INSIDE THE MIDDLE EAST INSTITUTE [ ITME ]
TO UNDERSTAND ISRAEL.
WE MUST UNDERSTAND THE MIDDLE EAST.
Across the globe, communities are struggling to navigate increasingly polarized conversations about Israel and the Middle East. Most existing approaches fall into two camps: advocacy, which promotes a position, and education, which too often reflects a Western, one-dimensional lens.
ITME.
THE BRIDGE YOU WERE LOOKING FOR.
Through apolitical Middle East education and the elevation of Arab and Muslim voices too often absent from Western discourse that help people understand Israel in the context of the Middle East, ITME brings people of diverse beliefs together – building context and connection in place of confusion and division.
ITME. EDUCATE BROADLY. CULTIVATE DEEPLY.
Delivered through three interconnected pathways Broad Education | Digital Engagement | Deep Cultivation
“The Essence Of Education Isn’t Telling People What To Think,
It’s Empowering Them How To Think.”
~ Avi Melamed | Founder of ITME
Apolitical Middle East educational experiences for individuals and organizations.
Live, interactive learning experiences, in person and online, tailored for audiences of all backgrounds, knowledge levels, and group sizes.
Rooted in our philosophy “to understand Israel, we must understand the Middle East”, our apolitical intelligence-based Briefings, Classes, Conferences, International Teaching Tours, Workshops, and Geopolitical Tours delivered in Israel and around the world in-person and on-line explain Israel through the Middle East by examining regional power dynamics, armed political movements, and the gap between Arab discourse and Western narratives.
Through educating broadly, ITME engages students, educators, professionals, and leaders from diverse backgrounds equipping them with the context and perspective critical to better understanding Israel and the Middle East, beyond slogans and simplified narratives.
Multimedia products that extend learning beyond the live interactive sessions.
Beyond live programs, ITME provides digital content, experiences, resources, and tools to understand Israel in the regional context.
Articles, Books, Documentaries, Resources, Videos, Webinars, etc., rooted in ITME’s distinct integration of apolitical Middle East analysis and highlighting voices from the Middle East that are absent from Western discourse, delivered through our website, social media channels, and external providers. Helping people build deeper knowledge and navigate Israel and the Middle East through a deeper understanding of the neighborhood.
Through multimedia resources and digital experiences, ITME supports ongoing learning. Extending apolitical, intelligence-based education into everyday engagement, equipping individuals and organizations to continue learning independently to build a contextualized understanding of a complex region.
Fellowships and a growing international alumni network of Ambassadors of Change.
Long-term immersive educational programs and a growing international alumni network that cultivate Ambassadors of Change.
Through Seminars, Courses, and Fellowships combining ITME’s distinct apolitical Middle East education with direct engagement with regional experts, ITME equips passionate students, educators, professionals, and current and emerging leaders with the knowledge, skills, and tools to understand Israel in its regional context, think critically, navigate complexity, and lead contextualized, constructive, nuanced conversations across political and ideological divides.
Through cultivating deeply, ITME uses education and its growing alumni network as a platform for unity, and partnerships as a pathway to reach people shaping future leadership. Educated, equipped, and empowered to build bridges across divides, to Israel, and to one another on campus and in communities.
“Given the frequency of speakers coming to campuses to discuss Israel, students feel there is rarely new information provided nor an objective position taken. Avi’s talk provided both! Every student went away feeling they had a more complete understanding of the war, and the necessary information to engage with it more holistically going forward.”
Anna P
Undergraduate | New York University, Co’2024
“Avi Melamed is not your typical Israel speaker. He didn’t just recite the usual talking points; he opened our eyes to the grand scale of the conflict and the current-day implications. This is exactly what students need to continue engaging with Israel in a meaningful way.”
Jonah Snyder
IACT Israel Coordinator | University of Miami
“Avi was able to tone his presentation and language to the complexity and understanding of a college student, expressing himself in a way that both an activist and a newcomer could equally understand and benefit.”
President | Co’ 2026
U Miami Hillel Vice
“Avi’s nuanced, balanced, thoughtful analysis has helped many, myself included, gain a deeper understanding of the events in Israel and the wider Middle East. Nearly 2,000 participants have joined our virtual briefings or access our online recordings. I am so proud and honored to provide this important resource to our JCC community at this critical time when greater education is essential.”
Judy Wolff-Bolton
CEO | JCC Osher Marin
“I’m a progressive; I’m a local California council member. I was coming for the photo-op. But your briefing is the most important one I’ve heard. So, I cleared my calendar for the day so I could stay and hear you. I want you to brief the council.”
California legislator
JCC Orange County
“The board and staff said that it was the best presentation that we have ever had and are now capable of having productive conversations with people who question Israel.”
Laura Friedman
Executive Director | Bridgewater JCC
“It’s not easy curating educational experiences around Israel. People have strong opinions, contrasting narratives, and political perspectives.Avi did an amazing job with nuance and perspective rather than his own “op-ed.”
Brian Schreiber
President, CEO | JCC Greater Pittsburgh
