Category: bar ilan

  • Small world for us (Flatbush) Jews.

    My high school was big on its alumni culture. For four years I endured being laid on thick with Israel, Zionism, Hebrew, and… the amazing alumni culture of the Yeshiva of Flatbush. I guess people always had stories about meeting fellow alumni halfway across the world or neat twists on finding each other after all…

  • A bus driver's advice: Sleep.

    In the two and a half years I have ridden the 400 bus to Bar Ilan, I have never fallen asleep and missed my stop – until today. What am I, six-years-old? As I walked up to the driver to confirm and to get the best route backwards, I knew the conversation could go two…

  • Now they're taking *our* semester breaks?

    A little ironic after my last post, but: Universities set to cancel vacations to make up strike time There are so many three, four and six-letter words running through my head right now (bilingually), I can’t really write anything else. University officials say that students will probably have to give up their semester break, and…

  • They may take my student card, but they'll never take my curiousity.

    It occurred to me today – in the fifth week of my third and final year – that Bar Ilan won’t always be a part of my life. Ok, allow me to rephrase: I won’t always be a registered student. The only time I haven’t been a registered student – since the early 80s –…

  • Last year's a charm.

    I just found out that for my last year of studies, to get my tuition paid for by Misrad Klita/Minhal Studentim, I need to volunteer 120 hours with little kids, the elderly or other olim chadashim. Apparently they only make you do it in the third year of receiving money from your aliyah rights. The…

  • Organizationally challenged.

    I’m taking a class this semester on conflict in organizational structure. Doesn’t seem like it’ll be that difficult; the professor is friendly and the material is familiar. So far I’m finding it quite entertaining, actually: being taught organizational conflict – in Israel – by a middle-age tzabar, a gever-gever who served more than his fair…

  • My professors are on strike.

      University professors to strike as of Sunday Well, here we go again. Sort of. Last time it was the students striking over fee hikes. This time it’s the faculty striking for pay hikes. C’mon guys… I have one more year – 3 credits – to finish. All I want to do is get my…

  • Back to – what?

    Remember when I said I was taking my last final ever? Kidding! I’m going back to school. A couple more teachers, a few more books. Lots and lots more dirty looks… at my disappointing experience studying at Bar Ilan University. In the end of August I decided to switch from the thesis track to the…

  • Ode to the Hebrew-English dictionary.

    If you are an oleh in university, feel free to identify with me right now. Today I took (what was hopefully) my very last final ever. It was arbitration law, it was in Hebrew legalese, it was painful, and now, barring any failure, I can look back and say thank you to my closest academic…

  • Academic coffee on Emek Refaim.

    I just came back from a successful study session with myself. Those only happen when I’ve waited until the last minute. Looking back over the last two years of school, I realize something: I’ve taken to studying in cawffee shops. Throughout American university, I had many places to study and work, depending on the nature…

  • Topic diving.

    About 6 months ago the time to start developing a thesis topic arrived. I’m at my fifth idea after four have been rejected by either my overseeing professor or myself. At this point, I’m even minus an overseeing professor and I have no idea where to turn for assistance. I will say, though, that my…

  • Students, leave those teachers alone.

    It’s kinda funny that I’m supposed to be studying Conflict Management & Negotiation right now and instead the government, university heads and students are all at battle with each other. Hmm… What would I say if I could speak my mind? Anyway. Here’s a photo I took of a hauntingly empty classroom where education is…