Preparing To Lead Short-Term Study Abroad In Israel

I’ve mentioned before my interest in going to Israel, and it looks like this distant possibility is turning into a more concrete one to begin to be realized in the near future. The idea is for me to go once or twice myself, in preparation for taking a group of students there every couple of years on a short-term study abroad experience for a couple of weeks.

So, although I know I’ve asked some vague travel-to-Israel-related questions in the past, I want to ask again, and do so much more specifically. I am interested in recommendations for the following:

1) Good summer courses in modern Hebrew and Arabic, at a variety of levels. I have some knowledge of both languages (although I am nowhere near fluent in either) and would be interested in perhaps taking an intensive course in either or both, and would want it to be beyond the very basic introductory level. This would be for me as part of my professional development and preparation for taking students to Israel, rather than something for the students I bring with me to take.

2) Good organizations to connect with for the purpose of organizing an academic tour for students. I know of lots of tour agencies, but since this would be an academic trip open to all students, rather than a religious pilgrimage, I want to find an organization that will talk about history and other such matters, rather than assume the group consists entirely of Christians or Jews and lead us in prayer. Not that I have any objection to students praying on this trip – the concern is simply to have the trip be open to students regardless of religious background.

3) The best sites to visit. If you have about two weeks, where do you go? How long do you spend? There are places which might not be worth the logistical uncertainties and practical difficulties in terms of the benefit students would get from visiting there.

4) Readings (in addition to the obvious, such as Biblical texts that mention the location) that are academically/pedagogically useful and accessible to undergraduates, which would help them prepare for such a trip, and appreciate and get more out of their visit to various locations.

The course as I’m envisaging it at this stage would probably be about the Abrahamic traditions, and talk about both ancient historical sites connected with texts, as well as present realities of interaction in this region. But there are other possibilities, such as having the course focus primarily on Jerusalem (although we’d still take some day trips elsewhere). And so the question of how much time to spend in any given place is still open, and I would welcome input.

All suggestions, input and feedback is welcome!

Preparing to Lead Short-Term Study Abroad in Israel