Tel-Hai University of Kiryat Shmona in the Galilee

15/10/2026

From groundbreaking AI research and FoodTech innovation to the launch of our first doctoral program and a new engineering cluster (faculty), there's never been a more exciting time at Tel-Hai University of Kiryat Shmona in the Galilee.

As we mark our first year as a university, we're launching "Tel-Hailights" to bring our global community closer to the stories, research, and people driving this transformation.

Curious about what's happening at Israel's newest research university?

📰 Explore the inaugural edition: https://tinyurl.com/5n8euz7k

📩 Subscribe: https://tinyurl.com/5yvx83eh

14/10/2026

“Helmsley’s continued commitment to Tel-Hai University of Kiryat Shmona in the Galilee is a powerful vote of confidence in our vision, our region, and our future. I believe this investment will resonate throughout the philanthropic community, both in Israel and internationally,” our President Prof. Eliezer Shalev, M.D., told reporters today.

We are grateful to The Helmsley Charitable Trust for its continued partnership and investment in the future of the university and the entire region.

Read the coverage by EJewish Philanthropy 👇

EXCLUSIVE | In its continuing push to strengthen Israel’s beleaguered North, the Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust (Helmsley Charitable Trust) donated $3 million toward a new science building at the Tel-Hai University of Kiryat Shmona in the Galilee (תל-חי אוניברסיטת קריית שמונה בגליל), the school announced exclusively to eJewishPhilanthropy.

The building, expected to be completed in 2028, will be located on the Roadburg Campus of the northern Israeli university — previously known as Tel-Hai College — about 1.2 miles from the Lebanese border. The 37,700-square-foot structure will have three floors and room for about 20 research teams whose work will range from biotechnology and agriculture to engineering, nutrition and environmental science.

Full story: https://ejphil.com/5nejm

12/10/2026

Congratulations to the 135 graduates from our Cluster (Faculty) of Education and Teaching! 👩‍🎓👨‍🎓🧑‍🎓

Tonight’s ceremony brought together dozens of graduates accompanied by their families, for an evening that celebrated their hard work, dedication, and achievement.📚

Across all degree programs and areas of study, our graduates share a common mission: educating future generations. Preparing outstanding educators is one of the most important investments we can make in the future of the Galilee and of Israel as a whole.

As we celebrate the achievements of today’s graduates, we are also looking ahead. Beginning next year, the Cluster will award a PhD in Education, further strengthening our contribution to educational research. 🎓

Congratulations to all our graduates. We look forward to the impact you will make in schools, communities, and beyond. 💫

[Photos by Pavel Zelensky]

08/10/2026

What can a 700,000-year-old elephant tooth tell us about the world of early humans? 🐘

A new study based on excavations conducted by Prof. Gonen Sharon of Tel-Hai University of Kiryat Shmona in the Galilee has revealed a remarkably rich Pleistocene ecosystem at Gesher Benot Ya’aqov in northern Israel.

Using the ancient elephant tooth as a biological archive, researchers reconstructed a landscape of woodlands, grasslands, wetlands and waterways that sustained both large mammals and early human populations along the Levantine Corridor.

The research, published in Quaternary Science Reviews, is now featured by Phys.org, a leading international science and technology publication.

Read the full story on Phys.org >> https://tinyurl.com/wwbmurb6

07/10/2026

🕯️ Today, we pause to remember our students, alumni, staff, faculty, their relatives, and members of the wider Tel-Hai University community who lost their lives in the October 7 attacks and during the Iron Swords War. Their memory remains an enduring part of who we are. 🕯️

Inspired by their spirit, we remain committed to resilience, to the growth and renewal of the Galilee, and to building a stronger future for Israel. 🇮🇱

May their memory continue to be a guiding light for our community:
גיא אילוז ז"ל
נוריאל דובין ז"ל
עמר ויינשטיין ז"ל
נועה חיאל ז"ל
רס"ר (במיל') שי טרמין ז"ל
רס"ר (במיל') ניתאי מייזלס ז"ל
סמל שוהם נידם ז"ל
תהילה קעטבי ז"ל
סמ"ר טל שביט ז"ל

Pictured: The memorial display on our Roadburg Campus.

