The Association for Israel Studies is an international scholarly society devoted to the academic and professional study of Israel. The Association's membership is composed of scholars from all disciplines in the social sciences and many in the humanities.

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AIS Dissertation Completion Fellowship

The Association for Israel Studies announces a dissertation completion fellowship for outstanding doctoral students in any field of Israel Studies. The fellowship aims to provide support to doctoral students for the final stages of the completion of their dissertations.

Based in its commitment to fostering multidisciplinary research about Israel, these fellowships will constitute recognition of the contribution and potential of an emerging scholar. One fellowship, in the amount of $5,000, will be offered annually to an outstanding doctoral student, chosen by a committee of AIS-member scholars. The fellowship will be offered for a single year only. As a dissertation completion fellowship aimed at providing assistance for the final stages of doctoral work, the fellowship will not be renewable. Students are expected to complete their dissertations during the completion year.

The grantee will be asked to acknowledge the source of funding in all publications that rely on the funds of the AIS scholarship.

ELIGIBILITY

The AIS dissertation completion fellowship will be available to students at universities in any country who:

• Have completed all departmental and university requirements (obtain ABD status).
• Have completed an approved dissertation prospectus.
• Have completed at least two draft dissertation chapters (or one draft article for students in fields where the dissertation consists of three articles), confirmed by the dissertation advisor.
• Are current members of the AIS at the time of application.
• Eligible dissertations will be written in English or Hebrew.

Applications

Applications and should include:

• A cover letter (up to 1500 words) describing:
  • The purpose, objective and rationale for the research project.
  • The methodology or methodologies employed.
  • Major findings of the dissertation and their importance/ contribution to the field of Israel Studies.
• A chapter of the dissertation.
• A bibliography (no more than 2–3 pages).
• A one-page timeline outlining the schedule for completing and successfully defending the dissertation within the fellowship year.
• Three letters of recommendation, one of which must be from the student’s doctoral adviser/supervisor.
• Professional CV and a full list of publications
• Status Confirmation Form to be completed by department chair or director of graduate studies

Applicants should mail a single PDF comprising all aspects of the application (with the exception of letters of recommendation) as an attachment to this address: AIS_Dis.htg7xugdbtics3lm@u.box.com by February 1 2024. Recommenders can submit their letters of recommendation by emailing them as attachments to the same email address.

Incomplete applications will not be considered.

The AIS will notify applicants of the AIS Academic Committee’s decisions by the beginning of April. For additional information please see:

https://www.aisisraelstudies.org/#:~:text=The%20Association%20for%20Israel%20Studies,and%20many%20in%20the%20humanities.

Names of winners will be published on the AIS website.

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AIS Statement regarding the recent changes in Israel’s legal system 

The Association for Israel Studies, the international scholarly society devoted to the academic and professional study of Israel, is committed to academic freedom and freedom of expression. The Association follows with grave concern the constitutional revolution taking place in Israel, which threatens the democratic character of the State of Israel and is worried about the consequences which might affect the Israeli academia and the academic and professional study of modern Israel. 

We express solidarity with the declaration issued by VERA – The Association of Israel University Heads following the cancellation of Reasonability Cause on July 24. 

 

Please see VERA's statement below.

VERA - Association of University Heads announces:

"Yesterday, something happened in Israel. The government completed the first stage of the constitutional revolution which threatens the democratic character of the State of Israel.

In every way, we condemn the government's unilateral and forceful cancellation of Reasonability Cause. We are highly concerned about the government's plans to complete the constitutional revolution unilaterally and without broad consensus. The risks of the constitutional revolution are materializing everywhere, even in Israeli universities. Having already seen the buds and effects of the government's harassment of the academy, we are worried that we will not have the protection of an independent Supreme Court if and when these harassments escalate.

The academic staff in universities is urged to participate as active citizens in any legal way they can, regardless of their position. "And the educated at the time - will not - stand still". Members of the academic staff: as beacons and models for a liberal and inclusive society, we all have a duty to express our opinions and act in different ways to fulfill our civic duty towards Israeli society. We, for our part, will back you up as much as we can, and will work in every possible way to ensure a better future for the country. Our society needs to bridge the severe rift created by the constitutional revolution, which threatens social cohesion and the resilience of Israeli society and university campuses."

 

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Dear Members of the Association for Israel Studies,

We are delighted to announce the results of the recent elections for the leadership positions within the AIS. The AIS’s General Assembly has elected a new President, Vice President, and Board Members who will guide us in advancing our mission and promoting academic excellence in the field of Israel Studies in the coming two years.

Firstly, it is our pleasure to introduce our newly elected President, Prof. Rafi Cohen-Almagor. With an outstanding record of scholarship and a deep commitment to Israel Studies, Prof. Cohen-Almagor brings a wealth of experience and expertise to this vital role.

In addition, we are proud to announce the election of our new Vice President, Prof. Csaba Nikolenyi. Prof. Nikolenyi is renowned for his significant contributions to the field, and we believe his expertise will greatly benefit the Association and contribute to the growth and impact of Israel Studies.

Furthermore, we would like to extend our congratulations to the newly elected Board Members who will work alongside our President and Vice President to guide the strategic direction of the Association. Their names and bios will be uploaded to the AIS website in the coming days, showcasing the diverse expertise and representation within our community.

We express our sincere gratitude to the outgoing President Prof. Arieh Saposnik and Board Members for their invaluable contributions, dedication, and unwavering commitment to the AIS during their tenure.

As we welcome our new President, Vice President, and Board Members, we are excited about the future of the Association for Israel Studies. Their leadership, combined with the continued engagement and support of our members, will undoubtedly strengthen our organization and enhance the impact of Israel Studies worldwide.

Thank you for your ongoing support and commitment to the Association for Israel Studies.

Sincerely,

Asaf Shamis, AIS Executive Director 

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AIS Statement regarding the Planned Judicial Reform Proposed by the Israel Government

The Association for Israel Studies views with grave concern the recent developments in Israel, including the looming changes in the state’s political and legal system, and the growing support for racism and incitement. As an academic association, we are committed to intellectual integrity and academic freedom—necessary foundations for any healthy and free society, and to the values of freedom, equality and pluralism, which must exclude any discrimination on the basis of religion, ethnicity, or gender. We believe that all efforts should be made to ensure that the rights and responsibilities upon which freedom of expression and the free exchange of ideas are based, and the checks and balances that are the underpinning of democracy—the precondition for free academic discourse—will continue to flourish in the academic study of Israel, in Israeli society, and in the Israeli body politic.

Gadi Barzilai 

It is with profound sadness that we inform you of the passing of our esteemed colleague and former AIS President (between 2011 and 2013), Professor Gad Barzilai who passed away earlier today at the age of 65.
Gadi was an exceptional scholar and an inspiring leader who made significant contributions to the field of Israel Studies.

Gadi was a world-renowned scholar whose groundbreaking research and influential publications in the areas of law, politics, and human rights made him a leading figure in our field. As President of our association, he provided visionary leadership and inspired us all with his passion for knowledge and intellectual inquiry.

We extend our deepest condolences to Gadi’s family during this difficult time. He will be deeply missed. His legacy will live on through his scholarship and the impact he made on our association and the wider academic community.

We will be honoring Gadi at our upcoming conference in New York, where we will pay tribute to his life and work.