CJC Student Spotlight: Gabriel Panuco-Mercado (SFS ’23)

Gabriel Panuco-Mercado

The following is our latest installment of the CJC Student Spotlight Series! The Center is pleased to spotlight Gabriel Panuco-Mercado. Panuco-Mercado is a sophomore in the School of Foreign Service from Los Angeles majoring in Regional and Comparative Studies. In addition to minoring in Jewish Civilization, he minors in Arabic. On campus, he is an active member of the SFS Academic Council, the Georgetown Journal of International Affairs, and Ballet Folklórico Mexicano de Georgetown. Learn more about him, his experience as a CJC student, and his time at Georgetown, below!

Q: How were you introduced to the CJC?

A: I heard about the CJC through Professor Jacques Berlinerblau. During the fall semester of my freshman year, I took his proseminar, “Fictions and Politics of International Relations.” It ended up being one of my favorite courses. Our thought-provoking conversations and intense writing exercises in his course have been seminal to my experience as a student at Georgetown. One day, Professor Berlinerblau invited my peers and I to a conversation about the JCIV minor and the Center’s opportunities with him and CJC advisors. I decided to pursue the minor after that warm interaction.

 

Q: What was your first CJC class? Additionally, have you had a favorite CJC class thus far?

A: I actually took three “first CJC classes,” all at once. They are also my favorites. My freshman year spring, I took “Intro to Jewish Civilization” with Professor Benjamin Haddad; “Confronting Contemporary Antisemitism” with Professor Ira Forman; and “Wording Your Identity” with Professor David Ebenbach. Of course, I enjoyed aspects of each course. In Professor Haddad’s class, I participated in engaging discussions about Jewish civilization. In Professor Forman’s class, I learned first-hand about what confronting antisemitism entails from Forman’s experience as the Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Anti-Semitism. Professor Ebenbach’s class challenged my preconceptions about reading and writing prose and poetry. All three are great courses which illustrate the breadth of the CJC’s academic offerings.

 

Q: What are some of your academic interests? Have you been able to explore them while at the Center?

A: As the son of Mexican immigrants, I am interested in all things relating to Latin America and especially about Mexican affairs. As a CJCer, I have been able to explore Catholic-Jewish relations in Latin America extensively. Professor Forman’s course was instrumental to my exploration of this topic. For his class, I wrote my final research paper about efforts to confront antisemitism in Mexico. This was one of my favorite papers I have have ever written while at Georgetown. Through my research interviews with journalists, clergy, and professionals, I was able to learn about Catholic-Jewish relations in Mexico and the Mexican Jewish community, at large.

 

Q: How has the CJC impacted your time at Georgetown?

A: The guidance I receive from professors and advisors at the CJC shapes my experience at Georgetown in ways I doubt would have been possible anywhere else. From deciding which courses to take to crafting internship applications, my time at Georgetown has been impacted for the better because of the Center. Needless to say, I have found my favorite professors, mentors, and peers as a CJC minor.

 

Q: Have you been able to further your research and extracurricular interests (CJC and non-CJC) while online? If so, how?

A: Because of the online transition, I have been able to expand the geography of my extracurricular involvement. Currently, I am organizing with a couple of housing and food justice groups at home and in Mexico City. With both organizations, I help in some capacity with mutual aid initiatives. For the group closer to home, I help secure community-based funds and donations for weekly food distributions. I also assist with those distributions, ask tenants about their housing conditions and prepare grocery bags for them to take home. Moreover, I build bridges between the organization based in Mexico City and US-based organizations, in order to establish a mutual aid coalition of networks in both countries. I have been able to connect with diverse people from across the country and in Mexico. Each of them are passionate about developing community-based solutions to housing and food insecurity. I believe that our virtual adjustment actually helped to foster my connections with this cohort.  

Q: How have you furthered your learning experience outside of the CJC and SFS? This can be through internships, or other activities.

A: As I mentioned, I have worked with a couple of housing and food justice groups. Recently, I also started my internship at the National Domestic Workers Alliance (NDWA). As an intern, I engage with domestic workers and labor organizers to advance domestic workers’ rights in the Washington metropolitan area. While at the NDWA, I hope to learn more about the intricacies of labor organizing, which is something I aspire to pursue after graduating from Georgetown.

