Second thoughts: the higher education jobs situation in Israel     

 

In one of my previous blog posts raised some concerns that many people in the Israeli job market do not know about music vacancies in higher education. When doing so I received certain conformation about the feeling of secrecy that surrounds such jobs (mostly around non-permanent vacancies). I was also approached privately by people who had similar experiences as I had, namely, the Israeli job market being hard and sometimes even unfair.

 

I do regret writing about some of the gossip I have heard, since it is possible that it is not true. Even though the source was a respected person, I should have not passed on this gossip. In Judaism it is called lashon hara. I know that I have personally suffered from it when I taught in the Bar-Ilan music department, and it was a mistake to do it myself in my blog. Unless there is clear evidence that it is true, and unless saying the thing can do any good, one should avoid saying it. Otherwise, it is lashon hara and it is considered something very wrong to do. I apologize to anyone that I have possible harmed by doing so.  

 

I also hope no one took seriously the pictures and movie of rabbits and pigs. I tried to use black humour in order to provocate a discussion. It seems that I have failed also in this.

 

Whether or not the higher education job situation in Israel is fair or unfair, it is not really the point. It is hard due to the fact that there are very few institutes and many people applying for jobs. Actually, John Rink (who was my PhD supervisor) told me that the situation in England is very similar. He told me about one of his students that is in a similar situation like many of us – she is working in something that is even not connect to music simply because she needs to make a living.  

 

In the next week or so, I hope to create the Israel Music Society Announcements Google group (sounds too long?). It will function for the society announcements and it will also be a platform for telling people about job vacancies.

 

Whether or not there is need to a person in our musicological society that will approach higher education institutes, I do not know. What do you think? Since I will probably do this for myself this year, I could approach also for other in our society. I will be glad to know what you think.

 

I would like to add that in a private email exchange between Yossi Maury, we agreed that it would be wonderful if there would be one place where all music job vacancies will be published. What do you think? Feel free to comment in the form below… if you dare (-;