Shira Ziegler is a student at Oberlin College in Ohio who recently completed her junior year abroad at the Rothberg International School. A merit scholar, Shira is a neuroscience major who plans to pursue a combined MD/PhD in molecular genetics, when she graduates Oberlin in 2008. Shira grew up in Bethesda, Maryland.

Shira's RIS coursework allowed her to explore her non-science academic interests and the wonders of Jerusalem simultaneously. In "Archaeology of Jerusalem" she strolled through the City of David's ancient water tunnels while learning about the irrigation techniques of Ancient Jerusalem. Her "Israel Foreign Policy" professor punctuated
his informative lectures with stories of his personal encounters with Golda Meir and David Ben-Gurion. Outside of the classroom, one of Shira's favorite places in Jerusalem was the shoq. She explained, "the shuk is always bursting with people, and smells of freshly baked pita and fragrant spices permeate the open-aired market. My friends in my Hebrew class and I walk through the market and learn the Hebrew names of all the colorful fruits and vegetables." She also loves walking in the Old City on Shabbat and on the twisted streets of the Jewish quarter.

Shira's experience at RIS also strengthened her Hebrew and deepened her Jewish identity. She plans to remain active in the Jewish community and focus her medical research on genetic diseases that impact the Jewish community.

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