European Forum at The Hebrew University

Yesterday, the European Forum had the honor of hosting H.E. Amb. Maciej Hunia, Ambassador of the Republic of Poland to the State of Israel, for a fascinating guest lecture on “Poland in a Changing Europe.”

The lecture, held in cooperation with the Israeli Association for the Study of European Integration (IASEI), offered important insights into Poland’s place within today’s changing European landscape and sparked a thoughtful and engaging discussion with our students and guests.

The discussion touched on a wide range of timely and important issues, including Poland’s remarkable economic growth since joining the European Union, questions of demography and migration, security within the frameworks of the EU and NATO, Poland-Israel relations, and the enduring role of Holocaust memory in shaping contemporary Europe.

It was especially valuable to hear these topics discussed directly with the Ambassador and to engage in an open and thoughtful conversation about Poland’s evolving place in Europe today.

We are grateful to Ambassador Hunia for joining us and sharing his perspectives, and to everyone who participated in the discussion.

At the European Forum, we are proud to continue creating opportunities for our students and community to engage directly with leading diplomats, scholars, and decision-makers shaping Europe today.

Diplomacy IASEI HUJI

Yesterday, we had the pleasure of hosting the Annual Helmut Zilk Memorial Lecture at the European Forum’s Center for Austrian Studies.

This year’s lecture, titled *“What Makes a Successful Tourism City: The Case of Vienna and Budapest,”* was delivered by Professor Noam Shoval, former director of the European Forum and Leon Safdie Chair in Urban Studies at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

As a former director of the European Forum, Professor Shoval played an important role in shaping the Forum and its academic community, and it was a special opportunity to welcome him back for this year’s lecture.

Professor Shoval offered fascinating insights into the development of tourism cities and the paths taken by Vienna and Budapest, opening a thought-provoking discussion on urban space, culture, and contemporary tourism.

We were delighted to welcome students, colleagues, alumni, and guests for this special evening, and we thank Professor Shoval for an engaging and inspiring lecture.

Now that the 70th Eurovision Song Contest final is behind us, here are a few Eurovision facts you might not know 👀

🎤 The very first Eurovision, held in 1956 in Lugano, Switzerland, featured only 7 participating countries. Austria, Denmark, and the United Kingdom were also expected to join—but missed the registration deadline.

🏆 In 1969, Eurovision had not one winner—but four. Spain, France, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom all received the exact same number of points, leading to changes in the voting system.

🚫 Eurovision was cancelled for the first—and so far only—time in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, interrupting a tradition that had continued for more than 60 years.

🌍 As the contest grew, so did its format. Today, two semi-finals determine who advances to the final, while the host country and the “Big Five” — Germany, France, the United Kingdom, Italy, and Spain — automatically qualify.

What began as a small television experiment has become one of Europe’s biggest cultural events—reflecting not only music trends, but also European identities, politics, and cooperation.

Interested in Europe beyond the headlines?
At the European Forum, we explore the politics, history, culture, and ideas shaping the continent today.

📍 Join us at our MA Open Day this Tuesday (19/5), 12:00–16:00 at Mt. Scopus
💻 Or at our digital Open Day on 31/5
🔗 Registration link in our bio.

EuropeanHistory EuropeanIdentity EuropeStudies CulturalHistory PoliticsAndCulture EuropeanForum

🎓 Meet Our Graduate: Reuven Remez
Reuven (European Studies, 2018) has come full circle — now serving as Director of English-Speaking Countries at The Hebrew University of Jerusalem’s Division for Advancement and External Relations.
In his role, Reuven works closely with international partners and donors, building relationships across countries and communities — something he connects directly to his time at the European Forum.
For him, the program was more than an academic experience. It was about expanding horizons — learning to think differently about geopolitics, society, and the world, and gaining the confidence to question, analyze, and connect across cultures.
When it comes to standout moments, it’s hard to choose:
study trips (like Nuremberg), courses on Russia, and even summers spent learning German in Vienna — all part of an experience that went far beyond the classroom.
💙 Reuven describes the European Forum as demanding, but deeply rewarding:
learning a language, a culture, a continent — and gaining tools that stay with you long after graduation.
💬 “It’s not only an educational or career choice — it’s something that changes how you see your world.”

On 8 May 1945, World War II came to an end in Europe with the unconditional surrender of N**i Germany.

Known as Victory in Europe Day (VE Day), this date marks not only the conclusion of one of the most devastating conflicts in history, but also the beginning of a new chapter for the continent.

In the decades that followed, European countries gradually moved from conflict toward cooperation—laying the foundations for what would eventually become today’s European Union.

Today, VE Day is remembered across Europe in different ways: as a day of victory, liberation, and reflection.

Interested in Europe and how its past shapes its present? Join us at the European Forum for an MA that explores it all.

🎓 Meet Our Graduate: Maayan Ben Eliezer
YES! Meet Our Graduates is back 💙
We’re bringing this series back to share the journeys, experiences, and perspectives shaped at the European Forum.
Maayan Ben Eliezer (European Studies, 2024) is now working at the Embassy of Israel to the European Union in Brussels, as part of the team responsible for relations with the European Parliament.
Her day-to-day work focuses on maintaining Israel’s dialogue with the Parliament and closely following legislative processes that shape EU policy toward Israel.
Looking back, Maayan sees a direct connection between her role today and her time at the European Forum. Concepts like institutional balance, member state dynamics, and EU decision-making are no longer theoretical — they are part of her daily work.
One moment she still thinks about:
a study trip to Strasbourg, visiting the Council of Europe, just next to the European Parliament. Sitting there, she wondered what it would be like to work in that environment.
Today, she travels to Strasbourg every month — working in those same institutions she once observed from the outside.
💙 For Maayan, the European Forum provided both a strong knowledge base and something just as important:
a small, discussion-based environment that encouraged critical thinking, meaningful exchange, and an international perspective.
💬 “The courses are engaging, the lecturers are excellent, and the study trips truly open your mind and imagination.”

Yesterday, we had the pleasure of hosting a very special guest in our colloquium 👇

Dr. Naama Barak—one of our own.

Naama completed both her MA and PhD at the European Forum, and we couldn’t be prouder of her journey and achievements. Today, she continues to excel as a postdoctoral researcher at the Leonard Davis Institute for International Relations at the Hebrew University.

In her talk, “A European Foreign Policy or a Foreign Policy for Europe? The European Community’s Policymaking on the Arab-Israeli Conflict, 1971–1980,” Naama offered a fascinating deep dive into the historical foundations of European foreign policy in the region—shedding light on questions that remain highly relevant today.

Welcoming our alumni back to the Forum—as colleagues and leading scholars—is always a special moment ✨

HUJI students—this is for you 🇮🇱👇

Dreaming of a summer in Austria? 🇦🇹

Want to take your German to the next level?

✨ The Prof. Dr. Peter Landesmann Scholarships are open
📍 Vienna / Klagenfurt / Innsbruck
📚 Intensive German courses
🏡 Accommodation covered
✈️ Travel support (Vienna track)

This is exactly the kind of experience we believe in at the European Forum—connecting language, culture, and real-life Europe beyond the classroom.

🗓 Deadline: May 17, 2026
🔗 Link in bio