Founded in 2005, the UCLA Israel Studies Program is one of the nation's premier centers for education and research about the history, culture, and society of Israel. We focus both on Israel's signal achievements as a modern, democratic state and Israel's relations with its neighbors, the United States, and the rest of the world.

In the six decades since its founding, the State of Israel has spawned a uniquely vibrant society, culture, and multi-ethnic democracy. It has done so while absorbing millions of immigrants and facing still unresolved political and military hostilities. To fully appreciate Israel's vitality and accomplishments, assess its challenges, and grapple with the complex geopolitical issues that surround it requires knowledge, research, probing analysis, and dialogue across different academic disciplines and viewpoints.

To that end, the Israel Studies Program promotes the multidisciplinary study of Israeli history, culture, and society. We sponsor courses, research, public lectures, symposia, and visits from Israeli scholars, officials, and cultural figures. We encourage you to browse our website, attend our events, and contribute to our efforts to better understand the dynamic, multi-faceted country of Israel.