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Fulbright Israel 70

The legacy of Fulbright

Fulbright is a uniquely American enterprise, established in 1946. and continues to reflect American values and ideals with its spirit of exploration, free expression and open dialogue, and innovation.

Felix Bloch in the lab

Professor Felix Bloch - First Fulbright Alumnus to have won a Nobel Prize

American Fulbright alumnus, Professor Felix Bloch was a Nobel Prize Laurate in Physics in 1952. Seven years later, he came from Stanford University to The Hebrew University of Jerusalem in Israel, as a Fulbright Lecturer Fellow. He was the first Fulbright alumni to have won a Nobel Prize.

A nuclear physicist, Bloch’s crowning achievement was the technique he developed for accurately observing and measuring the magnetic properties of nuclear particles, what he called “nuclear induction.” Bloch received half of the Nobel Prize for the discovery of this method, along with American physicist Edward Purcell. Later known as nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), it is the basis of the medical imaging technique, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

1956 Agreement

1956 exchange programs' agreement between the United States and Israel

In 1956 the United States Israel Educational Foundation (USIEF) was established, following the signing of an agreement between the governments of the United States and Israel. The two states pledged to finance bilateral educational programs. Since then, the Commission (also known as Fulbright Israel) has proudly produced 3,781 alumni.
Prof. Benjamin Mazar with Senator William Fulbright

Senator Fulbright visits Israel

Professor Benjamin Mazar, President of The Hebrew University of Jerusalem showing Senator William Fulbright the campus, during the Senator's visit to Israel in 1960. After meeting with the University faculty, and inspecting the Dead Sea scrolls there, Mr. Fulbright went to dinner at the home of Foreign Minister Golda Meir. There he met with Prime Minister David -Ben-Gurion and later held private talks with him.

Fulbright also visited the Lachish area, where Israel implemented one of its most ambitious regional development schemes. He was particularly impressed with the fact that immigrants from many lands were being integrated in the course of the Lachish regional development work, bringing together material resources and intellectual and spiritual resources.
Albright event for website

Fulbright-Albright Anniversary Event

Fulbright Israel is delighted to be co-hosting a special anniversary event with the W.F. Albright Institute of Archaeological Research. The event celebrates 70 years of Fulbright Israel, 125 years of the W.F. Albright Institute of Archaeological Research, and 250 years of the United States of America.

The full-day event will take place on Sunday February 8, 2026, at the Albright Institute in Jerusalem and promises an exciting variety of conversations, research presentations and activities, highlighting contributions of American and Israeli scholars to archaeology, ancient history, and related disciplines.