Project Interchange

Project Interchange is the only national organization solely dedicated to providing educational travel seminars in Israel for America’s civic, media, religious, university and governmental leaders. Founded in 1982, Project Interchange educates these influential Americans through firsthand experience about Israel, the U.S.-Israel relationship and the quest for peace in the Middle East. A non-political, non-profit organization, Project Interchange introduces its participants to Israel to meet its people, and come to appreciate what Israel has achieved and what its people need to do to remain safe and secure.
Founded in 1982, Project Interchange, which became an institute of the American Jewish Committee (AJC) in 1992, is unique in offering seminars tailored to the specific interests of high-level national delegations while giving participants an overview of contemporary Israel and key issues in U.S.-Israel relations and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. In our twenty-five years, Project Interchange has brought over 4,000 influential Americans to Israel. Groups include university presidents, members of the clergy, leaders in the Latino, Asian, African American and Indian-American communities and student leaders.

Project Interchange is developing a growing cross-section of United States leadership who is informed about Israel. Personal knowledge is a powerful catalyst for effective communication. Clergy give sermons, congressional staffers counsel members of Congress and campus student leaders write articles and speak publicly. National media figures provide more informed views about Israel in their columns and broadcasts. Project Interchange not only educates for impact, but it also fosters public and private sector engagement with Israel through relationship- building and understanding.

MAINLINE PROTESTANT LEADERS
Project Interchange Seminars for religious leaders discuss challenges to interfaith relations with leading Christian, Jewish and Muslim clergy as well as the role of religion in peacemaking. The program includes travel to Christian sites in the Galilee, discussions with Christian, Muslim and Jewish theologians, visits with a cross-section of Israeli society (e.g. Jewish, Arab, Druze, Bedouin) and meetings with selected Palestinians.

AMERICAN MUSLIM LEADERS
American Muslim leaders from the U.S. visited Israel on a trip jointly sponsored by the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations and AJC's Project Interchange.

LEADERSHIP OF THE SMITHSONIAN MUSEUM FOR AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY AND CULTURE
Israel hosts several world renowned museums that tell the story of the Jewish people and of Israel, and some of these museums have faced the challenge of a dearth of material resources and artifacts to convey the powerful stories and histories. As they inform, educate, memorialize and celebrate, Israel’s experience can be instructive. Focusing on Yad Vashem, Hapalmach Museum, Israel Museum and the Museum of the Diaspora (Beth Hatfutzot), the primary goal of this seminar is to educate the participants about Israeli museums, facilitate mutual exchange of techniques and knowledge and provide networking opportunities for Israeli and American museum professionals. In addition, the seminar addresses the core issues of Project Interchange seminars: Arab-Jewish coexistence, pluralism, Middle East peace process, education and immigrant absorption.

PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIALS
As the role of public health in the United States expands and adapts to address an increasing number of immigrants entering the U.S. from Latin American, Asian and African countries, Israel can offer models of public health programs to benefit sectors of the changing American populace. At the forefront of public and community health and a country which shares its knowledge worldwide, Israel is a world leader in areas such as mother and child health, the reduction of infant mortality, the prevention and reduction of communicable diseases, and hospital terrorism preparedness. Successful educational campaigns have greatly reduced the level of smoking and the incidence of skin cancer caused by the sun's rays. Moreover, Israel has the lowest percentage of new HIV positive victims in the western world, largely attributed to comprehensive sex education programs offered in the country's high schools. Project Interchange introduces American community public health professionals to Israel’s successful models of education and awareness while familiarizing participants with Israeli society, the challenges of providing quality healthcare to all Israelis, and the short and long-term dilemma facing Palestinian health coverage.

STATE OFFICIALS
This bi-partisan delegation includes elected and appointed officials from across the country who have a special focus on energy issues. With limited access to energy resources, Israel has become a world leader in energy alternatives, efficiency and innovation, and thus, an excellent case study for leaders who are working on energy legislation and policy. In addition to providing an overview of contemporary Israel, national politics, history and religion, U.S.-Israel relations and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, this seminar will focus on energy policy, water and solar energy technology and international cooperation.

STUDENT BODY PRESIDENTS
Countless American leaders began their careers in public life as student body presidents. Project Interchange believes it is critical to educate emerging leaders about Israel while they are still formulating their views on a variety of issues. Participants are student government leaders at universities in the Midwest including Idaho, Iowa, Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota, and Utah. The students spend time with Israeli Arab and Jewish students through visits to Israeli and Palestinian universities. These student leaders meet with leading Israeli Arab, Jewish and Palestinian policymakers, academics, and government officials to provide a foundation for understanding current realities. This seminar focuses on Israeli politics and society, the economy, water issues, Arab-Jewish coexistence, education and immigrant absorption. This group also receives briefings on the Israeli-Palestinian and Israeli-Hezbollah conflicts, Israeli politics and the U.S.-Israel relationship.

