Born in Ukraine, Ahad Ha’am joined Hovevei Zion (Lovers of Zion) in Odesa and attended the First Zionist Congress but opposed political Zionism. He preferred cultural Zionism, creating a Jewish cultural center in Palestine as a buffer against Diaspora assimilation. He wrote for, founded and edited Hebrew journals. He served on the board and raised foundational money for the Technion. He advised Chaim Weizmann on the Balfour Declaration.
“The Struggle for Israeli Identity” Nahum Karlinsky, Graduate Seminar, Ben-Gurion University, Spring 2016 We start by outlining the construction of Israel’s collective identity during the state’s formative years. We then discuss the shattering of that…
“The Inter-Arab System: Unity and Division From World War I to the ‘Arab Spring’” Bruce Maddy-Weitzman, Graduate Seminar, Tel Aviv University, Spring 2016 This course seeks to understand one of the most important factors shaping…
“Israel: Religion, Society, Culture, and Identity” Dr. Reda Mansour, Emory University, Fall 2017 This course explores the issues of religion, society, culture and identity in Israel. Israel is an emergent society composed of Jewish immigrants…
“Israeli Diplomacy: History, and Politics” Dr. Reda Mansour, Emory University, Fall 2017 This course explores Israeli diplomacy from the state’s establishment in 1948 until now. We explore major changes in Israeli diplomacy through its many…
“Israeli Political Institutions: Formation and Dilemmas” Dr. Reda Mansour, Emory University, Spring 2018 This course explores the Israeli political system, its institutional characteristics and components, and its main political dilemmas. The course aims to provide…
“Contesting Holy Places in Israel and Palestine” Dr. Yitzhak Reiter, Emory University, Fall 2018 This course focuses on the contested holy places in Israel and historical Palestine as national and political symbols for consolidating internal…
“Jerusalem in Regional Politics” Dr. Yitzhak Reiter, Emory University, Fall 2018 Jerusalem is a city holy to the world’s three monotheistic religions and a rallying point for contesting groups in the Middle East. This course…
“Israeli Culture and Society: 1880-Present” Eli Sperling, Emory University, Spring/Fall 2019 Upon its inception, Zionism needed more than political and financial solutions to actualize a Jewish home in Palestine. It was necessary for the architects…
“Public Diplomacy in Low-Intensity Conflict: Israel as a Case Study” Dr. Nachman Shai, Emory University, Spring 2020 Israel is constantly in the heart of international media coverage. Since its inception in 1948, it has struggled…
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