American Fellows receive in-depth knowledge about Dead Sea Scrolls
In January, the American fellows joined postdoctoral fellow and Dead Sea scrolls expert, Dr. Jeff Cross at the Israel Museum in Jerusalem for an insightful lecture on the scrolls, diving into his expertise and research. They also explored the museum's impressive collections of art, archaeology, and history, and ended the day at the Machane Yehuda market sampling local treats.
Fulbright American Fellows attend stunning Batsheva performance
Founded in 1964, The Batsheva Dance Company is renowned internationally for its bold choreographic voice, shaped by house choreographer Ohad Naharin, and for the exceptional quality of its dancers.
Riveting Presentations at Fulbright Bi-Annual Postdoctoral Seminar
In March, Fulbright Israel recently hosted our bi-annual Postdoctoral Seminar, bringing together our talented postdocs for research presentations and professional development. Our three new postdoctoral fellows shared insights into their research: Dr. Ben Israeli on Wave Turbulence from Atoms to Oceans, Dr. Frankee Lyons on Toward a Global History of Postwar Polish Jewry, and Dr. Justin Oh on Dealing with Chance in Computation. Following the presentations, Fulbright Israel postdoctoral alum, Dr. Josh Porat-Dahlerbruch and Professor Margaret Rosenzweig from the University of Pittsburgh, led an insightful session on preparing for the U.S. academic job market. The seminar concluded with a conversation with Dr. Erika Tritle, a Fulbright postdoctoral alum, on the teacher-scholar model and how to maximize the Fulbright experience. As always, it was inspiring to gather with our exceptional postdoctoral fellows, hear about their groundbreaking research, and provide them with valuable tools for their academic journeys ahead.
NG Seminar for Israeli fellows in the U.S.
In April, we held the National Geographic Storytellers Collective Workshop, in Washington, D.C., for the Fulbright Israel 2024-2025 fellows. Over two days, participants, guided by National Geographic explorers, learned to craft powerful visual narratives through hands-on activities. For the final presentation project, fellows presented stories via images, showcasing their newfound skills in visual storytelling that will enhance their future scientific and academic storytelling to diverse audiences. The personalized feedback and peer interactions fostered a collaborative learning environment, leaving participants confident in their ability to use images to make a lasting impact.
In addition to the workshop, a reception was held for the fellows, with honorary guests from ECA, including Mary Kirk, Director of the Office of Academic Exchange Programs at the U.S. Department of State; Jordanna Enrich, Senior Director of Fulbright Student and Scholar Programs at IIE; representatives from the Israel Embassy in the U.S. Fulbright Israel Board member, Pamela Reeves delivered a heartfelt speech in which she honored the fellows, emphasizing how much they are appreciated and how their work contributes to the strengthening of bi-national connections between Israel and the U.S.
Learning Empathy through Art
In May, Fulbright Israel’s American scholars and students paid a special visit to the exhibition Re-Empathy at the Genia Schreiber University Art Gallery at Tel Aviv University. Led by Fulbright Israel alumna Dana Golan Miller, the gallery director, the event explored themes of empathy, social bias, and responses to pain through the lens of contemporary art and academic research.
Participants also heard from another Fulbright alumna, Professor Ilit Ferber of Tel Aviv University’s Department of Philosophy, who shared insights from her research and collaboration with the artist. Her talk deepened the group’s understanding of the exhibition and sparked meaningful discussion around the role of empathy in both art and society.
Fulbright Annual Dinner for U.S. and Israeli Fellows
In May, we held our Annual Reception for Israeli students about to depart for the U.S. and for our current U.S. fellows. American fellows, who are completing their fellowship, received certificates from the Deputy U.S. Ambassador to Israel, Stephanie Hallett, who addressed the audience and generously hosted the event at the DCM residence.
Board member, Professor Ehud Gazit, addressed the guests with a heartwarming account of the significance of the exchange program, highlighting the achievements of fellows and the program being inclusive to all Israeli citizens. Fulbright’s Distinguished Fellow, Professor Eric Cline, told the participants that although he is busy with his academic writing, he is always acting as a proud ambassador of Fulbright.
