46 | AUGUST 15 • 2024 

A

t a large institution like 
Michigan State University, 
the Serling Institute for 
Jewish Studies and Modern Israel 
creates an academic home base for 
students. From the 
time I registered as a 
Jewish Studies minor, 
I found a welcoming 
and supportive 
environment. The 
Serling Institute’s 
faculty and staff are 
dedicated to helping 
their students succeed 
academically and professionally, 
providing guidance, mentorship 
and resources tailored to their 
individual needs and goals.
Students have found the Serling 
Institute to be a place where their 

curiosity is nurtured and their 
academic pursuits are encouraged. 
One of my peers, also a Jewish 
Studies minor, Sydnie Bernstein 
(Social Relations & Policy, James 
Madison College), reflects, 
“Throughout my undergraduate 
career, the Serling Institute faculty 
leaned into my curiosity. They 

challenged my thinking as I was 
exposed to the interdisciplinary 
contexts of Jewish history, 
literature, language and culture, 
all while allowing me to veer into 
distinct avenues of research and 
discovery.”
Another recently graduated 
student, Jewish Studies minor 

and friend, Andrew Schulman 
(Social Relations & Policy, James 
Madison College), notes, “The 
Serling Institute was an essential 
component of my college career, 
offering unique educational 
programs, several scholarship 
opportunities and a supportive 
community to last far beyond my 
time at MSU.”
The Serling Institute is 
committed to advising Jewish 
Studies minors each step of the way 
through graduation. To support 
academic pursuits, the Serling 
Institute provides a dozen student
scholarships. The Levy Scholarship, 
for example, supports academic 
study or internships in Israel as 
well as Hebrew courses while at 
MSU. This ensures a preparation 

for college students 
by college students

Living Your Learning

Exploring Jewish histories, cultures, languages and Judaism at MSU.

Ben 
Goldstein
jewish@edu 
writer

Jewish Studies 
students at the 2024 
Spring reception

Andrew 
Schulman

leaned into my curiosity. They 

Sydnie 
Burnstein

