birkbeck, University of London | June 2015

• Fourth Annual Conference on Israel Studies, European Association of Israel Studies University of Cagliari, Italy | September 2015

• San Diego-Israel Water Innovation Roundtable UC San Diego | March 2016

• Israel and the Media Brandeis University | April 2016

• Israel Forum City University London | May 2016

• “Smart and Sustainable Cities” u Y&S Nazarian Center for Israel Studies, UCLA | May 2016

• Fifth International Workshop on Contemporary Challenges to the Law of Armed Conflict IDC Herzliya | June 2016

• Fifth Annual Conference on Israel Studies, European Association of Israel Studies SOAS University of London | September 2016

• “Israel Week: The Future of Israel Studies in the Czech Republic” Prague Center for Jewish Studies, Charles University | October 2016

• “Balancing Unity & Diversity: Israel’s Changing Society & Politics” The Arizona Center for Judaic Studies, UA | December 2016

Public Discourse Events SupportIn addition to convening the Leadership Summit, the Israel Institute facilitates and supports multiple

academic conferences in the United States, Europe, and Israel through its Public Discourse Events Program.

The Institute has co-sponsored over 40 conferences since its founding in 2012.

Conference highlights from 2015 and 2016 include:

Israel and the Media

Schusterman Center for Israel StudiesBrandeis University

Brandeis UniversityApril 3-4, 2016

Follow and tweet about the conference with hashtag #SCIS

SUNDAY, APRIL 3, 2016 3:30 - 6:45 PMOlin-Sang Auditorium, Mandel QuadKeynote Address and Inaugural Ilan Troen Lecture on Contemporary Israel Affairs

Ethan Bronner, senior editor at Bloomberg News and former Jerusalem bureau chief for The New York Times

MONDAY, APRIL 4, 2016 9:00 AM - 3:30 PM

Sherman Hall, Hassenfeld Conference CenterPanels

Changing Landscape of the MediaIsraeli Media and Portrayal of the ConflictCoverage of Israel by Jewish Newspapers

FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC PROGRAM AND REGISTRATION AT BRANDEIS.EDU/ISRAELCENTER/NEWSEVENTS


Think Tank CollaborationsThe Israel Institute advances the public discourse on Israel by promoting Israel-focused work at policy and

research institutions. In pursuit of this mission, the Institute supports senior fellows and research assistants,

as well as various programmatic initiatives, at leading think tanks around the world. Examples of recent think

tank collaborations include:

“ When most people think about sustainability, the first thing that comes to their mind isn’t ‘Israel Studies.’ In this regard, one major objective of the ‘Smart and Sustainable Cities’ conference was to reach beyond our typical audience to a broad group of students, faculty, professionals, and the public by focusing on the future of sustainable cities and what Israel has to offer. Over 400 attendees learned from Israeli panelists about Israel’s expertise and accomplishments in water, energy and other critical areas for urban sustainability.”

– YORAM COHEN, Director, Y&S Nazarian Center for Israel Studies, UCLA

Supporting several part-time research assistants at the Institute for National Security Studies.

Strengthening and expanding Israel-related research and programming at the Brookings Institutions’ Center for Middle East Policy.

Supporting Brigadier General Shlomo Brom as a Senior Fellow at the Center for American Progress.

Supporting Brigadier General Muni Katz as a Visiting IDF Fellow, as well as several research assistants, at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy.



While significant resources have been invested in sending

diaspora undergraduates to Israel for short stints, opportunities

for postgraduate engagement or professional training are

relatively rare. The ISRAEL RESEARCH INTERNSHIP PROGRAM

seeks to address this gap by placing recent college graduates

at leading research institutions in Israel for the course of an

academic year.

Interns undertake substantive projects during this time, such

as co-authoring research papers, running hack-a-thons and

other public events, producing press publications, and much

more. Additionally, interns have the opportunity to participate

in Institute-organized enrichment activities that expand their

knowledge of modern Israel and the country’s achievements,

complexities, and challenges.

For more information or to apply, please visit

israelinstitute.org/internships.