On campus, I am involved with the SFS Academic Council, write for the Georgetown Journal of International Affairs, and dance (pre-COVID) with Ballet Folklórico Mexicano de Georgetown. 

 

Q: What have been some of your favorite moments while an SFS student in general? What have been some of the highlights of your time as a Georgetown student?

A: One of my favorite moments at the SFS thus far was attending the Centennial Gala last fall. I was fortunate enough to win a ticket through the Georgetown Scholars Program. Although I was hesitant about going at first, the Centennial Gala is one of the most memorable experiences I have had as an SFS student. Where else would I have been able to watch Yo-Yo Ma perform with a bagpiper?

 

Q: What are you most looking forward to this upcoming semester?

A: I really look forward to continuing my work with the National Domestic Workers Alliance and securing new virtual opportunities. I am also excited to declare my major!

RSVP to “’The Church is Not Afraid of History:’ The Opening of the Vatican Archives”

The Center for Jewish Civilization invites you to Dr. Suzanne Brown-Fleming’s virtual lecture, “’The Church is Not Afraid of History:’ The Opening of the Vatican Archives.” RSVP to the lecture here!

Our virtual lecture with Dr. Suzanne Brown-Fleming will be accessible to all viewers via Zoom. RSVP required. Only those who register will receive the Zoom link to access the lecture. Zoom invitations will be emailed to all those who RSVP. 

This online event will take place on November 05, from 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM.

About the Event

The Hal Israel Endowed Lecture in Jewish-Catholic Relations is named in memory of Hal Israel (C’92) and seeks to facilitate dialogue and strengthen ties between Jews and Catholics. It explores the many ways in which members of these two faiths continue to replace ancient prejudices with cooperation and understanding in today’s world.

In March 2019, when Pope Francis opened the archives for the pontificate of Pope Pius XII (1939-1958), His Holiness marked this momentous occasion with the phrase “the Church is not afraid of history.” The archives opened to researchers in March 2020 for only four days before the COVID pandemic required closing them. Since their reopening in June, the international research community has begun their work in one of the most consequential archives for study of the Holocaust in our lifetime. Dr. Brown-Fleming will reflect on key questions about the Holocaust the archives could help answer and the meaning of this research for Jewish-Christian relations going forward.

About the Speaker

Dr. Suzanne Brown-Fleming is the Director of International Academic Programs at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. Dr. Brown-Fleming’s work has been featured in the Catholic News Service (CNS), Catholic News Agency (CNA), and The Catholic Virginian. She has appeared on Cable News Network (CNN), EWTN Global Catholic Television Network, and several documentaries, including Holy Silence (2019).

This event will be recorded. By joining this event you consent to Georgetown University using video and photos of you taken during the event in its social media and promotional materials. For all other accommodation requests, please email bhm29@georgetown.edu by October 31. A good-faith effort will be made to fulfill requests after October 31.

CJC Student Spotlight: Marisa Morrison (SFS ’23)

Student Spotlight Marissa Morrison

It is time for the latest installment of the CJC’s Student Spotlight Series! This month’s spotlight is Marisa Morrison, a sophomore in the School of Foreign Service from Japan. Morrison serves as a teaching assistant for the course, “Nazi Camps and the Holocaust,” taught by the Center’s Associate Director, Professor Anna Sommer. Read our interview with her below to learn about her CJC and Georgetown experience!

Q: How were you introduced to the Center for Jewish Civilization (CJC) and why did you join? What your first ever CJC class?

A: During the fall semester of my freshman year, I took Professor Jacques Berlinerblau’s proseminar, “Fictions and Politics of International Relations.” The class allowed me to meet some of my best friends from the SFS and it has been one of my favorite courses thus far. The discussion-based class kept me on my toes and forced me to think critically about my thought-provoking readings. Professor Berlinerblau encouraged us to join the Center––after seeing how welcoming everyone was, I decided to join!

Last semester, I took “Introduction to Jewish Civilization” (a core CJC course) with Professor Benjamin Haddad. It was a great class that taught me the history of Jewish civilization and politics. It also introduced me to very interesting thinkers.

 

Q: Could you explain what some of your research and academic interests are and how you have furthered developed them as a CJC student?

