Leading scholars from Israel and the United States met at UCLA on May 6 and 7 to share their insights and to discuss the fulfillment of the Zionist dream – the transformations wrought by the creation of the state of Israel, and what lies ahead. Topics included issues of Israel-diaspora relations, majority-minority relations , the law of return, the absorption of immigrants and the making of citizens, the role of the ultra-orthodox community, economic development and the revival of a national Hebrew culture. The conference was co-sponsored by The Rosalinde & Arthur Gilbert Foundation Chair in Israel Studies. 

Many presentations dealt with historical aspects of Israel, such as competing Zionist visions, treatment of new immigrants in the early 1950s, and land policies of the Jewish National Fund and fledgling government, to understand the forces that shaped the state as it is today. Others focused on the future form sovereignty may take, including various arrangements for shared or dual sovereignty with the Palestinians.  

Faculty from many UCLA departments, students, Jewish educatorsand members of the broader community attended the conference, which was free and open to the public. The Center plans to publish the proceedings in a separate volume or special edition of an Israel Studies journal.   

See full conference program here.