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Reflections on my time at HU

By Joanne Goldman, Toronto

Prior to my year abroad (1989-90) at The Rothberg International School at HU, I had various impactful Israel experiences, including living in Jerusalem for two years with my family when I was 13 years old and participating in Canadian Young Judea Biluim Israel in summer of 1987. During those times I had numerous interactions with family friends and CYJ staff who were studying at HU and having such memorable experiences.  In addition, my sister spent a year at HU in 1987-88. When my university years came around, I knew I wanted to have my own learning, travelling, and social experiences that spending a year at HU at that stage of life provides.

Studying at Hebrew University impacted my life in multiple ways. The experience of living independently, studying in Jerusalem and travelling the country with close friends for a whole year provided incredible experiences and memories that have stayed with me over all these years.  I vividly remember the first day arriving together with my good friend Jenifer Lev at Givat Ram campus a few days later than the Canadian group because I was working as Solelim staff. My memories of the year are extensive but include taking courses I would never have the option to take in my other university programs, taking trips south to the Sinai and north to Tiberias and surrounding areas, shopping at machane yehudah and cooking up dinners with friends, and lining up in the pay phone room to make a collect call home!

I continue to feel a special connection to the Mt. Scopus campus, given the many memories of learning in the buildings, walking along the beautiful pathways, living in the dorms with my roommate and friends, and eating together in our favourite cafeterias. The celebration of our twin sons and their cousins’ bnei mitzvah at the Mt. Scopus campus overlooking the city of Jerusalem in 2013 was particularly meaningful to me because of this physical connection.

I now love reading about the research that is done at HU. Being a healthcare researcher and always being keen to read about healthcare education and services research happening in the world, I feel a special connection when learning about the incredible work being done there. I am grateful for my one year of studying at HU and all the learning opportunities I have had through Canadian Friends of Hebrew University since that time.

  • Joanne is currently a scientist at the Centre for Quality Improvement and Patient Safety at the University of Toronto.