Paula Rayman Travels to Israel

Prof. Paula Rayman

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Prof. Paula Rayman of the Regional Economic and Social Development Department recently left on a two-month sabbatical to the University of Haifa, Israel, where she is joining a project examining Israeli Arab and Jewish relations.

“I am very interested in relationships between economic and social development,” explains Rayman. “In this age of globalization, it is very important to find ways to create economic growth and social development for individuals and communities.”

Rayman recently received the J. William Fulbright Senior Specialist Award, administered by the Council for International Exchange of Scholars and the Bureau of Education and Cultural Affairs of the U.S. Department of State. After receiving the award, Rayman was asked by the University of Haifa to join their project, “Beyond Co-Existence: Israeli Arab and Jewish Relations.”

“Beyond Co-Existence,” launched in 2007, studies co-existence projects in the region, evaluating them and determining their effectiveness. Rayman’s work focuses on three areas: microenterprising and women’s empowerment, which creates small businesses for Israeli and Jewish women; a low-income neighborhood project examining the success of community service projects of Israeli Arab and Jewish students; and working with high school teachers and parents to develop a curriculum promoting shared citizenship between students.

“I am working in one of the most conflicted parts of the world,” says Rayman. “A lot of the issues and projects are very similar to ones at UML and in the local community, only in Israel the conflict is accentuated.

“There has never been a more important time in human history where there are opportunities to make a difference,” she explains. “If not, we will be living in a world of incredible conflicts.”