Daniel Polisar

Dr. Daniel Polisar is Executive Vice President of Shalem College in Jerusalem. He writes and lectures on Zionist history, Israeli society and politics, and Biblical thought.

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Dr. Daniel Polisar is a founder and Executive VP of Shalem College, Israel’s first liberal arts college. He was president of the Shalem Center and edited its journal, Azure. He earned degrees in political science from Princeton and Harvard, and learned at Yeshivat Darche Noam. He testified for the Knesset Constitution Committee and led the Prime Minister’s Council for the Legacy of Theodor Herzl.

Programs

Young Leaders in the Bible: What Can We Learn From Them Today?

Though the leaders portrayed in the Bible are typically seasoned elders, a handful of figures assumed leadership roles when still strikingly young. By considering the judge Gideon, the warrior-king David, and the prophet Jeremiah, we identify the special features of the Bible's most precocious and daring heroes and consider how the model they created can be applied in the Jewish state today.

DO YOUNG ISRAELIS HAVE WHAT IT TAKES TO SUSTAIN THE JEWISH STATE?

It is often lamented that the young generation in Israel lacks the passion of their elders who founded and built the Jewish state, and will be unable to sustain it amidst growing threats. In this talk, we show that in the way they educate themselves, take on the country's military challenges, and approach the responsibility of bringing up the next generation, young Israelis have what it takes.

Golda Meir as a Founding Mother of Israel

A full two decades before becoming Israel's first female prime minister--and one of the first women to lead any democratic country--Golda Meir was already one of the key founders of the Jewish state. This talk examines her role in winning Israel's War of Independence, forging the partnership of American Jews with Israel, and shaping the institutions and policies of the fledgling state.

Has Israel Been a Light Unto the Nations?

Israel's founders embraced the prophetic vision of Isaiah, who called on the Jews to be a "light unto the nations." Today, many critics claim that the Jewish state has failed in this mission, citing its treatment of the Palestinians, of Arab Israelis, and of various immigrant groups. In this lecture we take an honest look at the country's record and consider whether it has lived up to its calling.

The Iranian Threat, the Abraham Accords, and Israel's Future in the Middle East

The past two years have seen the signing of the Abraham Accords, creating unprecedented opportunities for Israeli foreign policy, while the growing threat posed by Iran and an increasingly aggressive Russia create extraordinary dangers. This lecture examines strategic developments in the Middle East and the world that affect the Jewish state and considers what Israel can do to secure its future.

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