A: This past summer, I was able to conduct research for the Center’s Associate Director, Professor Anna Sommer. Professor Sommer explores the question of whether women Holocaust survivors had agency after liberation. My work involved listening to and reading testimonies of women who survived the Holocaust. I have learned so much from their stories and have been able to study the Holocaust through a new lens. As for my own research interests, I am interested in learning about how different social contexts and conditions breed international order. I am specifically interested in understanding this issue through a gendered perspective. My research has allowed me to take a deep dive into individual women’s experiences and understand their macro impact on society.

 

Q: What did the research and administrative work you completed for the Center during the summer entail? What was your biggest takeaway from the experience? Feel free to also let us know if you engaged in other summer activities.

A: By now, you know that my work with Professor Sommer largely involved reading through, watching, and listening to testimonies from women who survived the Holocaust. These women started families and immigrated to the United States. Many of them felt very grateful that the U.S. provided them with a home after they had been persecuted in their own homes. But these women also recounted many difficult circumstances, such as having to balance their family lives and jobs, experiencing depression and PTSD, and not being able to talk about their past to their families. One thing that struck me was that some women gradually lost their faith, while others had their faith reaffirmed. This project really opened my eyes to the many facets of their experiences and helped me understand the importance of listening to individual narratives in order to truly comprehend the impact of a tragedy or conflict.

Over the summer, I also conducted research for Professor Michael Green, who is the Director of the Asian Studies Program. Specifically, I studied contemporary Japanese domestic and foreign policy using Japanese and English sources. This experience led me to examine and understand some of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s policies, including “Womenomics,” among other reforms.

 

Q: Are you continuing this work during the Fall 2020 semester? If so, what are you working on now?

A: Currently, I serve as Professor Sommer’s teaching assistant for her course, “Nazi Camps and the Holocaust.” I am also picking up my research again!

 

Q: Although it is only your sophomore year at Georgetown, can you describe how the CJC has impacted your time on the Hilltop?

A: I did not get the chance to spend enough time at the CJC before being sent home because of the pandemic. However, the Center has been really helpful in offering me support, guidance, and opportunities like working with Professor Sommer. I am looking forward to spending more time at the Center when we’re allowed back on campus!

 

Q: What have been some of your favorite moments while an SFS student? Have there been any major highlights  thus far?

A: One of my favorite memories is attending the SFS Centennial Gala. I happened to win a ticket through a lottery, and it was such an amazing night. It was incredible to listen to speakers like former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, former President Bill Clinton, and to performances by Yo-Yo Ma and other musicians.

 

Q: How have you been making the most of our online environment this semester? 

A: I am really just taking this semester and trying to focus on myself. Sometimes it is easy to get overwhelmed and constantly being on my computer kind of sucks. So, I am trying to focus on going outside to exercise and doing things other than schoolwork!

 

Q: What are some other clubs or activities you are involved in at Georgetown?

A: I write for the Indo-Asia-Pacific section and the Compass Futures section of the Caravel. I really enjoy this because I get to learn more about the region and about developments in science and technology. I am also on the executive board of What’s A Hoya. Currently, we are working on creating an accessible and engaging platform for new students to learn more about Georgetown and the resources it has to offer.

Introducing our 2020-2021 Andrew H. Siegal Professor in American Middle Eastern Foreign Policy

The Center for Jewish Civilization is excited to announce that our own Ambassador Dennis Ross is the 2020-2021 Andrew H. Siegal Professor in American Middle Eastern Foreign Policy. The annual professorship and lectureship is made possible by the support of Mr. Michael Deutsch (COL ‘ 88, L ‘ 92; partner with and co-founder of Singer Deutsch LLP) and his family. It was established in honor of Deutsch’s late friend, Andrew Siegal, a philanthropist who lived in the United States and Israel. It is guided by Siegal’s hopeful vision for the Middle East. 

The Siegal professorship allows thought leaders to work closely with CJC students and faculty. Past fellows have included Professors Elliot Abrams, Tamara Cofman Wittes, and Danielle Pletka. This semester, Ambassador Dennis Ross continued to teach his celebrated course“History of Peace-Making in the Middle East,” as Siegal Professor. The course places the Arab-Israeli conflict in a historic context. Next semester, Ambassador Ross will teach his other hallmark course, “Statecraft and Negotiation,” which analyzes American foreign policy toward the Middle East within the framework of of statecraft.

