Event Details:

To commemorate the 70th anniversary of the founding of the state of Israel and reflect on that history, the Michigan State University Jewish Studies Program is very proud to sponsor its largest academic conference ever: "Israel at 70: Complexity, Challenge, and Creativity" on September 16-17, 2018 at MSU's Kellogg Center. The conference brings together 40 internationally recognized scholars from Israel and the United States under one roof to discuss Israeli society, culture, politics, foreign policy, and agricultural, biomedical, water, environmental, and business innovation. Scholars and researchers will come from Michigan State and 9 other U.S. universities, including Syracuse University, Smith College, Washington University, Johns Hopkins University, the University of Notre Dame, the University of Wisconsin, and the University of Illinois. Israeli panelists hail from institutions including the Hebrew University, Tel Aviv University, Tel Hai University, Bar Ilan University, Ben Gurion University, the Weitzman Institute, Hadassah University Hospital and more. The conference includes entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, and members of non-governmental organizations and think tanks, including the Brookings Institution and the Institute for National Security Studies affiliated with Tel Aviv University.

A featured keynote speaker is Gilead Sher, who heads the Center for Applied Negotiations and is a senior researcher at the Tel Aviv Institute for National Security Studies (INSS). Sher was PM Chief of Staff and Policy Coordinator to former Prime Minister Ehud Barak, and in 1999-2001 he served as the Israeli Chief and co-Chief negotiator at the Camp David summit and the Taba talks. He has written several books and co-chairs the NGO Blue White Future. Another keynote speaker is Oded Shoyseyov. an expert in nanobiotechnology who has authored or co-authored more than 160 scientific publications and is the inventor or co-inventor of 45 patents. Other experts include Naomi Chazan, Professor Emerita of Political Science at the Hebrew University, who served three terms as a Member of the Knesset on behalf of the Meretz Party, has authored eight books on comparative politics, served as President of the New Israel Fund between 2009- 2012 and is among the founders of the International Women's Commission for an Israel-Palestinian Peace. Another prominent speaker is Donna Robinson Divine, the Morningstar Family Professor of Jewish Studies and Professor of Government, Emerita at Smith College, who has written several books and is currently serving as President of the Association for Israel Studies.

The conference is open and free to the public. Join us for this amazing array of American and Israeli academic excellence. Meals are complementary and one can register for kosher meals.

Conference registration.

If you have any questions call Amy Shapiro at 517-432-3493.

Co-sponsors include the College of Arts and Letters, James Madison College, the Eli Broad College of Business, the Institute for Quantitative Health Science & Engineering, the Residential College in the Arts and Humanities, the College of Social Science, the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, the Department of Linguistics & Languages, the Asian Studies Center, the Science, Technology, Environment, and Public Policy Program, the Israel Institute, the Academic Engagement Network, the Ravitz Foundation, and the Lester & Jewell Hillel Jewish Student Center.