i really, really like him. he has a really good balance between facts and concepts in his lectures, and his self-effacing humor is great. reminds me a bit of woody allen. highly recommended.

Really good, interesting lecturer. Great sense of humor, I really recommend this professor

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excellent professor

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This teacher is amazing. He is a little overshadowed by Williams at first, but once you really get into this class you'll realize that Eliav is a treasure of a professor. He knows his facts and his lectures make a point. He's very friendly also.

He immediately reminded of Woody Allen with his voice and self-depricating humor, but I was pleased with his knowledge and exploration of all sides of complex issues within religion.

Eliav is the best professor I have had at this university.

very good professor. clear on his points and entertaining, has sense of humor. i would definitely recommend him.

He is a great prof and really funny

Amazing Professor!!!!! I loved his lectures!

Eliav is an excellent professor. Incredibly thoughtful and lectures are extremely interesting. Cracks some funny jokes to and is entertaining. Overshadowed by Ralph Williams in this class but Eliav certainly is great in his own right. Presents all sides to the issues and is very thoughtful. Great professor

Great Prof. Funny, and makes lecture interesting. Talks a little too fast, but his lectures are always interesting.

amazing professor... really clear in explaining point and in making the lectures (at least a little) interesting.. talks a little fast but his humor is great.. definitely recommended

Makes sure that students get the point by emphasizing the most important ideas in lecture. Very good lecturer, and can be funny too.

Eliav is my favorite prof. It makes me sad that he is always overshadowed by Williams. I think I have a crush on him. Seriosuly though, he is very clear, and makes sure to emphasize important points in lecture well. He is also quite funny. He likes Starbucks.

Made me look at Judaisn in an entirely different way. A true scholar who changed my perception of my own religion. A+ for insight.

Reminds me a bit of Woody Allen. Lectures are informative and funny.

he is amazing. if you have a chance, take this class.

He is a great professor and really knows what he is doing. He is a very interesting and funny guy. Helen is by far the best GSI!

Eliav is really entertaining and his nerdy enthusiasm gets you interested.

Eliav was a great teacher-- the class environment is very relaxed and he is really entertaining. You may not be interested the first say, but stick with it...I learned so much and if you are interested in the topic you will love it. The workload was completely manageable-- tests are easy to do well on if you study. RON RUARK is the GSI to get..

He is a funny lecturer, and certainly knows what he's talking about.

What a goofball! Luckily he's a great teacher too. Truely a scholar on his material and makes lectures interesting. He's enthusiastic about his topics. He could give his information in about 1/4 of the time but it would be less interesting. Personality reminds me of a cute little child.. a cute little child genius on Judaic history.

Eliav is one of the most engaging professors I've had -- he is clearly very passionate about what he is teaching, and his lectures are interesting and easy to follow. He also has a dorky sense of humor. Of the 3 professors that teach this class, I looked forward to his lectures the most.

He's a really good guy! His classes are always entertaining and he realy loves his job. His part of the class was very informative and easy to follow. I missed a few of his lectures but i still didn't fall behind in the course. Great professor!!!

Yaron is fantastic! I absolutely loved him.

Great teacher! He has a great sense of humor and his lectures are the most engaging of the three professors in 201. It's sad that he gets so overshadowed by Williams, but he is so much easier to understand! I definitely recommend this prof!

I guess you either love him or hate him... I did not like him at first, seemed like he said a lot about nothing. Gained a lot of respect for him after he sung the Jewish Creed, that was very amazing.

I thought he was the best of the three, and I agree that he is clearer than Williams. He has an appealing sense of humor (self-deprecating), and I really enjoyed his lectures. Since the class was a combination of the three profs, it's hard to tell how difficult he would be on his own. Seems like he'd be fair though.

Eliav, despite recent news, is an INCREDIBLE professor, possibly my favorite. Every lecture opens new doors; by the end of the lecture you'll have discovered an entirely new world. I took this class to hear Williams, but honestly, Eliav is the real gem here. He's funny and brilliant! Not just a prof, but an amazing teacher! Highly recommended.

He is crystal clear during lecture, gets his point across, and is able to bring it all together. I would highly recommend a class with this professor.

The greatest lecturer I have ever had the pleasure of learning from. Classes were constantly engaging, challenging and fun. Take this course! Warning: He enjoys telling silly jokes and resembles George Constanza from Seinfeld.

Great professor!

I love him! Granted the lectures are generally boring and you absolutely have to go to them if you want to do well but Eliav is adorably hilarious. Make sure to do all the readings and to keep up. You have to read about 100 pages a week. But its easy and Eliav wants you to do well. 2 papers 1 midterm and a take home final.

