By David Woolpy
Assistant Editor
The University of Cincinnati Israel Initiative (UCII) is gaining momentum locally and internationally, positioning UC as a hub for rigorous academic engagement with Israel while strengthening ties between the university, Israeli institutions and the Cincinnati community.
Formalized this past summer through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) extending through June 2027, UCII is a faculty-led effort operating under UC International and the Center for Studies in Jewish Education & Culture (CSJEC).
“This is about elevating and connecting work that is already happening while creating new opportunities across disciplines,” said Dr. Mark A. Raider, chair of the Israel Initiative Committee and director of CSJEC. “Our strategic partnerships with Oranim, the Technion and the University of Haifa are already opening doors for collaborative research and teaching. They reflect UC’s commitment to meaningful global engagement that benefits our students, faculty, and the broader Cincinnati community.”
A major milestone for UCII is a grant from the Israel Institute, which funds visiting professor Dr. Samuel (Muli) Peleg for three years. A native of Haifa and a scholar of conflict resolution, political culture and Israeli society, Peleg will teach four undergraduate courses each year focused on modern Israel. His courses — spanning history, political science, Judaic studies and film studies — will significantly enhance UC’s Israel studies curriculum and provide students with firsthand scholarly perspectives on Israeli society.
The initiative also builds on a successful UC faculty delegation to Israel in May 2025, which helped deepen strategic partnerships with three leading institutions in the Haifa region: Oranim College, the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology and the University of Haifa. These partnerships create pathways for joint research projects, faculty and student exchanges, and community-engaged programming.
These collaborations are particularly meaningful, Raider noted, because Haifa and Northern Israel face social, economic and environmental challenges not unlike those confronting Cincinnati. “There is a natural synergy in studying shared issues through comparative and cooperative frameworks,” he said.
UCII’s work is supported by an external advisory board co-chaired by Kim Heiman and Gary L. Greenberg, with leaders from across the Cincinnati community serving as founding members. The board provides guidance and helps connect the initiative’s academic mission with broader community interests.
Raider emphasized that the initiative commences at an opportune moment. “Since October 7, higher education has experienced heightened polarization,” he said. “UCII provides structured, responsible spaces for dialogue and evidence-based learning, while building resilient academic partnerships that can endure geopolitical uncertainty.”
