The International Center for University Teaching of Jewish Civilization (IC), which was established in 1981 under the auspices of the President of the State of Israel and integrated into the Hebrew University since 1997, serves as the instrument with which the Hebrew University shares its Jewish-Studies resources with academic institutions outside Israel and world Jewish communities.

The IC seeks to enhance and integrate Jewish studies and Israel studies into academic curricula and cultural life. The IC strives to achieve this objective through the mutual enrichment of university teachers from various parts of the world who come together in the IC's various programs in Jerusalem, and in cooperative teaching projects at universities abroad.

Our main goal is to turn Jewish and Israeli Studies to a bridge that connects Jewish civilization with other nations and cultures as well as to serve as a shared foundation to create a joint basis for Jews around the world. 

Our objectives are:

 

• Strengthening the knowledge of Jewish civilization and of Israel in universities abroad;

• Enrichment of Jewish communal life outside the campuses;

• Responding pro-actively and effectively to efforts to marginalize or to block the development of Israel and Jewish Studies programs in academic settings (BDS-movement);

• Collaboration with existing programs in areas where Jewish students form a presence on campuses but do not necessarily have access to qualified scholars;

• Exploration of potential growth spots around the world, where no Jewish or Israeli academic presence exists.