ISEF in Israel

ISEF’s 2012 National Leadership Conference

More than 500 ISEF scholars from 21 colleges and universities all over Israel converged on Beer Sheva this past weekend (March 23-24) for ISEF’s annual National Leadership Conference. This intensive 2-day event inspired and engaged our students through discussion panels, workshops, and a special celebration commemorating ISEF’s 35th Anniversary. 

Our students had the opportunity to hone leadership skills, discuss relevant issues, and reconnect with old friends. Accomplished ISEF alumni were also in attendance, and our students were matched according to similar fields of study and had the chance to network with our graduates.

The event opened with a lecture by Israel’s former Chief Rabbi, Yisrael Meir Lau, on the topic of leadership and Judaism in the State of Israel today.

A panel discussion on the “Leadership Challenges Facing Israel’s Marginalized Communities” was moderated by television journalist Avi Fuerst and included local leaders from Israel’s southern region:  Dimona Mayor Meir Cohen and Professor Ze’ev Tzahor, the founder and former President of Sapir College near Sderot.

Among the lecturers and guests who took part in this national conference were:

Daniel Ben Simon: ISEF  Alumnus and Member of the Knesset for the Labor party.

Itsik Dasa: The first Native Ethiopian law student, Itsik is an accomplished attorney as well as the founder and CEO of the Tabeka Organization.

Taly Reinberg-Shchory: Director of the Beer Sheva Youth Center

Haim Bar Ya’acov: Social activist and CEO of the “Movement for Respectable Life.”

Yoav Kreim: Social activist and spokesperson for Israel’s handicapped.

Amal Asna: Manager of the Ajik Organization: Bedouin woman who strives to empower and educate other Bedouin women.

Zohar Avitan- Manager of the Sapir College Pre-Academic School (Mechina), Chairman of the Pre-Academic School Management Committee and among the leaders of the struggle against the Mechina privatization process.

Prominent ISEF Alumni included:

Prof. Ilan Hammel, Dr. Meir Buzaglo, Prof. Ami Moyal, Gila Klein, Yossi Lahav, Judge Yossi Yosefi, Dr. Asher Bashiri, and Sigal Vidman among others.

Professor Ilan Hammel, ISEF Alumnus and Head of Tel Aviv University’s Sackler Graduate School of Medicine Administration:

“Yesterday evening I left Beer Sheva with music in my heart. It was the first time that I attended the two day festivities of Shabat Iyun.

Those two days were such a refreshing and inspiring experience, hearing from all of our scholars. For me personally, this annual meeting was the highlight of the year and it was really great reconnecting with students from all of the programs. The perspective one get from such a meeting is unique and more than that,  it puts in perspective how our students are learning, all with a HUGE smile in their faces.”

Our scholars have given us overwhelmingly positive feedback about the conference as well.

ISEF Scholar and Conference participant Yaron Samimi hails from southern town of Netivot:

“To Everyone at ISEF – Thank you for a weekend full of meaning and purpose. I got so much out of this conference, becoming better informed and strengthening friendships. Now more than ever, I understand the true significance of the ISEF family.”

 

Theory into Action – ISEF’s Students Help Others

ISEF’s Leadership Training Program goes outside the campus. Students chose an urgent social issue, then worked to call public attention to it, by

• Creating after-school programs for Ethiopian youth in Rishon LeZion;
  

  An ISEF scholar befriends two children in Rishon

• Helping Beit Shean public housing tenants renovate their apartments and advocate for their rights;
• Organizing “Giving Day” to spotlight the issues facing Israel’s special needs community, with information booths and handcrafted gifts made by adults with special needs.
  

  ISEF students show two girls how to care for plants