“Vibrant Judaism for a Strong Israel”
At Bar-Ilan, Jewish heritage is not just a subject – it’s a way of life. We provide students with the joys and passions of living meaningful Jewish lives, with the aim of creating Israeli citizens who are increasingly dedicated to the future of the Jewish homeland. Bar-Ilan is committed to educating the next generation of Zionists in Israel.
Mandatory Jewish Studies
Through our mandatory Jewish Studies curriculum – the only one of its kind in Israeli universities – we ensure that every student graduates with a full appreciation of Jewish culture, history and heritage. All of this is done with a specific purpose: strengthening Israel and the Jewish Nation. No longer facing the threat of military extinction, Israel finds itself encountering new challenges – both internal and external – that are no less daunting to the future of the Jewish people. At Bar-Ilan, we educate our students in our people’s past through the Israel and Golda Koschitzky Department of Jewish History.
Ancient Jewish Connections
We demonstrate the ancient Jewish connections to Israel through the discoveries of The Martin (Szusz) Department of Land of Israel Studies and Archaeology. We create graduates who are dedicated to the principles of Zionism, democracy, pluralism and freedom. Increasingly, these graduates have gone on to positions of power and influence within the top echelons of Israeli society and government. One need only look at the current Israeli administration to see the burgeoning number of Bar-Ilan graduates who have gone on to become top ministers and political advisors.
Commitment to Educate
It is this commitment to educate the next generation of Jews in Israel that solidifies the bond between Bar-Ilan and the future of the Jewish people in the State of Israel.
Both religious and secular students study in an atmosphere of mutual respect. Students can choose to learn the fundamentals in the Basic Jewish Studies Program or delve into the intricacies of a Talmudic text with respected talmidei chachamim. Additional areas of focus may include archeological excavations where the professors and students bring the Biblical narrative alive, and the Nitzotzot program which provides an arena to examine current scientific topics in the context of Jewish sources.