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Born in Jerusalem, Rabi Moshe Levinger, who founded Gush Emunin in 1974, was the leader of the Jewish settlement movement in the West Bank. In June 1968, Levinger brought thirty families to a hotel in Hebron, eventually forcing the government to grant them the right to create a community. In 1988, following an attack on […]

The first woman to serve as the president of the Israeli Supreme Court, Beinisch’s work on the court was primarly focused on government corruption, child protection, and women’s rights.

Moshe Sharett insta a los británicos y a Estados Unidos a abrir Palestina para la inmigración judía desde Europa sin restricciones.

Sharett was the second Prime Minister of Israel and can be seen on the 20 Shekel banknote. During World War II, Sharett established the Jewish Brigade, an independent, national Jewish military formation that fought as part of the British army. He served as Israel’s first Foreign Minister and was a signer of the Israeli Declaration […]

Often called the most important man in Israeli music, Einstein’s music has been celebrated for more than fifty years. He is a musical pioneer who introduced rock music in Israel in the 1960s, produced the first Israeli music video, and created the first Israeli CD album. His music continues to influence many aspects of Israeli […]

Rabbi Ovadia Yosef was the founder of the Orthodox “Shas” party, and was known by Israel’s Haredi and Mizrahi communities as an enormously important talmudic scholar and spiritual leader. Originally from Iraq, Yosef would eventually rise to the level of Sephardi Chief Rabbi of Tel Aviv. His controversial statements regarding the Holocaust, the role of […]

Kashua was born in 1975 and attended the prestigious Israel Arts and Science Academy boarding school in Jerusalem. Israel’s most well-known Arab author, Kashua writes predominantly in Hebrew. His works explore themes of living between two worlds and feelings of being an outsider in Israeli society. Perhaps his most well-known work is the semi-autobographical television […]

One of Israel’s foremost choreographers and contributors to Israeli cultural life, Levy-Tanai was one of the first to integrate Mizrahi and Sephardi culture into her art. In 1949, she founded the Inbal Dance Theater which she directed until the 1990s. In 1973 she received the Israel Prize in Art, Music and Dance.

Eli Hurvitz was born in Jerusalem in 1932. A graduate of the Hebrew University, in 1976 he helped to merge three companies into Teva Pharmecuticals. As president and chief executive officer for the next quarter century, he guided Teva to become the world’s largest manufacturer of generic pharmaceuticals. Before passing away in 2011, he also […]

Kishon was an Israeli writer, playwright, and film-director. Known for their satire, Kishon’s works often focused on the day to day struggles of the regular Israeli and the bureaucracy of the state. His satirical films include Sallah Shabati , Israel’s first Oscar nominated film in 1964, and The Policeman, winner of the 1972 Golden Globe […]

The founder of the center-right Likud Party, the former Prime Minister became, in 1977, the first premier from a right-wing party. He negotiated agreements with Egypt, and in 1979 and signed Israel’s first peace treaty with an Arab neighbor. In his earlier years, Begin headed the Irgun, a right-wing military organization that targeted the Arabs […]

Naomi Shemer is considered the “first lady of Israeli song,” for her numerous compositions. In 1967, Shemer was asked to write a song for the annual Israel Song Festival, and her composition Yerusalayim Shel Zahav (Jerusalem of Gold) became an instant hit, taking on added significance after the Six Day War.

French President Emmanuel Macron and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu are in a unique place to enhance bilateral ties, more so than some other EU countries. Margaux Nijkerk is an Emory undergraduate and ISMI intern.

Yadin’s contributions in archaeology included the translation of the Dead Sea Scrolls into Hebrew, and the excavation of major historical sites including Masada, Tel Hazor, and Tel Megiddo. He also served as the Chief of Staff of the IDF from 1949-1952 and Deputy Prime Minister in late 1977.

The aftermath of the “Arab Spring” and waning of great power influence has seen Turkey and Iran, both with imperials pasts to assert themselves regionally. Another Shia-Sunni rivalry unfolds. Look for local proxies to join sides.

