Universities say academic year to begin in a week, but IDF reservists to get late start

Israel’s major universities will open the repeatedly delayed 2023-2024 academic year on December 31. However, students still serving in the IDF as reservists at that time will not be totally out of luck; they’ll be able to join “a few weeks later,” the Association of University Heads announces.

The exact date on which the student-soldiers will begin their studies is to be determined in conjunction with the IDF, which last week requested that the start date for all students be pushed back further.

The students returning from IDF duty are to have a “concentrated week” of intensive studies in order to get them up to speed on any missed material, and then integrate into regular classes.

The start of the academic year was originally scheduled for October 15 but has been delayed several times due to the ongoing war on the Hamas terror group. It is estimated that as many as 30% of all Israel’s university students were called up to serve as IDF reserve soldiers, along with thousands of university faculty and staff.