12 | MAY 23 • 2024 J N M 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, Main Gate WEIZMANN INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE