There was no shortage of festivities and activities arranged by Bar-Ilan University’s International School on campus this past month. The entertaining social events included a party to celebrate the Jewish holiday of Purim; a fun day to celebrate the Hindu Holi festival; the orientation event for our incoming student exchange program; and the opening of the spring semester.
Making our Exchange Students Feel at Home
Bar-Ilan University’s International School recently welcomed 16 students from around the world, who are participating in BIU’s international Student Exchange program (one of whom will be studying online via Zoom from America) this semester.
The students hail from nine different countries – Germany, Austria, Italy, Hungary, Czech Republic, Croatia, Poland, France, and the USA – and will be taking undergraduate and graduate courses in their fields of study.
Prof. Moshe Lewenstein (right) welcomes the students
These include sociology, electrical engineering, electronics and information technology, law, accounting, finance, political science, psychology, and Jewish studies, among others.
BIU’s Deputy President, Prof. Moshe Lewenstein, welcomed the students while Prof. Rachel Dekel, Academic Head of the International School, provided information about the academic side of the exchange program.
Oz Nackar, the Director of Student Exchange, and Zvi Swisa, the Students’ Academic Advisor, spoke about the International School and the services it offers and presented the university’s online apps, facilities, and other services.
Students were also given an overview of the university’s libraries and library systems and the security guidelines were explained, after which the students and International School staff introduced themselves and got to know each other.
We are happy that these students have chosen BIU for their student exchange and look forward to getting to know them and making sure their experience in Israel is everything they’re hoping it will be.
Celebrating the Festival of Color – Holi 2022
Bar-Ilan’s Indian Students’ Community and the International School arranged an exciting celebration of Holi on campus last month. The Hindu festival celebrates the arrival of spring after winter as well as the triumph of good over evil. It is one of the most popular and social festivals of India and is celebrated with colors, music, and food.
As the tradition goes, the festivities included the playful pouring and throwing of colored powders over each other as well as water balloon fights. The preceding cultural program featured a poem recitation, a magic show, a quiz, and a chemical experiment producing colorful flames.
Holi tunes from all parts of India were played during the event. Many international students attended the festivities and enjoyed the scrumptious treats of Lassi, Bhel Puri, and Indian desserts. The event was a great success and was a vibrant show of Indian culture and Holi fun.
Purim Party Packs a Punch
Purim is one of the most fun and entertaining holidays in Israel. Everyone dresses up – children and adults alike – for the week preceding the holiday, and parades and parties are held throughout the country.
Last month, BIU’s International School hosted a Purim party for international and other BIU students. It was an amazing evening and everyone had a fantastic time – Jewish and non-Jewish students alike.
Purim is a joyous Jewish festival commemorating the survival of the Jews who, in the 5th century BCE, were marked for death by their Persian rulers. The story is told in the biblical Book of Esther.
Welcome Back to Campus – Spring Semester
The spring semester began with a return to in-person classroom studies and our green campus is, once again, bustling with life. BIU’s Student Union arranged a variety of stalls for the opening reception and there was not a bench on campus that was empty. Students are once again frequenting the Bar-Ilan gardens, paths, and popular meeting places. It’s great to have everyone back and mingling with old and new friends. Check out the many fun photos from the opening event.
