During the visit, the President and Director of the Israeli Academy of Sciences met with the President of the Hebrew University, Prof. Asher Cohen, and with the Director General of the University, Mr. Yishai Fraenkel.

We were pleased to welcome a delegation of about 20 researchers from UCLA, as a gesture of solidarity during these difficult times. Their visit aimed to provide support to the people of Israel. The delegation met with HUJI`s leadership, scientists, and students.

As the academic year begins, a delegation of senior researchers from University of Pennsylvania, visited the Hebrew University of Jerusalem as a part of their solidarity mission in Israel.

At a meeting on Mount Scopus, they listened to poignant testimonies from students serving in the reserves since the beginning of the war.

We had the honor of hosting the Federal Minister of Education and Research, Bettina Stark-Watzinger, at the Mount Scopus campus of the Hebrew University, for a discussion of research collaborations.

The minister held a series of meetings with the President of the University Prof. Asher Cohen, and the Rector Prof. Tamir Sheafer.

The Hebrew University is among the 100 best universities in the world, 85^th place according to the 2023 Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU).

President of Israel Isaac Herzog, Hebrew University President Prof. Asher Cohen, Jerusalem Mayor Moshe Leon, and Mr. Jose Mugrabi, a prominent art collector, laid the cornerstone for Einstein House, at the Hebrew University’s Edmond J. Safra campus, on Givat Ram, in Jerusalem.

Prof. Asher Cohen, President of the Hebrew University, at the Hebrew University AI conference: " It's a pleasure to host an event honoring Prof. Amnon Shashua's contributions, who was aware of the power of computation long before it became the reality it is today".

The event was held in honor of Prof. Amnon Shashua, who made a significant contribution in the construction of the theoretical foundations and successful practical applications, while having a decisive influence on the field worldwide.

We were pleased to host the President of Harvard University, Lawrence (Larry) Bacow, at the Mount Scopus campus for a tour and meeting with the President of the Hebrew University, Prof. Asher Cohen.

The government, during its weekly meeting, decided to agree to establish the Albert Einstein House in Jerusalem, on the Edmond J. Safra campus of the Hebrew University.

The Hebrew University in Jerusalem and the Technion signed a collaboration agreement with the research division of IBM to advance the abilities and expand the uses of AI. The collaboration was announced during a convention that IBM held in Tel Aviv in honor of the 50th anniversary of IBM’s first research laboratory in Israel.

The Hebrew University of Jerusalem (HU) climbed 13 places to rank 77^th among the world’s top universities and number one in Israel, according to the 2022 Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU), published today (Monday). Two other Israeli universities placed in the top 100, as well—the Technion and Weizmann Institute both shared the 83^rd spot. This is a major achievement for Israel’s higher education at large and for Hebrew U., specifically.

2022 Academic Ranking of World Universities Ranks Hebrew University 17^th Worldwide in Mathematics and Communications, and #1 in Israel in Earth Sciences, Food Sciences, Water Resources, Economics, and Public Policy

The Chaim Herzog President’s Prize, awarded by the Hebrew University of Jerusalem as a sign of appreciation for a unique contribution to the State of Israel, was awarded today in a festive ceremony in the President’s House.

The Management of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and the Student Union have raised the Ukrainian flag on the Flag Plaza on the Mount Scopus Campus as a sign of solidarity with the people of the Ukraine. Raising the flag wishes to send a message of strength and support for Ukraine which is enduring the second week of an aggressive invasion by the Russian army.

Ms. Michal Braverman-Blumenstyk, General Manager of Microsoft Israel Research and Development Center, along with company management visited the Hebrew University of Jerusalem (HU)’s Selim and Rachel Benin Department of Computer Science and Engineering yesterday, Israel’s leading computer science department.

The visit took place as part of Microsoft’s plans to establish an R&D center in Jerusalem.  While there, they met with HU President Prof. Asher Cohen, Rector Prof.  Barak Medina, and CEO and VP Yishai Fraenkel.

A ceremony took place between the Israel Lands Authority and the Hebrew University as an Agreement was signed providing for the transfer of lands to the State of Israel for marketing for residential housing and commerce in the City of Jerusalem.  The Agreement signed is based on the Recovery Agreement signed in 2018 between the State of Israel and the Hebrew University in which the University undertook to realize assets in the amount of 400 million Shekels.

The Minister of Education, Dr. Yifat Shasha-Biton, toured the Hebrew University’s Safra Campus at Givat Ram and heard from leading researchers about some of the ground-breaking research taking place at the University.  Accompanying the visit were Prof. Asher Cohen, President of the University, Prof. Barak Medina, Rector, Yishai Fraenkel, Vice President and Director General, and Prof. Mona Khoury-Kassabri, Vice President for Strategy and Diversity.

The Hebrew University is ranked in the 90^th place in the Shanghai Ranking which is considered the most important and qualitative ranking in the international world for academic institutions for the year 2021. This is its highest ranking in the past five years (since 2016, see table below). Furthermore, there is a significant improvement in the University’s ranking relative to the previous year when it was ranked between the 101-150 places. The Hebrew University succeeded in the current ranking to surpass a number of leading universities in the world.

This is the first time in Hebrew University’s history that a member of the Arab community has been appointed to a senior position of vice president.  It is also the first time that an Israeli a university created a senior role to strengthen diversity and inclusion. HU’s Board of Governors also decided to reelect President Prof. Asher’s Cohen, especially in light of HU’s achievements during his tenure and his successful handling of the COVID-19 crisis at the university.   

As part of the events to mark 70 years of diplomatic relations between Finland and Israel, on January 21^st, 2021 the HUJI International Office hosted an online festive event, with joint participation of the Hebrew University and the University of Helsinki. The event opened with greetings from the   Ambassadors of Finland and Israel, the President of the Hebrew University, Prof. Asher Cohen and the Rector of the University of Helsinki, Prof. Sari Lindblom.

The Hebrew University of Jerusalem hosted a special delegation of senior officials from the Kingdom of Bahrain, from the King Hamad Global Centre for Peaceful Coexistence. The delegation was headed by Dr. Shaikh Khalid bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, chairman of the Center’s Board. The delegation toured the Mount Scopus campus and the parties signed an initial memorandum of understanding on joint activities, including developing joint educational programs for leadership development, innovation and technology programs, student exchange programs, and more.

Hebrew University President Prof. Asher Cohen presented to Dr. Shaikh Khalid the University’s different campuses and the activity upon them, the University’s ties to Jerusalem, the Hebrew University’s record of achievements and spin-off companies, the University’s involvement in the community, internationalization, innovation, and the University’s motto.

Rector Prof. Barak Medina presented the University’s commitment to providing all members of Israeli society the opportunity to pursue an education, along with the University’s mission for diversity. He addressed Dr. Shaikh Khalid and said, “We’re interested in establishing joint leadership training programs with institutions in Bahrain, possibly with other universities. I’d also be happy to involve a number of our departments, including Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies and Arabic Language and Literature. We offer dozens of scholarships and hundreds of students from Israel and abroad study in these departments, obtaining international success. We’re waiting to establish partnerships in these fields, as well as in Religious Studies. Other areas for potential cooperation are agriculture, environment, and food security. In terms of innovation and entrepreneurship, we’re interested in fostering collaboration with our innovation center and through the Jerusalem School of Business Administration.”

Dr. Shaikh Khalid bin Khalifa Al Khalifa: “This is a historic moment for us. My generation has wasted time with hatred, wars, and violence – as everyone knows. I believe we have a chance at cooperating towards peace and reciprocity, improving the feelings in our region. Bahrainis and Israelis both have long histories, as does the Hebrew University. Your excellent reputation proceeds you worldwide, and most importantly – you want to encourage coexistence among the younger generation. We have a chance to work together and there will be many more opportunities to come.”

He added: “People in Bahrain have changed in recent years. If you mentioned Israelis twenty years ago, it would evoke war, violence, and hatred. Today it’s different. Now is the time to seize the opportunity we’ve been given and use it to create a better future for the younger generation. A few days ago, I told friends I was visiting Israel. They replied that they’d also like to visit. I told them we should thank g-d for giving me the opportunity to visit Israel before my time on this earth is up. I hope that we can help our younger generation become ambassadors of peace and coexistence.”

