University. We hope in the future to explore
new scholarship that will be appearing.
Many of our Jewish Studies students go
on to graduate, professional and law school,
hoping to prepare to help bring peace to
the Middle East, work for strengthened ties
between the U.S. and Israel, or improve social
relations and protect rights in the United
States. Many will surely be the future leaders
of the Michigan Jewish community.
Our program contributes to better under-
standing on campus about Jews, Jewish his-
tory, and Jewish life in Europe, America and
the Middle East.
One of our recent graduates was in the
first group of Heritage Legacy Fellows,
a scholarship that supports work with
Washington think tanks that seek to support
democracy in the Middle East. Another was
assistant director of the Anti-Defamation
League/Michigan and now is studying
diplomacy at the Herzilya Graduate School

in Israel.
A recipient of the Outstanding MSU
Senior Award this year is a James Madison
International Relations student who is a
Jewish Studies specialist. Two Jewish Studies
specialists will attend a special Princeton
seminar in Jewish philosophy and religion
this summer.
Equally exciting, 35 or more students will
study abroad in Israel in two faculty-led
summer programs that are described in a
separate piece.
Students are helped to study in Israel by
a generous endowment, provided by Detroit
industrialist and philanthropist Edward Levy
Jr., that supports many scholarships to stu-
dent leaders. Support is available for students
to do internships in Israel; these past two
years, students interned at the U.S. Embassy
(one) and the Jerusalem Post (two).
Having dedicated faculty in Jewish Studies
provides numerous opportunities for stu-

dents to do independent studies, research
projects, senior honors theses and other
projects working closely with faculty. Some
graduate students are being attracted to do
Jewish-related research on European and
Middle Eastern topics. Our faculty members
give generously of their time and offer advis-
ing and encouragement.
We believe in our program and assist MSU
annually to recruit Jewish students from
Southeast Michigan, mounting a recruit-
ment event at the Jewish Community Center
in West Bloomfield that is named after the
late Jewish Studies Advisory Board member
Gerald Kirschner. We offer our support to
MSU Hillel, speaking at selected events,
jointly planning events and sharing in what
has come to be remarked as a true Jewish
Renaissance at MSU. We are not, however, for
Jews alone — we offer academic courses and
opportunities for all interested students at
MSU interested to learn about Jewish life and

history, Judaism, Jewish thought and Jewish
experience.
Of special assistance in our work has
been the untiring effort of a Jewish Studies
Advisory Board led by Birmingham attorney
Michael Serling. We would not be where we
are today without the active leadership, advo-
cacy, fundraising and support of our Board.
What was once central in Jewish life
— Europe — has become peripheral; what
were once peripheral — North America and
Israel — have become central. Our program
studies this huge transformation during
the past century and offers opportunities to
study Jewish life in the two contemporary
centers.
Our program also focuses increasingly on
the vitality and diversity of the Jewish people
whether in the broad diaspora or in Israel. 0

Kenneth Waltzer is director of the MSU

Jewish Studies Program.

Summer Opportunity

Study Abroad provides a taste of Israel.

T

hirty-five or more MSU students are par-
ticipating in two Study Abroad programs to
Israel this summer sponsored by the MSU
Jewish Studies Program.
As the Michael and Elaine Serling and Friends
Professor of Israel Studies, I am leading a four-week,
eight-credit program on Israeli politics and society,
based at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem. Preceding
this, Professor Eric Aronoff of the Residential College
of Arts and Humanities is leading students on a 21/2
week, four-credit program focused on the environment
and sustainability in Israel.
In the earlier program in June, students will meet
with local academics, scientists and non-governmen-
tal organizations working on environmental projects,
while also learning about ideas about nature and
landscape in Israeli culture. Much learning will be
hands-on. Students will explore the ways environmen-
tal issues affect Israel and intersect with larger regional
political issues.
The group will travel to three key areas of the coun-
try, each a unique environment: Jerusalem and its
surroundings, the Negev desert and the Upper Galilee.
In Jerusalem, students will meet with experts from
Hebrew University and with several environmental
organizations, including joint Israeli-Palestinian
groups dealing with issues affecting both communities.
From Jerusalem, students will also travel west to
sites like Sataf to learn about ancient agricultural
techniques and southeast to learn about environ-
mental issues and ecotourism in the Dead Sea region.

Students will then travel into the Arava
a "think tank" that is a forum for creative
Valley of the Negev desert, where they will
thinking on Israel's main challenges.
spend several days living and learning at the
The group will meet with members of
ecovillage Kibbutz Lotan, studying sustain-
Israeli social movements and hear from
able living, including organic gardening,
Israeli academics on Israeli political cul-
alternative building techniques, grey water
ture, immigrant experience in Israel and
reclamation and use of solar energy. They
the peace process. Students put all of this
will visit the Jacob Blaustein Institute for
learning into action during the last week
Desert Research in Sde Boker, tour the Ben
with a simulated Israeli campaign and
Gurion National Solar Energy Center and
election.
meet with experts working on desert agri-
With an archeologist guide, the group
Yael Aronoff
culture and wildlife protection and species
will take several tours. In Jerusalem, they
Speci al to the
reintroduction.
will visit sites holy to all three monothe-
Jewi sh News
Finally, the students will travel to the
istic religions, tour the remains of the old
Upper Galilee where, with faculty in envi-
City of David from 1000 BCE and head
ronmental science at Tel Chai College, they will learn
to Masada and Ein Gedi, the Dead Sea and Qumran
about and work with a variety of environmental
(where the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered).
projects, including wetlands preservation in the Hula
Students will visit Jaffa on the Mediterranean and
Nature Reserve, reforestation in the Biriya forest, and
Haifa, a model for harmonious mixing of Jewish and
water and soil projects at Tel Dan, one source of the
Palestinian Israelis. They will visit a Druze village, see
Jordan River. Along the way, students will be able to
Caesarea, explore an ocean-side Roman administrative
experience and enjoy the sheer beauty and variety of
center and visit an Israeli kibbutz.
the stunning natural landscape in Israel.
During their time in Jerusalem, students will see
I will begin the second program in late June, teach-
Yad Vashem, the Israel Museum and more. Students
ing a course on Israeli society and politics based at the
will have free time to snorkel in Eilat, dance and swim
Hebrew University in the Rothberg School Summer
in Tel Aviv, explore different neighborhoods and mar-
Institute in Israeli Studies. Students also will take a
kets of Jerusalem, listen to jazz concerts and attend
course on the history of modern Israel with Professor
the world-famous Jerusalem Film Festival. It will be a
David Mendelsson. I will integrate the lessons learned
memorable learning experience! ❑
in the classroom with field trips, visiting the Supreme
Court, the Knesset and the Israel Democracy Institute,
Yael Aronoff is MSU professor of Israel Studies.

May 20 • 2010

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