January 29, 2010

Dear Friends,

It has been ten years that I have had the privilege of serving as the Executive Director of ISIME. Now, it is time for me to move on to new ventures and opportunities.

The past decade will be one that I will always look back on with pride.  Under direction of the ISIME Board and support from people like you, we have accomplished a great deal.  Our efforts have brought notable guests and speakers from academia and governments who have kept us abreast of the complex issues facing Israel in the Middle East.

I am especially proud of our peace-seeking initiatives and I will treasure the relationships developed over the years with people of all cultures and faiths who share the same vision of peaceful coexistence.

As I leave, I would like to offer my heartfelt gratitude to all of you who have inspired me and supported the work of this institute.  It has been my privilege to walk with you throughout this remarkable journey.

I also want you to know what is essentially clear to all of us – our work is not done.  I look forward to following and supporting the work of ISIME in the future.  All people in the Middle East will benefit from continued efforts to build bridges for peace. I am leaving the leadership in capable hands.  Debbie Schlueter has been working with me for the last seven years and with her experience and commitment to balance, she will no doubt continue taking ISIME to new  heights.  I know she will strive for excellence and will work to bridge the gaps in the pursuit of peace.

Although I will no longer be leading this great institute, I hope that our paths will continue to cross as I explore new ventures and opportunities in Denver.  In the near future, I look forward to continuing academic work as a professor and Senior Scholar at the University of Denver and ISIME, publishing One Land, Two Stories with my colleague and friend, Dr. Amin Kazak, and focusing on economic development in Israel.

Thank you for everything you have done and continue to do for Israel in the Middle East.

Shalom, Salam, Peace,

Shaul M. Gabbay

DU’s Institute for the Study of Israel in the Middle East Announces Appointment of Interim Director

DENVER—Following the departure of Professor Shaul Gabbay, the Institute for the Study of Israel in the Middle East (ISIME) at the University of Denver’s Josef Korbel School of International Studies announced today that Deborah Schlueter  will become interim director effective February 1, 2010.

Schlueter has worked for ISIME for seven years, and currently serves as director of the Student Interfaith Peace Program, a leadership program initiated by ISIME that engages local Jewish, Muslim and Christian teens, and builds connections with teens in the Middle East.  Schlueter taught cultural diversity and conflict resolution skills in business, government and academic settings for a decade before joining ISIME.

I am honored to work with the board and lead ISIME,” says Schlueter. “My support for the Israeli people and the existence of the state of Israel, as well my deep concern for all the people in the region, will be guiding principles for me and for ISIME.  We will focus on building bridges of understanding.”

Schlueter succeeds Professor Shaul Gabbay, who served in the position for ten years.

We are very excited that Debbie is joining us as interim director because she is a long-time friend of the institute, and was our first choice to lead the transition process,” says Bob Loup, ISIME board chair and co-founder. “We are grateful to Shaul for his years of service.  He remains a friend to the institute and a personal friend of mine.”

Schlueter noted that she is eager for the opportunity to build on the institution Gabbay developed in his ten years as director of ISIME. “Today ISIME is established and known around the world. The research and programs Dr. Gabbay developed reached many internationally, and he created an invaluable network of contacts I will use to further the work of the institute.”

Loup says he expects this will be an exciting year for ISIME.  One of Schlueter’s first assignments is to develop a comprehensive programming schedule.

The search for a permanent director will begin soon with a goal of having someone in place by the beginning of 2011.

The University of Denver is committed to improving the human condition and engaging students and faculty in tackling the major issues of our day. The oldest private university in the Rocky Mountain West with more than 12,300 students in undergraduate and graduate study, DU is a nationally recognized research university and ranks among the top 100 Universities in the U.S.

The Institute for the Study of Israel in the Middle East (ISIME)  is excited to announce their third annual Student Interfaith Peace Project class and trip to the Middle East for high school students.

The Student Interfaith Peace Project (SIPP) was launched in 2007 at the Korbel Graduate School of International Studies at the University of Denver. In recognition of the growing gaps between Muslim nations and the West and the resulting discord reflected in many American communities, the program was designed to bring together religiously, culturally, and nationally diverse youth in dialogue and exploration of their differences and commonalities. SIPP strives to train and educate local youth for their personal benefit as well as to strengthen the overall health of the communities in which they live. Beyond the local impact, SIPP recognizes the value such a group can bring to the global community, and therefore reaches out to youth in the Middle East, creating a social network of future leaders who will help build peace.