UNIVERSITY PRESIDENTS
Project Interchange coordinates this seminar together with the AJC Dorothy and Julius Koppelman Institute on United States Jewish-Israeli Relations. This seminar encompasses discussion with a cross-section of Israelis and examines the US- Israel relationship and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict with a special focus on the challenges of higher education within Israeli and Palestinian societies. A component of the visit is exploring student and faculty exchanges, research and tech transfer. Critical themes include understanding the breadth of Israel’s culture, society, and intellectual leadership. The delegation meets with Israeli-Arabs and Palestinians at a time when so much attention is paid to the conflicts and pursuit of peace in the Middle East on university and college campuses. Moreover, the delegation also tours historical and archaeological sites that hold much meaning for Christians, Jews and Muslims.

INTERCULTURAL STUDENT LEADERSHIP
This seminar for Intercultural Student Leadership was organized to not only educate campus leaders about Israel but also to utilize Israel as the catalyst for campus-based collaborative initiatives by the participating students to enhance and further understanding of diverse histories, communities and cultures. We sent three students from each of four universities: University of Florida (student body population 48,000), University of Texas-Austin (student body population 38,000), Michigan State University (student body population 40,000), and Loyola University in Chicago (student body population 7,000) so that upon their return, participants create campus programming that will utilize their Israel experience as seen through the lens of a diverse group of representatives from each university. The composition of each trio was a Jewish leader, and two student leaders who represent major student organizations on campus.

INDIAN-AMERICAN LEADERS
As contact grows between Israel and India, and the Indian-American and United States Jewish communities, it is increasingly important to nurture these relationships through opportunities such as introducing these professional and communal elite to Israel. Such action thus furthers the growing axis of democracy among the U.S., India and Israel: the world’s oldest democracy, the world’s largest democracy and the Middle East’s only democracy. In addition to exposing these participants to the diversity and complexity of Israeli society made richer by the Indian-Jewish community, Project Interchange provides insight into how Israel deals with the operational and societal realities of the shared problems of terrorism. Moreover, this experience provides opportunities to discuss areas of potential collaboration in trade, economic development, educational and cultural exchanges.

RHODES SCHOLARS
This delegation of political and academic leaders of tomorrow is comprised of first and second year Rhodes Scholars in residence at Oxford University. Special attention is paid to introduce this group of emerging leaders to Israel through its history, diverse society, social and political challenges and role in its strategic environment. The group visits with a broad spectrum of citizenry (Israeli Arab, Bedouin, Christian, and Jewish) and travels the country to best understand the layers of archeology, history and complexity that comprise Israel. These students are briefed on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Israeli politics, and the US-Israel relationship by Israeli and Palestinian policymakers, academics, and government officials. They examine economic development, pluralism, immigration and absorption, strategic and security issues, education, the public health system, Arab-Jewish coexistence, and the pursuit of peace.

CONGRESSIONAL STAFF
This Project Interchange seminar educates those responsible for advising members of Congress on key issues and legislation in relation to Israel, the pursuit for peace and regional issues in the Middle East. Over the last 20 years, more than 450 congressional staff and members of Congress have participated in our educational programs in Israel. We bring a bi-partisan group of senior level staff, primarily located in Washington, DC who play a role in US – Israel relations through drafting legislation, committee work and constituent relations. These participants are introduced to a cross-section of Israeli society and politics through briefings, site visits and touring throughout the country. They also meet with Palestinian representatives and American diplomats. These staffers return with a comprehensive introduction to Israel, its societal challenges including education, immigrant absorption, security, trade, Arab-Jewish coexistence and regional peace.

CHRISTIAN CLERGY
Christian clergy in the U.S. are influential religious and communal leaders on local, state, regional and national levels. They help form and develop the opinions of their church activists and members. There is an urgent need to provide these members of the clergy with an opportunity to experience Israel so that they can possess the understanding necessary to communicate issues of concern with greater perspective; and more effectively engage in ecumenical decision-making and inter-faith relations. Project Interchange collaborates with AJC’s Community Services Department to ensure that Chapters with emerging and established interfaith initiatives have the opportunity to invite their Christian partners to participate. Seminars for clergy discuss challenges to interfaith relations with leading Christian, Jewish and Muslim clergy as well as the role of religion in peacemaking. These religious influentials travel to Christian sites in the Galilee, meet with Christian, Muslim and Jewish theologians, as well as a cross-section of Israeli society (e.g. Jewish, Arab, Druze, Bedouin) and Palestinians.

