American Friends of the Hebrew University

10/19/2026

A night to remember at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

Saturday evening marked a historic milestone with the announcement of a $250 million gift from philanthropist John Paulson—the largest donation in the University’s history.

The evening celebrated an extraordinary commitment to the future of Hebrew University and the research, education, and innovation that continue to make an impact in Israel and around the world.

Watch highlights from this remarkable moment.

10/17/2026

A historic moment for the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. 🎉

American philanthropist and investor John Paulson has made a landmark $250 million gift — the largest in Hebrew University’s history — to support major advances in engineering, medicine, biomedical research, and trauma and post-traumatic stress research and treatment.

In recognition of the Paulson family’s longstanding generosity, Hebrew University’s Mount Scopus campus will be named The Alina and John Paulson Campus, Mount Scopus, Jerusalem.

We are deeply grateful to John Paulson for this extraordinary commitment to Hebrew University and its future impact in Israel and around the world.

Read more in Hebrew University’s announcement below.

A Historic Quarter-Billion-Dollar Gift to the Hebrew University of Jerusalem!

We are proud and delighted to announce the largest donation in the history of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem: a landmark gift of a quarter of a billion dollars (US$250 million) from American philanthropist and investor John Paulson, announced this evening at the University's Board of Governors Gala in Jerusalem.

This extraordinary gift will enable the University to expand its research and teaching activities in fields of national and international importance, strengthening its contributions to science, medicine, and Israeli society.

The gift will focus on three key areas:

- Establishing a new Faculty of Engineering, strengthening interdisciplinary connections between engineering, computer science, medicine, and the life sciences.
- Advancing medical and biomedical research and education, including the development of innovative AI-powered medical training models.
- Promoting research, rehabilitation, and treatment in trauma and post-traumatic stress, while strengthening the connection between academic expertise and the urgent needs of society.

In recognition of the Paulson family's longstanding generosity and commitment to the University, its historic Mount Scopus campus will be named "The Alina and John Paulson Campus, Mount Scopus, Jerusalem."

John Paulson, Founder and Chairman of the Paulson Family Foundation, stated: "Hebrew University is also among the most academically productive institutions in the world. Given its quality and productivity, I can think of no more deserving university for philanthropic support than Hebrew University."

Professor Tamir Sheafer, President of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, reflected on the significance of the gift:

"This gift enhances our ability to recruit world-class faculty, support outstanding students, equip laboratories with cutting-edge technology, and transform bold ideas into life-changing breakthroughs. This is far more than a historic act of philanthropy — it is a profound expression of confidence in Israel's human capital and a partnership in building our shared future."

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to John Paulson and his family for their trust, generosity, and longstanding partnership.

This historic gift marks a significant milestone as the Hebrew University enters its second century, empowering us to continue advancing groundbreaking research, educating future generations, and shaping the future of society in Israel and around the world.

10/16/2026

Congratulations to the outstanding students, faculty, and programs recognized at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem’s annual Rector’s Prize Ceremony!

The celebration honored 80 exceptional bachelor’s and master’s students, along with faculty recognized for excellence in research, teaching, and lifetime achievement.

The ceremony also celebrated initiatives advancing global academic collaboration through the 5th annual Prize for Excellence in Internationalization.

We congratulate all of this year’s recipients and are proud to celebrate the excellence and global impact of Hebrew University.

10/15/2026

Hebrew University alumni are coming together across the country! 🎓💙

From reconnecting over memories of Jerusalem to meeting fellow alumni and friends in your community, these upcoming gatherings are a chance to celebrate the connections that begin at Hebrew University and continue long after.

With events coming up in Maryland, South Florida, and Southern California, we hope to see members of the HU community there!

Explore the upcoming gatherings below and join us.

10/14/2026

A landmark $30 million gift from philanthropist Steven H. Lavin and the Sheba Foundation will establish the Hebrew University of Jerusalem Center for Advanced Medical Education at the Hebrew University-Hadassah School of Medicine.

The Center will pioneer a new approach to physician training, using AI and clinical simulation to help educate more doctors while preserving the compassionate, human-centered foundation of medical care.

We are grateful to Steven H. Lavin and his family for their remarkable generosity and longstanding commitment to Hebrew University and to advancing innovations that can improve lives in Israel and around the world.

The Hebrew University of Jerusalem has received a transformational $30 million gift from philanthropist Steven H. Lavin and his family foundation, the Sheba Foundation, to launch the Hebrew University of Jerusalem Center for Advanced Medical Education

This initiative will pioneer a new model for physicians training, utilizing AI and clinical simulation to educate more doctors while preserving the compassionate, human-centered core of medicine. The Center is being established at the Hebrew University-Hadassah School of Medicine and will work in partnership with physicians from Hadassah Medical Center, Shaare Zedek Medical Center, Jerusalem, Kaplan Medical Center, and others.