The importance of the professorship in cultivating ties between the Center’s students and community members is not lost on Ambassador Ross, who stated that it  “has been responsible for the rich engagement between thought leaders and students for years.” Ross continued, “the Center for Jewish Civilization’s first Andrew H. Siegal Professor was U.S. Special Representative for Iran and Venezuela Elliot Abrams, followed by Tamara Coffman Wittes of The Brookings Institute, and Danielle Pletka of the American Enterprise Institute. I am pleased to follow them as the 2020-2021 fellow and professor. Through my courses, I have been able to share my experience as a diplomat who is extensively involved in the Middle East peace process with students. Crucially, I have learned from their insights in the process, as well.” 

Ambassador Dennis Ross serves as the counselor and William Davidson Distinguished Fellow at The Washington Institute for Near East Policy. He is a Distinguished Professor of the Practice of Diplomacy at Georgetown University. For over twelve years, he played a leading role in shaping the U.S.’s involvement in the Middle East peace process, dealing directly with the parties as the U.S. point man on the peace process in both the George H. W. Bush and Bill Clinton administrations. For two years, he served as special assistant to President Obama and as National Security Council senior director for the Central Region. For one year, he served as special advisor to Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton.

Before his time as special Middle East coordinator under President Clinton, Ambassador Ross served as director of the State Department’s Policy Planning Staff in the first Bush administration. In the past, he played a prominent role in U.S. policy towards the former Soviet Union, the unification of Germany and its integration into NATO, arms control negotiations, and the 1991 Gulf War coalition. Additionally, he served as director of Near East and South Asian affairs on the National Security Council staff and deputy director of the Pentagon’s Office of Net Assessment during the Reagan administration.

Ambassador Ross graduated from UCLA, where he wrote his doctoral dissertation on Soviet decision-making. He served as executive director of the Berkeley-Stanford program on Soviet International Behavior, received UCLA’s highest medal, and has been named UCLA alumnus of the year. 

Ambassador Ross has authored five books on the peace process, the Middle East, and international relations. His most recent publication, co-written with David Makovsky, was published in September 2019 and is titled Be Strong and of Good Courage: How Israel’s Most Important Leaders Shaped Its Destiny. The book profiles four Israeli prime ministers and their historic choices. It explores the lessons from those decisions and assesses whether they can provide a guide to dealing with the fateful choice that Israel’s leaders must soon confront or by default become a binational state. His previous publications include Doomed to Succeed: The U.S.-Israel Relationship from Truman to Obama (Farrar, Straus, and Giroux, 2015), which was awarded the 2015 National Jewish Book Award for history. He also co-authored Myths, Illusions, and Peace: Finding a New Direction for America in the Middle East (Viking, 2009) with Mr. Makovsky. An earlier study, The Missing Peace: The Inside Story of the Fight for Middle East Peace (Farrar, Straus, and Giroux, 2004), offers comprehensive analytical and personal insight into the Middle East peace process. He also received critical acclaim for his 2007 publication Statecraft, And How to Restore America’s Standing in the World (Farrar, Straus, and Giroux, 2007), which the New York Times praised as “important and illuminating.”

Ambassador Ross will offer the 2021 Andrew H. Siegal Memorial Lecture in American Middle Eastern Foreign Policy. Stay tuned for the Center’s announcement of the event’s topic!

Ambassador Dennis Ross, 2020-2021 Andrew H. Siegal Professor in American Middle Eastern Foreign Policy.
Ambassador Dennis Ross, 2020-2021 Andrew H. Siegal Professor in American Middle Eastern Foreign Policy.

Take a Look at our Upcoming Hal Israel Endowed Lectures in Jewish-Catholic Relations

Hal Israel

The Center for Jewish Civilization invites you to Rabbi Abraham Skorka’s virtual lecture, “Jewish-Catholic Faith Traditions and Interfaith Dialogue.” RSVP to the lecture here!

Our virtual lecture with Rabbi Skorka will be accessible to all viewers via Zoom. RSVP required. Only those who register will receive the Zoom link to access the lecture. Zoom invitations will be emailed to all those who RSVP. 

