The Graduate Academy

"The Zionist movement has been cut short -
who will continue it?"
                         - B. Katzenelson

Background and Objective

Many Israelis feel the need for a "transitional period" of self-searching between the end of their military service and the beginning of their civilian life. This need is most commonly fulfilled by extended trips to India or South America that provide a break of continuity between the army and independent life.

The Graduate Academy offers a new brand of Israeli "House of Learning" (Beit Midrash) that empowers people to use the post-army and pre-adult-life period as a tool for deep searching and refining of one's personal, Jewish and Israeli identities. In addition, the program is a period for intensifying one's intellectual and spiritual self, as well as strengthening one's social awareness and leadership skills.

Target Audience

The program is intended for military and/or national service (Sherut Leumi) graduates, ages 20-29.

Educational Approach

1. Study Program: At the center of the academy lies an intensive program aimed at providing a significant leap in scholarly personality, depth of identity and leadership skills. The works studied at the program are the great masterpieces which have shaped both Western dialogue and Jewish identity throughout the ages. Among these works are the Bible, general philosophy, Jewish philosophy, classic literature, the Talmud, and Zionist thought.

2. Intellectual Independence: The goal of the program is to nurture intellectual independence amongst the students. This is achieved by conducting a vast part of the learning as independent study in pairs or small groups.

3. Establishing Leadership Skills: The Academy aims to strengthen the leadership capabilities within its students. Each student will learn the art of writing and rhetoric, and will experience managerial responsibility in running the day to day activities of the academy.

4. Community Life: Establishing social commitment and discouraging egoism through building a solidarity group in which the students live, study and create, as a model of the exemplary Israeli society to which the Academy strives.

Study Period

The program lasts five months, with two programs taking place each year: one from October to March, and another from March to July.

Inquiries

Please contact us by email, or call Shani at +972-052-838-9567.