Fulbright establishes first Young Professionals Networking event, connecting alumni as they venture onto the next part of their journey
Israeli Fulbright alumni from the last decade, gathered this week for a professional networking event. For this first gathering of its kind, the alumni, motivators and trailblazers who studied and trained at the leading higher education institutions in the United States, met. The event focused on connecting, discussing and sharing ideas for future initiatives that will impact Israeli society and emphasized the importance of the Fulbright network and social capital, and enabled thoughts and initiatives on the next chapter of our alumni Fulbright journey. Thank you to Shir Eshkol and Yonat Ben Ozer, our recent MA program alumni for the initiative and to Raji Awies for the wonderful hospitality.
Nina Simon gives inspirational talk on being relevant, at the joint Fulbright Israel and Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design Public Humanities Conference
Nina Simon described as a “museum visionary” opened the first Public Humanities Conference, initiated by Fulbright Israel and Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design in Jerusalem in May, Being relevant, she said, is the key to success. It starts by asking who are the audiences or the communities I really care about and what do they value. Because, she said, we can’t say “we exist for everyone,” if the people coming in the door do not look like everyone in our community.
Nina discussed relevant art pertaining to museums and other public institutions and how, as the Executive Director of the Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History, she led an institutional turnaround based on grassroots community participation. The participants were particularly moved by Nina’s account of her project working with foster children, who were paired up with artists for a year, so as to present their personal stories through exhibits. The children initiated, curated, developed and guided the exhibition that, as stated by one of the children, was about, from and for them. This was the most viewed exhibition ever seen at the museum and each of the children established long-lasting ties with other community members.
Nina has spent over twenty years as an exhibit designer, museum director, nonprofit CEO, mentor and advocate for community participation in the arts and is also the author of several books.
Nina discussed relevant art pertaining to museums and other public institutions and how, as the Executive Director of the Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History, she led an institutional turnaround based on grassroots community participation. The participants were particularly moved by Nina’s account of her project working with foster children, who were paired up with artists for a year, so as to present their personal stories through exhibits. The children initiated, curated, developed and guided the exhibition that, as stated by one of the children, was about, from and for them. This was the most viewed exhibition ever seen at the museum and each of the children established long-lasting ties with other community members.
Nina has spent over twenty years as an exhibit designer, museum director, nonprofit CEO, mentor and advocate for community participation in the arts and is also the author of several books.
ETA-ELF enrichment seminar - sharing their experiences in teaching English in Israel
Fulbright Israel held an ETA-ELF enrichment seminar. It was a wonderful opportunity to bring together both our U.S. English Teaching Assistant (ETA) Fellows and English Language Fellows (ELF) allowing them to share experiences, successes, and challenges in teaching English in Israel.
Our ETA fellow, Willow Green, lead a "connecting movement and language" session and the American Center held a session on dealing with different opinions and experiences in the classroom. Participants also discussed and practiced ways to not only convey the English language to their students, but also to create a more immersive experience in doing so. The seminar was held in collaboration with the American Center in Jerusalem.
Our ETA fellow, Willow Green, lead a "connecting movement and language" session and the American Center held a session on dealing with different opinions and experiences in the classroom. Participants also discussed and practiced ways to not only convey the English language to their students, but also to create a more immersive experience in doing so. The seminar was held in collaboration with the American Center in Jerusalem.
First Public Humanities Conference raises issues such as relevance and creativity and their importance to vital aspects of life in Israel
The first Public Humanities Conference, a joint venture of Fulbright Israel and Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design took place in May. Fulbright fellows and alumni, academics, and representatives of cultural and academic institutions as well as participants from government and the third sector attended. They discussed relevance, creativity, and the humanities, and their importance to civil, cultural, economic, and academic life in Israel. U.S. Ambassador Thomas Nides opened the event, together with the president of Bezalel, Professor Adi Stern.
What to expect while on the academic job interview? How to make sure you are professional, authentic, likable, demonstrate your experience, accomplishments, and good fit for the position and the institution, while giving solid examples?
What to expect in academic job interviews? How to make sure you are professional, authentic, likable, demonstrate your experience, accomplishments, and good fit for the position and the institution, while giving solid examples?
Meeting of our Postdoctoral Seminar series for our U.S. Fulbright fellows
In early July we held our second Postdoctoral Seminar series for our U.S. Fulbright fellows.
During this meeting, we had the opportunity to hear from Dr. Roie Levin, a Fulbright fellow at Tel Aviv University about "Decision making under uncertainty" and from Dr. Julia Reed a Fulbright fellow at Bar-Ilan University about "Varieties of Religious Experience and Histories of Scientific Explanation." Their lectures were followed by a fascinating discussion with the fellows who attended.
