A public screening featuring Etgar Keret: Based on a True Story alongside a selection of short films, offering a dynamic exploration of Israeli literature, storytelling, and visual culture.

In his short stories, Israeli writer Etgar Keret mixes fantasy and reality. His own life story also comes across as a modern fairy tale. In this hybrid documentary, the filmmakers investigate why storytelling is essential for Keret's survival.

Vered Weiss is Assistant Professor at the Center for Integrative Studies in the Arts and Humanities at Michigan State University and a core faculty member of the Serling Institute.

Featuring MSP Founding Coordinator Mohammed Ayoob

Join the Muslim Studies Program in celebrating its 20th anniversary and reflecting on two decades of interdisciplinary teaching, research, and outreach focused on Muslim societies and communities around the world. The event will feature Mohammed Ayoob, the program's founding coordinator and University Distinguished Professor Emeritus of International Relations, as the program commemorates its history and contributions to the MSU community. The Muslim Studies Program was established at MSU in 2006.

Israel, Drama, 2007, 1 hr. 18 min.

Directors: Shira Geffen and Etgar Keret

Meduzot, the Hebrew word for Jellyfish, tells the story of three very different Israeli women living in Tel Aviv whose intersecting stories weave an unlikely portrait of modern Israeli life. Batya, a catering waitress, takes in a young child apparently abandoned at a local beach. Batya is one of the servers at the wedding reception of Keren, a young bride who breaks her leg while trying to escape from a locked toilet stall, ruining her chance at a romantic honeymoon in the Caribbean. One of the guests is Joy, a Filipino caregiver attending the event with her employer. She does not speak Hebrew and communicates mainly in English, while struggling with guilt after leaving her young son behind in the Philippines.

Winner of three Cannes Film Festival awards, including the prestigious Camera d'Or, Jellyfish boasts five wins and 14 nominations.

Join the MSU Muslim Studies Program and MSU Libraries for a special Muslim Journeys author-led book discussion with Dr. Younus Y. Mirza.

Dr. Mirza will give a short lecture about his book, The Islamic Mary, followed by facilitated small group discussions. The book explores the figure of Mary/Maryam shared between Christians and Muslims and her appearances in Islamic literary, theological, pious, and interfaith contexts.

Etgar Keret is an internationally acclaimed Israeli writer and filmmaker known for his distinctive short stories, which blend the bizarre with the everyday to create surreal worlds that are both dark and comic. His books have been published in more than 45 languages and are bestsellers in Israel. He is the recipient of numerous honors, including the Sapir Prize, the Prime Minister's Prize, and the Charles Bronfman Prize.

More than 60 short films and feature films have been based on Keret's work. As a filmmaker, he co-directed Jellyfish with his wife, Shira Geffen, which won the Camera d'Or for Best First Feature at the 2007 Cannes Film Festival. His latest short story collection, Autocorrect, was published in 2025.

Keret's work has appeared in publications including The New Yorker, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Guardian, and The Paris Review. He teaches creative writing at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev and directs the MFA program at the Jewish Theological Seminary in New York.

Join the Asian Studies Center and Asia Hub for an annual fall reception celebrating and thanking our community for their support and collaboration in advancing Asian Studies at MSU and beyond. 

Please RSVP Here by Friday, September 18, 2026. Complimentary food and beverages will be provided.

Conversations on Antisemitism and Islamophobia launched in spring 2023 and is a continuation of a previous MSU Dialogues program, restructured to engage the campus community in these important topics.

Participants will have the opportunity to ask questions and share their observations and experiences, while learning to contribute to the inclusivity of MSU's campus community.

Registration is required and limited to current MSU community members with a valid msu.edu email address.

Alon Tal and Yael Aronoff will discuss key issues surrounding the upcoming Israeli elections, scheduled for October 27, 2026. Their conversation will examine the opposition to Benjamin Netanyahu's government over the past four years and look ahead to the established and emerging political parties competing in the election, including the possibilities for future coalition governments. They will also explore the potential implications of the election for Israeli democracy, relations with Palestinians, policies in Gaza and the West Bank, prospects for a two-state solution, and Israel's relationships with its neighbors and the United States.

Yael Aronoff is the Director of the Michael and Elaine Serling Institute for Jewish Studies and Modern Israel, the Michael and Elaine Serling and Friends Chair of Israel Studies, and a Professor of Political Science and International Relations in James Madison College at Michigan State University. Her research focuses on Israeli politics, political psychology, and foreign policy, including the Israeli opposition, Benjamin Netanyahu, and the political decision-making of Israeli prime ministers.

Alon Tal is a professor at Tel Aviv University and a former chair of its Department of Public Policy. He has also taught at Ben-Gurion University and the Hebrew University and served as a visiting professor at institutions including Harvard, Stanford, and Michigan State University. A former member of the Knesset and chair of Israel's Green Party, Tal has founded several environmental organizations and authored seven books on environmental issues, many focused on Israel.

The 2026 Global Korea Awards celebrate individuals and groups who have made significant contributions to cross-cultural understanding, global education, and the well-being of Korean communities around the world. Established in 1995 by the Council on Korean Studies at Michigan State University, the awards recognize exceptional dedication to strengthening global connections, advancing education, and promoting greater understanding of Korea and its impact on the international community.

Join us in honoring this year's awardees and celebrating their remarkable contributions to bridging cultures and fostering global engagement.

Yanniv David Levy is a researcher and curator in the Coin Department of the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA), with a specialty in experimental technologies and numismatics. In addition to managing the Mediterranean's largest collection of ancient coins with archaeological provenance, Yanniv has worked extensively with computer scientists on machine learning applications for the study of Roman and Hellenistic coins. He also works in the field with IAA excavations, such as the recent Old City dig at the Jerusalem Archaeological Garden, Davidson Center, which uncovered a rare coin minted by Jewish rebels in the months before the destruction of the Temple in 70 CE.

Limited seating. Contact Ariana Mentzel if you would like to reserve a seat: mentzela(at)msu.edu.