Instructor Highlight – Amnon Zohar

Date : 22-11-2021

The Middle East on the Move

Amnon Zohar is a hi-tech entrepreneur turned instructor, author, and speaker. Zohar lectures on global affairs with an emphasis on the Middle East. His knowledge and experience concerning geo-politics make him the ideal candidate to lecture on the Middle East and its future.

Learn more about Professor Zohar below!

About Amnon Zohar

A Wealth of Knowledge in His Field

Amnon Zohar graduated from the Israeli Military Academy in Computer Science. This led him to become a first-generation member of the hi-tech industry. After retiring from the tech industry, he studied at York University, focusing on Political Science. Zohar also went on to study International Relations and Security Studies at Tel-Aviv University. This impressive wealth of knowledge has brought him to The LIFE Institute. Zohar lectures on numerous subjects, such as Global Affairs, Leadership, and Soccer. To rave reviews, Professor Zohar has curated and lectured through fifteen different series to classes of one hundred plus students on Zoom.

A Creative Take on Teaching

Professor Zohar uses his life experience and studies to turn dry material into interactive, entertaining, and impactful learning. He uses his insight on the politics of the Middle East to educate students on a level that they may gain understanding. "My lectures are designed to empower members to be able to independently interpret the context and the consequences of global affairs from a position of a deep understanding and dynamics," says Zohar. Professor Zohar, having lived the experience of the Middle East, creates his lectures to relate on a personal level. One student commented, "I love your course. This is the 3rd course I've taken with you, and it is my absolute favourite. I majored in political science and international affairs, have traveled all over the world (including Israel and Egypt), and try to keep up to date with current affairs. But truth be told, I never understood the politics of the Middle East until now. I must tell you that your slide presentations are also outstanding."

A Lifelong Academic

Amnon Zohar is not only an instructor but a champion of lifelong learning. He started his academic career at the age of sixty-eight with an already extensive career behind him. A true lifelong academic, Zohar believes that learning is the ultimate mental wellness activity. He cites himself as an example of being able to reinvent his career after retirement. Professor Zohar has many life achievements, from being a part of the hi-tech industry to creating a blog based on his love of soccer called Footie-Fanatic.com. Being faithful to his interest in global affairs, Zohar along with his wife has traveled to eighty-two countries. He travels for adventure, nature, and performance arts. In his travels, he has also attended international matches in the most famous stadiums in the world. In his continuing journey in academics, he even graduated from a

Harvard course based on Soccer, Politics, and Pop Culture. However, despite all the culture experiences and knowledge gained throughout his career, Zohar says his life achievement is the fact that he was unanimously voted as the best grandfather by his seven grandchildren!

Joining The LIFE Institute as an Instructor

Professor Zohar has been lecturing at The LIFE Institute for the past four years. His start at The LIFE Institute was established by his love of soccer and geo-politics. Zohar was inspired by the Harvard course he took focusing on these topics.

"I created a lecture series on the impact of football on world communities, how it can be used as a political instrument to promote political ideology, or as a force of good and hope,” shares Zohar.

Zohar then approached The LIFE Institute and offered to deliver the course. “While soccer may not be as popular especially in a hockey-crazed country, my course received enthusiastic feedback from those who have attended,” reports Zohar.

While professor Zohar is an Israeli native, he immigrated to Canada with his family in 1971. Zohar and his wife recently celebrated their 50th anniversary as Canadian immigrants along with their 58th wedding anniversary. In relation to The LIFE Institute and being a Canadian immigrant, Zohar shares, “There are some opportunities to expand the learning beyond just the course curriculum and more importantly, to engage the community in participating in the delivery of shared knowledge as stakeholders rather than exclusively as students. My hometown is an example of a course I designed for delivery by members sharing their knowledge and stories about their hometown from the countries from which they immigrated to Canada.”

Sign Up for Courses at LIFE in Winter 2022

Professor Zohar’s course is just one of many in which students may enroll in Winter 2022. For more information about course registration and the variety of available courses, see Archaeology to Art, Genetics to Politics - Online Courses to Enable Lifelong Learning.