Very interesting, clear lecturer. Attendance is technically only mandatory in discussion, but it's pretty important to go to lecture as well. It also makes the papers and homework much easier if you've heard his view. I would definitely recommend him if you are interested in this course.

Eliav is a very eccentric and enthusiastic lecturer. The first professor at this university who definitely knows my name and my sense of humor. Great class to take with friends, 2 papers, one class presentations a midterm and a take home exam. I HEART ELIAV!

Eliav was straight up awesome. Easy, class, great sense of humor and presented the material well. Thoroughly enjoyed going to lecture. He definitely knows what he's talking about. Take notes and you'll get the A.

Eliav is a great professor!! He def. emphasizes important terms/points by saying "note this" or "write this down". His office hours are also extremely helpful. He's always happy to help. JUSTIN is also the best GSI!!

Great lecturer and very interesting. Attending lectures and taking high quality notes is mandatory for succeeding. He says in lecture what topics are important and the midterm focuses on material in lecture. Personable and nice guy with good sense of humor. There are weekly mini-quizzes over the lecture slides.

Yaron is a really good lecturer. He always makes sure to tell you what the important points are, and what dates/people/etc. you need to know the most. Attendance is necessary because 99% of the information is spoken and not on the PowerPoints, and you must take good notes. There are easy weekly quizzes. Grading of all assignments is very fair.

Eliav is great. He's very clear and he really cares about his students. It's obvious that he wants everyone to do well. There are weekly quizzes that help your grade, and one midterm. The midterm is not bad at all as long as you study! He's a funny guy, so don't pass up a chance to take a class with him.

EXCELLENT Class; was an easy A in every sense of the phrase - show up, stay awake, take a few notes, and study a few hours for the 1 midterm (the final is takehome)and you will get an A almost guaranteed. Exceptional, funny prof too.

Eliav has extensive knowledge of the subject he teaches and an obvious passion for spreading it. He is also pretty funny. The weekly quizzes can be really tough or pretty easy, but he lays out the content of the midterm in an extremely nice review sheet (no surprises on the exam). Most importantly, you will learn a LOT if you put in the work.

Not worth taking unless pass/fail, too unorganized, miss lectures and you fail, yellow questions and quizzes every week,two papers which average was 82, only people rating this high are history majors. We didn't get a take home final and overall the class is way too much work. Not worth it at all, take easier teachers for your HU and RE requirement

I actually loved this class. It was a lot of memorization and we did have quizzes every week. But they weren't that hard, as long as you had his slides memorized. after i took the course, i felt like i learned a lot. the papers weren't that fun but as long as you take the gsi's comments into consideration, you'll be fine

by far the best professor at Michigan. this class is so much fun and interesting and the Eliav does an amazing job giving a narrative description as he lectures. Eliav has a ton of enthusiasm and every class is amazing!! : )

Eliav is a solid professor. He is clearly incredibly knowledgeable about the subject and extremely passionate. The class itself is moderately difficult, and is definitely not one you can go off. There is a weekly quiz in lecture and a weekly HW assignment. Take the class if you are interested in learning the subject, but not for an easy A.

If you like history or whatever reason you are taking this class, you will love it or come to love it. The teacher is always in happy mood and he explain it in a very simple way to help the students understand the material!! Also give you food!!! :D

Eliav is a really good prof, if you want to show up, listen and take notes. His slides don't have any info on them and are mostly pictures, everything you need to know is what he says. Amount of reading and weekly work is a bit much, but overall a good class

I loved this class! It was a great history class, but does not focus on the present day issues of IsraelPalestine. Lots and lots of reading but he makes it clear that a lot of it is just supplemental and isn't necessary. You have to go to class because his slides are mostly pictures, have to write down what he says.

Eliav is very insightful and funny, except the bulk of the class is history spread over several thousand years - it barely focuses on modern politics, unfortunately. Take notes, study for quizzes, and it's an easy A

It is true that this class has a lot of reading and that he expects you to be prepared but it's not that hard to do. He is an expert in this field and you learn a great deal. This is a must take class, very easy to do well you just need to give minimal effort. Also, he loves cracking jokes and makes the class fun and interesting.

Eliav is probably the most qualified and knowledgable professor I have had thus far at Michigan. He really knows his stuff, and presents it in a very understandable way and is always ready to answer questions. He won't be your best friend, but he will give you all the tools to learn a LOT in his class. He clearly loves what he does.

Took this class spring term with 3hour lectures twice a week, but always enjoyed them. Eliav clearly loves what he does and teaches with enthusiasm. He is respected by his students and has high expectations, but if you put in the work an A is definitely attainable.

