About Modern Israel

ISMI Featured Docments:

November 2, 1917: Balfour Declaration

November 2 marks Balfour Declaration Day. 101 years ago, in 1917, the British accepted the request of the Zionists to help them build a Jewish national home. Amongst the small number of Jews who wanted to find security in a geographic place, they chose their ancient homeland of Eretz Yisrael. To create a homeland, the Zionists needed British support and willingness on the part of the local Arab population not to resist interests in selling lands to immigrating Zionists. The Declaration received international legitimacy when it became part of the League of Nations document that governed the administration in Palestine. Later, the Declaration became a lightning rod for Arab opposition to a Jewish national home in Palestine and then the state of Israel after May 14, 1948. 

Click here for Camp David primary sources

Surveys and Polls

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Program & Events

  • November 9-11, 2018 -- ISMI@20, Anniversary Celebration, Atlanta, GA
  • November 9, 2018 -- Professor Asher Susser, "Consequences for Middle Eastern States Since the Arab Spring," 12:00pm, Emory University, Anthropology 303, Atlanta, GA
  • November 5, 2018 -- Ken Stein, "Why has the Egyptian-Israeli Treaty Stood the Test of Time?" Congregation B'nai Israel, Boca Raton, Florida
  • October 28, 2018 -- Rich Walter, "Growing Pains: Ashkenazi and Sephardi Jews during Israel's First Decade," Congregation Shearith Israel, Atlanta, GA
  • October 25, 2018 -- Eli Sperling, "Religous Pluralism in Israel: Challenges and Opportunities," Anti-Defemation League, Atlanta, GA
  • October 24, 2018 -- Ken Stein, "Reevaluating the 1978 Camp David Negotiations," Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
  • October 23, 2018 -- Rich Walter, "The Art of Israel Advocacy: Encountering and Responding to BDS," Congregation Etz Chaim, Marietta, GA
  • October 21, 2018 -- Ken Stein, "Owning Israel's Story: Self-determination Through the Sources," Jewish Agency for Israel, Jerusalem, Israel
  • October 14, 2018 -- Rich Walter "Israel @ 70: Celebrating Moments and Individuals," 3PM, Congregation Shearith Israel,  Atlanta, GA
  • October 10, 2018 -- Ken Stein, "Owning Israel's Story," The Weber School, Atlanta, Georgia
Click here to see more programs and events

About the Institute

 What We Do at ISMI

  • Founded in 1998, we are the OLDEST permanent Israel academic center in the United States.

  • ISMI has supported 14 Israel Visiting Scholars who have taught 700 students in 40 courses. 

  • ISMI offers enriching internships to a select few Emory students every semester

  • ISMI conducts Israel education workshops for teachers across the country

 

Publications:

October 2018 - Contemporary Reading List

History, Politics and Diplomacy of the Arab-Israeli Conflict, 2017