Starting this fall, students will have the opportunity once again to attend the BYU Jerusalem Center, to study in the place where the scriptures were written.

"It's a place that has such a great spirit in the land," said Dennis Largey, department chair of Ancient Scripture. "It gives context to the stories. When you go there and study in the classroom and go out on field trips, you feel the Spirit and it adds so much to your study of the scriptures."

The student study abroad program to Jerusalem was suspended in 2001 because of increased danger in visiting historical sites in Israel when conflict was at its worst, said Jim Kearl, assistant to the president for the Jerusalem Center. However, the center remained opened during that time, hosting concerts, tours and workshops.

"Evidence of the increased safety is that tourism has increased to levels seen prior to 2,000. More importantly, sites are accessible and visible to tourists," said Kearl.

BYU worked with government officials of the United States and the State of Israel to evaluate the level of risk for the student study abroad program. No evidence was found that Americans or tourists would be targets of violence because of their connection to the program, said Kearl.

The Jerusalem Center has several security measures in place for students.

"The center has a full-time security staff, and it is a secure building with several technologies monitoring it," said Kearl. "Students will also have structured free time that will limit where they go when they are out of class or not on a tour." The options for the structured free time will change on a daily basis and will include places where students can visit.

Enrollment in the Jerusalem Center program will be limited to junior and senior students only, 40 students total, said Kearl. This is because the university wants to give preference to students who have a limited window of opportunity to attend. Additionally, married students will not be eligible to participate in this particular program because housing is designed for single students, he said. Prior to the program deferment, married couples were occasionally allowed to attend.

The curriculum will be similar to what had been offered to students before. It will include classes in ancient and modern Near Eastern history, Near Eastern languages, the historical Old Testament and the New Testament gospels.

"We're as Christian as you can get, so why not see where it was all established," said Ashley Reed, a 23-year-old economics major from San Antonio.

Applications will be available June 16 at 301 HCEB or ce.byu.edu/jcf. They will be accepted June 26 through July 7 and will be given equal consideration for the upcoming fall semester.

"This is a wonderful opportunity for BYU students to study scriptures in their historical and geographical context, and the wonderful cultures of the Arab and Jewish people," said Kearl.

Copyright Brigham Young University 13 Jun 2006