"The Iranian Conflict: How Did We Get Here?"
This lecture offers a historically grounded examination of the Iranian conflict, tracing its origins to the 1979 Islamic Revolution and analyzing the ideological, political, and strategic forces that have shaped its trajectory in the modern Middle East.
Dr. Jon Kaplan will explore the evolution of the conflict through key developments in recent history, providing insight into the broader regional dynamics and tensions that continue to define it today.
The program will also feature contributions from Dr. Oliver Hersey, President of Jerusalem University College, and Dr. Elaine Phillips, who will speak to the tangible impact of the current conflict on the institution’s academic community and operations in Jerusalem.
Together, these perspectives offer both scholarly analysis and lived institutional experience, inviting participants to engage thoughtfully with the complexities of the present moment. The session will also highlight the continued resilience of Jerusalem University College and its mission to provide immersive, place-based education that deepens students’ understanding of God and His Word in the context of the biblical lands.
Event Date: March 26, 2026 | 12-1:15 p.m. (ET)
Speaker
Dr. Jon Kaplan: Jonathan Kaplan holds a B.A., M.A., and Ph.D. in Jewish History from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. His major research interests include the history of the Zionist Movement, the modern Jewish settlement of the Holy Land and Israeli society. He has been a lecturer and administrator at the Rothberg International School at the Hebrew University, and served as the school’s Director of Undergraduate Studies and later as Vice Provost. Jon was born in the United States, and immigrated to Israel in 1972; since 1986 he has been on the JUC faculty. He is currently working on a book dealing with the moderate "Weizmannist" trend of Zionism which dominated the movement during the years between the two world wars.
