Shalem Center

The Shalem Center (Hebrew: מרכז שלם‎‎, Merkaz Shalem) was a Jerusalem research institute that supported academic work in the fields of philosophy, political theory, Jewish and Zionist history, Bible and Talmud, Middle East Studies, archaeology, economics, and strategic studies.

In its mission statement the Center wrote that "It seems that the entire Jewish people is suffering from an identity crisis", making its purpose to "provide a proper response to these processes". Due to the prestige the center was able to acquire, with time renowned academics of different political orientation have joined the ranks of its faculty.

The center became Shalem College in January 2013, when it received accreditation from the Council of Higher Education to offer Bachelor's degrees.

The Shalem Center was established in 1994 by the young American Jewish scholar Yoram Hazony as a think tank “intended to confront what he saw as the dangers posed by post-Zionism”, financed by conservative funders in the USA. Hazony had served as Benjamin Netanyahu’s ghost writer and was one of his advisers.

In March 2009, the Shalem Center filed an application with the Council for Higher Education in Israel for the opening of an institution of higher learning that would be authorized to grant B.A. degrees in the liberal arts. Noted scholar of the Middle East Martin Kramer has been chosen to serve as the first president of Shalem College, slated to open in the fall of 2013.

Past fellows include Daniel Gordis, Yossi Klein Halevi, Martin Kramer, Ze'ev Maghen, Michael Oren, Natan Sharansky, and former Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff Moshe Ya'alon.

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