Beyond the Headlines: Israel’s History, Society, and Politics is a five-part series that invites participants to explore Israel’s political and social journey from the birth of modern Zionism in the nineteenth century through the establishment of the state and into the complexities of the present day.
Each session situates major events and debates within their historical, regional, and global contexts, giving participants the tools to understand and analyze Israel’s evolving domestic politics, institutions, society, and foreign relations.
This series provides a rare chance to move beyond soundbites and headlines, offering the knowledge needed to truly grasp Israel’s story in this complicated time.
Each session situates major events and debates within their historical, regional, and global contexts, giving participants the tools to understand and analyze Israel’s evolving domestic politics, institutions, society, and foreign relations.
This series provides a rare chance to move beyond soundbites and headlines, offering the knowledge needed to truly grasp Israel’s story in this complicated time.
Session Schedule
Session 1
Monday, January 5
Zionism, Hebrew national culture, and the building of a Jewish state in pre-1948 Palestine
Session 2
Monday, January 12
Israeli Independence, Jews from Muslim lands, Arab-Israelis, Labor politics, and the events of May–June 1967
Session 3
Monday, January 26
October 1973, the ascendency of Likud, the 1990s peace processes, and Israel’s shift to the right after the failure of Oslo
Session 4
Monday, february 2
The evolution and maintenance of the Status quo, novel peace processes, and current domestic political crises/the Gaza War as a case study
Session 5
Monday, february 9
Q&A and Open Discussion - An opportunity to ask questions and revisit key themes from the series
Hosted by The Dupree
The Dupree Conference and Education Center is a Sandy Springs hub for high-quality Jewish and Israel education programs that empower adults to learn, connect, act, and thrive. We offer programs that inspire curiosity, deepen community, and spark action rooted in Jewish values and identity.
Location: 6120 Powers Ferry Rd. NW, Atlanta, GA 30339
Cost: $50 for the full series (registration is for all five sessions)
Recommended attendance: Participants are encouraged to attend all sessions; however, it is fine if someone misses up to one session.
Coffee provided at each session
The Dupree Conference and Education Center is a Sandy Springs hub for high-quality Jewish and Israel education programs that empower adults to learn, connect, act, and thrive. We offer programs that inspire curiosity, deepen community, and spark action rooted in Jewish values and identity.
Location: 6120 Powers Ferry Rd. NW, Atlanta, GA 30339
Cost: $50 for the full series (registration is for all five sessions)
Recommended attendance: Participants are encouraged to attend all sessions; however, it is fine if someone misses up to one session.
Coffee provided at each session
About Eli Sperling, Ph.D.
Eli Sperling has traveled and conducted research extensively throughout the Middle East, spending significant time in Israel, Cairo and the Sinai Peninsula. He holds an MA in Middle Eastern history and received his PhD in September 2019 from Ben-Gurion University of the Negev. From 2012–2020, Eli served as the Senior Academic Research Coordinator at Emory University’s Institute for the Study of Modern Israel and taught as a guest Professor in Emory’s Tam Institute for Jewish Studies from 2019–2020. From June 2020-July 2022, Eli served as a Postdoctoral Associate in Duke University’s Department of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies and currently serves as the Israel Institute Teaching Fellow in the University of Georgia’s Department of International Affairs.
