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Reflections on my time at HU

Written by: Karen Eltis, Montreal

While studying law at McGill, I applied to spend my third year of law school in Israel, at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. At the time, an official exchange program between the faculties did not exist, but fortunately, the Vice-Dean at my home institution allowed me to apply. Rather than study at Rothberg (and since I am fluent in Hebrew) I applied directly to the law school and enrolled in regular courses.

I flew back briefly (albeit very reluctantly, having to tear myself from Jerusalem) in order to complete my law degree (which at the time was four years) but promptly returned to Jerusalem to begin an LLB (in public law and international trade).

Since I was pursuing a joint BCL, LLB, BA (political science), I had taken one course (on Political Extremism) with Prof. Ehud Sprinzak Z”L during my year of exchange, which was truly one of the most illuminating experiences.

My time in Jerusalem without exaggeration was truly and sincerely the most formative time in my life. During my time at HUJI, I was extremely fortunate to have completed a year-long clerkship at the Supreme Court of Israel in the chambers on the Honorable Chief Justice Aharon Barak (ret.) at a momentous time. It was undoubtedly one of the most (if not the most) formative and profoundly significant time for me, one which continues to deeply impact my thinking.

I also worked briefly at the AG’s office (during (now ret. Justice) Rubinstein’s tenure), and practiced at Herzog Fox Ne’eman. Indeed, some of my closest friendships (maintained with colleagues all over the world from London to Paris, Singapore to NY – and of course Jerusalem for the past twenty years) were forged during that time.

Academically, I would highlight the remarkable teachings of Professors Ruth Lapidoth, which left an incredible mark on me, as did Ruth Gavison, Calde Klein, Stephen Goldstein Z”L , and Ehud Sprinzak Z”L , Justice Elon Z”L, Justice Dorner and Prof Eyal Benvinisti (who I was lucky enough to be taught by again during my graduate studies at Columbia Law School).

Words cannot express how honoured I am to now be visiting at and affiliated with HUJi’s cybersecurity center: https://csrcl.huji.ac.il/people/karen-eltis.

  • Karen is currently a full Professor of Law (professeure titulaire) at the Faculty of law at the University of Ottawa. She studied at HUJI from 1998-1999 (third year of law school on exchange)2000-2001 obtained LLM (completed in one year).