Dear Friends,

It is with great personal pleasure that I invite you and your loved ones to attend the 20^th Anniversary Celebration of the Emory Institute for the Study of Modern Israel (ISMI) in Atlanta on November 10-11, 2018. Come and partake in learning from talented practitioners and scholars across the globe. Enjoy a musical performance by Ethiopian-Israeli singer and songwriter Aveva Dese, while dining on delectable Israeli cuisine. 

There are far too many insidious examples of anti-Israeli teaching in colleges in North America. A professor at Michigan last week refused to write a letter of recommendation for a student to study in Israel because he opposes Israeli governmental policies. That is nothing short of scandalous and should never occur in an academic setting.  ISMI maintains the highest standards of academic excellence and intellectual honesty in the teaching of Israel. It behooves all of us to assure the continuance of ISMI and Israel studies at Emory for decades to come.   

Student demand for courses at Emory on Israel and the Middle East grows annually.  We answered their requests over the last 20 years by recruiting 14 visiting Israeli scholars. Besides my own courses on Israel, these Israeli scholars have taught 35 additional courses and 635 students.  ISMI’s internship program remains highly prized by Emory students and by students from other campuses with less or no Israel learning opportunities. Every spring, prospective students and their parents seek assurances that Emory can provide a place for ‘safe’ learning and academic rigor regardless of potential fields of study. ISMI has had an enormous impact on Atlanta and the field of Israel Studies across the country.  

Please celebrate with us personally in November and support our path to continued excellence in fostering Israel Studies here.

At our November program, knowledgeable speakers will present their insights about Israel, its foreign policy, the region, and American Jewry’s relationship with Israel.  

For information about our November celebration, hotel reservations, sponsorship opportunities, presenter bios, and the schedule of events, please visit ismi.emory.edu.

Space is limited; please secure your reservations soon. Join alumnae and friends of ISMI from across the years and country in a weekend of learning, great food and celebration. 

Best wishes for a good year. I look forward to your support and seeing you in November. 

Sincerely, 

Ken 

Ken Stein, Director 

Emory Institute for the Study of Modern Israel 
Professor of Contemporary Middle Eastern History, Political Science and Israel Studies