Haifa, a city built along dramatic slopes with abundant greenery and sweeping views of both mountain and sea, provided the perfect setting for this week’s Azrieli Fellows Seminar in the Field. Under a crisp, sunny sky, more than 50 Fellows enjoyed a full program combining academic depth, cultural encounters, and guided visits across the city.
The day began at the University of Haifa with a lecture by Prof. Uriel Simonsohn, Head of the Haifa Laboratory for Religious Studies. He explained that the lab’s work spans three intertwined areas: academic research, civic engagement, and education. The lab collaborates closely with many different religious communities, particularly those in Haifa. His talk provided a clear framework for understanding the city’s complex social and religious fabric.
From the university, the group continued by bus to the Bahá’í Gardens, one of Haifa’s most iconic landmarks. During a guided tour, Fellows learned about the history of the Bahá’í religion and the significance of the buildings on the site, and enjoyed the panoramic views that make the gardens such a defining feature of the city.
The group then stopped for lunch at a local hummus restaurant, where Fellows enjoyed a selection of traditional dishes.
The final stop of the day was the Ahmadiyya community in Kababir, where Imam Imad Al-Masri introduced the community’s history, values, and approach to coexistence.
The seminar demonstrated how field-based learning can broaden understanding across disciplines. Through observation, guided explanation, and informal discussion, Fellows were able to connect diverse academic perspectives with real-world social, cultural, and historical contexts. It was a well-received program that reflected the spirit of exploration and learning at the core of the Azrieli Fellows community.
