BYU Jerusalem Center

The Brigham Young University Jerusalem Center for Near-Eastern Studies is a study center for Brigham Young University situated on Mount Scopus in Jerusalem, Israel. The center teaches curriculum concerning Near Eastern history, Hebrew and Arabic language, and the Gospels in the New Testament. The center remained closed from 2000 to 2006 because of the continuing Second Intifada and its complications against ensuring security.

History

Brigham Young University began its Jerusalem study program in 1968, first at the City Hotel in Jerusalem. After four years, the students were moved to the Vienna Hotel in Sheikh Jarrah. In 1978, the program relocated to dormitory facilities in Kibbutz Ramat Rachel.

Construction and controversy

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints finally leased a plot of land on Mount Scopus, and construction for the BYU Jerusalem Center began in 1984. Because of its prominent location in the Jerusalem skyline, construction was quickly noticed, and this sparked a major controversy in Israel and in the Jewish world as a whole, leading to careful diplomatic negotiations between the LDS Church and Jewish leaders, to ensure that the Church would not use the Center as a base to proselytize in the Jewish State. Eventually this dispute was settled, and the Center opened to students in 1987, and the building was dedicated for Church use in 1989. As part of the agreement, students are forbidden to proselytize. If a student breaks this agreement, he or she is sent home. Students also must dress conservatively out of respect for the local religions and while in Israel observe the Sabbath on Saturday.

Since then, the BYU Jerusalem Center has been a tourist attraction as well as a study center. It is used often as a backdrop for wedding photographs. The Center also developed a tradition of hosting musical concerts on Sunday nights, which became frequented by elite Israeli musicians, transforming the Center's reputation as a center of culture as well. The Center is also known for hiring both Israelis and Palestinians on their staff.

2000 - Second Intifada causes closing

After the onset of the Second Intifada, security for BYU students became increasingly difficult to maintain, and the Center closed indefinitely to students in 2000.

2006 - Center Remains Closed

On June 9, 2006, officials announced their intention to reopen the Jerusalem Center for the Fall 2006 semester. However, escalating violence in the area from the 2006 Israel-Lebanon Conflict frustrated these plans and raised new concerns about students' safety in the area. School officials deemed the center would remain closed until the conflict was resolved.

2006 - Center to reopen in January of 2007

Brigham Young University Officials announced on October 9 2006 that the center would be reopening for student academic programs for Winter Semester 2007. The initial program would be limited to only 44 available spaces, and future academic programs at the center will be announced case by case.

2007 - Center Open for Winter Semester and Spring/Summer Terms

The BYU Jersualem center is open for the winter semester of 2007 with 44 spaces while the subsequent spring and summer terms will each have 88 spaces in the program.

See also

• The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
• Second Intifada
• Mount Scopus
• Jerusalem
• Brigham Young University

External links

• BYU Jerusalem Center
• BYU Jerusalem Center official website
• BYU Jerusalem Study Abroad Winter Semester 1984 website
• BYU Jerusalem Study Abroad Winter Semester 1978 group website

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