About the Event

The Hal Israel Endowed Lecture in Jewish-Catholic Relations is named in memory of Hal Israel (C’92) and seeks to facilitate dialogue and strengthen ties between Jews and Catholics. It explores the many ways in which members of these two faiths continue to replace ancient prejudices with cooperation and understanding in today’s world.

Rabbi Skorka will describe the founding of both faiths, their encounters and clashes throughout history, and the dialogical relation that developed during the last 50 years.

About the Speaker

Rabbi Abraham Skorka was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina and has a PhD in Chemistry from The University of Buenos Aires. Rabbi Skorka graduated from Midrahsa HaIvrit and the Latin-American Rabbinical Seminary. Presently, he is a University Professor at Saint Joseph’s University in Philadelphia and works closely with its Institute for Jewish-Catholic Relations. His many publications include On Heaven and Earth, which he co-wrote with Pope Francis (then the Archbishop of Buenos Aires Cardinal Bergoglio).

This event will be recorded. By joining this event you consent to Georgetown University using video and photos of you taken during the event in its social media and promotional materials. For all other accommodation requests, please email bhm29@georgetown.edu by October 7. A good-faith effort will be made to fulfill requests after October 7.


The Center for Jewish Civilization invites you to Dr. Suzanne Brown-Fleming’s virtual lecture, “’The Church is Not Afraid of History:’ The Opening of the Vatican Archives.” RSVP to the lecture here!

Our virtual lecture with Dr. Brown-Fleming will be accessible to all viewers via Zoom. RSVP required. Only those who register will receive the Zoom link to access the lecture. Zoom invitations will be emailed to all those who RSVP. 

About the Event

The Hal Israel Endowed Lecture in Jewish-Catholic Relations is named in memory of Hal Israel (C’92) and seeks to facilitate dialogue and strengthen ties between Jews and Catholics. It explores the many ways in which members of these two faiths continue to replace ancient prejudices with cooperation and understanding in today’s world.

In March 2019, when Pope Francis opened the archives for the pontificate of Pope Pius XII (1939-1958), His Holiness marked this momentous occasion with the phrase “the Church is not afraid of history.” The archives opened to researchers in March 2020 for only four days before the COVID pandemic required closing them. Since their reopening in June, the international research community has begun their work in one of the most consequential archives for study of the Holocaust in our lifetime. Dr. Brown-Fleming will reflect on key questions about the Holocaust the archives could help answer and the meaning of this research for Jewish-Christian relations going forward.

About the Speaker

Dr. Brown-Fleming is the Director of International Academic Programs at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. Dr. Brown-Fleming’s work has been featured in the Catholic News Service (CNS), Catholic News Agency (CNA), and The Catholic Virginian. She has appeared on Cable News Network (CNN), EWTN Global Catholic Television Network, and several documentaries, including Holy Silence (2019).

This event will be recorded. By joining this event you consent to Georgetown University using video and photos of you taken during the event in its social media and promotional materials. For all other accommodation requests, please email bhm29@georgetown.edu by October 31. A good-faith effort will be made to fulfill requests after October 31.

RSVP: “Reconciling Free Speech & Safety In An Era of Antisemitism & Extremism”

RSVP to the CJC’s “Reconciling Free Speech & Safety In An Era of Antisemitism & Extremism" by visiting the “Event’s” section of our page and clicking the Eventbrite link, at cjcsigner2020.eventbrite.com!

The Center for Jewish Civilization invites you to Dr. Michael Signer’s virtual lecture, “Reconciling Free Speech & Safety In An Era of Antisemitism & Extremism.” RSVP to the lecture here!

Our virtual lecture with Dr. Signer will be accessible to all viewers via Zoom. Zoom invitations will be emailed to all those who RSVP. 

This online event will take place on October 13, from 5:15 PM – 6:15 PM.

About the Event

RSVP required. Only those who register will receive the Zoom link to access the lecture.

Dr. Michael Signer, the author of Cry Havoc: Charlottesville And American Democracy Under Siege, was mayor during the 2017 “Unite the Right” rally. In his presentation, Signer will place the events of that fateful weekend in the larger context of the polarization and disruption that continues to affect America today. A political philosopher and attorney, Signer examines such pressing issues as how we can reconcile free speech with the need for public order as well as maintain the values of pragmatism, compromise, and even simple respect in a time of intensifying extremes on the right and left.