Aharon Appelfeld was an Israeli author, professor and Holocaust survivor. He arrived in the land of Israel in 1946 from a Displaced Persons Camp. Often drawing upon his childhood experiences, many of his works depict European Jews in the World War II era. Titles such as For Every Sin, Tzili, Iron Tracks and The Healer […]

Commonly referred to as the “grandmother of Israel,” Meir spent much of her formative years in the field of foreign affairs. She served as Prime Minister during a very difficult period for Israelis and Jews alike, including the 1972 Munich Massacre and the surprise 1973 Yom Kippur War.

The first Arab-Israeli to serve on Israel’s Supreme Court, Salim Joubran was born in Acre in 1947. Prior to his appointment to the country’s highest court, Joubran practiced law in private practice and served as a magistrate and district judge in Haifa. While on the court, he advocated for minority rights and prosecuted corruption.

Por el Prof. Kenneth W. Stein La solución de dos estados sigue siendo la opción más considerada y endorsada para resolver el conflicto palestino-israelí. Siendo así, ¿por qué no ha sucedido todavía? Para que una solución de dos estados se materialice, esta debe ser de mayor interés para los israelíes y los palestinos. Para concretar […]

Broza has been one of Israel’s most successful musicians since his first hit song “Yihyeh Tov” (it will be good) appeared on the Israeli charts in 1977. Born in Haifa in 1952, Borza spent formative years in Tel-Aviv, England, and Madrid. He has been one of Israel’s most prominent voices for coexistence and peace using […]

The first woman to serve as the Chief Scientist at the Ministry of Industry and Trade, Dr. Orna Berry is one of Israel’s leaders in entrepreneurship and innovation. In 2012, she received the Yakirat Ha’Negev award from Ben-Gurion University for her achievements and excellence in the technology industry.

Known famously for his left eye-patch, Dayan was a military leader and politician. Spanning a military career of nearly 40 years, he presided over almost every major battle from Israel’s Statehood in 1948 until the 1973 Yom Kippur War. In his last post as Foreign Minister, he negotiated the peace treaty with Egypt from 1977-1979.

One of Israel’s most well-known poets, and the Poet Laureate of Jerusalem. His work was translated into over 40 languages. Amichai won numerous prizes in both Israel and internationally for his poetry and was one of the first Israeli poets to write in colloquial Hebrew

Barak has been a life-long contributor to the judiciary in Israel. He served as the President of the Supreme Court, as Attorney General of Israel, and as the Dean of the Law Faculty of the Hebrew University in Jerusalem. He received the 1975 Israel Prize in legal sciences. In 1978-79, he was a key adviser […]

An accomplished chemist, Weizmann was the first President of Israel. While living in England during and after World War I, he developed relationships with members of the British government, ultimately resulting in the 1917 British statement of support for a Jewish homeland, the Balfour Declaration.

Assembled by Ken Stein and Eli Sperling Emory University and Center for Israel Education kenstein@israeled.org or kstein@emory.edu Shimon Arad, “Trump’s National Security Strategy: US and Israeli Viewpoints Converge,” BESA Center, February 4, 2018. https://besacenter.org/perspectives-papers/trump-security-strategy-israel/ Brian Blum, “‘Netflix for virtual reality’ targets your living room,” Israel 21c, February 8, 2018. https://www.israel21c.org/netflix-for-virtual-reality-targets-your-living-room/ Hannah Brown, “Israel Film Fund Director Schory Celebrated at […]

The notion of a two-state solution remains front and center as the most often discussed and endorsed solution to the Palestinian-Israeli dimension of the conflict in the Middle East. So why has it not happened?

Responding to PA President Abass’ earlier speech at the UN and the PA’s rejection of the US as a legitimate participant in future Palestinian-Israeli negotiations, Ambassador Halley clarified American positions on Jerusalem and the negotiating process.

Cuatro de cada cinco judíos en el mundo viven en los Estados Unidos e Israel; 6.3 millones en Israel y 6.7 millones en los Estados Unidos. Según el Pew Research Center, una institución dedicada a encuestas de opinión pública y análisis demográfico, 7 de cada 10 judíos estadounidenses se sienten ligados o muy apegados a […]

Four out of every five Jews in the world live in the United States and Israel; 6.3 million in Israel, 6.7 million in the US.  According to Pew Research Center Studies, 7 in 10 American Jews feel attached or very attached to Israel.