Middle East Delegation: My Top-10 Takeaways in Pictures

In June, I journeyed to Israel, the Palestinian territories, and Jordan with members of my leadership team, for an academic experience focused on expanding Temple’s global reach and refining cross-cultural best practices.

During the visit, we met with top civic and business leaders, university presidents and administrators, and alumni and students. We also engaged with Israeli and Palestinian experts to learn further about the social, political, and security challenges in the area and toured historic and religious sites to gain a deeper understanding of the region’s cultural history and significance. Each of our conversations and engagements focused on issues related to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Upon reflection, here are my most impactful experiences:

1.????Yad Vashem Holocaust Museum

Israel's official memorial to the victims of the Holocaust is dedicated to preserving the memory of the Jews who were murdered during World War II and honoring those who fought against the Nazis. One of its core missions is research, focusing not only on the Holocaust but on genocide in general, with the aim of avoiding such atrocities in the future.

2.????President Herzog

Israel’s head of state, President Isaac Herzog, hosted our delegation to discuss strategic planning and policy considerations at the core of leading a country located in a region fraught with conflict. We were proud to represent Philadelphia, and the United States, to the President’s leadership team and solicit advice on the establishment of Temple’s Blue Ribbon Commission on Antisemitism and University Responses .

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3.????Hadassah Clinic & Chagall Windows

The Hadassah Medical Center operates two hospitals in Jerusalem with the objective of providing care regardless of race, religion, or ethnic origin. Standing on the stone floor of the adjacent Abell Synagogue, bathed in the light streaming through the stained glass windows created by internationally acclaimed artist Marc Chagall, we were reminded of those who have crossed boundaries–geographical and cultural–and used their passion and talent to lift the spirit of many.

4.????Hebrew University

Labeled “The Start-Up Nation,” Israel has the distinction of being the most advanced nation in ensuring technology transfer from faculty and students to industry and has the highest level of start-ups, per capita, of any country. We learned from President Asher Cohen and his cabinet about Hebrew University’s collaboration with both Microsoft and Apple on significant projects, and the recent purchase by Intel of the Mobileye invention that netted Hebrew University $288,000,000.

5.????Al Quds University

Temple benefits from a decade-long partnership with AQU through a student/faculty exchange program with our Kornberg School of Dentistry. We met with President Imad Abu Kishek, in Ramallah, West Bank, and discussed a future-focused program that encourages students to explore ways to enhance the Palestinian community by launching companies. They sponsor a start-up training and incubator program for students in areas of need including agriculture, medicine, health education, and food technology.

6.????Yair Stern, KLN ‘70

At an alumni reception hosted in Jerusalem, we honored Yair Stern, an Israeli journalist best known as the guiding force behind the introduction and development of television in Israel. Stern shared historic reflections and insights on his career and advice on how Temple can better prepare students for the future of global media.?

7.????The Western Wall

Thousands of people travel from all corners of the earth, every year, to visit the Western Wall in Jerusalem’s Old City, and recite prayers. I placed one of my written prayers in a Wall crevice (as is custom) and experienced the spiritual environment with humbling awe.

8.????Columbia University Global Center Amman

In Jordan, Temple partnered with Columbia University to host a program on the future of work in the Middle East. I provided a keynote address focussed on my book, “The Great Skills Gap” and our delegation engaged with hundreds of participants—opening channels for future collaboration in the areas of student research, regional community projects, and international NGO exchanges.

9.????Church of the Holy Sepulchre

In the Old City, we had the opportunity to visit the tomb where Christians believe that Jesus was buried and from which he rose from the dead—the “holiest place on Earth”. The sprawling church displays a mish-mash of architectural styles and bears the scars of fires, earthquakes, and deliberate destruction (and reconstruction) over centuries. As a man of faith, I was overcome with the sensory overload of hearing the hymns and prayers, smelling burning incense, and seeing the complete diversity of visiting pilgrims from every corner of the globe.

10.?Harvard University Delegation

In Tel Aviv, our group overlapped with an inaugural delegation from Harvard. The Harvard Graduate School of Education (HGSE) was in the region exploring schools and policy centers in Israel and Palestine. As a ’97 alumnus of HGSE, I was especially pleased to connect with Will Torres , HGSE ’22, to discuss equity in college access and international policy.

For more information and photos of our learning and partnership journey, please see the article here .