January 11, 2026
Record Student Enrollment for MGSDII Political Science Courses at University of California San Diego
The student response has been truly remarkable to Professor Udi Sommer’s Winter Quarter Political Science courses at UCSD: a record 239 students enrolled in “Politics in Israel” and “The Israeli-Palestinian Conflict.” In today’s polarized campus climate, it is deeply inspiring to see such a high demand for rigorous, academic exploration about Israel, led by a world-class expert.
Professor Sommer is part of the distinguished cohort of MGSDII faculty teaching in San Diego this spring. We are proud to host Israeli radio broadcaster and literary critic Yuval Avivi, archaeologist Dr. Meir Edrey, and Dr. Tal Elmaliach, who continues his popular History courses, including “Israeli Jewish History Through Film” and “Arab-Israeli Relations”.
Looking ahead to March, we are excited to welcome Dr. Dani Rabinowitz, who will teach “Climate Change Solutions from Israel,” and Dr. Adi Shany, who will lead “Israeli Economics and the Start-Up Nation”.
Together, these scholars are ensuring that the next generation has access to the nuanced, multifaceted truth about modern Israel. Click here to read more about our esteemed professors.
Mark Your Calendars for January – April Events!
Keeping Israeli Arts and Culture Alive After October 7th
March 5 @ 6:30pm
VIP Salon Meet & Greet @ 5:45pm
Join MGSDII Visiting Israeli Professors for a conversation at Leichtag Commons on current Israeli arts and culture, led by host on Kan radio (Israel’s NPR) and literary expert, Yuval Avivi. He will be joined by artist Dana Yoeli and musician Iris London-Zolty. Rounding out our panel will be political scientist Udi Sommer, a frequent commentator on CNN and Israeli media. As a special treat, London-Zolty will sing favorite Israeli classics. We’ll end with a post-panel conversation for our Hebrew-speaking guests. Tickets will go on sale soon. We hope to see you there!
Israeli Filmmaker Screening and Director’s Talk
January 25 @ 1pm
Join MGSDII at the San Diego International Jewish Film Festival for a screening of our award-winning short films and an in-person Q&A with the filmmakers.
Roma: A sixteen-year-old Ukrainian refugee to Israel clings to the promise of the future, his father remains anchored to the past, dreaming of returning home.
The Sixth Campfire: A tradition that begins as a simple reunion reveals a deeper purpose: to honor the memory of a seventh friend who is no longer with them.
Dinner Reception for our Major Donors
February 22 @ 4pm
Private Home in Rancho Santa Fe
An event to thank our $5,000+ donors for advancing Murray’s vision of providing balanced Israel education on our San Diego campuses, featuring an intimate discussion with Visiting Professor and political commentator Udi Sommer.
Salon Dinner with Technion and SDSU Students
April 16 @ 5pm
Salon members, save the date for an intimate and relaxed evening at Leichtag Commons to connect with students from SDSU, Technion, and Tel Aviv University who have been working together on Classroom Collaboration projects in Aerospace and Modern History. This is a wonderful opportunity to hear firsthand about their cross-border collaborations and to meet our future thought leaders.
Thank You for Your Support!
Thank you for being part of the MGSDII community. We hope you can attend our exciting programs featured above.
MGSDII is only able to offer our programs due to donations from supporters like you. Your generous gift of any amount will help us continue our work educating our university communities about Israel in all of its complexity.