Our Israeli partners include:

• Institute for National

Security Studies

• Israel Democracy Institute

• Jerusalem Institute for

Israel Studies

• The Moshe Dayan Center

for Middle Eastern and

African Studies

• The Reut Institute

• The Taub Center for Social

Policy Studies

Engaging StudentsAs part of our commitment to creating rich educational experiences for young leaders, the

Israel Institute sponsors internships in Israel for recent graduates. These internships pave the

way for young professionals to gain deeper knowledge and understanding of Israel while

developing critical work experience and practical skills.


During the course of a research internship cycle, the Israel Institute

organizes a number of enrichment days for current interns.

Enrichment days typically include informal conversations with local

scholars and opinion leaders as well as experiential elements, like

walking tours and culinary exploration. This past year, interns took

part in academic lectures, simulations and interactive discussions,

cultural walking tours, and a visit to the Knesset, Israel’s parliament.



In recent years, MOOCs – massive open online

courses – have emerged as a popular form of

learning. The Israel Institute, in partnership with

leading Israeli universities, has designed two open

online courses in Israel Studies. Noted for their open

enrollment and accessible features, these courses are

taught by leading experts on modern Israel to ensure

high academic standards and leverage the benefits of

technology to bring world-class Israel content from a

formal academic setting to a broader arena.

Our first course, “A History of Modern Israel:

From an Idea to a State,” details the formation of

contemporary Israel. Developed in partnership with

Tel Aviv University, it launched via the Coursera

platform in the fall of 2015 and has already enrolled

over 8,000 students. Our second course, “Israel:

State and Society,” was developed in partnership

with Hebrew University’s Faculty of Social Sciences

and will go live in the current academic year.

Expanding Our ReachThe Israel Institute looks beyond the traditional classroom, bringing first-rate Israel Studies

content to new audiences through online education.

As the educational landscape continues to

evolve, the Institute has the potential to bring

Israel-focused education to new audiences who

otherwise might not have the opportunity to study

the country, ranging from students at universities

that do not have the means or resources to offer

classes on Israel, to non-profit professionals, to

secondary school and community educators

seeking quality Israel-based curricula.

“Israel: State and Society,” developed in partnership with Hebrew University, will go live in the 2016-2017 academic year.

“ Fantastic course that gives a quick, yet thorough survey of Modern Israeli history. I would recommend this course to any history ‘buff’ or lay person looking to increase their knowledge about modern Israel!”

– Online review, July 13, 2016

“ Excellent content and delivery. Gave me a good perspective of history around Israel and Palestine.”

– Online review, June 25, 2016

Interested in taking “The History of Modern Israel: From an Idea to a State” on Coursera? Learn more and enroll

online at: www.coursera.org/learn/history-israel.


Dr. Ariel Ilan RothExecutive Director

Dr. Erika FalkProgram Director

Marge GoldwaterDirector of Arts and Cultural Programs

Noa Levanon KleinAssociate Director for Development, Communications, and Strategy

Dr. Ilai SaltzmanAssociate Director for Academic Programs

Jill WylerProgram Coordinator

Abby Bergren Communications Coordinator

Kerren MarcusOffice Manager

Contact UsFor more information on our diverse range of programs and

initiatives, including program eligibility requirements, application

information, and a listing of current and former fellows, please visit

www.israelinstitute.org.

The Israel Institute also publishes an annual Guide to Experts, a

directory of our talented grantees. The Guide is designed to help our

partners discover experts on modern Israel across a broad range of

subjects, who can provide advanced information on Israel through

lectures, panel discussions, workshops, and other like events.

To request this year’s Guide or to contact us about a specific expert,

please email [email protected].

From left to right: Noa Levanon Klein, Abby Bergren, Kerren Marcus, Ariel Ilan Roth, Itamar Rabinovich, Erika Falk, Jill Wyler, Marge Goldwater. Not pictured: Ilai Saltzman.

Israel Institute Staff

Israel Institute1250 Eye Street, NW, Suite 710Washington, DC 20005

General InquiriesKerren MarcusP: (202) 289-1431E: [email protected]

Academic Programs Dr. Erika FalkP: (202) 289-4519E: [email protected]

Schusterman Visiting Israeli Artist ProgramMarge GoldwaterP: (212) 683-1979E: [email protected]


Board of Directors Ambassador Itamar RabinovichPresident, Israel Institute

Lisa EisenVice President, Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation

Prof. Noam StillmanEmeritus Schusterman/Josey Professor of Judaic History and Founding Director, Center for Judaic & Israel Studies, University of Oklahoma

Irma WallinPresident, Wallin Group, Inc.

