The annual Robinson Family Lecture focuses on current aspects of modern Israeli society, politics, and culture. It is named in honor of the Robinson family of Knoxville, Philadelphia, and Atlanta (A.J. Robinson, '77C). The lectureship was established to honor the family's lifelong commitment to the nourishment and sustenance of the State of Israel and to enhance Diaspora/Israel relations. The Robinson lecturer provides presentations in Knoxville and Atlanta. In Knoxville, the lectures are coordinated through The Fern and Manfred Steinfeld Program in Judaic Studies at the University of Tennessee and the Knoxville Jewish Federation. At Emory, they are coordinated through the Emory Institute for the Study of Modern Israel (ISMI) and include Emory and venues in the Atlanta Jewish community.

Lectures to Date:

Dr. David Tal (February 8, 2009-Knoxville, TN)
Emory University
"What President Obama Should Know About Israel and the Peace Process"

Dr. David Tal (February 9, 2009-Knoxville, TN)
Emory University
"The Making and Development of Israel-American Relations"

Dr. Paul Rivlin (February 18, 2008- Knoxville, TN)
Emory University and Tel Aviv University
"U.S. Oil Consumption and the Middle East: What's the Problem?"

Dr. Michael Feige (April 16, 2007- Knoxville, TN)
Emory University and Ben Gurion University
"Israel's Disengagement from the Gaza Strip: What has Israel Learned?"

Dr. David Tal ( November 2, 2005 - Knoxville, TN)
Emory University and Tel Aviv University
"The U.S.in Israel's Thinking"

David Tal (November 3, 2005 - Knoxville TN)
Emory University and Tel Aviv University
"The Other's Other: Entangled Jews and Arabs."

Dr. Reuven Hazan (February 11, 2004 - Atlanta, GA)
Emory University and Hebrew University of Jerusalem
"Short-Term Hawks and Long-Term Doves: Israeli Politics and Peace"

Dr. Reuven Y. Hazan (October 2, 2003 - Knoxville, TN)
Emory University and Hebrew University of Jerusalem
"From Rabin to Netanyahu to Barak to Sharon: Does Israel Have a Direction?"

Dr. Reuven Y. Hazan (October 1, 2003 - Knoxville, TN)
Emory University and Hebrew University of Jerusalem
"Israeli Attitudes Toward the Peace Process: What the Media Does Not Tell Us"

Dr. Kenneth W. Stein (March 28, 2002 - Knoxville, TN)
Emory University
"The Status of Israeli-Arab Negotiations: Shattering Myths with Realities"

Dr. Kenneth W. Stein (March 29, 2002 - Knoxville, TN)
Emory University
"The Bush Doctrine Toward the Middle East: Continuity or Change?"

Dr. Yaron Ezrahi (February 18, 2001 - Knoxville, TN)
The Hebrew University of Jerusalem
"The Israeli Election and the Electoral System"

Dr. Yaron Ezrahi (February 19, 2001 - Atlanta)
The Hebrew University of Jerusalem
"The Israeli Election and the Electoral System"

Dr. Uri Bialer (March 5, 2000 - Knoxville, TN)
Harvard University and The Hebrew University of Jerusalem
"Is Peace Inevitable?"

Dr. Uri Bialer (March 7, 2000 - Atlanta)
Harvard University and The Hebrew University of Jerusalem
"Guilty or Not? Coming to Terms with Israeli History"