This ambitious vision is championed by Steven H. Lavin, Chairman of OSI Group, whose longstanding support for Hebrew University continues his family's legacy of advancing research and education to improve lives. This gift is an extension of Lavin’s support of the university, which includes an earlier $18 million donation from the Lavin family foundation to establish the Sheldon Lavin Center for Safe, Secure, and Sustainable Food Systems in honor of his father.

We extend our deepest gratitude to the Lavin family for their extraordinary generosity and commitment to the future of global healthcare.

10/12/2026

New research from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem is shedding light on how national identity is evolving among Jewish Israelis.

Led by Prof. Gisela Dachs, the 2026 findings show a significant strengthening of national identity, alongside changing perceptions of Israel’s relationship with Europe.

Read more about the research and what the findings reveal.

A new study, led by Prof. Gisela Dachs from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, shows that national identity has significantly strengthened among Jewish Israelis. The data comes from the Hebrew University-European Forum Barometer, an ongoing survey that tracks the evolving mutual perceptions between Israel and European nations.

The 2026 findings reveal that a growing number of respondents now view the country as more Middle Eastern than European, alongside major shifts in how Israelis evaluate European allies.

Learn more: https://international.huji.ac.il/Hebrew%20U%20Study%3A%20Israeli%20Identity%20Strengthens%20Post-Oct.%207

10/08/2026

DAF Day 2026 is here! 🧡

Today, donors across the country are coming together to celebrate the impact of giving through Donor-Advised Funds.

By recommending a DAF grant to American Friends of the Hebrew University, you can help advance groundbreaking research, education, and innovation at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem—supporting work that makes a difference in Israel and around the world.

Join us in celebrating the power of generosity and put your DAF to work for a meaningful cause.

👉 Make your DAF gift to AFHU today: https://bit.ly/3VZwPQ9

10/07/2026

Three years after October 7, 2023, we continue to grapple with the profound and lasting impact of that day.

For Hebrew University scholars across psychology, social work, anthropology, and law, October 7 raised urgent questions about trauma: How do individuals and communities experience its ripple effects? And how can we better understand and respond to them?

🎧 Listen to “A New Chapter in Our History: October 7 and Its Ripple Effect,” the latest episode of The View from Mt. Scopus, featuring scholars who have spent the past three years examining these questions and the enduring effects of trauma.

Listen and learn more: https://bit.ly/4zbY5we

10/07/2026

Today, three years after October 7, we remember all those whose lives were taken too soon and honor their memory.

American Friends of the Hebrew University stands with the Hebrew University community and all those who continue to carry the weight of that day. May their memories forever be a blessing. 🕯️

10/05/2026

Congratulations to Prof. David Kazhdan of the Einstein Institute of Mathematics at The Hebrew University of Jerusalem on receiving the Wolf Prize in Mathematics! 🎉

Prof. Kazhdan shares this prestigious honor with Prof. Joseph Bernstein of Tel Aviv University USA - AFTAU, in recognition of their foundational work in representation theory, automorphic forms, and algebraic geometry, as well as their pioneering role in creating geometric representation theory.

Their groundbreaking contributions have built important bridges across algebra, geometry, and analysis, transforming how mathematicians understand the connections between these fields.

AFHU is proud to celebrate Prof. Kazhdan and this extraordinary recognition of mathematical excellence at Hebrew University.

📸 Wolf Foundation

ANNOUNCING THE 2026 WOLF PRIZE LAUREATES IN MATHEMATICS

The 2026 Wolf Prize in Mathematics is awarded to David Kazhdan of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and Joseph Bernstein of Tel Aviv University, “for foundational work on representation theory, automorphic forms and algebraic geometry, and their role in creating geometric representation theory.”
Their work helped build a new mathematical language connecting algebra, geometry and representation theory, ideas that now reach across some of the deepest areas of modern mathematics.
Kazhdan introduced Kazhdan’s property (T), a concept that became fundamental in the study of groups and found applications ranging from geometry to logic. Together with George Lusztig, he also developed the Kazhdan–Lusztig basis and polynomials, work that became foundational to geometric representation theory and influential in the Langlands program.
Bernstein reshaped representation theory through the development of D-modules, now a crucial tool in algebraic geometry, representation theory and logic. His work on perverse sheaves, p-adic groups and automorphic forms helped establish major parts of the framework we now call geometric representation theory.
Together, their ideas have created connections between fields that once seemed separate, and changed the way mathematicians understand symmetry, geometry and structure.
Congratulations to David Kazhdan and Joseph Bernstein, the 2026 Wolf Prize Laureates in Mathematics.

Tel Aviv University USA - AFTAU The Hebrew University of Jerusalem