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)
2016-2017 PROGRAM CATALOG 3
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
4 THE ISRAEL INSTITUTE
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
2016-2017 PROGRAM CATALOG 5
6 THE ISRAEL INSTITUTE
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.
2016-2017 PROGRAM CATALOG 7
“ 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?
8 THE ISRAEL INSTITUTE
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
2016-2017 PROGRAM CATALOG 9
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
10 THE ISRAEL INSTITUTE
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
2016-2017 PROGRAM CATALOG 11
“ 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.
12 THE ISRAEL INSTITUTE
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
2016-2017 PROGRAM CATALOG 13
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.
14 THE ISRAEL INSTITUTE
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.
2016-2017 PROGRAM CATALOG 15
16 THE ISRAEL INSTITUTE
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.
2016-2017 PROGRAM CATALOG 17
“ 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
18 THE ISRAEL INSTITUTE
2016-2017 PROGRAM CATALOG 19
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.”
20 THE ISRAEL INSTITUTE
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
2016-2017 PROGRAM CATALOG 21
“ 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
22 THE ISRAEL INSTITUTE
P U B L I C D I S C O U R S E
• “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
2016-2017 PROGRAM CATALOG 23
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.
24 THE ISRAEL INSTITUTE
P U B L I C D I S C O U R S E
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.
2016-2017 PROGRAM CATALOG 25
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.
26 THE ISRAEL INSTITUTE
P U B L I C D I S C O U R S E
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.
2016-2017 PROGRAM CATALOG 27
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]
28 THE ISRAEL INSTITUTE
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
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