Israeli Security Issues The Story of the Israeli-Arab Conflict - Past, Present and Future	November 14-15, 2008	Post high-school (gap-year) Program Language: English Judaea Guest House, Jerusalem An examination of the security reality in Israel from political, personal and historic perspective through discussions with IDF soldiers and officers, academics, and Knesset members.  Participants will also analyze the representation of and attitude towards Israel's security situation in the international media.
Israeli Security Issues The Story of the Israeli-Arab Conflict - Past, Present and Future	November 14-15, 2008	College and post-college Program Language: English and Russian Judaea Guest House, Jerusalem An examination of the security reality in Israel from political, personal and historic perspective through discussions with IDF soldiers and officers, academics, and Knesset members.  Participants will also analyze the representation of and attitude towards Israel's security situation in the international media.
Movements within Judaism The Philosophies behind varying Jewish Denominational Thought and Practice	February 6-7, 2009	Language: English Rabin Guest House, Jerusalem Meet with representatives and community leaders from various Jewish movements (Reform, Reconstructionist, Conservative, and Orthodox)  to analyze the development of different streams within Jewish thought and practice and to learn the impact such variation  has had on world Jewry and Israeli society.
Political Issues and Governing System in Israel A Look Inside	February 20-21, 2009	Langage: English Ramat Rachel Hotel, Jerusalem Israeli democracy is one of the most complicated and dynamic political systems in the world.  During the Shabbaton we will examine the institutions, actors, systems, processes and challenges that shape Israel's contemporary political reality and meet with leading academics, political activists, and media commentators whose actions impact and influence the system daily.
Community and Culture in Israel's Periphery A Contemporary Encounter in Dimona	February 27-28, 2009	Language: English  Dimona For the purpose of easing population density in the center of Israel and providing security along Israel's boarders, the Israeli government began allocating new immigrants to development towns in the 1950s: communities located in otherwise unpopulated areas primarily in the northern Galilee and upper Negev.  These communities today are referred to as "Periphery Communities" due to their physical and/or economic distance from Israel's prosperous 'center.'  During this shabbaton participants meet the community of Dimona (a Development Town in Israel's northern Negev), learn about special programs and projects in the region such as Dimona's Student Village, and analyze larger issues, conflicts, and challenges affecting Israel's periphery communities.
Israel - Diaspora Relations A Dynamic Relationship	March 20-21, 2009	Language: English French Russian Spanish Judaea Guest House, Jerusalem Participants will analyze the historical and present day relationship between international Jewish communities and the role Israel has played within their respective communal and national identities.  This shabbaton is designed for participants from around the world, and discussions will be held in English, French, Russian, and Spanish.
Aliyah and Life in Israel Life on the Ground	March 27th-28th 2009	College and post-college program (Gap-year programs participants will be invited on the basis of available spots) Language: English Rabin Guest House, Jerusalem This Shabbaton is an opportunity for those interested in living in Israel on a more permanent basis to discuss and analyze key issues surrounding Aliyah and absorption in Israel with recent immigrants, the Aliyah Department of the Jewish Agency, and the immigrant absorption center The Merkaz Hamagshimim Hadassah.
Jerusalem Shabbaton Capital of the Jewish People	May 22-23, 2009	Language: English and Hebrew Judaea guest house, Jerusalem Through tours and workshops dealing with the physical, geographic, demographic, social, and cultural forces within Jerusalem, participants will contemplate the city's affect on us as part of the Jewish community and examine Jerusalem’s place within the historic and contemporary identity of the Jewish people