12 | MAY 23 • 2024
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any American Jews
visit Israel as tour-
ists, especially if
they have relatives there. In
addition, a significant number
of American Jewish students
travel to Israel for college
studies. Modern Orthodox
and Orthodox Jewish students
often spend a year or more at
seminaries in Israel after high
school graduation, and other
young American Jews partic-
ipate in a Birthright trip or a
year abroad academic program
in Israel.
Israeli universities have
welcomed international stu-
dents for decades. Hebrew
University has students from
90 countries, and other Israeli
universities also have large
international student bodies.
For Israeli universities, these
students help to diversify their
student populations, enrich
their research and help devel-
op positive connections with
Jews and non-Jews throughout
the world.
“We have had special pro-
grams for foreign students
since our inception 99 years
ago. We have strong ties with
the diaspora, and interna-
tional students are a very
integrated part of the culture,”
explains Naama Oryan, direc-
tor, International Marketing
Division, Hebrew University of
Jerusalem. She adds that about
10% of their 25,000 students
are from outside Israel.
Studying at Hebrew
University gives “Jewish
students an opportunity to
explore Israel at its leading
university. It brings together
like-minded people who want
the best education and expe-
rience. We want to enhance
people’s futures and careers,”
Oryan says.
Tel Aviv University (TAU)
has 1,800 international stu-
dents among a student body of
30,000, according to Professor
Milette Shamir,
TAU vice presi-
dent, International
Academic
Collaboration.
They partici-
pate in a range
of short-term
immersive and
degree programs.
International students bene-
fit from “being in Tel Aviv, the
heart of the start-up nation, in
the largest university in Israel,
which is metropolitan and
pluralistic. It gives people an
opportunity to connect with
their heritage,” Shamir says.
Bar-Ilan University has
100 international students,
most from North America,
in English undergraduate
programs and more than
400 in graduate programs. In
addition, there are about 200
exchange students at Bar-Ilan,
explains Moshe Lewenstein,
deputy president, International
School.
International
students in Israel
benefit from the
academic excel-
lence of Israeli
universities, the
experience of
living in Israel
and, for Jewish
individuals, the opportunity to
strengthen ties to Judaism and
Israel. Special staff at Israeli
universities provide interna-
tional students with support
as well as organized social and
religious activities.
Programs for international
students at most institutions
are offered in English. Hebrew
language classes are available,
and many foreign students
take advantage
of them. Bar-Ilan
has more than 100
gap year students,
most from North
America. Rabbi
Ari Kahn, Bar-
Ilan’s director of
Foreign Student
Programs, explains
Israeli universities offer extensive options for
English-speaking students.
Study in Israel
SHARI S. COHEN CONTRIBUTING WRITER
OUR COMMUNITY
Israeli University
Programs for
Foreign Students
Undergraduate:
• Gap Year (usually for recent
high school graduates)
• Summer programs, which may
include volunteer work
• Exchange programs in
conjunction with American
colleges and universities
• One-year and BA programs
Graduate:
• Master’s degree programs
• Doctoral and post-doctoral
programs
• Special research opportunities
Prof. Milette
Shamir,
Tel Aviv
University
TEL AVIV UNIVERSITY
Prof. Moshe
Lewenstein,
Bar-Ilan
University
BAR-ILAN UNIVERSITY
Rabbi
Ari Kahn,
Bar-Ilan
University
BAR-ILAN UNIVERSITY
Weizmann
Institute of
Science,
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WEIZMANN INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE