Research Facilities in Israel

Extract

Research possibilities and resources in Israel are so rich and varied that it is difficult to encompass all of them in the type of brief survey articles that have appeared in previous issues of the MESA Bulletin. Israel has developed a broadly-based European type of educational system culminating in a rapidly growing group of universities and technical research institutes. In addition to the base of scholars who immigrated to pre-1948 Palestine and helped found the educational system, there are now two newer elements in the scholarly community : native-born Jews and Arabs who have received their training in Israeli schools, often supplemented by graduate or post-doctoral study abroad, and a still newer element of Jewish immigrant scholars from Western countries such as the U.S., Britain, France, Italy, and Latin America, as well as a growing number of Jewish scholars, including some distinguished Orientalists, from the Soviet Union. This diversity of educational backgrounds adds stimulation to the Israeli academic scene. Perhaps more than in any other Middle Eastern country, cooperation with local scholars is recommended, not only for reasons of politics or politeness but because of the advisability of avoiding duplication of effort and because of the assistance that these scholars can give in the use of the research facilities. Furthermore, Israeli scholars can be of assistance to their foreign colleagues in such matters as arranging guest lectures, visiting professorships, or help in finding housing or schools for one’s children, all of which are more easily handled through personal contact.