About the Speaker:

For over twenty years, Michael Signer has worked to strengthen democracy – as a public servant, advocate, attorney, executive, and author.

Signer served as the mayor of Charlottesville, Virginia, from 2016–2018 during the Unite the Right rally of 2017. The Washington Post wrote that he was “one of Trump’s strongest critics.” Afterward, he founded and chaired Communities Overcoming Extremism: the After Charlottesville Project, a bipartisan coalition including the Anti-Defamation League, the Ford Foundation, the Charles Koch Institute, the Fetzer Institute, and New America. National Public Radio featured Signer ’s work “sharing painful lessons from the fight against hate.”

***This event will be recorded. By joining this event you consent to Georgetown University using video and photos of you taken during the event in its social media and promotional materials. For all other accommodation requests, please email bhm29@georgetown.edu by October 6. A good-faith effort will be made to fulfill requests after October 6.

CJC Student Spotlight: Samuel Gang (SFS ’21)

The Center for Jewish Civilization is pleased to announce the latest installment of its Student Spotlight Series. This month’s spotlight is Samuel Gang, a senior in the School of Foreign Service from Bethlehem. Gang majors in International Politics and minors in both Arabic and Jewish Civilization. At the CJC, Gang developed his interests in counterterrorism and political and religious extremism. Read our interview with him below to learn about his experiences as a CJCer and on the Hilltop.

Q: How and why did you join the CJC?

A: I first learned about the CJC during orientation, week when I briefly stopped by a CJC event. I conversed with Professor Jacques Berlinerblau and mentioned that I was interested in the politics of the Middle East. He convinced me to come to other CJC events and consider a certificate. I realized that many of the courses offered by the Center align with my regional interest and count towards my major, International Politics. I also wanted to learn about the region through a multidisciplinary approach and differing viewpoints.

 

Q: What was your first CJC class?

A: I actually took three CJC classes during the first semester I decided to pursue a certificate, which were “Re-examining the Middle East Crisis through Literature and Film,”  “Israel and Arab Spring,” and “Intro to Jewish Civilization.”

 

Q: Have you had an extensive experience abroad? If so, how has it informed your studies and time at the CJC?

A: Although I lived in the Middle East before starting my undergraduate studies at Georgetown, I was always interested in learning more about the region by approaching it through different perspectives and disciplines. The CJC was the perfect place to explore my interest since its courses and programming approach the Middle East in more than just a political lens. In many of the classes, I was happy to contribute to class discussions about events that I have personally experienced.

 

Q: What are some of your research and academic interests? How have you developed them as a CJC student?

A: I had my regional interests before coming to the CJC. Though I had the opportunity to explore classes about counterterrorism and both political and religious extremism as a student in the Center. This led me to intern for the Counterterrorism and Intelligence Program at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, where I spent time translating and analyzing extremist groups’ literature and videos from Syria. I am particularly interested in researching about Huras al-Din, an AQ affiliate based in Idlib. My other interests include the Israel and Gulf relationship, particularly in light of the growing Iranian influence in the region.

 

Q: What has been your favorite CJC class thus far?

A: My favorite class was “Re-examining the Middle East Crisis through Literature and Film” with Professor Meital Orr. I took it during the second semester of freshman year. I enjoyed the class because it offered us a background to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict through a humanities-oriented framework, as opposed to just a political lens. In fact, my main takeaway from the class was that Israeli and Palestinian literature and symbolism allows us to see connections between people that might not be readily apparent in politics and a conflict setting.

 

Q: Can you tell us a little about the research and administrative work you completed for the CJC during the summer? Did you have other work experiences last summer?

A:   I assisted Director Bruce Hoffman with administrative work by organizing class materials. Additionally, I worked as an intern for an Australian strategic consultancy firm called Arcana Partners, researching how disasters and emergencies play into “accelerationism” and the narrative of extremist groups.

 

Q: Have you had a very memorable CJC experience thus far? How has the CJC informed your time at Georgetown?

A: The CJC introduced me to some of my favorite classes and mentors, including professors and students. The Center has  offered me the most supportive community, one that regularly checks in with me and discusses internship and career opportunities. When I had to undergo emergency surgery earlier in the summer, the staff and students were very concerned and supported me through phone calls and by sending me wonderful books to read!