The Chaim Herzog Prize for the year 2019/2020 for a unique contribution to the State of Israel, is awarded in the presence of the President of the State of Israel, Reuven (Rubi) Rivlin; the Chairman of the Jewish Agency, Itzhak (Buji) Herzog; the President of the Hebrew University, Prof. Asher Cohen, and the “Yad Chaim Herzog” Association to the businessman, technologies innovator and well-known Israeli investor Dr. Yossi Vardi, in appreciation for his great contribution in the area of coexistence and unity of the nation.  The Prize is awarded by the Hebrew University of Jerusalem jointly with the Yad Chaim Herzog Association every two years, on the anniversary of the death of the sixth President of the State of Israel, Chaim Herzog, z”l.  This year the Ceremony will be held in the President’s Home in a limited forum due to the outbreak of the corona virus in Israel.

The President of the State of Israel, Reuven (Rubi) Rivlin said in the Ceremony: the Israeli spirit is not tied only to commercial entrepreneurship, but also to responsibility for all, social involvement.  So also Yossi Vardi, whose contribution to Israeli innovation, during his days of public service is invaluable.  Congratulations on the receipt of the Herzog Prize.

The President of the Hebrew University, Prof. Asher Cohen, noted that Dr. Yossi Vardi worked for many years tirelessly for the promotion of technology and internet in Israel, to promote Israel from every possible global platform in these fields, and therefore he is deserving of every praise.  His breakthrough innovation changed the face of Israeli hi-tech and in every one of his positions he combined a social and educational viewpoint.  I was pleased to hear that he was chosen to receive the Herzog Prize for 2019/2020.

The Chairman of the Jewish Agency, Itzhak (Buji) Herzog: “The State of Israel was built and continues to be built thanks to people like Dr. Yossi Vardi.  From among the founding fathers of the Israeli hi-tech which turned Israel into a global high-tech power, an entrepreneur and investor who contributed to the economic building of the State of Israel and a man of vision and deed who educated generations for innovation and daring.  The tractate of my Father’s life, Chaim Herzog, the sixth President of the State of Israel, encompassed many fields of activity, including a significant chapter on the establishment of sophisticated industries who became the basis for the vision of Yossi Vardi and we are very proud of the decision of the Prize Committee and the Hebrew University to honor Yossi Vardi for his life’s work.”

Dr. Yossi Vardi, who is termed in the media as “the guru of the Israeli internet” and “the father of Israeli hi-tech exits”, invested and assisted in establishment and success of over 85 companies in the fields of software, energy, internet, mobile phones, electro-optics, and more.  Among the companies that he was involved in their establishment one can find the most advanced technologies, Delek Alon, Granit Hacarmel, Internal Laser Technologies and Ormit.  Furthermore, he was involved in many companies that sold to the technological giants including the answers.com company which was sold to ACVF, the Gteko Company that was sold to Microsoft, the Tivella company that was sold to Cisco, the Gifts Project Company that was sold to eBay, the FoxyTunes company that was sold to Yahoo.  Yossi also advised the head of AOL and the Director General of Amazon.

At the beginning of his career Dr. Vardi held a series of senior positions in the government service and included is his appointment in 1993 by the then Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin, z”l, to serve as economic cooperation adviser with the Arab counties Jordan, Egypt and Syria.  He even established the by-national fund for research and development with the United States, served as Israeli Chairman of the commercial dialogue with the European Common Market, he was a member of the global economic forum in Davos, and served as joint chair of conferences on matters of technology, entrepreneurship and creativity in Israel and abroad.  In the course of his public life, Dr. Vardi served as a member of the Hebrew University’s Board of Governors, the Open University and the Weizmann Institute, in addition to his position as Chairman of the Jerusalem Foundation.  Today he serves on the Board of Governors of the Technion.

