The Diane and Guilford Glazer Institute
for Jewish Studies
Frequently Asked Questions
- Do I find my own internship or does the Institute place me in an internship?
- Am I only able to intern with the organizations from previous programs? Or do you find an internship geared specifically to my application?
- What organizations have you partnered with in the past?
- How long does the program last?
- Will I have to find my own housing?
- Will I need to arrange my own flights to and from Israel?
- What is the cost of the program and what is included in that cost?
- What will I have to do before I leave?
- What will I be expected to do if I am accepted into the internship program?
- Are there scholarships available?
1. Do I find my own internship or does the Institute place me in an internship?
We are honored to have working partnerships with organizations and companies in various sectors of Israeli society, and are happy to help place students into organizations that best suit their interests. In general, the application will take place in a standard series of steps, culminating in an internship that will be beneficial for each student accepted.
When the Institute receives a student's application, the application will incorporate details about the type of internship in which that student would prefer to serve. If chosen for a first interview, students should expect to spend some time going into more depth about the type of internship they would prefer. While this could simply be aspects of an ideal internship (international firm, Israeli nonprofit, government think tank, law firm, health sector, etc.), students may also provide examples of specific internships they would be interested in pursuing.
This conversation may continue in a second interview held with parties closer to each potential internship. Once the preferred organization or company has indicated an interest in taking on an intern, the Glazer Institute will facilitate an introduction of each intern and his or her potential employer. At this point, students will go through a hiring process directly with their employer, which may include an application and/or phone conversation. When both the student and employer find the internship to be a good fit (and the internship is accepted), the student will also be accepted into the internship program as a whole.
2. Am I only able to intern with the organizations from previous programs? Or do you find an internship geared specifically to my application?
The Institute will continue to grow and expand the partnerships it has created with organizations and companies throughout Israel. For this reason, we do consciously attempt to place interns within organizations from previous programs. However, our first priority is to find internships for students that fit their academic pursuits and career objectives. Thus, we are willing to find other internships as needed by each program.
3. What organizations have you partnered with in the past?
We have partnered with:
Adam Teva V'DinAdam Teva V'Din is the most prestigious environmental non-governmental organization (NGO) in Israel. It works in advocacy, legal work, lobbying, and other areas to encourage the environmental efforts of the Israeli government and nation. Previous interns have compiled reports detailing comparative international legal approaches to domestic environmental law. Interns have also attended site visits, congressional hearings, and meetings with top Israeli officials.
Beit Issie Shapiro
As the most advanced children's disability clinic in Israel, Beit Issie Shapiro is quickly gaining prominence worldwide for its cutting edge clinic and treatment options. In addition to its international expansion in treatment, though, Beit Issie Shapiro also hosts an advocacy team and actively supports communities and families. Interns have previously done legal research on international laws protecting children with disabilities, but Beit Issie Shapiro is also willing to host interns in treatment centers as well as in public relations, media and advertising, and public policy.
Biological Systems Processing, Inc.
BSP, Inc. is a rising bio-medical technological company that combines signal-processing, bio-medical engineering, and cardiology to develop a unique technology that offers monitoring and diagnosis for ischemic heart disease. Previous interns have headed the development of a business plan for the marketing of a new product. Business students interested in entrepreneurship would find this internship an incredible opportunity, as a vast amount of responsibility is given to interns in a variety of areas within the company.
Fring, Inc.
Another start-up company, Fring specializes in online communication, and is expanding to phone-to-phone online communication. Our previous intern here utilized her familiarity with China (and fluent mandarin) to head a marketing campaign of the product to Asian markets.
Gilead Sher Law Offices
Gilead Sher arguably leads the most prestigious law firm in Israel and has offered to host interns to help him on a variety of cases. Subject matter ranges from international law to labor law, real estate, corporate law, and commercial law. Interns will be given exposure to many different aspects of the firm, and in addition to compiling research and reports, will also be given the opportunity to participate in various meetings with clients and policy-makers from around the world.
Israel Broadcasting Authority
Interns work for the English program of this Israeli government-sponsored television network that airs daily in Israel and in various outlets around the world. The program provides news stories and commentaries in English every evening, and remains the only English news program on IBA. Interns will be introduced to every major aspect of creating a daily news broadcast, and will in some circumstances be asked to voice lead stories, create news packages, and attend on-site filming.
The Koret Fund (KIDEF)
The Koret Fund (an arm of KIDEF) runs the largest microfinance organization within Israel, working throughout the country to offer men, women, and families an escape from destitute poverty through microloans that encourage entrepreneurship. Interns in the past have worked both on the implementation side and administration side of this small organization, helping draft grants, visiting recipients of loans, and assisting in public relations.
Laster and Gould Law Offices
Richard Laster leads the most renowned environmental legal firm in Jerusalem, and is currently working to facilitate Israeli-Palestinian cooperation to rehabilitate the Kidron Valley just outside Jerusalem. His interns in the past have had the opportunity to experience every major aspect of this project and many others, attending meetings, writing extensive research reports, and reviewing domestic and international law.