 

Q: Can you tell us a bit about your Master’s program? Additionally, what are some of your professional goals for the future?

A: Currently, I am pursuing an M.A. in Security Studies through an accelerated degree program. I plan to concentrate on terrorism and substate violence. As a Korean citizen, I have to serve in the military and hope to be part of the Korea UNIFIL mission in Lebanon or anywhere else in the region where I can use my language skills. Afterward, I hope to pursue a career at a think tank or the United Nations.

 

Q: What do you look forward to during your last year on the Hilltop? How have you been making the most of our online environment?

A: Last semester, I came to Sydney, Australia as a study abroad student and lived at St. Paul’s residential college at the University of Sydney. I decided to continue to live here until the end of the year and take Georgetown classes virtually. I have been able to take advantage of experiencing college life both in Sydney and Georgetown. While participating in many of the webinars hosted by Georgetown and think tanks in DC, I am also able to physically partake in many events–both academic and athletic– while being in Australia. I look forward to further engaging with my peers and friends at my Master’s program if we return to campus next semester.

 

Q: What are some other clubs you’re involved in and activities you engage in at Georgetown?

A: I have been involved as the treasurer of the GU Arab Society and directed many MUN committees through the International Relations Club.

Don’t Forget: RSVP to our Fall Events!

Wednesday, September 09, 2020

Israeli-Emirati Normalization and its Implications for the Middle East
4:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Online Lecture
Zoom Invitations Will Be Sent to All RSVPs

RSVP Here

About the Event:

Join Ambassador Dennis Ross, a veteran negotiator and expert on Israeli-Arab relations, as he sheds light on the announcement that Israel and the United Arab Emirates will normalize relations. Amb. Ross will illuminate the origins of the historic announcement, discuss its implications for the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and explore its ramifications for the wider region.

About the Speaker:

Ambassador Dennis Ross is counselor and William Davidson Distinguished Fellow at The Washington Institute for Near East Policy. He is also Distinguished Professor of the Practice of Diplomacy at Georgetown University. For more than twelve years, Ambassador Ross played a leading role in shaping U.S. involvement in the Middle East peace process, dealing directly with the parties as the U.S. point man on the peace process in both the George H. W. Bush and Bill Clinton administrations. He served two years as special assistant to President Obama and National Security Council senior director for the Central Region, and a year as special advisor to Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton.

Ambassador Ross’s book, Be Strong and of Good Courage: How Israel’s Most Important Leaders Shaped Its Destiny (PublicAffairs, 2019), was co-written with his colleague David Makovsky and published in September 2019. The work profiles four Israeli prime ministers who made historic choices and explores their decisions to see if they can provide a guide to dealing with the fateful choice that Israel’s leaders must soon confront or by default become a binational state.

Any person with an accommodation request is welcome to email us at cjcinfo@georgetown.edu. We will try to meet these accommodation requests to the best of our ability.
 

Thank you for your interest in “Israeli-Emirati Normalization and its Implications for the Middle East.” Please note that the CJC reserves the right to cancel this virtual lecture in the event of any major changes resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. We prioritize the health of our audience foremost, and hope that this online event will foster a sense of community as we transition to a virtual learning environment. 

 

Tuesday, October 6, 2020

From Checkpoint to Waze: Israel as a Cyber Tiger

12:00 pm – 1:00 pm
Online Lecture
Zoom Invitations Will Be Sent to All RSVPs

A new Eventbrite link will be distributed within the next few days!

About the Event

Join the Center for Jewish Civilization for its first event of the semester! Professor Eviatar Matania will discuss current threats in cyberspace; elections in the cyber age, the risk to critical infrastructures; power, supremacy and deterrence in the cyber world; Israel as a cyber nation; and the strategic cyber alliance between the US and Israel.

About the Speaker

Professor Eviatar Matania is a professor at the School of Political Sciences, Government and International Affairs at Tel Aviv University, where he heads the MA program of Security Studies and the MA program of cyber politics and government. Matania is also an Adjunct Professor at Oxford’s Blavatnik School of Government, where he convenes the Cyber Module. Matania was the founding head and former Director General of the Israel National Cyber Directorate (INCD) in the Israeli Prime Minister office, where he reported directly to the Prime Minister, and was responsible for Israel’s overall cyber strategy, policy and its implementation to defend the Israeli civilian sector. On 31 December 2017 he completed his six-year term.

