In the late 19th century, great thinkers came together to envision what a Hebrew university could look like. A university of the Jewish people. It was a thought, a dream, to establish an exceptional institution of higher learning in Israel – Well before statehood was assured.
In 1882, Zvi Hermann Shapira, a rabbi and professor of mathematics, began publishing a series of articles advocating for such a place. Soon the idea was embraced by major Jewish scholars and leaders of the early 20th century, including Otto Warburg, Sigmund Freud, Martin Buber, Chaim Weizmann and Albert Einstein – each of whom helped develop and rally support for the idea. Finally, in 1918, after years of campaigning, a university for the Jewish people broke ground in Jerusalem and its doors opened in 1925.
The Hebrew University of Jerusalem is Israel's premier university as well as its leading research institution and is consistently ranked among the 100 leading universities in the world and number one among Israeli universities. From the early days of developing new methods of irrigation for a dry climate to today, our scholars receive extraordinary numbers of research grants and academic awards. The work done within our campuses has led to breakthrough treatments for Alzheimer’s disease and ovarian cancer, agricultural advancements, new perspectives on the legal system, politics, and society, as well as lifesaving smart vehicle technology. The university encourages multi-disciplinary activities in Israel and overseas and serves as a bridge between academic research and its social and industrial applications.
Hebrew University has set as its goals the training of public, scientific, educational and professional leadership; the preservation of and research into Jewish, cultural, spiritual and intellectual traditions; and the expansion of the boundaries of knowledge for the benefit of all humanity.
