It is older than the state of Israel, its founders included Albert Einstein, arguably the world's most famous physicist, it has produced eight Nobel laureates, and it regularly ranks among the top 100 universities in the world: the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. This year it celebrates its 100th anniversary.
By Dana Nowak
With the opening of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem (HUJ) on April 1, 1925, on Mount Scopus, a dream came true for the Zionist movement and many Jews worldwide: the establishment of an educational institution where Jewish students could research and learn free from antisemitism and discrimination. The creation of a homeland for the Jewish people in the land of their forefathers would not follow for another 23 years. But this was not a paradox, as Israel's later President Chaim Weizmann explained in his opening address to some 6,000 guests:
"At first glance, it seems paradoxical that we should create a center of spiritual and intellectual development in a country with such a sparse population, in a country where everything still needs to be done, in a country that cries out for such basic things as plows, roads, and ports. But for those who know the Jewish soul, this is no paradox. It is true that great social and political problems still lie ahead and will demand their solution. We Jews know that when the spirit is fully realized, when we have a center for the development of Jewish consciousness, then we will also, by chance, achieve the fulfillment of our material needs."
The main guest at the opening ceremony was none other than the Briton Arthur James Balfour. Eight years earlier, as Foreign Secretary, he had assured the Jewish people of his government's support in establishing a homeland in what was then the British Mandate of Palestine. Lord Balfour and "the signs of the times" In his speech, Balfour said:
“Today a new era has begun. New and greater efforts are being undertaken to revive Jewish culture in the ancient homeland, a culture that never ceased in the two thousand years between the destruction of Jerusalem and the expulsion of the Ottomans from Palestine. Although this development of Jewish culture was interrupted by external violence, it was preserved through individual and personal efforts. The Jewish people contributed a great deal to human civilization. However, they remained dispersed. […]
Under these particular circumstances, we are now engaged in a project that adapts Western university methods to a Middle Eastern country, using a Middle Eastern language for this purpose. Such an experiment has never been attempted before, and if I do not misjudge the signs of the times, if the genius of the Jewish people does not fail, this experiment must be an inevitable success. […] It would be a grave mistake, however, to imagine that the Arabs would not derive the greatest benefit from this university. I hope that the Arabs will remember the historical fact that in the darkest days of the Dark Ages, when civilization was suffocating under the barbarians, the Jews, together with the Arabs in Arab Spain, helped to kindle the first sparks of light in Europe
How right Balfour was about the project's predicted success is demonstrated 100 years later by looking at the achievements of the Hebrew University: Among its alumni are four prime ministers, four heads of state, eight Nobel laureates, and one Fields Medal winner – the award considered the Nobel Prize of mathematics. Furthermore, more than 10,000 patents have been registered with ties to the HUJ.
In its 100 years of existence, the university has weathered numerous wars. Yet, the pursuit of excellence has remained a central component of academic life throughout all tensions and crises. The Hebrew University aims to be a place for all segments of the population: Jews, Arabs, various minorities, recent immigrants, Muslims, Christians, and others.
A chance for Israel's Arabs
Every year, the university therefore runs preparatory programs for more than 1,000 students from all walks of life. One such program is for Arabs from East Jerusalem. Their schools follow the Palestinian curriculum, and they do not learn Hebrew. Those who wish to study usually go to the Palestinian Territories or abroad. However, Israel wants to enable these Arabs to study at the best university in the Middle East and offers special courses.
One of the successful students at HUJ is Taima, an Arab woman. She attended a Christian school in East Jerusalem and spoke almost no Hebrew, she told a group of staff members from Christians Standing with Israel (CSI). Taima is now involved in HUJ's Ambassador Program. This program fosters encounters between students and pupils, primarily from the Arab villages surrounding Jerusalem, and aims to break down prejudices, build trust, and encourage Arabs to pursue higher education. "I am very proud of the Hebrew University and of myself. Without it, I would never have learned Hebrew and been able to study here. I studied Hebrew for five years and am now quite proficient," Taima continued.