During the last two years Matania has been co-heading the Smart Systems (AI) National Initiative to recommend the PM and the government about a national plan to promote Israel as a global power in AI. Matania has been a thought leader in policies of technologies, from both national and organizational perspectives, cyber strategies and national security issues, participating in the foremost international fora, and engaged by leading global companies and global VCs, by top league universities (Harvard Kennedy School, Columbia, George Washington University), as well as by top government officials and formal committees (such as the US Senate Committees and Sub-Committee and the Israeli National Security Advisor).

Matania is a graduate of the Israeli military-academic prestigious Talpiot Program and he holds a B.Sc. in Physics and Mathematics (honors, Hebrew University of Jerusalem), a M.Sc. in Mathematics with an expertise in Game Theory (honors, Tel Aviv University), and a Ph.D. in Judgment and Decision Making (Hebrew University of Jerusalem).

 

Any person with an accommodation request is welcome to email us at cjcinfo@georgetown.edu. We will try to meet these accommodation requests to the best of our ability.
 

Thank you for your interest in “From Checkpoint to WazeIsrael as a Cyber Tiger.” Please note that the CJC reserves the right to cancel this virtual lecture in the event of any major changes resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. We prioritize the health of our audience foremost, and hope that this online event will foster a sense of community as we transition to a virtual learning environment. 

RSVP to “From Checkpoint to Waze: Israel as a Cyber Tiger”

From Checkpoint to Waze Israel as a Cyber Tiger

The Center for Jewish Civilization invites you to Professor Eviatar Matania’s virtual lecture, “From Checkpoint to Waze: Israel as a Cyber Tiger.” A new Eventbrite link will be distributed within the next few days! 

Professor Eviatar Matania’s virtual lecture will take place on Tuesday, October 6, at 12 PM. It will only be accessible to all viewers via Zoom. Zoom invitations will only be emailed to all those who RSVP. 

About the event:

Join the Center for Jewish Civilization for its first event of the semester! Professor Eviatar Matania will discuss current threats in cyberspace; elections in the cyber age, the risk to critical infrastructures; power, supremacy and deterrence in the cyber world; Israel as a cyber nation; and the strategic cyber alliance between the US and Israel.

About the Speaker

Professor Eviatar Matania is a professor at the School of Political Sciences, Government and International Affairs at Tel Aviv University, where he heads the MA program of Security Studies and the MA program of cyber politics and government. Matania is also an Adjunct Professor at Oxford’s Blavatnik School of Government, where he convenes the Cyber Module. Matania was the founding head and former Director General of the Israel National Cyber Directorate (INCD) in the Israeli Prime Minister office, where he reported directly to the Prime Minister, and was responsible for Israel’s overall cyber strategy, policy and its implementation to defend the Israeli civilian sector. On 31 December 2017 he completed his six-year term.

During the last two years Matania has been co-heading the Smart Systems (AI) National Initiative to recommend the PM and the government about a national plan to promote Israel as a global power in AI. Matania has been a thought leader in policies of technologies, from both national and organizational perspectives, cyber strategies and national security issues, participating in the foremost international fora, and engaged by leading global companies and global VCs, by top league universities (Harvard Kennedy School, Columbia, George Washington University), as well as by top government officials and formal committees (such as the US Senate Committees and Sub-Committee and the Israeli National Security Advisor).

Matania is a graduate of the Israeli military-academic prestigious Talpiot Program and he holds a B.Sc. in Physics and Mathematics (honors, Hebrew University of Jerusalem), a M.Sc. in Mathematics with an expertise in Game Theory (honors, Tel Aviv University), and a Ph.D. in Judgment and Decision Making (Hebrew University of Jerusalem).

Any person with an accommodation request is welcome to email us at cjcinfo@georgetown.edu. We will try to meet these accommodation requests to the best of our ability. 

Thank you for your interest in “From Checkpoint to Waze: Israel as a Cyber Tiger.” Please note that the CJC reserves the right to cancel this virtual lecture in the event of any major changes resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. We prioritize the health of our audience foremost, and hope that this online event will foster a sense of community as we transition to a virtual learning environment.