"There's a lot of talent here," says Morgan, adding that, using the program, Israelis "can tap into it to provide a service that they don't have enough capital to provide for themselves."

Projects range from a study on the success of Israeli products in the United States to engineering work for a fiber optics company.

The Israeli institutions will pay for student research expenses, says Tamra L. Morris, the program's executive director. She says that the New England/Israel Chamber of Commerce has also donated funds.

Oren W. Etzioni '86, who has lived in Israel, says volunteering for PAIR was a form of "individual patriotism." Etzioni says that his contribution will be to help transfer computer technology between America and Israel.

Through PAIR, Joseph Lipner, a first year Harvard Law student, says he hopes to study Israeli law, as well as trade laws between America and Israel. "I want to help out the Israeli economy by giving my resources to Israeli firms," he says.

Student volunteers can make business contacts and possibly get academic credit from the program, according to Morris. "We try to make contacts for them in Israel if they want employment or summer internships."

Along with the students' reports, Israeli sponsors will receive researchers' resumes, says Morris, adding that undergraduate volunteers can receive academic credit for research with a professor's approval and supervision.

PAIR will send a report of student findings to the corporate, government and academic sponsors, according to Morgan.

"Most people in Jewish Introductions are perfectly nice, perfectly normal, people."

--Director Sally W. Bock

"They [Harvard students] thought it was tacky."

--Rabbi Richard Israel, founder of Jewish Introductions