Israel Studies ProgramScholarship, Courses & EventsThe Israel Studies Program of the Stroum Center for Jewish Studies at the University of Washington promotes the academic study of the histories, cultures, and politics of the State of Israel, Zionism in its various forms and iterations, and the communities of British and Ottoman Palestine, in regional and comparative perspective.
Through engaging academic programming for campus and community audiences and opportunities for student funding and support, the program lends critical insight into unfolding conversations, many with relevance far beyond Israel, about nationalism, liberalism, citizenship, globalization, technology, religion, ethnicity, migration, and the military.
Israel Studies prides itself on dynamic partnerships with other programs on campus, particularly the Sephardic Studies Program, the Middle East Center, the Department of Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures, (which offers Hebrew and other Middle Eastern language programs), and the Interdisciplinary Near and Middle Eastern Studies Ph.D. Program. Israel Studies engages and welcomes the participation of people from diverse personal backgrounds, academic disciplines, and political perspectives related to Israel/Palestine, encouraging connections between those who may not normally learn with or from one another.
What is an ostracon? How the “scrap paper of the ancient world” offers glimpses of life in biblical times
Pieces of broken pottery ("ostraca") were commonly used to write letters, receipts, and notes in the ancient world, and these fragments show how biblical writings connect to real-world concerns of the time, writes graduate fellow Corinna Nichols.
The Sudan-Israel normalization process: A tactical move but a strategic hazard
Under the leadership of Benjamin Netanyahu and General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, Israel and Sudan are close to establishing historic diplomatic ties — but outside of the democratic process. Graduate fellow Yasir Zaidan explains.
Ethics and animals in the Bible: Why ancient Israelites thought of birds as moral examples to follow
Though present-day moral philosophers might disagree, in ancient times, animals like birds were seen as tuned in to the divine will and exemplars of right living. Graduate fellow Forrest Martin explains.
Courses
Study the histories, societies, cultures, and politics of the State of Israel through our range of courses. Learn more.
Support Israel Studies
Make a gift to support Israel Studies at the University of Washington and Israel-related scholarship and programming. Learn more >
The Israel Studies Program brings scholars, writers, and thinkers from diverse disciplines to campus to explore issues related to the State of Israel. View events.
Graduate students from across the University conduct research on a wide range of topics in Israel Studies. Learn more about our students.
About the Israel Studies Program
Photo by Katherine Turner.
Housed in the Stroum Center for Jewish Studies, part of the Henry M. Jackson School of International Studies, the Israel Studies Program brings together distinguished faculty with expertise in modern Israel and offers students multiple disciplinary perspectives on the Israeli state, including history, sociology, law, environment, technology, science and culture.