UNIVERSITY STUDENT MEDIA
This delegation is comprised of editors of leading university and college newspapers.
These student editors meet with a cross-section of Israeli Jewish, Arab, Palestinian and foreign journalists to explore professional challenges and the impact of regional conflict on reporting. These student leaders are provided with an introduction to Israeli history and politics as well as briefings on the historical and current understanding of the regional conflict. The students will also have the opportunity to meet with Israeli university student newspaper editors to discuss the differences and similarities in serving as leaders on U.S. and Israeli campuses. In addition to the focus on journalism, these students will visit sites throughout Israel to learn about the economy, water issues, Arab-Jewish coexistence, education and immigrant absorption to gain a greater understanding of Israeli society.

UNIVERSITY STUDENT BODY PRESIDENTS
Countless American leaders began their careers in public life as student body presidents. Project Interchange believes it is critical to educate emerging leaders about Israel while they are still formulating their views on a variety of issues. Participants are student government leaders at universities in the Midwest including Iowa, Montana, Nebraska, Oklahoma, and South Dakota. The students spend time with Israeli Arab and Jewish students through visits to Israeli and Palestinian universities. These student leaders meet with leading Israeli Arab, Jewish and Palestinian policymakers, academics, and government officials to provide a foundation for understanding current realities. This seminar focuses on Israeli politics and society, the economy, water issues, Arab-Jewish coexistence, education and immigrant absorption. This group also receives briefings on the Israeli-Palestinian and Israeli-Hezbollah conflicts, Israeli politics and the U.S.-Israel relationship.

UNITED STATES COUNTER-TERRORISM EXPERTS — NOVEMBER 2006
U.S. counter-terrorism specialists, and thereby citizens of the U.S. and abroad, benefit from opportunities for these experts to learn from each other in Israel’s dynamic country cum classroom. Project Interchange first brought counter-terrorism experts to Israel in 2002 and an important bi-product of this seminar was the relationships that were formed among peers, especially with the International Policy Institute for Counter-Terrorism (ICT). Such relationships continue to be fostered by both sides, and are viewed as having enormous potential to further professional cooperation and education. This delegation included participants from the Center for Nonproliferation Studies, Center for Strategic and International Studies, US National Academies, Global Advisory Services, and the Counter-Terror Units of the New Jersey State Police and Monmouth County Police. The experts met with senior Israeli officials, academics and leaders including Tel Aviv University’s Head of the Harold Hartog School of Government and Policy; the former commander of the Israel Defense Force's Southern Command; Member of Knesset Matan Vilnai; and the former General Director of the Palestinian Authority Ministry of Interior.They also partook in presentations about water security and bio-terrorismby the director ofIsrael's Center for DiseaseControl.

LATINO LEADERS AND JOURNALISTS — OCTOBER 2006
Working with AJC chapters and the AJC Community Service Department, Project Interchange recruited twelve accomplished Latino leaders spanning civic society, journalism, academia and law for this seminar. Participant comments sum up the seminar. “The experience dramatically increased my understanding of Israel itself. I didn’t realize how little I really knew. I was most struck by its diversity, within the observant Jews, and its ethnic and other religious minorities…. Having a better understanding of the history and religions of the region helps me connect with the Jewish people and even Palestinian people much more authentically and meaningfully. Understanding the context and depth of experience gives me a more nuanced view of the current challenges and made me in many ways contrast and compare to the US realities.” – Maria Rodriguez (Director, Florida Immigrant Coalition); “I understand the context of how Israel came to Statehood and its many layers of development-socially, economically, politically.” – Catherine Anaya (Journalist); “I found the candor of presenters impressive and even more impressive that PI/AJC seek to provide opportunities to air different perspectives and genuine debate.” – Christine Johnson (Educator, President Community College of Denver).

MILITARY AND STRATEGIC ANALYSTS - AUGUST 2006
The delegation was comprised of high level and experienced military and strategic analysts from the fields of academia, think tanks, and journalism. The participants traveled to Israel this past August during the height of Israel’s conflicts with Hezbollah and Hamas. The seminar provided participants with a firsthand perspective on the situations along Israel’s Northern border with Lebanon and in Gaza. The itinerary included meetings with officials in the ministries of Defense and Foreign Affairs, commanders in the North and South, as well as with politicians and analysts. Meetings with new immigrants, Israeli-Arabs, and Palestinians provided a more comprehensive understanding of the current situation in Israel. Upon return, these participants continue to write prolifically and build upon their Project Interchange experience.

