It is time for American Jews to come study at Israeli universities

Three Israeli universities are ranked among the top 100 institutions globally for the second consecutive year. Alongside the Hebrew University, ranked 81st, are the Technion (85th) and the Weizmann Institute (69th). Just for comparison purposes, Brown University, Carnegie Mellon, and Emory are all further down the list. If we go deeper, some Israeli university departments are ranked much higher than the average rank. For example, Technion is in 42nd place in Engineering and Technology and 15th place(!) in computer science. When looking at the most attractive ecosystems for startups and innovation, Tel Aviv University is ranked number 4(!) globally.

These excellent universities are available for international students. Many Israeli universities offer classes in English, and tuition for international students is much less expensive than at American universities. Aside from high-quality academic standards, Israeli student life is fantastic. Connecting with Israeli peers and fellow international students worldwide is exciting, just the way it sounds. Living independently with roommates in the heart of Tel Aviv or Jerusalem is a blast. IDC in Hertzelia is popular with international students, yet Tel Aviv University, Hebrew University, and the Technion are famous for specific academic departments.

The idea of coming to Israel for academic purposes has been a fast-growing trend. The Israeli Council for Higher Education data shows that over 12,000 international students participate in Israeli academic programs. According to Masa, the Israeli government umbrella organization responsible for all long-term programs in Israel, there are over 150 programs for international students in Israel. These numbers would have grown significantly if we hadn’t had to overcome the challenges related to COVID-19 and the current war.

Since the Oct 7th attacks on Israel, it has been made clear that many college campuses are not safe for Jews. We already see the impact of the rise in antisemitism as many Jewish students are choosing to study on safer campuses. I believe the number of international students in Israel will double in less than a decade.

To support this growth, the Israeli government, Jewish non-profit organizations, and Jewish philanthropists must take immediate action. The Israeli government must ease the visa process for international students and allow universities to invest in infrastructure and student housing. Jewish non-profits must increase financial support and focus on recruitment and branding. Jewish philanthropists must invest in Israeli academic institutions and allow the financial support necessary for research and innovation.

Most importantly, Jewish parents should support this change. After decades of encouraging the ‘American dream’ that includes getting an excellent American college education, the new path to success should consist of getting a higher education in Israel.

It’s time for change.