Tel Aviv University International students volunteering and support group

Working in optimal conditions, without risks (as much as it is humanly possible) is very important for anyone. Our precious time and efforts would not be safe without proper guarantees for a legit working environment.  And TAU takes this matter very seriously: the institution makes sure that everyone on campus is insured against any kind of trouble happening while studying/working on campus. With this post, we want to clarify the intricated mechanisms by which TAU offers protection to all of us. There are different approaches according to the type of student/postdoc you are. Let's see. If you are a regular student (Israeli or international), your insurance on campus is paid by the so called " security fee" that each one has to pay every year and it is displayed on MyTAU platform. In order to be insured, this fee has to be paid by the student themselves directly through the platform, with a credit card. Therefore,PhD students are insured this way. As members of SEGEL (the ...

The international community in TAU is a broad group of students and scholars who come from everywhere in the world and live for a few years in Tel Aviv. As such, we are definitely entitled to extra care that the typical Israeli citizens don't need because they have spent a lifetime here, in their country. This evidently stark difference, other than the language barrier and the different lifestyles, is also what define us as the international community. But wait a moment. What is a community? What should it do within the University (and maybe also outside) environment? We start this discussion with the assumption that in TAU, the international school is a relatively new concept, that has been developed in the last 8 years plus or minus. And that the international students have been here even before that. In this perspective, the international school is shaping its identity and modus operandi year after year, offering assistance, bureaucracy solutions and various opportunities for ou...

The summer is running fast in Tel Aviv, and we are approaching the Jewish festival months of September and October.  On the other hand, the start of the first semester 2025-2026 is far away in time (October 26th), where more regular activities and initiatives will happen. To spice things up, we came up with tons of ideas and for this next months, and later the rest of the year, we would like to launch  a few projects, even better if they get also your involvement! First of all, let us explain the whole new situation. Lately, we managed to open our own community called " Researchers and Scholars in TAU: the Peers community ", a platform TOTALLY independent from the TAU International School (and their WhatsApp community), which we envisioned to be dedicated to us International PhDs and Postdocs and to be a facilitator for all of the members to carry on projects, ideas, discussions etc... well, consider it a parallel (and independent) welfare system to the  TAU International...

This initiative was the most supported, and we believe so since for this is a more-than-rare opportunity for the ones who don't have an easy time to go to the desert on their own. Plus, if the group is big and lively enough, it's a lot of fun!  This is technically the most challenging trip to organize, mostly because we will go to a wild place, with quite hostile environmental conditions, and more than 40 people expressed interest in this adventure. Probably we will be a little less, 20 to 30 people. First of all, don't worry too much about the "risks". If we stay together and we are well organized, we will avoid most of the troubles, while breathing some thrill. But it is important to stress since now that each one will carry their own responsibilities and will take care of their lives and wellbeing, since it is a "group of friends" trip and not a professional, organized, guided one. FOR THE LAST MINUTE ADDITIONS (people or things): speak immediately a...

 A while ago, during those terrible days of the Iran-Israel conflict, some of us had very unpleasant experiences when it came to enter the shelters.  "Unpleasant" is actually an euphemism, because  in reality, their lives were at risks. Back then, in the midst of the storm, we sent to the Lowy International School representative this email ( LINK ), a call for action and support given the confusing, scary, difficult times. At first, we had the quick answer of Meshi (TAU Researcher coordinator)  Dear Valentina & Bhavana, Thanks for arising this important matter. The issue is known and has already been addressed. If something like this happens in the future, please let us know immediately, including clear details (such as the relevant apartment number). Wishing us quite days soon, Best, And now, a while later, we got the answer from Maureen, the director of the TAU Lowy International school, which we publish here for transparency and for informing all of you on how...