Draft:The Kivunim Institute

The Kivunim Institute is a co-educational Jewish pluralistic nonprofit organization. The origin of the name comes from its Hebrew translation: literally, "directions." Its main component is its offering of a gap year program to students who have completed high school. The gap year program is based in Jerusalem, where students study Hebrew, Arabic, Jewish History, Visual Arts, and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Through global travel, students study international Jewish communities, different religions, and various ideologies through experiential learning. The Kivunim Institute is affiliated with Hebrew College, which issues Kivunim students a transcript for their studies. Although the program is centered around Jewish studies, non-Jewish students are permitted to enroll in the program.

= History = The Kivunim Institute was founded in 2006 by Jewish philanthropist Peter Geffen. = Mission = According to the Kivunim Institute, its mission is "active interpretation of the past and understanding of the present in order to build the future." To achieve this goal, the Kivunim Institute attempts to facilitate Arab-Israeli coexistence education, and providing diversity of perspective. = Gap Year = The Kivunim Institute's gap year program is based in Jerusalem, where students' academic classroom studies take place. Experiential learning takes place abroad, where students study international Jewish history.

International Travel
According to the Kivunim Institute, students travel to up to 12 countries internationally, including Greece, Albania, Bulgaria, India, Morocco, Spain, Portugal, Germany, the Czech Republic, and Italy. Students on the program have met the 14th Dalai Lama, and Andre Azoulay, the senior advisor to the King of Morocco.

Academic component
Students on the program spend time in Jerusalem studying Hebrew, Arabic, Jewish History, Visual Arts, and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The organization states that it prides itself on excellence in the liberal arts, and places and emphasis on field learning. While not traveling internationally, students embark on trips within Israel and the West Bank. Courses include: "Civilization and Society: Homelands in Exile", "Land, People, Ideas: The Challenges of Zionism", "Hebrew Language and Literature", "Arabic Language and Culture", and "Visual Learning: The Art of Seeing." = References =