Summer Institute for Israel Studies
The Schusterman Center's Summer Institute for Israel Studies (SIIS) is a one-of-a-kind program dedicated to expanding Israel studies on a global scale. Since 2004, we have prepared 393 professors at 275 institutions in 35 countries on six continents to teach Israel Studies in their respective disciplines. Summer Institute alumni have taught 1,817 courses about Israel to more than 34,651 students worldwide.
Through the Summer Institute, participants develop the knowledge and resources to design an Israel studies course in their discipline to teach at their home institution, and join an ever-expanding network of peers that spans the globe.
The program begins with a 10-day residency at Brandeis. Participants learn from distinguished Israel studies scholars in seminars that cover a wide range of disciplines. Fellows then embark on a 10-day study tour of Israel, meeting with Jewish and Arab intellectuals, politicians and community leaders. The fellowship includes a stipend, travel, accommodations, and most meals. Learn more below.
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Applicants must be actively teaching at a college or university outside of Israel that has approved their plans to introduce a new course on Israel Studies or to substantially integrate it into an existing course.
The program consists of two parts. It begins with a 10-day residency at Brandeis, where SIIS fellows participate in seminars taught by distinguished Israel Studies scholars. Accommodations are in shared suites at a one of the Brandeis residence halls. The seminars focus on Israel’s society, history, politics, culture, foreign affairs, and diplomacy. During this time, the fellows draft syllabi for the courses they plan to teach when they return to their home institution. At the end of the Brandeis residency, fellows are required to present their syllabi at a group workshop, during which they have the opportunity to get constructive feedback.
The group then travels to Israel for a 10-day study tour, where fellows meet with leading figures in public life, the academy and the arts, and visit select historical and cultural sites. Presenters include politicians and civil servants, writers, public intellectuals, and Jewish and Arab community leaders - you can view a sampling from recent years. Group flight travel from the US to Israel and back is covered. Accommodations are in single rooms in hotels.
- Round trip travel from Boston to Tel Aviv and travel within Israel
- Stipend: $2,500 for US residents; $3,000 for those who reside outside the US. Participants may use their stipend to offset the cost of travel between their home city and Boston.
- Accommodations
- Most meals
Fellows have come from nearly 300 universities in the United States and around the world. Institutions range from small liberal arts colleges to Jewish and Christian academic institutions, military academies, large research universities, and the Ivy League. View the list of participating institutions.