University Presidents — June 2006
The seminar provided participants with a comprehensive introduction to Israel, a greater understanding of the importance of Israel studies at institutions of higher education in the U.S. and an in-depth look at the successes and challenges of higher education policy in Israel and the Palestinian territories. The Presidents of the University of Florida, the State University of New York at Stony Brook, Washington and Lee University and the University of the District of Columbia traveled to Israel with their spouses. Three of the presidents were visiting Israel for the first time. The seminar was chaired by Dr. Harold Shapiro, President Emeritus of Princeton University and the University of Michigan and accompanied by Dr. Steven Bayme, Director of the AJC Koppelman Institute of American Jewish-Israeli Affairs.

Pan-Methodist leadership — May/June 2006
A delegation of African-American Methodist bishops and community leaders traveled to Israel on this seminar organized in collaboration with Dr. David Elcott, AJC’s former Director of U.S. Interreligious Affairs and co-sponsored by the World Council of Churches. This seminar succeeded in introducing the participants to a broader and more comprehensive understanding of Israel. The delegations met Christian, Jewish and Muslim clergy and ecumenical leadership to discuss the role of inter-faith relations and the role of religion in peace-making amid difficult realities. These alumni have spoken about their experience at professional conferences and continue to write articles for African-American publications.

National Latino Leaders – April 2006
Co-sponsored by Project Interchange, AJC’s Institute for Latin American and Latino Affairs and the National Council of La Raza, this delegation was comprised of a virtual “who’s who” in the U.S. Latino community. One of the highlights of the seminar was a Shabbat dinner hosted in Jerusalem and attended by Israeli Latin American scholars. The group had an overwhelmingly positive response to their experience in Israel and immediately wrote a statement urging the steadfast and enhanced relationship between the Latino and Jewish communities, including an expanded understanding of Israel in the Latino community, which was released on May 30, 2006. One participant summed up the experience by stating, “The seminar allowed me to build a better understanding of the complexity, diversity and strength that characterize Israeli society.”

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National Media — February 2006
The eleven participants in this delegation included journalists from print and broadcast media as well as local and national talk show personalities from throughout the U.S. The group learned much about the challenges for print and broadcast media in the region from meetings with Israeli, Palestinian and foreign correspondents based in Israel. Seminar highlights included a meeting with the mayor of Kiryat Shimona, discussions with new immigrants at an immigrant absorption center, and a roundtable presentation about the challenges to the many religions in Israel with representatives from the Interreligious Coordinating Council in Israel. Some of the participants hosted or called into their radio shows while in Israel. This experience continues to inform the writing, program selection and perspective that these journalists convey to their listening and reading public.

Rhodes Scholars — January 2006
This year’s delegation of Rhodes Scholars lived up to their reputation as the “best and brightest” during their travels in Israel with Project Interchange. Whether challenging presenters or meeting informally with Israelis, these participants were highly engaged throughout their week in Israel. Seminar highlights included visits to Christian sites replete with participants’ reading of relevant passages in the New Testament, meetings with Israeli students, and briefings with Yossi Klein Halevi and Dr. Nadine Baudot-Trajtenberg, Manager of Investor Relations at Bank Hapoalim, Israel’s largest bank. They also valued the opportunities to converse with Israelis and Palestinians on a more informal level and believed that their experience will greatly inform and enhance their understanding of Israel and the challenges to the quest for peace.

University Student Media — December 2005
Student editors from Columbia University, Howard University, Northeastern University, Northern Arizona University, Seton Hall University, Texas A&M University, University of Florida, University of Illinois, University of Iowa, University of Missouri – Saint Louis and the University of Oklahoma, traveled to Israel on this year’s University Student Media seminar. Highlights of the seminar included discussions with foreign correspondents in Israel from The New York Times and The Chicago Tribune as well as a meeting with Jewish and Arab participants in a film workshop designed to promote coexistence. The delegation met with leading Israeli and Palestinian policymakers, academics and government officials. Upon their return to the U.S., two participants gave a presentation about their experiences in Israel at a conference sponsored by College Media Advisors, which was attended by over fifty editors and advisers of campus newspapers.