Yaron is an incredibly knowledgeable man, and loves teaching his students well. He assigns a lot of reading but it is manageable and often interesting. His tests aren't too bad if you really put in the effort. Make sure to use GSI's guidelines for essays. Awesome class!

His lectures always make you listen, his stories are interesting and although it isn't an easy A, its a worthwhile class. Besides that, he is very knowledgeable in his field and is certainly passionate in what he is teaching. He also changes your current perspective on the issue of Israel-Palestine.

Great professor. Very enthusiastic and knowledgeable professor. The pop quizzes each week were harder than expected and there can be a lot reading. Overall interesting class with good professor.

Eliav is an AMAZING teacher who is so incredibly passionate about the subject. This class gives you a much clear perspective of the history leading up to the conflict in the Middle East. Must take class, if you do the work and go to lecture you'll get an A-/A.

Yaron is by far the best prof. I ever had. There are so many boring teachers on this campus, Eliav calls his class "the hunt" (for knowledge), and every lecture is a gem; funny, penetrating, challenges your assumptions, makes you think. Can't believe he didn't win the golden apple yet. He is also very attractive in the intellectual/nerdy way :)

Interesting class regarding the land of Israel and Palestine. Truly enjoyed myself, but alot of work is required. The weekly quizzes requires you to attend lectures and listen throughout. To obtain a good grade, you should meet with your GSI and discuss your work and progress. My GSI was amazing.

Eliav is the best professor I had here (took 3 of his classes); I can say that through numerous conversations we had, he completely changed my perspective on life, gave it meaning and direction. He is honest, with penetrating observations, and an amazing sense of humor. He has a dark side to him, which is just as captivating. His classes are superb

Great guy. very interesting, and he did his best to not show his bias

Eliav is a brilliant professor who is always on the side of students. He is a professor that knows exactly what he is saying. Considering he was born Jewish, Dr. E is not biased at all. He is a historian and better yet a true scholar. I loved going to clasas. I went to office hours all the time he was great. He is a great overall. Props.

Yaron is a great teacher and an exceptional human being. Students talk about him and his opinions after class. Makes you rethink your positions, but always in a kind and generous way and a unique, self deprecating sense of humor. I will miss his weekly presence in my life.

The professor is honestly amazing. Eliav is FUNNY and super knowledgable about the subject. For passionate students he's a must. BEWARE though it is a LOT of work. It's not a difficult A, just a time consuming one. There's a lot of reading usually and the midterm takes a lot of studying. Make sure you have time to dedicate to the course

Eliav is a great professor and gives you a solid overview of the events that transpired in Israel and Palestine. He is clearly passionate about the subject and a funny dude. It would be better if he just focused on the material and not try to entertain the students. Occasional jokes are fine tho

I wanted to give Eliav MORE than 5 stars, this was my favorite course of the semester. He is a beautiful story teller. I think at times I questioned the relevance of the course material, BUT KEEP ATTENDING CLASS! there is a tragic, beautiful climax of events in the last week of lectures. the class is an easy A and just an amazing experience overall

great

Very charismatic and respectful. He made history extremely interesting to quite a large class. He really tried to keep the class engaged in the hour thirty minutes he had. Don't skip class, the quizzes in MIDEAST207 will most certainly affect your chances of getting an A, which is very much possible here. One of the best courses I've taken.

Spring 2015. Just the most insightful, interesting and entertaining lectures I have ever been in. I learned more in each lecture than in several weeks of most classes. I loved the breadth/variety of the information. This class was about Palestine/Israel, but I learned more about general Middle Eastern/world history than I ever thought I would know.

Great class, but be prepared to work. Lots of readings, homework assignments, and weekly essays. It isn't bad at all once you gain an understanding of how the GSI grades and what is expected. Professor Eliav is great. Super funny and very knowledgeable. While the class was way more difficult than I expected, I learned so much!

Eliav is a great lecturer, but his lectures get LONG and BORING. He sometimes does throw in some jokes and it makes it fun, but it is a work-heavy, note-heavy class.

Eliav is a great professor, you can tell instantly that he not only cares deeply about the material being taught, but also for his students and their comprehension of the material. There are textbook readings, provided online! Eliav gives generous extra credit & lots of time to complete big assignments. Don't skip class, they're full of imp. info!

Should not be missed by anyone in this school. Probably the best lecture I ever had in high school and college. Never though I'd be transfixed like that. His words created a tangible reality full with sorrow and hope. Battles came alive, debates received meaning, and the whole middle east was a moment understandable. His insights made we think.

