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This is a for-credit course in the Martin (Szusz) Land of Israel Studies department, run by Profs. Kobi Cohen-Hattab and Shawn Zelig Aster, in collaboration with Visiting Scholar Prof. Csaba Nikolenyi , Director of the Azrieli Institute for Israel Studies of Concordia University (Montreal, Canada). Students will prepare, background reading, participate in the touring, and prepare presentations to earn academic credit. Students who successfully complete all assignments will receive a Bar-Ilan University transcript indicating credits, which are eligible for transfer to the student’s home institution.
Students who participated in the 2023 Concordia program said:
“Truly life changing opportunity, I’m so glad I got to meet and learn from such a diverse range of scholars, politicians, and places!”
“This was amazing! I recommend it highly to anyone who seeks to better understand this part of the world. You won’t regret it. You will look back upon your experience with fond, powerful, and profound memories and insights.”
“This program was the perfect opportunity for a hands on experience to comprehend the complexities of the Israeli identity and the various challenges faced in the country”
And here is a fuller report on the 2023 program
For questions not answered on this website, Concordia University students should contact Prof. Csaba Nikoleyni at [email protected] . Students from other universities should contact Prof. Shawn Zelig Aster, at [email protected]
Concordia 2023 group at the Beduin town of Rehmeh in the Negev
Apply for the program in two easy steps:
Application deadline: May 8, 2025.
We strongly encourage early applications, as places will fill up, and scholarships will be awarded primarily to students who apply early.
Scan for more info:
The program fee will be posted shortly. This includes accommodation and nearly all meals between evening of July 13 and afternoon of July 24, tuition, all transportation, medical insurance, entrance fees to sites, Israeli SIM card. Note that bursaries for Concordia students are available from the Azrieli Institute for Israel Studies at Concordia.
Application deadline: May 8, 2025. We strongly encourage early applications, as places will fill up, and scholarships will be awarded primarily to students who apply early.
Students will prepare background reading, participate in the touring, and prepare presentations to earn academic credit.
This is a Bar-Ilan University course. Students who successfully complete the required coursework, including presentations, participating in the touring, and writing requirements will receive a Bar-Ilan University transcript indicating the relevant course credits. This transcript can be presented for transfer credit at accredited universities in Canada and the US
The summer program will take place during the following dates: July 13-24, 2025
Q&A
Students are responsible for their own airfare. Quebec government bursaries may help cover airfare and other expenses, for students at Quebec universities.
You should arrange to arrive in Israel by the afternoon of July 13, 2025. We will arrange a meeting-point at Ben-Gurion Airport (TLV), Israel’s main airport, at 1pm on July 13, and we will hold our introductory meeting at Bar Ilan University, Building 410, room 225 at 2pm on July 13, 2025.
The program ends with a concluding meeting at Bar-Ilan University on Thursday afternoon July 24. Students are welcome to extend their stay in Israel further, at their own expense.
Program fees include:
Housing and most meals between the evening of July 13 and the afternoon of July 24
A SIM card, loaded for use while on the program
Medical Insurance while on the program (required for all students, even for those who have their own medical insurance)
Transport while on the program and entrance fees to all sites
Holders of Canadian or American passports do not need visas. Nevertheless, any student accepted to the program will receive a letter indicating their acceptance, which they can present to border officials upon entry into Israel.
Bar-Ilan is internationally recognized as a research university. Students who successfully complete course requirements will receive a transcript indicating that they completed the course, and will be able to bring this transcript to their home university for transfer credit.
For questions not answered on this website, Concordia University students should contact Corey Newman at [email protected] or [email protected]
Students from other universities should contact Prof. Shawn Zelig Aster, at [email protected]
