WUJS Arad Institute
Encyclopedia
The WUJS Arad Institute was a Jewish educational institute in Arad, Israel
established in 1968. In 2006, WUJS Arad came under the sponsorship of Hadassah
, the Women's Zionist Organization of America. In 2008, the program relocated to Jerusalem.
WUJS Arad over the years offered programs ranging from five months to a year, of post-graduate studies for Jewish adults ages 21-35 who completed at least a first degree in college from all over the world, and included classes Ulpan
to learn the Hebrew language
as well as courses in Jewish and Israel
Studies. Four separate study tracks were offered: Land, Language and Society, the core study track; an Arts Track residency program for artists; and the Peace and Social Justice Track, which combined 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 whom approximately 25% have made Aliyah
to Israel.
region of Israel.
The Arts Project was designed for accomplished artists with experience in their field of creativity. Applicants were required hold an academic degree and be above age 21. The Project also features an intensive Hebrew Ulpan (language acquisition) program.
The culmination of the Arts Project was an Art Exhibition of the participant artists and their works in both Arad and in the heart of Tel Aviv
.
The PSJ Program ran two semesters. The first semester was based in the WUJS Institute in Arad, while the second semester, an internship placement in a social change organization, was located elsewhere in Israel. This ten-week internship with an approved social change organization consisted of 30 hours per week. The organizations in which interns were placed 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.
. Projects available for the internees include work in art and cultural promotion, public relations, work in local media, and more.
in Israel. WUJS Arad closed on September 24, 2008. The new program was given the name WUJS Israel. The first session of WUJS Israel, including the new Zman Tel Aviv track, opened on September 2, 2008. Subsequent sessions are scheduled to open annually in February and September.
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
established in 1968. In 2006, WUJS Arad came under the sponsorship of Hadassah
Hadassah
Hadassah, the Women's Zionist Organization of America is an American Jewish volunteer women's organization. Founded in 1912 by Henrietta Szold, it is one of the largest international Jewish organizations, with around...
, the Women's Zionist Organization of America. In 2008, the program relocated to Jerusalem.
WUJS Arad over the years offered programs ranging from five months to a year, of post-graduate studies for Jewish adults ages 21-35 who completed at least a first degree in college from all over the world, and included classes Ulpan
Ulpan
An ulpan is an institute or school for the intensive study of Hebrew. Ulpan is a Hebrew word meaning basically studio or teaching, instruction....
to learn the Hebrew language
Hebrew language
Hebrew is a Semitic language of the Afroasiatic language family. Culturally, is it considered by Jews and other religious groups as the language of the Jewish people, though other Jewish languages had originated among diaspora Jews, and the Hebrew language is also used by non-Jewish groups, such...
as well as courses in Jewish and Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
Studies. Four separate study tracks were offered: Land, Language and Society, the core study track; an Arts Track residency program for artists; and the Peace and Social Justice Track, which combined 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 whom approximately 25% have made Aliyah
Aliyah
Aliyah is the immigration of Jews to the Land of Israel . It is a basic tenet of Zionist ideology. The opposite action, emigration from Israel, is referred to as yerida . The return to the Holy Land has been a Jewish aspiration since the Babylonian exile...
to Israel.
WUJS Arad Land language and Society Track
The Land Language and Society track offered 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 and in the NegevNegev
The Negev is a desert and semidesert region of southern Israel. The Arabs, including the native Bedouin population of the region, refer to the desert as al-Naqab. The origin of the word Neghebh is from the Hebrew root denoting 'dry'...
region of Israel.
WUJS Arad Arts Project
The WUJS Institute’s Arad Arts Program, founded in 1991, was a subsidized residency for visual artists, musicians, writers, dancers, and choreographers from around the world.The Arts Project was designed for accomplished artists with experience in their field of creativity. Applicants were required hold an academic degree and be above age 21. The Project also features an intensive Hebrew Ulpan (language acquisition) program.
The culmination of the Arts Project was an Art Exhibition of the participant artists and their works in both Arad and in the heart of Tel Aviv
Tel Aviv
Tel Aviv , officially Tel Aviv-Yafo , is the second most populous city in Israel, with a population of 404,400 on a land area of . The city is located on the Israeli Mediterranean coastline in west-central Israel. It is the largest and most populous city in the metropolitan area of Gush Dan, with...
.
WUJS Arad Peace and Social Justice Program
The WUJS Institute’s Peace and Social Justice Program (PSJ), was a combination of Hebrew language instruction, Israel studies and an internship in a social change organization in Israel.The PSJ Program ran two semesters. The first semester was based in the WUJS Institute in Arad, while the second semester, an internship placement in a social change organization, was located elsewhere in Israel. This ten-week internship with an approved social change organization consisted of 30 hours per week. The organizations in which interns were placed 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.
Zman Tel Aviv
The Zman Tel Aviv Track at WUJS Arad was scheduled to open in September 2008. The track consisted of a five-month community service internship period in the city of Tel AvivTel Aviv
Tel Aviv , officially Tel Aviv-Yafo , is the second most populous city in Israel, with a population of 404,400 on a land area of . The city is located on the Israeli Mediterranean coastline in west-central Israel. It is the largest and most populous city in the metropolitan area of Gush Dan, with...
. Projects available for the internees include work in art and cultural promotion, public relations, work in local media, and more.
Closure
In June 2008, the decision was made to close the WUJS facility in Arad and to relocate in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv under the management of Hadassah's Young JudaeaYoung Judaea
Young Judaea is a peer-led Zionist youth movement that runs programs throughout the United States for Jewish youth in grades 2-12. In Hebrew, Young Judaea is called Yehudah Hatzair or is sometimes referred to as Hashachar, which means the dawn....
in Israel. WUJS Arad closed on September 24, 2008. The new program was given the name WUJS Israel. The first session of WUJS Israel, including the new Zman Tel Aviv track, opened on September 2, 2008. Subsequent sessions are scheduled to open annually in February and September.
External links
- WUJS Israel 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