Prof. Eliav is definitely the best professor/teacher I have ever had. He made the lecture content so interesting with how tells stories, and he has very funny jokes as well. I learned so much in his class and I would definitely recommend taking a class with him.

He was a good professor, and got straight to the point however his class was a lot of work

Eliav is an incredible and passionate professor. Very endearing and caring towards students. This is a valuable class and though he is Israeli himself, he is unbiased and tells objective history. Lectures and note-taking are the backbone of the class, it is necessary for the midterm (which is VERY info heavy). Dense readings, not always necessary.

Eliav is amazing! He teaches history like he's telling a funny story about a friend. Makes everything interesting & is able to teach about Israel/Palestine without bias, which is admirable. Always answers questions, legit gives out his phone # on the syllabus. Offers tons of extra credit, up to 3% extra on ur final grade. Dude knows everything too!

This dude can lecture like it's no one's business. Eliav is very passionate about the subject but keeps thing unbiased regarding the sensitive topic that is covered. Only gripe with the course is that it requires a ton of writing. There are also a ton of readings assigned but they are mostly useless.

Female student here, just finished my second class with Eliav (will surely take a third). He is the best teacher on campus by far, so smart and challenging, yet kind and funny. For me and my friends who took his classes he is always empowering and generous. We always wait for class; truthfully, how many times does that happen?

Yaron is as good as it gets in Ann Arbor. Brings so much energy to class. Knew so little about Middle East, Israel, Palestine, and he turned that around entirely. I feel so knowledgeable now. He is very clear in his explanations, breaks down the most complicated things, makes them simple. Makes you love learning, I never thought I'd ever say that

Eliav is the GOAT, he knows literally everything about the ancient Middle East/Mediterranean and will happily answer any questions you have. Hilarious guy, fair grader, gives engaging/interesting lectures, and has clear expectations for all assignments. Take his classes and go to his office hours (he gives v helpful career/academic advice)!

Very late rating, I graduated this year. I took his middle east Israel/Palestine course in Fall 21. I decided to come back 2 years later, in light of what's happening now. Awesome prof. Really inspirational lectures. I still remember how to draw the map of the Palestine/Israel area lol. Take his class to understand the conflict.

Eliav is a genius-level Middle East expert. I highly recommend one of his classes if you want to understand the conflict happening right now in the Middle East. Study the material every week because lectures are hand-written long answers about the vocab discussed in class.

I took MIDEAST 207 four semesters ago, and I am almost positive it will be the best class I take at Michigan. This class was HARD, but absolutely worth the effort. Eliav is the most engaging and passionate professor I have ever had, and I learned more in this class than any of my other classes combined (even as a STEM major).

What a great experience. I learned so much and he encourages great discussion.

Eliav's MIDEAST207 is a challenging yet rewarding class. His lectures are engaging and unbiased, breaking down the complex Israel/Palestine conflict. The workload is heavy, but unstuckstudy proved invaluable for study prep. Overall, a worthwhile course that expands your understanding.

Professor Eliav is very insightful and presents a fascinating history in a (perhaps too) succinct manner. He is evidently extremely passionate about the subject and his work, and his lectures are very charismatic (and a little bit redundant). He has a bit of an ego (most of the course material is his own work), but his knowledge is very strong.

Eliav is perhaps the best tenured professor I've encountered at Umich. He is well-versed in Israel/Palestine history, with a ton of research, films, and papers written on the subject (which are used throughout the course). He doesn't read off lecture slides and comes to class prepared with captivating and inspirational lectures. Highly recommend.

Eliav is a talented lecturer who is very knowledgable and passionate about the Middle East. His lectures are super interesting and funny, and you genuinely learn a lot. There are ample extra credit opportunities and he's very accomodating to his students. Definitely a great professor.

Professor Eliav was the best teacher I have ever had for any course. Despite his background, he knows how to teach a class well and sticks strictly to the science and facts that he has devoted his life to studying. He cares very much about the content he teaches and he is just an all around great guy. Just make sure to do the reading assignments.

Someone told me about bad mouthing Eliav here, so came to see, but found nothing, which is good. I am a female student of his and can guarantee this would be the best class you ever took. We are taught not only a fresh and unbiased history of the Middle East, based on science (and humor), but also made independent thinkers and better people.

Land of Israel/Palestine, what can I say, probably the best 3 hours a week lecture I ever had. 100 students or so transfixed by a master story teller, historian, comedian, scientist, all put in one. Eliav is a renaissance man of the kind long gone. He has full control of the languages, the landscape, the sources, and he molds them like an artist.