Despite Penn State's suspension of study abroad programs to Israel due to travel warnings, Penn State President Graham Spanier will lead a social service organization's mission to the Middle Eastern country this summer.

United Jewish Communities (UJC), an organization that aims to promote Jewish life around the world, has chosen Spanier to lead a Pennsylvania State Network Mission to Israel from June 11 to 19.

Jack Ryger, UJC Northeast regional director, said he thinks the organization has chosen the best possible person to lead the mission.

"We were looking for someone who had wide appeal and who really could cut across most of the communities in Pennsylvania," Ryger said, adding that the primary goals of this mission will be to inspire and to educate members of Jewish communities across Pennsylvania, while providing them with networking opportunity.

"A mission is very different than just touring and seeing sights," he said.

Ryger said he was confident that security would not be an issue for UJC's mission while traveling in Israel.

"We have our own security that works on planning missions," he said. "Everything is taken into account. We make sure everyone gets there safely and gets back safely."

The trip, which costs $2,699 per person, is being marketed primarily to families and individuals throughout Pennsylvania, although Ryger said there have been inquiries from many parts of the country. He said people who are not Jewish have been requesting information about the trip as well.

People traveling on the mission will visit Jerusalem and the Dead Sea and attend briefings by Israeli government officials. Ryger said Spanier is not obligated to perform any specific duties on the trip.

"Whatever he wants to do is fine," Ryger said. "We're just delighted that he's coming."

Spanier said in an e-mail message that the mission would be his third trip to Israel. He has previously been there on a trip co-sponsored by the Penn State Alumni Association and Penn State Hillel, a student Jewish club, and on a trade mission with former Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Ridge. He also said he was looking forward to traveling with people who wish to expand their horizons.

"I think this could be an important trip for bridging gaps and fostering understanding," Spanier said in the e-mail message.

Study abroad to Israel through Penn State has been suspended since spring 2001 because of travel warnings issued by the U.S. State Department.

Spanier said Penn State considers information from the State Department and other organizations in addition to its own analyses when deciding whether to send students to certain countries.

The current travel warning "urges U.S. citizens to carefully weigh the necessity of their travel to Israel," citing a high "potential for further violence" in the country, and "resentment against efforts to promote peace."

John Keller, director of education abroad, said as long as a travel warning is in effect for a particular country, Penn State would not offer study abroad programs there.

"The students have been very active in trying to change this policy," he said.

Vicki Korchagin (sophomore-economics), Penn State Students for Israel treasurer, said she thinks it is great that Spanier is making the trip because it will allow him to re-evaluate university policy regarding study abroad in Israel.

Korchagin said she traveled to Israel in August 2003 for a student leadership conference and plans to travel there again this summer.

"It is a safe country," she said. "With any city, there are certain neighborhoods you don't go into, and that's basically how Israel is."

Korchagin added that she thinks Israel is safer now than when she traveled there in 2003 because of the end of an uprising of Palestinian militants against Israeli civilians in 2004.

She said she thinks studying abroad in Israel is ideal for anyone with an interest in anthropology, history or Jewish studies.

"Anybody who wants to study abroad in a country should be able to," Korchagin said. "It just adds to your experience."

Tuvia Abramson, executive director for Penn State Hillel, said Israel is very important to the future of the world, despite its image.

"I have no doubt in my mind that Graham supports programs in Israel," Abramson said. "The question is how to overcome this challenge in regard to the image of Israel as a dangerous place."