Mark G. YudofFormer president of the University of California, former chancellor of the University of Texas System, and former president of the University of Minnesota

Advisory Board Prof. Robert AbzugDirector, Schusterman Center for Jewish Studies, University of Texas at Austin

Prof. Robert AlterEmeritus Professor of Hebrew and Comparative Literature, University of California at Berkeley

Prof. Kenneth A. BambergerThe Rosalinde and Arthur Gilbert Foundation Professor of Law; Faculty Director, Berkeley Institute for Jewish Law and Israel Studies, University of California at Berkeley

Prof. Michael BrennerSeymour and Lillian Abensohn Chair in Israel Studies, American University; Professor of Jewish History and Culture, University of Munich

Prof. Yoram CohenProfessor of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering (CBE), UCLA

Prof. Alan CraigPears Lecturer in Israel and Middle East Studies, University of Leeds

Prof. David EllensonDirector of the Schusterman Center for Israel Studies; Visiting Professor in the Department of Near Eastern and Judaic Studies, Brandeis University

Prof. Clive JonesProfessor of Regional Security; Deputy Head, School of Government and International Affairs, Durham University

Prof. Fania Oz-SalzbergerDirector, The Posen Forum for Jewish European and Israeli Political Thought, Faculty of Law, University of Haifa

Prof. Derek PenslarSamuel Zacks Professor of Jewish History, University of Toronto; Visiting Professor of History, Harvard University

Prof. Yoram PeriDirector, Joseph and Alma Gildenhorn Institute for Israel Studies, University of Maryland

Prof. Elie RekhessCrown Visiting Professor in Israel Studies, Associate Director for Israel Studies, Professor of History, Northwestern University

Prof. Arieh SaposnikAssociate Professor, Ben-Gurion Institute for the Study of Israel and Zionism, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev

Lynn SchustermanFounder and Co-Chair, Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation

Prof. Anita ShapiraProfessor Emerita, Tel Aviv University; Founder, Yitzhak Rabin Center for Israel Studies, Tel Aviv University

Prof. Colin ShindlerEmeritus Professor, School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London

James SnyderAnne and Jerome Fisher Director, The Israel Museum, Israel

Prof. Kenneth W. SteinFounding Director, Institute for the Study of Modern Israel, Emory University; Founding President of the Center for Israel Education, Atlanta

Prof. Ilan TroenPresident, Association for Israel Studies; Stoll Family Chair in Israel Studies, Brandeis University

Prof. Vered Vinitzky-SeroussiProfessor, Faculty of Social Sciences, Hebrew University of Jerusalem

Dr. Tamara Cofman WittesDirector, Center for Middle East Policy, Brookings Institution

Prof. Ronald W. ZweigDirector, Taub Center for Israel Studies, New York University

Our Boards

2016-2017 PROGRAM CATALOG

Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation

Jim Joseph Foundation

Leichtag Foundation

Koret Foundation

Diane P. & Guilford Glazer Donor Advised Fund

Safaho Foundation

David S. and Karen A. Shapira Foundation

Major Current and Past Supporters of the Israel Institute Include:

Paul E. Singer Foundation

Steinhardt Foundation for Jewish Life

Abramson Family Foundation

Lucius N. Littauer Foundation

UJA-Federation of New York

Jewish United Fund/Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago

Jewish Federation & Family Services, Orange County

EDMUND GALL / WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

1250 Eye Street, NW, Suite 710

Washington, DC 20005

P: (202) 289-1431

E: [email protected]

www.israelinstitute.org

The Israel Institute works in partnership with leading

academic, research, and cultural institutions to

enhance knowledge and study of modern Israel in

the United States and around the world.

RON HENZEL / WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

Our mission - Israel Institute · Our mission The Israel Institute is dedicated to strengthening the field of Israel Studies in order to promote knowledge ... École supérieure de

Documents