The International Office at JMC was delighted to host a student delegation from the U.S. on January 13. The group included 21 students and staff from Hillel at the University of Maryland, Baltimore, visiting as part of the Maccabee Task Force program.
JMC President Prof. Ariela Gordon-Shag welcomed the delegation, emphasizing the importance of international exchanges, especially in times of conflict, and the value of meeting local students to gain a deeper understanding of Israeli reality beyond the headlines.
Liza Even-Israel, a JMC alumna and former International Office staff member who initiated the connection with Maryland, shared an important message: “To truly understand a place, you need to speak with the people who live there. You can’t rely on TikTok or social media posts — you have to experience it through conversations with Israeli students and listen to the nuances.”
The delegation attended a brief lecture on Middle East geopolitics by Dr. Maoz Rosenthal, Head of the Department of Politics and Communication, and then took part in an engaging intercultural program with JMC students, including personal conversations, icebreaker activities, and a shared lunch, facilitated by Politics and Communication lecturer Erik Segal.
The visit concluded with a meeting with journalist Daniel Ben-Ami, who highlighted the critical role of such visits in combating antisemitism and misinformation on international campuses.
The College looks forward to welcoming more delegations from Maryland and other parts of the world in the future.
