As part of my studies Design Engineer Textile at the FB07 of the HS Niederrhein, a study abroad or internship semester is planned. After looking through the numerous partner universities of the university, my choice fell on the Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design Jerusalem in Israel. On the one hand, because I wanted to study at an art academy, and on the other hand, because I wanted to live in a completely different cultural environment - and where better than the unique metropolis of Jerusalem?
Since there is a cooperation between the Faculty of Design and Bezalel, I had to apply from outside the faculty. The application was a bit more comprehensive than that of an Erasmus partnership. A student visa has to be applied for, an international health insurance is taken out through Bezalel, pre-registration for various courses is possible and accommodation has to be found. The housing situation in Tel Aviv (for Bezalel Master's students) and Jerusalem (Bezalel Bachelor's students) is extremely difficult and very expensive compared to Mönchengladbach. The best way to look for a shared room is through Facebook groups or the Bezalel email distribution list. On average, a WG room costs at least 600 euros/month, a room in a student dormitory is around 700 euros/month. I found an apartment in a prime location right by Mahane Yehuda Market through Facebook, with three very lovely Israeli roommates. I was very lucky with my roommates, as they showed me the "real" Jerusalem and I was so much in contact with Israelis and not only exchange students.
I decided to fly to Israel about a month before the semester started so that I could explore the country in late summer and settle in at my leisure. Everyday life in Israel is quite different simply because of the rhythm of the week: work is done from Sunday to Friday noon. After sunset on Friday, Shabbat begins, heralded by the Shabbat horn. From then on, everything is closed until Saturday evening. The otherwise so vibrant and lively city is suddenly as if extinct.
The semester began for me in mid-October with an intensive Hebrew course. In Israel, most of the population speaks fluent English, but it was important for me to learn at least a little Hebrew. In addition, most of the courses at Bezalel are in Hebrew. If you are interested, you can continue this Hebrew course during the semester. However, one can also simply learn the language with Duolingo or a language tandem.
Bezalel is the most prestigious art academy in Israel and the Middle East. Located on Mount Scopus, attached to Hebrew University, it overlooks Jerusalem, the West Bank, the Dead Sea and the mountains of Jordan. To enter the campus, you must carry your student ID and pass through a security checkpoint (similar to the airport). At the beginning, the need for security is a bit disconcerting, as you are also checked in front of shopping malls, the post office, or at the gates of the Old City, and there is a lot of army in the city, some heavily armed. Bezalel has a total of eight faculties: Fine Arts, Visual Communication, Ceramics, Screen Based Arts, Architecture, Photography, Fashion & Jewelry and Industrial Design.
From the beginning, everything at Bezalel was very well organized. Sarit Morad, the person responsible for studying abroad, started the semester with a detailed information session. In the first two weeks, there is a so-called drop on & off period at Bezalel. During this time, you have the chance to attend all the courses that sound interesting and then decide on a final schedule during these two weeks. In total I took six courses. My home department was Photography, and I also took a course in the Visual Communication Department. On Sundays there are only theory and history courses, on Mondays and Tuesdays studio courses (eight-hour courses in which you work particularly intensively = 8 ECTS) and Wednesday and Thursday three-hour courses (4 ECTS). At Bezalel there is a lot of process work, which means you have consultations in every subject every week. In addition to the courses, you are expected to spend a corresponding amount of time on your own responsibility and work on your projects. There is a warehouse where you can borrow equipment: analog and digital cameras, tripods, projectors, etc. The students' work is also highly valued, and there are changing exhibitions within the academy every week.
The Photography Department is very free in its artistic work: besides photography, there is a lot of installation, screen based or videographic work. My classes were mostly in Hebrew, but that should not deter you. There are always helpful students who translate the content. Also, you understand a relatively large amount after four months. The professors at Bezalel are mostly artists and therefore have a very different approach to teaching. My course selection sounds a bit like a semester at Hogwarts at first: "Back to the future", "A young person in a foreign city", "Site Specific" or "Learning to see".
Each course was exciting in its own way and through the intensive project assignments you learned a lot about yourself as a person and artist. The lecturers, students, and faculty were all incredibly friendly, caring, and open-hearted. There were only four exchange students in my department and we were all welcomed with open arms and really integrated wonderfully. The relationships between lecturers and students are much more open and based on a different level of trust than in Germany. The individual support is completely different, as the course size never exceeds twelve students.
In addition to the art academy, everyday life in Israel is of course very exciting. Those who choose Jerusalem as their city will definitely be immersed in a different world. The history and religions that meet here and also the current political situation are breathtaking. One also learns to question the media and reporting. Not everything is as it is portrayed in the media.
Jerusalem is very intense and there is so much to see and experience that after five months I felt I had only seen a fraction. Also for traveling, Israel is a very versatile country and has a lot to offer despite its small size. The Dead Sea, the various deserts in the south, the Red Sea, the Mediterranean Sea, Tel Aviv as a metropolis or the green north invite you to excursions and tours. Because everything is relatively close together, one can travel very spontaneously. The cost of living in Israel is very high compared to Germany. Vegetables are relatively cheap on the market, but dairy products, cosmetics, alcohol, etc. are expensive.
The time in Israel was very educational, intense and exciting. I would recommend everyone to do a semester abroad at Bezalel. You learn to live and enjoy every day. It is very hard for me to leave this country and the academy and I am grateful that I was able to participate in this exchange.
