MetroWest officials spoke before a Drew University committee Dec. 14 and urged its members to overturn a policy that blocks undergraduates from studying in Israel.

Max Kleinman, executive vice president of United Jewish Communities of MetroWest NJ, and Lori Price Abrams, director of its Community Relations Committee, appeared before an administration-faculty-student committee formed in November.

The committee is considering whether to change a policy that prevents students from studying in Israel so long as it remains on the State Department's list of "travel warnings."

The ban has angered Jewish leaders, who insist that study-abroad programs in Israel are safe and are commonly offered at universities throughout New Jersey and the rest of the country.

Describing the meeting as a "very good discussion," Kleinman pledged he would work "very closely with Drew in terms of affording financial assistance to students who want to study in Israel." But, he added, "unless they change their policy, we are not going to recommend Drew University for Jewish students. They must change their policy."

After the meeting at Drew's Madison campus, David Muha, the university's chief communications officer, said no date has been set for a decision by the committee, but that the administration "is trying to do this as quickly as possible."

"Everybody at the table is approaching this in a very positive fashion. We want to see if there is a way we can get this done. That is the way we're proceeding," said Muha. "What our attorneys and our underwriters may tell us, I can't predict. But we'd like to find a way to do this if possible."

The committee was formed after Jeremy Dery, a sophomore from Livingston, complained that he was denied permission to spend next semester at Tel Aviv University. Citing the requirements of the university's insurance carrier, the administration ruled that Tel Aviv would not be a safe place for Dery to study, according to Paolo Cucchi, dean of the undergraduate college.

Armed with research and statistics, Kleinman and Price Abrams rebutted that ruling.

"Yes, I know there are some issues with their insurance carriers," Kleinman said, "but we gave them a listing of some 100 colleges and universities that have found a way to have their students study in Israel with academic credit given to them."

Kleinman said there are now 8,000 foreign students in Israel under a program called MASA, a joint project of the Jewish Agency for Israel and the government of Israel supported by American-Jewish federations.

Citing a new academic relationship between Rutgers University and Israel's Ben-Gurion University, Kleinman said he told the committee, "These other universities care as much about your students as you do, and they found a way to resolve" insurance concerns.

Price Abrams referred Drew administrators to the University of Pittsburgh, which formed a similar committee to examine its study-abroad policy. According to Price Abrams, Pitt officials created their own "more naturally calibrated model" of assessing risk to students. In 2006, Pitt lifted its impediments for study abroad in Israel.

Kleinman called Drew "a very good liberal arts college," adding, "It is great for Jewish students because it has a Jewish studies program, a religious studies program, Hebrew language, and genocide and Holocaust studies programs.

"However, you cannot really reach fruition in your religious studies or Holocaust studies unless you have an opportunity to study in Israel…. To not have the opportunity to study in Israel doesn't reconcile with the opportunities Drew has on campus."

Kleinman also noted that Israeli universities are among the "top universities in the world" in such areas as biotechnology, science, and engineering.

Muha said the committee is studying other colleges to find a way to allow Drew students to study in Israel. "We have collected samples of waivers that other universities use. We are selecting the ones we feel are closest to Drew and running those past an attorney."

In addition, he said, the university is "looking at other sources of information that might be used to assess the safety of students overseas, as opposed to or in addition to the State Department watch list."

Whatever the committee decides, it will be too late for Dery, whose "case is closed for this year," said Muha. "The committee is looking at a policy and not a personal case."

Kleinman offered Dery his support.

"We will try to get Jeremy some financial assistance," he said, "and hopefully, if Drew changes its policy, he may have the option to study in Israel next year under the auspices of Drew University."