B’nai B’rith Hillel Foundations, Hebrew U Develop Bridge-building Program

A new and unusual bridge-building program for North American students in Israel has been introduced by the B’nai B’rith Hillel Foundations at its Jerusalem Hillel House, it was reported here. Established in partnership with the Hebrew University, the Hillel Enrichment Program is an extracurricular activity which provides over 50 students with opportunities to study issues of concern to Israel and world Jewry. The students come from over 20 universities and were recommended for the program by the Hillel directors at their home campuses. One of the goals of the program is to train a corps of Hillel student leaders who, upon their return home, “will be better equipped to present Israel’s case on the campus and tell their fellow students of Israel’s significance for the life of American Jewry,” says Rabbi Samuel Fishman, director of Israel and community affairs for the B’nai B’rith Hillel Foundations. The focal point of the program is a series of seminars dealing with such subjects as Israel’s social and economic structure, Israeli socialism, the nature of pan-Arabism, the great powers and the Middle East, and the Palestinian dimensions of the Arab-Israeli conflict. Much attention is given to learning about the Arab communities of Israel. There have been field trips to Arab villages and interviews with leaders from various walks of Arab life. Students will also have the opportunity to learn at first hand the problems of immigrant absorption with which Israel must deal.