From Political Analysis and Entrepreneurship Tips to Dixie Music, Basketball, and History of American Jewry

Recognizing strong ties between Israel and the USA, the Lowy International School’s U.S. week featured four days of intense and in-depth discussions, cultural workshops, an ANU museum tour, and engaging social activities. 

 

As Milette Shamir, VP International at TAU, emphasizes: “International Week is always a way to highlight a country’s values, traditions, and culture. This year, we aimed to showcase both the iconic and lesser-known aspects of American life and its unique connections with Israel, and also present educational opportunities available in the USA to Israeli students and researchers.”

 

The event was organized in close cooperation with the U.S. Embassy, the Center for the Study of the United States in Partnership with the Fulbright Program, TAU Student Union, and Hillel TLV.

 

The Power of Education

 

Jacob J. Lew, U.S. Ambassador to Israel, came to Tel Aviv University on November 20 to visit the U.S. Education Fair and meet with TAU leadership and students. 

 

Jacob J. Lew, U.S. Ambassador to Israel with Prof Ariel Porat, TAU President

 

He shared that he “enjoyed meeting with the University president and speaking with a diverse array of students, many of whom have been affected by the ongoing conflict. Hearing their stories and being able to interact with them, particularly as a former educator, reminded me of the power of education in building bridges across cultures and developing and strengthening resiliency.”

 

Jacob J. Lew, U.S. Ambassador to Israel, Prof Milette Shamir, VP International at TAU, with TAU students

 

“One of the most important things that we do in what we call soft diplomacy is do people-to-people connections where American students and scholars and international counterparts get to know each other, get to work together, get to experience each other’s culture. In places where we have friends it creates deep ties that lead to lifetime relationships and engagement,” he added.

 

Expect the Unexpected 

 

With the U.S. presidential elections still very fresh in everyone’s minds, several sessions during International Week dissected the results, their causes and implications, with a particular focus on potential impact on Israel and the Middle East. 

 

Prof. Yoav Fromer moderated a discussion that opened the U.S. Week between Dr Brandon Friedman, Dr Naama Maor, and Prof Udi Sommer on the historic realignment of the minority vote, the delegitimization of the American elite, the failure of the liberal agenda to address the key sentiments of working-class voters and the general lack of coherence and emotional connection during Kamala Harris’s campaign. 

 

Prof. Yoav Fromer, Prof Udi Sommer, Dr Naama Maor, Dr Brandon Friedman (left to right)

 

"For Americans, MAGA [Make America great again] was a hopeful message. Positive emotional moments were not covered by the main media, but they were a major motivation."—Prof Udi Sommer

 

Looking ahead, Dr Brandon Friedman, the Director of Research at the Moshe Dayan Center for Middle East and African Studies, stressed that “predicting Trump’s administration is a fool’s errand because Trump is so unpredictable”. 

 

 

Panelists participating in the roundtable held later the same day agreed that the Democrats had largely underestimated public discontent with wokeness and that Trump’s polarizing stand resonated with a wide audience. 

 

"Two weak candidates ran very poor campaigns in an environment that very much favored Trump and that Harris was unable to overcome."—Or Rappel-Kroyzer, TAU

 

 Dr. Yael Shomer (second from the left) moderates the roundtable discussion between Prof. Yossi Shain, TAU, Dr. Amnon Cavari, Reichman University, Idan Franco, TAU, and Or Rappel-Kroyzer, TAU

 

Who Would You Rather Have Beer with? 

 

In his highly interactive and engaging lecture on political campaigning, political marketer Shay Even offered a professional look at voter behavior, underlining that success in political campaigns is often due to luck because voters tend to make emotional decisions, influenced by how candidates make them feel rather than specific policies. 

 

Lecture on political marketing by Shay Even

 

Shay Even also shared effective campaign strategies such as controlling social media narratives rather than focusing on grassroots efforts, using betting data to predict election results, and asking voters emotionally resonant questions like ‘Do you feel better than four years ago?’ or ‘Who would you rather have a beer with?’

 

"If I want to have beer with someone this is the person I want to see in the White House."—Shay Even

 

Watch the full lecture here >>>

 

Doing Business and Making Laws

 

Jackie Goren, Head of the Sofaer Global MBA program at Tel Aviv University's Coller School of Management, moderated a discussion between Marina Grayson, Economic Officer at the U.S. Embassy Israel; Esther Barak Landes, Chairwoman of Wings IL Investment club and one of the Leading VC women in the Israeli Ecosystem, and Nimrod Rosenblum, Managing Partner at the ERM law firm. 

 

Prof Jackie Goren moderating the Doing Business Together discussion

 

Panelists talked about the resilience of the Israeli high-tech sector and the continuing US-Israel collaboration and gave practical tips for startup founders who wish to take their ventures global, emphasizing the importance of learning about prospective markets, consumer needs, and cultural differences, as well as the value of networking and diversity.

