Israel is a country of diverse populations who may be differentiated by nationality, religion, religious observance, ethnicity, culture, and more.  The multicultural challenge characterizes the western world in the global era. In Israel the challenge is especially complex since it is an ethnic Jewish nation state. Therefore, Israel faces many crucial questions such as: How much should the majority culture dominate? To what extent should diversity be accommodated?  How much of a voice should the Other have? How can Israel create a common public sphere in which all of these diverse communities can feel a sense of belonging – in which they can connect?  Can there be a national identity or characteristics of a core, shared citizenship with which everyone can identify? Should everyone share a common language? A common educational system? What should be shared - and what should remain separate? These are legal, social and political questions. The course will focus on several case studies from the Israeli reality that will be analyzed using theories of multiculturalism.

Instructor: Michal Barak, executive director of the Center for the Study of Multiculturalism and Diversity

 

Multicultural Education in Jerusalem: Theory Meets Practice (2017-2018): This course, which took place in cooperation with the School of Education, targeted students from the educational leadership track of the Department of Political Science and the School of Education (under the direction of Prof. Edna Lomsky Feder). The students learned about relevant theory (taught by Dr. Aviv Cohen) and then attended joint study projects in Jerusalem. The project was funded by the Council for Higher Education as part of its service learning initiative.

Multiculturalism in Israeli Society (2016-2018): Based on case studies, this "Capstone Course," taught by Michal Barak, was offered to students from the sciences (2015-2017) and medicine (2018).

 

Research workshop: Comparative Aspects of Multiculturalism (2017)

 

This research workshop is conducted in cooperation with the Sternberg-Tamir Chair in Comparative Cultures held by Prof. Ronit Ricci. Participants are PhD and MA students who research a variety of aspects of multiculturalism. Each session hosts a researcher who presents his/her study that sheds light on issues of multiculturalism in different countries.

The workshop is credited two points

Academic Supervisor: Prof. Barak Medina Academic director of the Center for the Study of Multiculturalism and Diversity

  

Multiculturalism Workshop (2016)

Cultural diversity and minority rights pose major challenges in western democracies and in nation states. A range of disciplines have begun to introduce major theories in relation to these challenges that in turn became the subject of a vibrant discussion in in law, the social sciences, the humanities and even in the life sciences.

The purpose of this workshop is to expose the participants to the research on inter-disciplinary multiculturalism; to introduce the main challenges and dilemmas this approach raises in an effort to create a dialog between the participants and afford an opportunity in which the challenges of diversity and minority rights are considered and evaluated in the realm of an academic setting.

The workshop is credited two points and will be conducted in English.

Academic Supervisor: Prof. Michael Karayanni Academic director of the Center for the Study of Multiculturalism and Diversity and Lea Shakdiel - an educator and social entrepreneur.

 

 

Islamic Art Taught in Arabic (2016-2018): A new course on Islamic art was taught in Arabic by Dr. Taufik Deadlee within the framework of "Capstone Courses" (courses open to students from many disciplines).

Multiculturalism in the School of Dental Medicine (2017-2018): This is a new compulsory second year course which was initiated by CSMD; we are also supporting it academically. It was taught by Rana Asaid.

Gender and Sexual Minorities: Theory and Practice, Contemporary Topics and Ideas (2016-2017): This course was taught by the Laffer Center for Women and Gender Studies and supported by CSMD. 

Ultra-Orthodox Identity in a Multicultural Environment (2017-2018): This course was taught by Rabbi Yehoshua Pfeffer at the Law Faculty.

Lectures on Cultural Competence in the Medical Professions (2016-2018): This course was held in cooperation with the Jerusalem Intercultural Center and targeted students in the School of Occupational Therapy and the Faculty of Dental Medicine.