Schusterman Center for Israel Studies

After the Summer Institute for Israel Studies (SIIS), which includes a two-week seminar at Brandeis University and a ten-day study tour in Israel, you will be able to create and teach courses in Israel Studies at your home institution. During the Brandeis residency, you will attend seminars given by distinguished Israel Studies scholars, in disciplines such as Israeli history, politics, sociology, literature, cinema, music, and more. You will discuss foundational and current Israel Studies scholarship, and learn about debates within the field. In Israel, you will meet with scholars, government officials, writers, artists, public intellectuals, and community leaders. You will visit cultural and historical sites, and you will have the opportunity to contextualize what you heard in the Brandeis portion of the Institute.  See fellow testimonials for more details.

Following the program, SIIS Fellows become part of an online community of Israel studies scholars through participation in an SIIS Listserv and Facebook page, open to all SIIS cohorts from 2004. The Schusterman Center invites Fellows to participate in an annual conference and in a webinar series of lectures. Additionally, Fellows are welcome at all programs at Brandeis during the academic year. Fellows also have access to additional resources on our Online Resource Site for Israel studies.

No. Most Fellows do not have any Hebrew language background, though some have been functional or fluent in the Hebrew language. Hebrew language proficiency is not required.

This application form contains everything you need to know. Keep in mind that your personal statement should explain your background and interest in Israel Studies, your plans for introducing an Israel Studies course at your home institution, and your expectations from participation in the Summer Institute. Important: one of your two recommendation letters must be from your department chair or a senior administrator promising that your home institution will offer the new course in Israel Studies that you are developing.

Applications are due January 31, 2020.

You will be notified in early March.

Fellows come from colleges and universities across the United States and the world. Complete listing of Fellows’ home institutions

Fellows come come from all disciplines in the humanities and social sciences, including history, political science, geography, film studies, literature, Jewish studies, economics, sociology, anthropology, Middle Eastern Studies, international relations, law and security studies.

At Brandeis, you'll be staying in individual rooms within shared suites at the university's newest residence halls. You will be sharing bathroom and kitchen. In Israel, you'll stay in single rooms at hotels.

At Brandeis, the program covers all meals taken on campus. There are both vegetarian and kosher options available. Any meals taken off-campus are at the Fellows' expense.

In Israel, the hotel provides a magnanimous buffet breakfast, and the group often eats lunch at local restaurants or is provided lunch boxes while on the road. Dinner may be provided at the hotel or at the Fellows' expense at venues around town. At times, the group may need to eat in non-kosher venue; special kosher meals will be provided if requested. Other dietary restrictions are also accommodated (vegan, specific allergies).

There is wireless Internet access throughout the Brandeis campus. In Israel, most of the group's hotels offer free Wi-Fi as does the tour bus.