During this meeting, we had the opportunity to hear from Dr. Roie Levin, a Fulbright fellow at Tel Aviv University about "Decision making under uncertainty" and from Dr. Julia Reed a Fulbright fellow at Bar-Ilan University about "Varieties of Religious Experience and Histories of Scientific Explanation." Their lectures were followed by a fascinating discussion with the fellows who attended.
Fulbright's 20th Pre-Departure Orientation for Israeli fellows held - to prepare them and their families for their upcoming journey to the U.S.
In May, Fulbright's 20th Pre-Departure Orientation was held for Israeli fellows leaving for the U.S. this year.
The PDO incorporates extensive and rich content in order to fully prepare fellows and their families for their upcoming Fulbright experience.
In addition, it is an opportunity for the fellows to interact and network with each other and with alumni from the Fulbright community, who came to share their knowledge.
The PDO incorporates extensive and rich content in order to fully prepare fellows and their families for their upcoming Fulbright experience.
In addition, it is an opportunity for the fellows to interact and network with each other and with alumni from the Fulbright community, who came to share their knowledge.
Fulbright Israel Alumna, Professor Yifat Bitton's impressive career expands as she takes on the role as head of the Public Colleges Forum
Professor Yifat Bitton was recently chosen as the head of the Public Colleges Forum. Bitton, who was a Fulbright Postdoc fellow in 2004 at Harvard University, is a legal academic and social activist for equality, serving as President of Achva Academic College in Israel.
Yifat is a law professor, who has taught as Visiting Professor at NYU, U Chicago and Peking University. Prof. Bitton is a legal academic and social activist, specializing in gender equality, anti-discrimination laws and tort law and has published substantially in these fields. She has been shortlisted twice for Israel’s Supreme Court, making history as the youngest woman to ever appear on the list and the first woman of Mizrahi descent.
Prof. Bitton is the Director and Founder of a number of civil society non-profits, and currently serves as the Chair of "Tmura Center" for the promotion of equality, which she co-founded 15 years ago, and where she has been able to secure numerous legal precedents.
For her long-lasting human rights work, Prof. Bitton has won myriad distinctions, among them: The Alliance Prize for Education and Social Change; The Minister of Social Equality and Israeli President's Award; "Honoris Causa" from of the Israeli Bar Association; The Safra Award for Contribution to Israeli Society; The Hadassah Foundation Bernice Tennenbaum Prize for innovative feminist and many more. Prof. Bitton was also Nominated Forbes' 50 Most Influential Women in Israel.
Yifat is a law professor, who has taught as Visiting Professor at NYU, U Chicago and Peking University. Prof. Bitton is a legal academic and social activist, specializing in gender equality, anti-discrimination laws and tort law and has published substantially in these fields. She has been shortlisted twice for Israel’s Supreme Court, making history as the youngest woman to ever appear on the list and the first woman of Mizrahi descent.
Prof. Bitton is the Director and Founder of a number of civil society non-profits, and currently serves as the Chair of "Tmura Center" for the promotion of equality, which she co-founded 15 years ago, and where she has been able to secure numerous legal precedents.
For her long-lasting human rights work, Prof. Bitton has won myriad distinctions, among them: The Alliance Prize for Education and Social Change; The Minister of Social Equality and Israeli President's Award; "Honoris Causa" from of the Israeli Bar Association; The Safra Award for Contribution to Israeli Society; The Hadassah Foundation Bernice Tennenbaum Prize for innovative feminist and many more. Prof. Bitton was also Nominated Forbes' 50 Most Influential Women in Israel.
A traditional Thanksgiving dinner for U.S. fellows at Fulbright
On Thanksgiving Day the Fulbright office was transformed with fall colors and pumpkins, to welcome the U.S. fellows, who came to enjoy a traditional Thanksgiving dinner, and, as tradition dictates, relay what they are grateful for.
Fulbright Israel holds Annual Dinner Reception for fellows
In June, we held our Annual Dinner Reception for Israeli fellows about to depart for the U.S. and for our U.S. fellows, some of whom are returning to the States. American fellows, who are completing their fellowship, received certificates from the U.S. Ambassador to Israel Thomas Nides, who hosted the event at the residence of the DCM, Stephanie Hallett.
The event, including a jazz ensemble, was attended by board members and committee members as well.
The event, including a jazz ensemble, was attended by board members and committee members as well.
Fulbright hosts holiday gathering as it welcomes 2024
At the end of 2023, we had the pleasure of hosting some of our U.S. fellows in Israel at our office, for a December Holidays gathering.
It was an opportunity to wish all of them a happy and peaceful 2024 as well as a fruitful and successful academic year.
It was an opportunity to wish all of them a happy and peaceful 2024 as well as a fruitful and successful academic year.