Our Purpose
We are a non-profit, volunteer, Canadian organization that supports the École Biblique, a world-renowned school of Bible and archaeology, in Jerusalem.
Photo courtesy of Father Paweł Trzopek OP, École Biblique, Jerusalem.
Photo courtesy of Father Paweł Trzopek OP, École Biblique, Jerusalem.
Photo courtesy of Father Paweł Trzopek OP, École Biblique, Jerusalem.
Edward Jackman Postdoctoral Fellowship of the CFEB
The Canadian Friends of the École Biblique (CFEB) is proud to announce the creation of the Edward Jackman Postdoctoral Fellowship. This new fellowship is worth up to $25,000 and is to be granted once a year.
The fellowship will offer recent recipients of a Ph.D. in Biblical studies or an equivalent degree the opportunity to spend one or preferably two full terms at the École biblique et archéologique française de Jérusalem during the regular academic year.
This fellowship program honours the memory of Father Edward J.R. Jackman (1940-2021), a founding member of the Canadian Friends of the École Biblique, lovingly remembered for his commitment to the École and to its scholarly mission.
Applications will be received until January 31, 2025 for a fellowship starting in October 1, 2025.
For more details, see Scholarships section.
A message from Fr. Olivier Poquillon o.p., Director, École Biblique on the situation in the Holy Land:
January 15, 2024
As you rightly assume, the situation in the Holy Land is paradoxical: war is on our doorstep, but the EBAF lives like an island of peace in the midst of the storm.
Since October 7, only the Israeli national airline has been operating flights, increasing costs and complicating travel for our researchers, students and brothers from abroad.
With inflation, the recall of hundreds of thousands of reservists to the armed forces and the closure of numerous checkpoints, pilgrims and tourists have deserted the country and the economic situation of all communities has deteriorated.
As far as we were concerned, some students working for public institutions had to cancel their stay, but the teaching staff mobilized to continue the activity. Classes were held with the people present, but also by Zoom to enable everyone to take part.
After a brief suspension, the course on topography was resumed in the field, with adaptations to incorporate safety instructions. Paradoxically, the students and researchers who were able to reach Jerusalem and who chose to stay are enjoying a unique view of the holy places and archaeological sites, empty of their crowds of tourists and pilgrims.
We all pray for a return to peace, in the hope that everyone will commit themselves to the search for the common good. It will be a long road ahead, but God and our friends are with us.
Thank you again for your good wishes and support. You can count on my prayers for you and your intentions, and for all our friends in Canada.
Fraternally in Christ.
Fr. Olivier Poquillon o.p.
Directeur
École Biblique et Archéologique Française de Jérusalem
Click to read about Fr. Olivier’s arrival at the École.
We offer scholarships to Canadian graduate students and academics to study and do research at the École Biblique. We also provide support for library acquisitions and for IT enhancement, teaching and other academic projects at the École Biblique. We welcome donations by mail and via the web (via Canada Helps) in support of scholarships and specific projects that promote academic excellence at the École Biblique.What We Do
Support Our Work
Our Scholarship Recipients Say....
“I experienced what some of the brothers called “the magic of the École”–the circumstantial meeting of other scholars in my field and recognizing how significant the works of the brothers at École, past and current, have been on my own research. … I spent most of my time at École in the library.”
– Aleksander Krogevoll (May to June 2023), Volda University College, Volda Norway
“…the working environment and the library were excellent. I very much enjoyed the twenty-four-hour access to the library, the ample desk space, easy access to the stacks, and quiet and stillness to think and reflect in the garden. … There were numerous books at the École I otherwise would not have had easy access to …”
– Xenia Chan (summer 2023), Ph.D. candidate, Toronto School of Theology, Toronto ON
“As well as providing me with a sharper geographical awareness, this study and research trip has fleshed out the bigger picture of Jerusalem’s history for me, thanks to the expert guidance offered by the École in the person of the extremely likable frère Yunus, assisted by the contributions from a small number of the Dominican brothers, who took turn sharing their extensive expertise with us, both in the classroom for the theoretical stuff, and in situ with the various museums and archeological sites.”
– Stéphane Saulnier (February to May 2023), Newman Theological College, Edmonton AB
“I am extremely grateful for the generous support of the Canadian Friends of the École Biblique. The École offered an ideal (and truly idyllic) scholarly and research environment for my work.”
– Daniel Fisher (2014), Hebrew Union College, Cincinnati OH