Institute for the Study of Modern Israel
of Emory University

1256 Briarcliff Road A-427N Atlanta, GA 30306    404.727.2798 tel    404.727.2441 fax

       Established in 1998, the Institute for the Study of Modern Israel (ISMI) is an inter-disciplinary and non-degree conferring unit of Emory University. ISMI is situated within the Institute for Jewish Studies. It promotes teaching, research and learning that focuses on Israeli culture, foreign policy, history, society, and politics. Faculty from the Emory University Departments of Anthropology, History, Middle Eastern Studies, Political Science, Sociology, and Religion offer courses exploring aspects of modern Israel and its place in modern Jewish history, the Middle East, and in the Arab-Israeli conflict. A variety of visiting faculty programs, lectures, conferences, and student internships supplement undergraduate and MA degree training.

       Excellent library and information resources and close faculty mentoring provide Emory students with exceptional opportunities to deepen their understanding of Israel and the Middle East. In addition, ISMI encourages students to practice and use their knowledge of Hebrew, Israel, and the Middle East in challenging work-study internships in Israel, Europe, and the United States.

       Rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors are eligible for work opportunities that can, when the opportunity provides, allow them to learn about issues relevant to modern Israel (for example, students work and study as research assistants at policy institutes, universities, and businesses in Israel).

       ISMI's teaching mission reaches beyond Emory's campus to the local, regional, and national communities. In conjunction with the Institute of Jewish Studies, ISMI is establishing a coordinated program of educational outreach to the entire southeast.

       Partner institutions include: the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta and its William Breman Jewish Heritage Museum; the southeastern regional offices of the Anti-Defamation League; the American Jewish Committee; the Israel-American Chamber of Commerce; the Consulate of Israel for Southeastern United States; and the Association for Israel Studies.

       Integral to the work of the Institute for the Study of Modern Israel of Emory University [ISMI] is enhancing the knowledge and scholarship of Israel and the Middle East on the Emory campus and beyond. Steadfastly, the ISMI objectives are being fulfilled through the yearly appointment of visiting faculty, conduct of summer teacher workshops, and publication of scholarly undertakings.

      During the 2006-07 academic year, ISMI is delighted to welcome Dr. Michael Feige, visiting Israeli professor in Sociology. Dr. Feige is teaching courses on Israeli society, not previously offered at Emory. In the fall he is offering, "Visions and Divisions: an Introduction to Israeli Society," and in the spring, "Judaism in Israel: Religion, Society, and Ethnicity." Dr. Feige follows in the footsteps of previously successful Emory-ISMI sponsored visiting professors in Israel Studies: Bruce Maddy-Weitzman, Michael Bar-Zohar, Meir Litvak, Reuvan Hazan, Ofra Bengio, and David Tal.

     Innovative to ISMI's activities in 2005-06 were the conduct of five one-day teacher workshops on modern Israel. Funded by the Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation, the objectives of these workshops aimed at stimulating a deeper understanding of Israeli history and society. Five similar one day workshops will be held in 2006-07. (For their locations, see One-Day Workshops)

    For the seventh summer, ISMI conducted its workshop on modern Israel for pre-collegiate teachers. Under the auspices of  Dr. Ken Stein, ISMI's director, the workshops blend content and pedagogy to create lesson plans and curriculum that public and private school teachers alike can use for teaching Israel and the Middle East. This past summer, forty-five teachers from thirteen states learned from scholarly experts about Israeli history, society, politics, literature, culture, and foreign policy. Teachers did not come to the workshop to be oriented in a political direction, but came to enhance their personal understanding and professional expertise for teaching Israel in their classrooms. They returned to their classrooms with a rich learning experience framed by content gathering, pedagogical sharing, and insighful interaction. The over-riding philosophical objective remains an understanding of Israel in the context of Jewish history, taking it from the exclusive domain of the Arab-Israeli conflict and existential struggles. Since 2003, the  AVI CHAI Foundation of North America has graciously underwritten the costs of these workshops. In 2003 and again in 2006, the Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation sigificantly supported the workshops. Information about the possible conduct of a 2007 summer workshop will be known and made available by December 2006.

       ISMI is not a degree conferring unit of Emory University, nor does it award financial support to students or scholars. For degree conferring programs and financial support, please consult the Emory University Website.

        Established in 1998, ISMI partnered with the Donald A. Tam Institute for Jewish Studies at its formation later that year. ISMI's objectives are to build and strengthen an understanding of modern Israel for Emory students and to inform the general public, which are accomplished through collaborative undertakings with other Emory University units and the sponsorship of visiting professors, lectureships, programs, and conferences. For the general public, ISMI engages in outreach to the media, general community, civic organizations, and educators in their desire to learn about modern Israel. ISMI is not an academic department nor does it confer a degree or award scholarships.

       ISMI achieves its objectives through:

       * The annual appointment of a visiting professorship in Israeli Studies

       * Support for and development in Hebrew and Yiddish languages and literatures

       * Sponsorship of lectures, colloquia, symposia, and conferences

       * Collaborative engagement in economic and social science programs with local, regional, and national organizations

       * Management of summer internship awards underwritten by former Emory students

       * Cooperation with Israeli academic research institutes

       * Conduct of summer workshops for pre-collegiate teachers

       For further information, please contact Ken Stein, Director.