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| The WUJS Graduate Institute | |
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| Purpose | The WUJS Institute was founded in order to enable young Jewish graduates and professionals to explore their relationship with Israel and their Jewish heritage, through Hebrew language and Jewish studies. We aim to enable our students to participate independently in Israeli life. |
| Description |  Intensive Hebrew Ulpan (Beginning, Intermediate, Advanced levels). A range of Jewish and Israel Study courses such as "History of Israel", "The Holy Tongue", "Israel in Real Time", "Zionist Entity", " Mystic of Zion" and "Israel-Behind the Balagan."Each participant receives extensive guidance and counseling in finding employment in Israel , in his or her professional field. Weekly seminars at sites all over Israel engage participants in in-depth studies of topics such as "Jewish pluralism", "Israeli Arabs" or "Jerusalem Yeshiva Seminar." The program also includes camping and hiking trips and a 3-week volunteer period. |
| Implementors | Experienced Hebrew language instructors. Academic faculty from all over Israel. Full-time employment counseling staff. Resident social and cultural coordinators. |
| Target Group | Jewish graduates aged 21-40 |
| Courses: | 1. WUJS graduate programs begin in February , June , and October.
2. Arad Arts Project: Artists residency program for accomplished Jewish artists. Opens each October for 7 months. Optional Hebrew Ulpan. 3. Conversion Track: WUJS now offers a special track leading towards halachic conversion under the auspices of the Israeli rabbinate. This programme is designed for people who self define as Jewish, but who are not recognised as Jewish by (Orthodox) halachic standards (eg. children of a non-Jewish mother, converts through non Orthodox movements.) 4. Peace and Social Justice Track: This new programme will open in October 2003 and will enable students to study at WUJS while focusing on social issues in Israel. The three month study period in Arad will be followed by a four month internship with Israeli NGOs dealing with social justice issues. 5. Summer semester program (July to September) |
| No. of Participants | 75-100 students over the course of a year. |
| Duration of Activity | Seven months study program (divided into two semesters) , followed by employment in Israel. |
| Location of Activity | Campus located in Arad, in the Northern Negev. Weekly seminars all over Israel. Camping trips in Negev, Galil, Golan, Ein Gedi. Volunteer period at a location of participant's choice. |
| Participants' Comments | 
" I came to Israel
alone and left with a core group of close friends from all over the world,
a lifetime of memories and the experience and knowledge I needed to stay
afloat in Israel" (Lauren Levine -USA / WUJS Graduate Program)
" I have gained valuable experiences at WUJS and extended my Hebrew and Jewish knowledge. I feel a much stronger connection to the language, the people and the land of Israel" Liz Brass-USA / WUJS Graduate Program " The WUJS Institute offered me a creative framework of Hebrew language ,Israeli culture and history which enabled me to flourish as a Diaspora Jewish artist" Leah T- England/ WUJS-Arad Arts Project" " Were it not for WUJS , I would never have discovered this part of Israel, its quiet ,its beauty and its culture. The lectures were interesting and challenging and the teachers present a range of religious and political views" Nathan Combelas,- Sweden/ WUJS Graduate Program |
| Accreditation | WUJS fulfils the criteria for USA student loan deferment. The WUJS language Ulpan is under the auspices of the Israel Ministry of Education. Graduating students receive a Ministry of Education diploma and transcript. |
| Religious Affiliation | The WUJS Institute is not affiliated with any religious stream and the student population consists of people from all religious backgrounds. The dining room is kosher. The campus synagogue conforms to traditional standards, but we do not make any demands regarding personal religious observance. |
| Information and Orders |
WUJS Institute North American Office Email: |
| Cross reference | www.wujs-arad.org www.artsproject.org.il |
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