Statement Issued by Dr. David Ellenson in Jerusalem
March 11, 2002

In light of the escalating violence in Jerusalem, and the resultant inability to maintain the integrity of the Year-in-Israel program for our first year rabbinical, cantorial, and education students, Rabbi David Ellenson, President of Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, announced today that this year’s formal class instruction will end prior to the Passover break. The students have the choice of completing the remaining four academic weeks of the program (reading week, exams, and papers), either in Jerusalem or in North America. This year’s class is the 32nd consecutive class of rabbis, cantors, and educators to study at HUC-JIR’s Jerusalem campus since the program’s inception in 1970. Preparations are already in progress for the Year-in-Israel class of 2002-03, which plans to arrive in Jerusalem this summer.