Jerusalem, June 11, 2008 – A ceremony to name the Hebrew University of Jerusalem’s Faculty of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Quality Sciences in Rehovot for Washington, D.C., philanthropist Robert H. Smith will be held on Thursday, June 12.

The ceremony will be held at 6 p.m. on the faculty’s campus, with the participation of Hebrew University President Prof. Menachem Magidor, Israeli Minister of Agriculture Shalom Simhon and Rehovot Mayor Shuki Forer.

The Faculty of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Quality Sciences at the Hebrew University has adopted a new vision, whose goal is to cope with the challenge of supplying food to the developing world.

Dean of the Faculty Prof. Eli Feinerman said, “Our faculty, which is among the best in the world in its field, is striving to cope with the challenge of safeguarding our common future by finding ways to produce nutritious, quality food at low cost and without causing harm to the environment.”

Realizing this vision has required reorganization within the faculty, for example  establishing a research center in the building for environmental studies, creating a special veterinary complex and an institute for animal studies, building laboratories for biochemistry and for students, increasing computerization, establishing research funds and attracting young scientists.

Thanks to the contribution from Robert H. Smith, the faculty will be able to go forward in striving to discover new and daring solutions for achieving its ambitious goals. Smith was the principal donor in this endeavor, whose cost is estimated at $70 million.

Smith, who was born in Washington, D.C., is an internationally known philanthropist who has perpetuated his family tradition in business and in support of community endeavors and of the Hebrew University. He was the leading figure in the development of the Crystal City project, a huge commercial center in northern Virginia. Smith is a former chairman of the National Gallery of Art in Washington, served as chairman of the Hebrew University Board of Governors, and, like his father, received an honorary doctorate from the university.

(Journalists and photographers are invited to cover the event.)

For further information: Jerry Barach, Dept. of Media Relations, the Hebrew University,

Tel: 02-588-2904.  Orit Sulitzeanu, Hebrew University spokesperson, Tel: 054-8820016.