New York City's Yeshiva University and researchers in India have come together to create joint projects in the field of public health. The University of Haifa, which has a public health program as well, has joined the mutual initiative to create a three-way international effort.
Collaboration began when a leading YU faculty member from India suggested that the school's new Public Health program could benefit from ties with India. Ties began with a student and faculty delegation from YU that traveled to Mumbai to learn about health issues facing the city.
The idea of a three-way collaborative project was met with enthusiasm by the governments in Israel and India. The Indian and Israeli consulates took part in a subsequent joint project, an academic conference in New York focused on global health issues.
Dr. Sonia Suchday, co-director of YU's Institute for Public Health Sciences, is pictured above, second from left, with YU President Richard Joel (center) at the signing ceremony.
YU President Richard Joel described the project as “a win-win-win relationship.” The program helps students and faculty in America, Israel and India to gain a better grasp of international health issues, while simultaneously boosting YU's collaborative relationships and strengthening Israel.
YU strengthens ties with Israeli institutions whenever possible, and sees such ties as part of its mission as an institution committed to Israel's wellbeing, Joel said. Many YU graduates make aliyah (immigrate) to Israel, he said, and those that remain in the United States are dedicated to Israel's welfare.
Programs such as the YU-Haifa-India initiative are an effective response to anti-Israel hate, Joel said. Integrating Israeli faculty into international programs “is a very good statement” in response to calls to boycott Israeli academics. “I think what we should do is engage with Israeli academic institutions and bring along as many partners as we can,” he explained.
Joel was in Israel this week to sign a Memorandum of Understanding with Haifa University representatives regarding the initiative.