04/10/2026

Congratulations to Dr. Yehoram (Yori) Leshem, a plant scientist in our Department of Biotechnology, on being recognized at a special event held recently at the President’s Residence, marking 30 years of the research and innovation partnership between Israel and the European Union. The event honored approximately 200 Israeli researchers, entrepreneurs, and companies that have received prestigious Horizon Europe grants.

Dr. Leshem is part of the international EVOLVE consortium, whose project was awarded funding through the highly competitive European Innovation Council (EIC) Pathfinder Challenges program under Horizon Europe. Selected from 647 proposals submitted across Europe, EVOLVE was one of only 30 projects chosen for funding. The project aims to develop more resilient wheat varieties that can better withstand drought and nutrient shortages while improving crop quality and resource efficiency. 🌾

[Photos by Hagit Schwimmer, Julie Fhal and Idan Gross/ISERD - Israel-Europe R&D Directorate]

Israel Innovation Authority יצחק הרצוג - Isaac Herzog MIGAL Galilee Research Institute European Research Council (ERC) European Innovation Council and SMEs Executive Agency (EISMEA) Ivan Paponov Stefanie Schulz Michael Schloter Ana Conesa

28/09/2026

What can 20,000-year-old fishing tools tell us about human innovation? 🪝

Research led by Prof. Gonen Sharon of Tel-Hai University of Kiryat Shmona in the Galilee is revealing how prehistoric communities in the Jordan Valley developed increasingly sophisticated fishing technologies and passed that knowledge across generations.

From ancient net sinkers and fish hooks to evidence of long-standing fishing traditions, these discoveries offer a rare window into a pivotal period in human history, when hunter-gatherer societies were beginning the transition toward more permanent ways of life.

The unique prehistoric sites of northern Israel help document key chapters in the story of human cultural and technological evolution. As Prof. Sharon told Haaretz הארץ: "This site is important to all of humanity. It documents the exit from Africa, the cultural evolution of humans and the technology they used."

🔗 Read the full story: http://archive.today/ayIej

[Photo by Emőke Dénes]

Haaretz.com

27/09/2026

A historic moment for Tel-Hai University: Ahead of our first academic year as a university, Israel's Council for Higher Education has approved our first Ph.D. program - in Education. 🎓

For the first time, Tel-Hai University of Kiryat Shmona in the Galilee will be able to award doctoral degrees, marking an important step in our evolution as a research university.

This is the first doctoral program in a growing portfolio of graduate and advanced degree programs, reflecting our long-term commitment to research excellence, innovation, and academic leadership.

As President Prof. Eliezer Shalev noted, "excellence in education is the foundation for social resilience, reducing disparities, and driving growth. The researchers who emerge from this program will help shape the future of our society."

[Photo by Moran Koren Goodman]

המועצה להשכלה גבוהה

14/09/2026

Tel-Hai University mourns the passing of Rachel Rabin-Yaakov z”l, a longtime member of our Board of Trustees, pioneering educator, and devoted advocate for the Galilee.

Sister of the late Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin, Rachel helped shape Tel-Hai University of Kiryat Shmona in the Galilee from its earliest days and remained a dedicated partner throughout its growth. In recognition of her extraordinary contributions, she received the Tel-Hai Dignitary Award in 2007 and the Galilee Honor Award in 2020.

Her lifelong commitment to education, community-building, and the future of the Galilee leaves a lasting impact.

Her legacy will continue to inspire generations. 🕯️

14/09/2026

As we prepare to open our doors as Israel's 11th university, President Isaac Herzog shares why he chose to donate 1,000 books from the Presidential Residence Library to Tel-Hai University of Kiryat Shmona in the Galilee.

🎥 WATCH >>

[Video: Yotam Shahar, כַּרְמֶל - הפקת כתוביות]

יצחק הרצוג - Isaac Herzog Reuven Ruvi Rivlin - ראובן רובי ריבלין