WUJS Arad Institute

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The WUJS Institute in Arad was established in 1968. The Institute is situated on the Jewish Agency premises, in the spectacular desert environment of Arad, Israel.

The institute is under the auspices of the World Union of Jewish Students. In 2006, WUJS Arad came under the sponsorship of Hadassah, the Women's Zionist Organization of America.

WUJS Arad offers a five-month, two-semester post-graduate study program for Jewish adults ages 21-35 from all over the world, classes Ulpan for students wanting to learn the Hebrew language as well as classes in Jewish and Israel Studies. Four tracks are offered: Land, Langugage and Society, the core study track; an Arts Track for artists; and the Peace and Social Justice Track, which combines a semester of study in Arad with a semester of interning at Israeli social change organizations and Zman Tel Aviv, with focus on community-related volunteer work in Israel's largest city.

As of 2008, the WUJS Institute has had over 8,000 participants, of which approximately 25% have made Aliyah to Israel.

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[edit] WUJS Arad Land language and Society Track

The Land Language and Society track offers intense Hebrew Language study, courses in Jewish and Israel Studies, weekly field seminar trips around Israel and many opportunities to interact with Israeli society, especially in the surrounding city of Arad.

[edit] WUJS Arad Arts Project

The WUJS Institute’s Arad Arts Program, founded in 1991, is a subsidized residency for visual artists, musicians and writers from around the world.

The Arts Project is designed for accomplished artists with experience in their field of creativity. Applicants must hold an academic degree and be above age 21.

The culmination of the Arts Project will be an Art Exhibition of the participant artists in the heart of Tel Aviv.

[edit] WUJS Arad Peace and Social Justice Program

The WUJS Institute’s Peace and Social Justice Program, is a combination of Hebrew language instruction, Israel studies and an internship in a social change organization.

The Program, for applicants with an approved post high school degree, runs two semesters. The first semester is based in the WUJS Institute in Arad, while the second semester, an internship placement in a social change organization, is located elsewhere in Israel. This three month internship with an approved social change organization consists of 30 hours per week. The organizations in which interns are place work to strengthen democracy and support social justice in areas such as: civil and human rights, the status of women, Jewish-Arab coexistence, religious pluralism and tolerance, social and economic equality immigrant absorption and the environment.

[edit] Zman Tel Aviv

The Zman Tel Aviv Track at WUJS Arad is scheduled to open in September 2008. The track includes one month of intense Hebrew language study in Arad, followed by a four-month community service internship period in the city of Tel Aviv. Projects available for the internees will include work in art and cultural promotion, public relations, work in local media, and more.

[edit] External links

[1] WUJS web site

The Jerusalem Post Internet Edition, Israel Programs The WUJS Graduate Institute

Hadassah Homepage of Hadassah, parent organization of the WUJS Institute in Arad