It’s been a busy first week here at the university. After going through many logistics of orientation week, our international students got to release some steam and show off their moves during Israeli dancing, or “Rikudi Am” as it is called in Hebrew. Think line dancing but in a circle. Worth noting that the “Cha Cha Slide” was thrown into the mix at the end. This dance is very common in Israel and most cities have public Israeli dancing. In Haifa this occurs every Saturday by Carmel Beach and anyone can participate.
Students also joined a Shabbat dinner, which is a Jewish celebratory meal that occurs every Friday night. The meal signifies the end of the work week and the beginning of Saturday which is a day of rest in Judaism called the “Sabbath”. Saturday is traditionally a quieter day in Israel where public transportation and most shops close.
Sunday October 18th was the first day of classes! (yes you read that correctly, Sunday is indeed the beginning of the week here in Israel and yes students here go to class on Sunday). The international students heard a few words on Sunday morning from University Rector and Professor David Faraggi, The Dean of Graduate Students Professor Itzhak Harpaz, and Dean of Students Hanan Alexander. Then, they went off to begin their courses.
Hope the first week of classes has been going well!
For more information about the International School at the University of Haifa, click here or contact us at infograd@univ.haifa.ac.il.
Graduate Life in Haifa 