The Menachem Begin Heritage Center
Not only does the Begin Center host one of the most insightful museums in Jerusalem, but the center also coordinates international programs with students from around the world. The Israel Government Fellows Program invites students from around the world to participate in lectures, Hebrew courses, and work experience. Additionally, the Begin Center hosts a variety of educational opportunities. Interns will be able to assist in a number of these programs.
NARA
A leading private medical clinic in Tel Aviv, NARA hosts dozens of doctors and multiple operating rooms. They provide medical service in multiple languages and host innumerable specialists. Nili, one of the owners, would like to offer an intern the opportunity to learn every major aspect of a private medical clinic, from administration to public relations, finances, organization, and logistics. Interns would receive experience in the clinic as a whole as well as with specific doctors and specialties.
NGO Monitor
NGO Monitor is a nonprofit think tank that monitors the work, funding, and partisanship of nongovernmental organizations in Israel and internationally. They focus on organizations that publish reports on Israel, but also do research on human rights organizations around the world. Interns in the past have done research in topics from Russian arms to Israeli water treaties, the Israeli-Palestinian negotiations, and international human rights.
The Peres Center for Peace
Jumpstarted by President Shimon Peres in 1996, the Peres Center for Peace works to build a foundation of peace and reconciliation through facilitating communication, capacity building, and infrastructure creation between Palestinians and Israelis. It coordinates workshops, youth activities, conferences, and educational symposiums geared towards both Palestinians and Israelis in addition to publishing research to expand awareness. Furthermore, the Peres Center and the Diane and Guilford Glazer Foundation have partnered to begin facilitating Israel-Palestinian business cooperation. Interns at the Peres Center have helped facilitate multiple events, and have assisted various research projects in the areas most closely associated with their interests.
Bialik-Rogozin School
Bialik-Rogozin recently gained acclaim for the Oscar-winning documentary Strangers No More that told the story of this remarkable school. But this community remains one of the most unique of its kind in Israel. Bialik-Rogozin brings students together from 48 countries around the world and integrates them into Israel society. Students come from innumerable backgrounds, religions, cultures, and socioeconomic statuses; teachers not only help them with the subjects taught in class, but they support them and their families in their transition to life in Israel. Interns spend the summer tutoring students in English and other language-neutral subjects.
Tichon Reshit
Tichon Reshit is a religious boys' school in Tel Aviv. It caters to students from a variety of backgrounds, and focuses on creating a community of students and teachers. Interns have been fully integrated with this community, learning Hebrew with students and teaching them English. Interns also volunteer elsewhere throughout Tel Aviv, receiving an expansive experience in Israeli education.
4. How long does the program last?
The program will last approximately ten weeks. As the program incorporates students from each of Pepperdine's five schools, the specific dates of the program vary each year to accommodate the needs of each school. However, the program usually lasts from late May or early June to late July or early August. It will satisfy all requirements for schools that accept internship credit, and will not overlap with spring or fall semester schedules.
5. Will I have to find my own housing?
The Glazer Institute will arrange for housing in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. Students will live in groups of three or more per apartment complex in the city of their internship.
6. Will I need to arrange my own flights to and from Israel?
Students will fly on a group flight to and from Tel Aviv. The flights will leave from and return to Los Angeles, and the Glazer Institute will make the reservations. While all students are expected to fly into Israel on the group flight, it may be possible to arrange a different return flight after the program. Such exceptions are rare, but do happen occasionally.
7. What is the cost of the program and what is included in that cost?
The program fee for students is $2800. A $300 deposit will be required upon acceptance into the program to guarantee your spot; the remaining $2500 will be required before your departure. The program fee covers orientation, airfare, housing, health insurance, a basic cell phone package, two four-day tours, and group activities.
If selected for this program, students will receive a fellowship covering the majority of the total cost of the internship program.
8. What will I have to do before I leave?
The application timeline is your most important responsibility. The general timeline is outlined below:
December: Application due (please submit online and send resume and unofficial transcripts to Drew Billings at drew.billings@pepperdine.edu or drop off at the School of Law office 327.
January: Interviews held in the School of Law. Students should plan to participate in up to two interviews.
Early March: Deadline for internship commitment and nonrefundable deposit
March: Full-Day Orientation held at Pepperdine (usually held on the weekend)
May: Deadline for program fee
May-June: Program begins
At the orientation, all students will receive orientation packets with specific action items to be completed prior to departure.
9. What will I be expected to do if I am accepted into the internship program?
For the Glazer Institute, our first priority is your internship. You will be expected to work forty hours a week, and be accountable to your supervisor(s) for any roles you are tasked to.
Outside of your internship, the group will participate in two tours organized by the Glazer Institute—one orientation in Jerusalem and one trip to the north in late June or early July. Your supervisors will be advised of the dates. There may be other opportunities for group activities throughout the summer.
Additionally, we will also ask you to blog throughout the summer, and will provide detailed instructions at orientation.
Following your return to Pepperdine, we also might ask for your help in advertising for future summers at your school. We will also host a reunion lunch with our donors, to thank them for their support of the trip.
10. Are there scholarships available?
The Glazer Institute does offer need-based scholarships each summer. However, as the program is already very heavily subsidized, these scholarships are awarded only to students who would not be able to attend the program because of the program fee.