The Gav-Yam Company, the Hebrew University, the Municipality of Jerusalem and the Jerusalem Development Authority have laid the Cornerstone for the Hi-Tech Park in the presence of the Mayor of Jerusalem, Mr. Moshe Lion; the CEO of the Gav-Yam Company, Mr. Avi Yakobovich; the President of the Hebrew University, Prof. Asher Cohen; the Chairman of the Planning and Budgeting Committee, Prof. Yaffa Zilbershats; the Chairman of the IDB Group, Mr. Eduardo Elsztain; the Chairman of the Gav Yam Company, Mr. Alejandro Elsztain (participated via zoom) and the Director General of the Jerusalem Development Authority, Mr. Eyal Haimovsky.

For the first time in Israel there is an industrial hi-tech park located within the campus of an academic institution.  The Park will spread over thirty dunams and will include four buildings, an overall space of about 270 thousand sq.m. The Park will be constructed as an innovative and green park which meets the international standards of planning and environment, which include CLASS A buildings, with high LEED Standards, one of the most advanced among hi-tech parks in Israel.  The existence of the Park within the Hebrew University’s grounds will enable inclusion of students of the Hebrew University and alumni in the work of hi-tech already in the course of their studies.

The President of the Hebrew University, Prof. Asher Cohen, said: “This is a breakthrough, for the first time in Israel there is a huge commercial complex for advanced and innovative industries on a university campus. I am proud that the Hebrew University led with this line of thinking and unique accomplishment with the encouragement of the Mayor of Jerusalem and the Jerusalem Development authority. This HUJI Hi-Tech Park will enable research and daily scientific ties between the University’s researchers and the forefront of advanced industry in Israel. Here students and alumni of the Hebrew University from the fields of engineering, exact sciences, computer sciences and data sciences as well as students from many additional fields will be able to study and work together. This step will lead and advance hi-tech industry in Jerusalem and provide many employment opportunities in Jerusalem. This Park has already stirred much interest among leading hi-tech companies as well as companies that are just starting out. We anticipate that in a few short years thousands of employees, researchers and students will come to the Hebrew University everyday to work in the HUJI Hi-Tech Park while based on breakthrough research generated on the Hebrew University’s campus”.

Against the background of ground-breaking activity in the fight against the corona virus, this morning the President of the State, Mr. Reuven Rivlin, visited the research laboratories (in the Edmond and Lily Safra Brain Sciences Center).  The tour took place on the Edmond J. Safra Campus, accompanied by the President of the Hebrew University, Prof. Asher Cohen, and the Vice President for Advancement and External Relations, Mr. Yossi Gal.

Recently the Hebrew University’s researchers together with additional researchers made ground-breaking progress in the fight against the corona virus.  They developed a new and more efficient method for corona screening, based on materials that for the most part are available in Israel and significantly cheaper, and screen at a higher speed.  This achievement enabled the testing laboratory of the Hadassah Hospital and the Hebrew University to carry out over 100,000 tests thus far.

A ceremony in tribute of 100 years of knowledge was held on June 12, 2018. The ceremony took place at the residence of the President of the State of Israel, in Jerusalem, and featured laureates of the Nobel Prize, Turing award, Fields Medal, Israel Prize, Emet Prize, Wolf Prize, Rothschild Prize and Gödel Prize.

In the picture, from left to right: Amb. Yossi Gal – Vice President of the University for International Relations and Resource Development, Mr. Reuven (Rubi) Rivlin – President of the State of Israel, Prof. Asher Cohen – President of the University. 

A ceremony rededicating the cornerstone was held on June 12, 2018, in honor of the 100^th year since the cornerstone laying in 1918. The event featured friends of the Hebrew University from Israel as well as from around the world, who brought gifts in tribute to the University's success and growth of the last 100 years.

During the ceremony, the University's administration placed a scroll with their vision for the University's next 100 years in a time capsule.

The Convocation in honor of the opening of the 81^st meeting of the Board of Governors was held on June 11, 2018, at the Rothberg Amphitheater on the Mt. Scopus campus and included the graduation ceremony of the Doctors of Philosophy of the University.