Fellow Testimonials

"The Summer Institute gave me the courage and confidence to teach my first course in Modern Israeli History, which succeeded beyond my expectations. The Brandeis seminar taught me the range of major topics and debates in the field, and the unforgettable week in Israel enabled me to meet with the widest variety of experts and cultural figures. One of the most important lessons of the SIIS was that the field of Israel Studies encompasses much more than the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and that contemporary Israeli society is even more vibrant, diverse, and complicated than I thought it was."

                                                 Bruce Thompson
                                                 University of California, Santa Cruz
                                                 Jewish Studies

"As a historian, I am interested in every part of Israeli society and culture and appreciated that we looked at Israel from so many different angles. I loved the more theoretical part at Brandeis and the more ‘hands-on’ approach in Israel. The program was exceptionally well organized and structured."

                                                 Maria Diemling
                                                 Canterbury Christ Church College, UK
                                                 History

"My participation in the Summer Institute increased significantly my credibility as someone with working knowledge of Israel Studies. My ability to speak decisively with grantors and other interlocutors came from the SIIS experience."

                                                 Fred Astren
                                                 San Francisco State University
                                                 Jewish Studies

"Stimulating faculty and travel to Israel profoundly invigorated both my teaching and scholarship. Whether one is a novice or a veteran when it comes to teaching Israel and the contemporary Middle East, this richly interdisciplinary and innovative program offers thought-provoking paradigms and crucial contexts for future exploration. I give the Institute my highest endorsement"


                                                 Ranen Omer-Sherman
                                                 University of Miami
                                                 English


"SIIS provided one of the most intenive learning experiences I've ever had. This is due, mainly, to incredible faculty and participants all focused for three weeks on one central goal: understanding why the modern state of Israel came to be, how it struggles to address its unique problems, and how it can continue to exist. It was a privilege to be a part of such a program."

                                                 David Brusin
                                                 University of Wisconsin
                                                 Jewish Studies

"SIIS was one of the most rewarding professional experiences of my career."

                                                 Robert Kerr
                                                 University of Central Oklahoma
                                                 Geography