About SIIS

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At the Summer Institute for Israel Studies, faculty from universities in North America and around the world participate in seminars at Brandeis and in Israel that will help them design courses in Israel Studies for their home universities.

Now in its tenth year, over 200 fellows have completed SIIS and taught thousands of students with syllabi developed at SIIS.

At Brandeis
During the first two weeks, SIIS fellows spend two weeks in residence at Brandeis and participate in seminars taught by distinguished Israel Studies scholars. These seminars focus on Israel’s society, history, politics, economics, culture, foreign affairs, and diplomacy. Fellows will be required to present syllabi for the courses they plan to teach on their home campuses. Accommodations are in shared suites at the university's newest residence halls.

In Israel
In Israel, fellows meet with scholars, government officials, writers, artists, public intellectuals, and Jewish and Arab community leaders. Fellows also visit select historical and cultural sites. Participation in this portion of the Summer Institute is highly recommended but optional. Click here for a list of select Summer Institute Faculty in Israel. Accommodations are in single rooms in hotels.

Fellowships
Brandeis University will cover travel expenses (within North America), accommodations and most meals. Fellows participating in the full course of the Summer Institute will receive a stipend of up to $2,500. Fellows participating solely in the Brandeis seminar will receive a stipend of up to $1,500.

Israel Studies Resources
We have created a vast online resource center known as Jellyfish which allows our fellows to access SIIS syllabi, journals, articles, archives, websites and more.

Following the program, fellows participate in an SIIS listserve, providing a community of peers to exchange ideas on Israel Studies course development and research.

Israel Studies Community
The Institute further supports SIIS fellows by inviting them to attend webinars and workshops with an Israel Studies academic community from Brandeis and beyond. This community includes Brandeis permanent and visiting faculty in Israel Studies, Brandeis post-doctoral fellows, and members of Israel Studies centers and associations worldwide.

In 2013, our Zionism in the Twenty-First Century conference included a fellows workshop with Anita Shapira "On Constructing Narratives" using her new book as a reference -  Israel: A History.
Our webinar series for that academic year included discussions about Israel's recent election, its post-1948 landscape, and the Arab sector.

In 2009, our workshop On History, Memory and Commemoration featured a discussion by Amos Oz of his novel, A Tale of Love and Darkness.


SIIS Fellows’ Academic Homes
Fellows have come from universities in the United States and across the world. Institutions range from small liberal arts colleges, to Jewish and Christian academic institutions, U.S. military academies, large research universities, and the Ivy League. Click here for a complete list of Fellows’ institutions.