SIPP students began engaging with Israeli and Palestinian youth during the first year of the program. To facilitate this process, SIPP now partners with high schools, colleges, and youth groups throughout Israel and Palestine. Using technology such as teleconferencing and video chat programs, students get to know one another on a personal level. To prepare for these interactions, SIPP’s program content focuses on listening and dialogue skills, intercultural communication, leadership, conflict resolution, and historical and recent political events in the region. At the end of the academic year, SIPP students travel to Israel and the West Bank for a two-week, interactive program with their Middle Eastern peers.

Applications are due February 5th, 2010.  Students will be notified  regarding their acceptance by February 9th, 2010 and classes start on February 16th, 2010.

For complete information about the program, please visit www.sipproject.org and attend an introductory meeting on the DU campus this Wednesday, January 27, 2010 from 7:00 pm to 8:15 pm. Parents, families, and students are welcome and light refreshments will be served. At University of Denver, Josef Korbel School of International Studies, Ben Cherrington Hall, SIE Center, Room 150, 2201 S. Gaylord Street, Denver.

Please RSVP to let ISIME know you will be coming to the informational meeting by calling 303-871-7477 or by email to isime@du.edu.

We have just finished lighting the last candle in the Chanukiah (Menorah) with big hopes for a miracle, the release of Gilad Shalit from captivity. Unfortunately this did not happen and we are all hoping to see him home before the beginning of 2010 which is around the corner.  The holiday season brings out the good in people and maybe our enemies will feel a little bit of the holiday spirit and let Gilad celebrate the coming new year with his parents.

It is at this time of the year that one remembers all his friends and I would like to take this opportunity and wish all my friends in Boulder and Denver Colorado Happy Holidays and Happy New Year. May the coming year be a happy year full of fulfilled dreams and peace around the world.

With best wishes to all,

Nir Birkat, Mayor of Jerusalem

On November 11th, 2008, Nir Barkat was elected the 9th Mayor of Jerusalem. Mayor Barkat has inspired thousands of Jerusalemites with his vision to turn Israel’s poorest city into one rich in culture, youth, education, lasting economic development, and tourism, as well as his message of respect and pluralism for all residents of Jerusalem. He has joined together the left and right, the secular and the religious, in order to move Jerusalem forward, allowing him to spend the entirety of his time working on the needs of Jerusalem, rather than the politics. Support for Mayor Barkat’s vision continues to spread throughout Jerusalem, Israel, and communities throughout the world.

This event is free and open to the public.  Click here to RSVP, or call 303-871-2357.

Infrastructure Minister Uzi Landau

Minister Uzi Landau is a member of the Knesset for Yisrael Beiteinu and Minister of National Infrastructure. Landau served in the Paratroopers Brigade of the IDF where he reached the rank of Major. He gained a BSc and MSc from the Technion and a Ph.D. from MIT. He also served as the Director-General of the Ministry of Transport and a lecturer in the Technion.

The talk will be held at 7:00 pm at Congregation Hebrew Educational Alliance, 3600 S. Ivanhoe St., Denver.  The event is free, but RSVPs are required. For more information, or to RSVP, contact AJC at colorado@ajc.org or 303.320.1742.

This program is co-sponsored by: Congregation Hebrew Educational Alliance, Consulate General of Israel in Los Angeles, Institute for the Study of Israel and the Middle East, and the Jewish Community Relations Council, a service of the Allied Jewish Federation of Colorado.

AJC Colorado Leadership:

The topic of Dr. Baskin’s lecture will be “Peace Education in Israel/Palestine“.   The talk will be free and open to the public.  At CU, the talk will be held at 5 pm in the Eaton Humanities Hall.  In Denver, the location will be the Cyber Cafe in the lower level, Josef Korbel School of International Studies at 2201 South Gaylord St., Denver.

Dr. Baskin, a tireless advocate of “two states for two peoples”, is the Israeli Co-Director and founder of the Israel/Palestine Center for Research and Information (IPCRI) – a joint Israeli-Palestinian public policy think. Gershon initiated the founding of IPCRI in 1988 following ten years of work in the field of Jewish-Arab relations within Israel. He worked with Interns for Peace, the Ministry of Education, and served as Executive Director of the Institute for Education for Jewish-Arab Coexistence (established by the Israeli Ministry of Education and the Prime Minister’s Office).

The Institute for the Study of Israel in the Middle East at the University of Denver is devoted to pursuing peace for Israel and its neighbors through education. At ISIME, we are optimistic because we believe we can make a difference in creating a lasting and sustainable peace for people throughout the region.  ISIME originated in the prestigious Josef Korbel School of International Studies at the University of Denver, a program rated among the best in the world.  Expansion plans include the opening of ISIME branches on campuses across the country beginning with the University of Colorado in Boulder. ISIME is a respected resource for scholarship and information, often providing analysis for students, the community, and the media.