Murray Galinson San Diego-Israel Initiative (MGSDII)
seeks to strategically promote, support and catalyze knowledge, discourse, and interaction on the modern state of Israel through scholarship, engagement, and collaboration.
Visiting Faculty Program
Visiting faculty teach
about modern Israel
at San Diego universities
Classroom Collaborations
Faculty lead student research
and trips between universities
in San Diego and Israel
Emerging Filmmakers
Rising Israeli filmmakers
screen and discuss works
on campus and in San Diego
Community & Partner Events
Israeli faculty, artists and
thought leaders speak with
the wider community
About Murray Galinson
“My dad was a huge proponent of social justice and secondary education.”
Laura Galinson, Murray’s daughter
Our Impact
We bring Israeli professors to teach at San Diego universities and law schools, create collaborative learning and travel, curate Israeli filmmaker and artist residencies, and more.
4000+
students have taken Israeli Studies courses in 24 disciplines
at 5 San Diego universities
346
students from Israel and San Diego have participated in 26 exchanges
in 9 areas of research
45
classes on modern Israel have been taught by 51 visiting faculty
across 24 disciplines
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Hilary Taylor
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Hilary Taylor2026-09-01 10:49:322026-09-04 11:58:10A Conversation Worth Listening To
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Hilary Taylor2026-07-23 11:53:242026-07-23 11:53:2425-26 Highlights – and Save the Dates for 26-27 Upcoming Events!
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Hilary Taylor2026-05-20 15:33:042026-05-26 13:13:46Feel Great About This!