Meet Shira Cohen

Meet undergraduate Shira Cohen, 26, of Ferrara, Italy, who is majoring in Chinese and Asian Studies at Bar-Ilan University. Immigrating to Israel in 2019, Shira attended Ulpan to improve her Hebrew skills before enrolling at BIU. She is pleased that the university granted her credits for academic courses that she took in Italy, so that she can complete her BA studies in 2021. The daughter of Israeli parents, Shira recounts that her father – heartbroken after his brother was killed during the 1982 First Lebanon War – decided to study medicine in Italy, and remained until after Shira made aliyah. “I always knew that I would feel at home in Israel, and that I want to build my future here,” she relays. “During the coronavirus pandemic, I went to Tiberias, where my parents now live and operate a dental clinic. Spending time with them and my two brothers was an opportunity for us all to reconnect.”

Why I chose to study this area?

Knowing Chinese opens up a world full of new professional opportunities. Learning of a country’s rich history, culture and traditions is fascinating. I've always liked challenges, even as a child, and studying Chinese keeps my mind well-trained. Studying all the Chinese-language characters allows me to know one of the most spoken languages in the world. China is a country that offers the opportunity to build relationships with influential companies and people.

What I enjoy most at Bar Ilan?

Most certainly, the campus energy. As a new immigrant to Israel, I was treated with compassion and respect. The kindness the staff and students have shown has helped me integrate into university life. I also like being able to choose the subjects of my interest, and organize my semester as I wish. There is a lot of flexibility when creating a class schedule. I am extremely impressed with the faculty, especially in my field. The teachers are always very helpful and eager to assist. I am grateful, and happy that I chose to study in Israel – it has been a smart life decision.

Future Plans:

I hope to work with Chinese companies and practice translation work, where I can bridge two cultures together, and help ideas move forward. I also aspire to work in the Chinese embassy in Israel and use Chinese and other languages known to me such as, Italian and Hebrew. Rather than teach Chinese or Italian, I am extremely passionate to work closely with people from all over the world, and help companies advance, build stronger relationships, and, of course, learn from others.

My favorite corner on campus:

What makes Bar-Ilan special is the huge green area that surrounds it. During class breaks, I enjoy hanging out on the lawn. Whether sipping a hot coffee, working on my laptop, or just reading an interesting book, the lawn is the most peaceful spot for me. I also make sure to go jogging around the beautiful campus.

What I will take with me from my Bar-Ilan studies:

So many things: friendships, the roommates who have become like a second family, tremendous knowledge acquired during coursework, and, most of all, a new sense of Jewishness. In my native Italy, I lived in a small Jewish community but never attended a Jewish school, and it’s really an amazing feeling to study and be surrounded by people with my same religion. In addition, I have also learned that every day is a new opportunity and I will definitely bring this lesson with me.

For more on the Asian Studies program: https://barav.biu.ac.il/en/node/2