By Susan Lapidus
SAN DIEGO — Having just returned from Israel, I am more inspired than ever to lead the Murray Galinson San Diego-Israel Initiative in bringing Israel Studies to our local university campuses.
The purpose of my trip was to meet with esteemed Israeli professors about teaching positions at San Diego universities as visiting scholars, with the goal of educating university students and broadening perspectives.
In the eight years of MGSDII’s existence our visiting Israeli professors have come from a variety of backgrounds in Israeli society to provide in-depth understanding of Israeli, Palestinian, and Middle East history and politics as well as learning about Israel and the region through disciplines as varied as film, sustainability, economics, journalism and more.
MGSDII is not an affinity space, where the goal is to build community, nor an advocacy group, where the goal is to coalesce around shared ideology. MGSDII is an academic organization to benefit the campus community through a broader marketplace of ideas based on academic discourse and facts.
The last nine months have presented new challenges as well as new opportunities. Since our inception, MGSDII has encountered faculty members and departments that are less welcoming or even completely closed to visiting academics from and course content about Israel.
However, since October, some of these objections to the academic study of Israel have escalated to soft boycotts sometimes led by professors in important departments related to the study of modern Israel and to current events. At the same time, students across the board have expressed increased desire to learn about Israel and the region. Registration in Israel-related courses, including courses taught by MGSDII professors is at its highest levels ever.
We are more determined than ever to uphold the principles of academic freedom and foster intellectual exchange and to make sure that students have access to these resources which seek to open rather than close academic discourse.
Not only are registration and enrollment in courses up, but student reviews are extremely positive. Visiting History Professor Amos Nadan was named as a “most influential faculty member at SDSU.” And Professor Dan Geva’s course reviews during Spring quarter at UCSD were some of the highest at the university. A few excerpts below:
MGSDII Visiting Professor Dr. Dan Geva
“I think this course needs to be a requirement course, it goes beyond school and education, it is a life-helping class.”
“…I learned a lot about myself in this class and believe that it has helped me to grow my understanding of empathy and critical decision-making.”
“…I feel like I have learned more in these 10 weeks than I have all three years I’ve been in university. You inspired me, you fueled my dreams and aspirations, you taught me the truth.”
The professors and artists I met with in Israel are deeply concerned about what is happening on American campuses and are ready to join us in bringing broader opportunities for engagement and education. I met with faculty members across disciplines who inspired me with their hope, strength, and belief in the power of education to make a difference and the example that Israel holds as a lab for learning.
Please help us in bringing Israel courses to local campuses.
We ask you to speak up. If you are a professor, help us from the inside. If you are a community member and have influence at local universities, express your support for more Israel content on campus. If you are a student, request more options to learn about Israel in the classroom. I promise to report back on our progress.
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Susan Lapidus is the executive director of the Murray Galinson San Diego-Israel Initiative.