Tel Aviv University International students volunteering and support group

  Hi all, We recently had a productive meeting with Meshi (Research Coordinator) and Daphna (Director of International Student Services) to address various issues concerning international PhD and postdoc researchers. Below are the answers to your questions: 1. Any forms, emails, or posts written in Hebrew can be submitted to Meshi or Daphna for translation into English, provided they are relevant. 2. Regarding dorm allotment and extensions, arrangements are solely managed by Viktoria (housing in-charge). While we have tried to address existing issues, progress is currently slow. 3. There is a possibility of offering a short-term Hebrew course for researchers, similar to the one organized by Zoe previously. 4. For travel forms, travel expenditure reports, and other important documents, please refer to this link or navigate to the “admin” section in the international school portal to find these details. https://international.tau.ac.il/guidelines_forms 5. As mentioned before, ...

This academic year started with some big changes in the policy of the TAU International School, and we went there to figure out what's new and which opportunities we have as graduate students and post docs. To better understand what's going on, we should start with our WhatsApp group . We made some agreements with the new Researchers' Community Leader of the Lowy Int. School, Tamar Solange Shalem (tshalem@tauex.tau.ac.il), a new team member who is in charge of the social business of the whole international community and has also a special attentive care for the PhDs and post docs. The importance of our independence and freedom Tamar and we agreed that our WhatsApp group should be autonomous, independent, democratic and private. We want to maintain it as a space managed by students, and for students only .  It was important for us to distinguish between the official TAU community and our ambitious volunteer project aimed at supporting our colleagues in a peer-to-peer manner....

 As Wikipedia defines it, Rav-Kav (Hebrew: רב-קו, lit. "multi-line") is a reusable contactless stored value smart card for making electronic payments as a joint fare collection system for the different public transportation operators across Israel. Whether you are a tourist or a resident in Israel, the Rav Kav is a MUST. It is a very flexible way to get around the city and travel around the country (ahi ahi, except for the Shabbat time).  Actually, recently they implemented the Rav Kav access on the Monit Sherut (the shared taxi that travels across the cities also on Shabbat), but we highly recommend to check with the drivers! On the official Rav Kav webpage, they claim that the lines associated with the RavKav are the 4 and the 5 but they won't accept Rav Kav payments on Shabbat, probably because the price is different or the company does not work. In order to get a Rav Kav, you can either get it from an office, for example the one in the Airport, from a vending machin...

THINGS HAPPEN Academia is virtuous. Or at least this is what we are used to thinking, and what is appealing about it. But we know that reality is way much more complicated, and things happen, no matter where or when. A while ago we had a first conversation with the International Office (The Lowy International School) representatives, hinting to the unexpected (or expectable?!) happenings that got to us with a whispering word of mouth, where discrimination and offensive behavior or words were displayed and condoned as they were normal. Let's take for example that time in 2020-2021 when in the Life Sciences faculty we all received an email from the dean, condemning the behavior of some people who disrespectfully told our Chinese fellows that they are to blame for the virus and that they are spreading it across the University. Or - something happening repetitively - the comments from some PI towards the Asian students, stating that they should work day and night, implying that they sh...

 People come and go in Broshim, the dorms close to TAU and affiliated with the university (but not its property, they are owned by a private company, Shikun and Binui). Typically, the International researchers have a one-to-one contract with the dorms, mediated by TAU International office (today called the Lowy International School). This means that the tenant (meaning us scholars) in this case is bound to the rules of the contract, which are clearly stated in there.          --> attempts to change the rules have been made, but quite unsuccessful. The major issue is that the contract lasts one year, and therefore by the signature the tenant commits to pay the whole period.  This thing was not a big issue before, because of the turnover of the tenants. Typically, in a few weeks, the Housing coordinator (back then Shlomi, now Vicktoria) would find a replacement, so any tenant would be able to leave at any time and shift their contract to someone else....

Today we met to discuss about the current status quo in Broshim, by listening to people sharing their stories and needs concerning living in the dorms. The event was bittersweet because the people involved this time were a few (very sad), but very friendly and passionate. They brought up their own issues and suggested new ideas! Another reason for this taste is the fact that the years go by, but the problems are always the same and the things do not improve!  As a short summary, the last campaign that kickstarted was in June 2023, with the establishment of the Tenants' committee, in a joint effort of Israeli and International tenants to advance demands to change the current contract in some clauses ( HERE you can read the post published back then for details). The list of demands was compiled and presented to the Student Union representatives in charge of dealing with the University and Broshim management. Other initiatives were organized alongside this, such as the design of a p...

 This academic year started in such exceptional manner: the war, the constant protests and alerts made our way through our research tougher than usual.  Therefore, we were wondering what's the vibe in the International community, what are the needs and what changed in respect with last year. Here we have some news to share: A survey among the community members We asked  several questions to the members in order to see how they live and experience Tel Aviv and TAU in  this period.  Now we share the answers of a tiny slice of our population (17 people out of almost 400), in the hope they will trigger some ideas or thoughts of concern. The war echo is still in the background of our minds.  Although the majority of the people seem to be very little affected about this situation, there is still a relevant percentage (35%) who is still seriously worried and uncomfortable.  I take advantage of this moment to wish everyone the best and to show my support. Also...