Civic and Policy Leaders — November 2005
The members of this high-level delegation of public officials and business, civic, and religious leaders described their seminar as an eye-opening experience that instilled in them an understanding of Israel as a democratic state. Highlights of the seminar included meetings with then-President of the Supreme Court Aharon Barak and the Mayor of Ashkelon, and visits to Magen David Adom, the Weizmann Institute of Science and Yad Sarah. Upon their return, participants wrote a number of op-eds and articles that were published in their local papers. Many participants have also attended Project Interchange alumni events in their areas and continue to utilize their experience as they ascend in their political and professional careers.

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Indian American Leaders — November 2005
This dynamic group was comprised of leading attorneys, businessmen, prominent heads of Indian-American civic, policy and advocacy organizations and student campus leaders. The delegation traveled to Tel Aviv, southern Israel and Jerusalem. Highlights of the seminar included a meeting and reception at the home of the Indian Ambassador to Israel, Arun K. Singh; a discussion with the President of Ben Gurion University, Avishay Braverman, and a reception with leaders of the Indian-Jewish community in Israel. Members of the delegation noted that the seminar provided them with an increased understanding of and connection to Israel. Both the Washington and Atlanta chapters of AJC hosted events in their communities that featured seminar participants. As a result of their meeting with President Braverman at Ben Gurion University, the participants created a scholarship fund to enable Indian students to study in Israel.

Construction Leaders — October/November 2005
This delegation was comprised of leaders in the global construction industry spanning architecture, engineering, infrastructure, design, construction, insurance, management construction, law, transportation engineering and trade publications. The seminar program highlighted infrastructure and development in Israel, U.S.-Israel relations, foreign policy, strategic, and security issues. Participants met with leaders from the Israeli public and private sectors involved in planning, infrastructure development and construction. In addition, this delegation met with the President Yitzchag Apeloig of the Technion and former President of Ben Gurion University, Avishay Braverman. The meeting with President Apeloig of the Technion spurred interest in organizing a conference in New York dedicated to bomb resistant construction, to be hosted by the ENR (The Engineering New Record, the leading industry publication). Since returning from Israel, the delegation has reunited for a luncheon briefing in New York and one alumnus has returned to Israel to pursue a project at Ben Gurion University.

Latino Media – October 2005
Participants in this seminar included national and local Latino and Latin American media professionals, including staff writers, editors and foreign correspondents. They visited Israel in the aftermath of the disengagement from Gaza and discussed related issues with leading Israeli and Palestinian academics. Other highlights of the seminar included a roundtable discussion with foreign correspondents from international media publications, a visit to the Yemin Orde Youth Village, and a session at the Ra’anana immigrant absorption center with recent immigrants to Israel from Latin American countries. Group members were impressed with Israel’s efforts in the areas of integration and education of immigrants and felt that the U.S. could benefit from Israel’s practices and policies in this area. After returning to the U.S., Javier Aldape, the editor of Hoy, sent a reporter back to Israel to write several stories for the largest circulation Hispanic daily in U.S.

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State Officials – September 2005
This bi-partisan delegation included elected and appointed officials from across the country. Highlights of the seminar included a briefing on U.S.-Israel trade relations with the president of the Israeli-American Chamber of Commerce, Ambassador Zalman Shoval, and a discussion with members of the Jewish-Arab Mayor’s Forum in the Arab town of Umm Al Fahum. Members of the group found their visit to Yemin Orde Youth Village particularly meaningful and noted that Israel’s work in the area of educating at-risk youth provides a thought-provoking alternative model to the foster care system adopted by the U.S. As the seminar took place shortly after Hurricane Katrina, the itinerary included meetings with Israeli organizations involved in disaster relief and recovery.

Student Body Presidents – August 2005
Universities in Oklahoma, Montana, Idaho, Iowa, Minnesota, South Dakota, North Dakota and Utah were represented with this year’s group of student body presidents. The seminar focused on Israel’s disengagement from Gaza, Arab-Jewish coexistence, the Middle East peace process, education and immigrant absorption. The students met with Israeli student leaders to discuss the similarities and differences of their roles on U.S. and Israeli campuses. Upon their return, the students shared their experiences with their campuses and communities through presentations to classes and campus groups and initiated changes to the study abroad policies of their respective campuses. Their campus newspapers provided extensive and favorable coverage of this Project Interchange Seminar. It was so powerful that one participant shared, “I am coming back to Israel to volunteer. There is so much good to be done here, particularly with SELAH, and I now see my career goals and personal desires coming together in Israel; I want to come to Israel to teach.”

United States Seminars