Campus life after October 7th
Currently, about 20 percent of the students are Arab, most of them women. The Hamas massacre on October 7, 2023, also put the painstakingly established coexistence to the test. "After October 7th, I was really afraid to be an Arab woman in Israel and to go to university. But when I arrived, everyone was so welcoming." Nevertheless, she was initially worried when so many students and even teachers suddenly carried weapons. However, the feared major unrest did not materialize.
“We didn’t talk about politics, which helped me a lot. I feel comfortable here; it’s like my second home. The Hebrew University doesn’t discriminate between religions; no matter what our background is, we’re all equal here,” says Taima. However, something has changed in her interactions with her Jewish friends: “We don’t talk about everything so openly anymore. I don’t want to say anything that might hurt them, and vice versa. We simply don’t talk about the current situation.”
And so, for the people at the Hebrew University, there is a life before October 7th and one after, as the university's president, Asher Cohen, emphasized to the CSI staff from Germany. "This barbaric act of terrorism will continue to affect us for a long time. What has become apparent since then is the strong support from your country. As early as November, we had our first foreign delegation here – it came from Germany."
Furthermore, the German Max Planck Society has offered to host, at its own expense, international HUJ students who wish to temporarily leave Israel for security reasons. Cohen adds: “I know that you as a group are also concerned about Israel. You have come to show your support, and we greatly appreciate that. We need this support; it is important to us, and we are determined to continue on our positive path. We want to leave our mark—in Israel, in Jerusalem, and in the world.”
Background Hebrew University of Jerusalem
By Anja Weippert
The Hebrew University of Jerusalem (HUJ) is – after the Technion in Haifa – the second oldest university in Israel. The foundation stone was laid on July 24, 1918, and the university opened on April 1, 1925, with three faculties: Microbiology, Chemistry, and Jewish Studies, on the campus on Mount Scopus. Among those who spoke at the opening ceremony was Lord Balfour. The first administrative positions were held by Sigmund Freud, Martin Buber, Chaim Bialik, Chaim Weizmann, and Albert Einstein, who later bequeathed his writings and estate to the university.
HUJ was not unaffected by political developments. During the Israeli War of Independence in 1948/49, Mount Scopus was cut off from the rest of Jerusalem, making the university campus an Israeli exclave. Teaching had to be relocated to other, newly established campuses. Access to Mount Scopus was only restored after the Six-Day War in 1967, and the campus was further expanded in the following years. During the Second Intifada, the campus became the scene of a horrific terrorist attack by Hamas, who detonated a bomb in the crowded Frank Sinatra Cafeteria at midday on July 31, 2002. Nine people died and over 100 were injured.
Today, the Hebrew University of Jerusalem (HUJ) has seven faculties, 14 departments, and approximately 90 research institutes with about 23,500 enrolled students spread across six campuses, three of which are in Jerusalem. HUJ is among the world's top 100 universities. It has produced eight Nobel laureates and one recipient of the prestigious Fields Medal. Furthermore, four of Israel's nine prime ministers—Ehud Barak, Ariel Sharon, Ehud Olmert, and Naftali Bennett—are among its alumni.
The University of Israel (HUJ) contributes to Israel's global reputation as a nation of inventors. The Yissum Technology Transfer Company, responsible for marketing the scientific know-how generated by researchers and students, holds over 7,000 patents for more than 2,000 inventions – ranking 15th worldwide.
More than 600 of these patents have been commercialized, and products manufactured based on these patents are sold for over two billion US dollars annually. Among the best-known inventions are groundbreaking medications for Alzheimer's disease and ovarian cancer, as well as the Mobile Eye driver assistance system.
This article first appeared in our newspaper "Israelaktuell," issue 140. You can order the newspaper here . We would also be happy to send you several copies for distribution.
