Grantee Highlight: The Helen Diller Institute’s visiting faculty program fosters academic exchange

For many years, the Helen Diller Institute at UC Berkeley has hosted a variety of Israeli faculty members. This year, an impressive 13 faculty and scholars taught classes and hosted events across campus and the community. These academics teach across departments at UC Berkeley, and help students–Jewish and non-Jewish– better understand the nuance and diversity of thought present in Israel. Additionally, students benefit from learning from Israeli scholars like Masua Sagiv, originally from Bar Ilan University, who has been a Koret Visiting Assistant Professor at the UC Berkeley School of Law since 2021, and teaches classes about the role of law, state actors and civil society organizations in promoting social change. Hanan Alexander is a highly regarded professor emeritus at University of Haifa and has been a Koret Visiting Professor in Israel Studies at the Helen Diller Institute since 2021. Koret has supported initiatives like this that strengthen bonds of academic dialogue and scholarly exchange as part of its US-Israel bridge building work for many years.

These visiting faculty also help foster connection and learning for the larger community through public programs. These programs are available to all Berkeley students, faculty, staff, and community members. Together, they explored the cultural, psychological, and political challenges facing Israeli society in the year following the October 7th attacks. Through its visiting faculty and the role they play on campus and in the community, the Institute demonstrates how learning, exploration of critical issues, and engagement in open dialogue remain evergreen priorities. 

To read more about the visiting faculty and scholars, follow this link. 

For recorded lectures from some of the visiting faculty, please click here.