 

"I encourage students to take advantage of student opportunities in the US to learn more about the US and the US culture."—Marina Grayson, Economic Officer at the U.S. Embassy in Israel.

 

Watch the full recording of the panel here >>>

 

TAU students who took on the roles of U.S. senators for one evening at the TAU MUN event

 

Meanwhile, at the session of the TAU Model UN, students acting as U.S. senators debated the future of the immigration legislation, suggesting amendments to the Border Security and Enhanced Surveillance Act and deciding on resource allocation to border states for various border control measures like increased guard patrol, video surveillance, and others. The session followed the formal protocol of Senate proceedings and concluded with a vote on the motions put forward. 

 

In the American Orbit

 

Etgar Keret, a prominent Israeli author, whose short stories have been translated into more than 40 languages and published in the prestigious The New Yorker magazine, gave a public talk at the TAU’s Department of English Literature and American Studies as part of the US Week events. Noting that 90% of his readers are Americans, he talked about the role of the USA, and more specifically, New York, in his writing career.

 

Etgar Keret (right) and Dr Yoav Fromer (left)

 

"I’ve exploited the US for my purposes–growing up in Israel, I wanted to be out enough to reflect on what’s inside."—Etgar Keret

 

When asked for some advice for aspiring authors, Keret shared his personal strategy of being very humble when writing: “This is a chance to write something meaningful. Writing does not have to be pragmatic. You can write about anxiety and failure.” He credited Kafka and Vonnegut for inspiring him to start writing.

 

To find out what Keret thinks of Trump's campaign or how he uses emojis in his messages, watch the full recording:

 

 

The Beat of the U.S. 

 

The focal day of the US Week featured an outdoor educational fair where TAU students and campus visitors could talk to representatives of Fulbright and Education USA, and also learn more about exchange opportunities TAU offers. There was also a VR experience from America Hub Israel! 

 

 

Dance flash mob with Lions of Zion

 

To add American music flavor to the fair, the square in front of the Sourasky library transformed into a stage for a breakdance performance from Israel’s Lions of Zion crew and jazz from Doctor Jazz Dixieland Band. Visitors to the fair could join a graffiti painting session with artists from Street Art Production to create a mural.

 

Doctor Jazz Dixieland Band 

 

A particularly successful cultural highlight was the Gospel Choir Workshop led by Shai Portugaly, who conducted an interactive session introducing the history of the genre and emphasizing gospel's ability to allow for human expression in harmony with the environment. Jeff Daigle, Counselor for Public Affairs at the U.S. Embassy in Israel, and the head of the Embassy’s Public Diplomacy Section, opened the workshop, sharing that in his home state of Louisiana gospel music can be heard everywhere.

 

"It's a story of how magical things happen from horrible things–as gospel grew out of the suppression of African culture."—Shai Portugaly 

 

Shai Portugaly leading a blues improv session at the choir workshop

 

To illustrate how gospel’s key values, hope, love, and unity, come from the warmness of everybody singing together, Portugaly skillfully led the participants to sing together, so that by the end of a two-hour session, a real choir with soloists and drummers emerged.

 

Jewish Identity, American Pop Culture, and the Oldest Synagogue in the US 

 

During the ANU Museum tour, TAU students, faculty, and staff had an opportunity to learn more about several waves of Jewish emigration to the USA, the role of American Jews in the social justice movement, and the diverse world of modern American Jewry, the second-largest Jewish community in the world after Israel.

 

The model of the oldest synagogue in Rhode Island (on display at ANU Museum of the Jewish People)

 

Quintessential American Jewish food, Christmas time with Chinese food and movies, the inspiration for dances in the West Side Story, the scaled model of the Rhode Island synagogue–these were just some of the highlights of the tour. Participants also had an opportunity to see the Codex Sassoon, the earliest most complete edition of Tanach, and visit the October 7 exhibition at the museum.

 

 

For students interested in discussing what it means to be Jewish, Hillel held an informal meeting in their office to talk over pizza about Jewish identity and building connections between Jews in Israel and in the diaspora.

 

A Taste of the USA

 

No USA-themed week could be complete without traditional American parties and food, so two were held during the week at the Lowy International School’s Green House building. A social gathering with party games brought students together on November 19, after which students headed to the TAU's Sports Center for a game of basketball that lasted long into the night. 

 

At the Sports Center

 

A celebration of Thanksgiving with some turkey, cranberry sauce, and other common holiday staples capped the action-packed week on November 21!

 

TAU and YU students enjoying Thanksgiving dinner at the Lowy International School

 

"From serious discussions about politics to singing gospel together, playing basketball, and enjoying a Thanksgiving meal, we've brought the USA closer to so many members of our TAU community," reflects Maureen Adiri Meyer, Director of The Lowy International School.

 

"This week is a testament to the fact that cultural diplomacy isn't just about formal exchanges–it's about genuine human experiences"—Maureen Adiri Meyer

 

USA Education Fair on TAU's campus