About CIE

The Center for Israel Education (CIE) subscribes to the philosophy that the evolution and sustenance of Israel is an integral part of Jewish and Middle Eastern history. Grounded in scholarship and academic research, the CIE tells Israel’s story in innovative ways.

Our Approach

To understand Israel today, we must understand the context from which the state emerged. Zionism developed in the 19th century as one of several options chosen by Jews in response to the challenges of modernity. The creation of a national territory emerged from a biblical attachment to the land of Israel, a sense of peoplehood, and prolonged denial of liberty and freedom. The road to statehood in 1948 was not easy; Zionists ultimately overcame the challenges they faced while always focusing on achieving self-determination.

The struggle for statehood, and the subsequent experiences of the young nation, is a story of dedication and perseverance, success and failure, suffering and sacrifice. It is a story that can be read through a variety of disciplinary lenses, including economics, history, literature,  politics, sociology, and international relations. It is a story that has meaning for Jews and non-Jews alike.

Our Work

CIE writes and disseminates curricula about modern Israel. Our target audiences include pre-collegiate, college, university, and adult learners. We place a special emphasis on helping pre-collegiate educators enrich their knowledge of Israel and the Middle East. Professional development workshops (formerly run by the Institute for the Study of Modern Israel (ISMI)) are one of the CIE's signature offerings in this area. Held in Atlanta and throughout the United States, they range from one day, one week, to multi-year in duration. Additionally, the CIE offers an "in-reach" program, where experienced CIE staff visits schools to provide hands-on assistance with innovative content, teaching tools, and evaluative assessments.

CIE also concentrates on providing resources and teaching materials for university professors, students, and the general public. These resources include an online repository of primary source materials collected from archives, memoirs, and historical compilations. Bibliographies and syllabi relating to different aspects of Israel and the Middle East are also accessible from the website.

In addition, CIE offers occasional internship stipends for undergraduate study in Israel or at the CIE. Details about learning and funding opportunities, application materials and deadlines appear regularly on this website. For further information contact CIE at info@israeled.org.

The Center for Israel Education was founded in 2007 as an independent, non-profit and tax exempt entity operating under the direction of Dr. Kenneth W. Stein and a board of trustees.