support the hebrew university
On October 7th, our world changed.
As Israel and her friends continue to grapple with the evil witnessed on that day, the ensuing war, and the reverberations of antisemitism felt around the world, the Hebrew University of Jerusalem has set a course to prevail in the face of the current difficulties, and to continue to build a better and more just future by advancing knowledge through research and innovation. The University is continuing to address the immediate and long–term needs of HU students and the wider community, while also pursuing our core mission—to generate life-changing research and educate future leaders.
The We Are One campaign, established on October 9, 2023, continues to support the HU community through the provision of mental health services for all who need help, including students and faculty members from southern Israel and those returning to campus from active military duty. Donations to the campaign are supporting students in distress, providing legal and advocacy assistance to families of the hostages, and helping to host displaced school-age children in safe spaces on our campuses.
In addition, We Are One is funding unique scholarships for the 5,000+ reservists who have begun rotating out of active duty to resume their studies, as well as supporting their integration back into their courses through academic assistance with services such as group study sessions, tutoring, and recorded classes.
Rebuilding the Future
Hebrew University has added three key initiatives to We Are One with the goal of contributing to rebuilding community, restoring hope, and securing the future of Israel:
Mental Health and Resilience –The University is seeking to establish two integrated programs that will pursue basic and translational research, professional development, and clinical interventions to meet the needs of children, adolescents, and adults for patient-centered, comprehensive, coordinated care.
Arabs and Jews: Building a Shared Society – The University perceives diversity as a condition for academic excellence and essential to fully realizing human potential. The events of October 7th, and those that followed, have badly shaken Israeli society and negatively impacted the relations between Arabs and Jews. The University will offer a number of programs—existing and new—to recommit to a diverse, inclusive, and equitable environment for all, with the goal of creating a model to restore shared society throughout Israel.
Partnership to Strengthen the Southern City of Ofakim – In 2022, Hebrew University’s Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food, and Environment began a partnership with the city of Ofakim, which was struggling with the loss of its textile manufacturing base to overseas competitors. Located in the south of Israel, 25 kilometers from the Gaza border in Israel’s agricultural hub, Ofakim was devastated by the October 7th attacks. Today, Ofakim’s leaders and University faculty have recommitted to their shared vision of restoring academic and economic opportunities for the city’s residents by advancing agriculture-related education, and agri-tech development and innovation.
WE ARE ONE
While there is much work to be done, we are committed to serving Israel by continuing to pursue knowledge, cultivate leadership, and share our discoveries and achievements with the world. We are deeply grateful for the outpouring of support we have received from our friends since October 7th, and we hope that you will continue to support these further initiatives.
It helps to know that you are with us – because We Are One.