Hebrew University of Jerusalem
On the 24th of July 1918, a cornerstone was laid for what would become the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Albert Einstein and Chaim Weizmann co-founded this institution in July 1918. It stands as the second-oldest higher learning body in Israel today. The university opened its doors on Mount Scopus seven years later. That opening ceremony took place on the 1st of April 1925. British dignitaries including Winston Churchill attended the event alongside Jewish leaders. Judah Magnes served as the first chancellor from 1924 until his death in 1935. He led the school through its formative years before becoming president in 1935.
A fierce debate raged over the language of instruction during those early planning stages. One faction known as Germanists argued for using German and Arabic for non-Jewish subjects. They feared Modern Hebrew lacked technical terms needed for advanced academic work. Another group insisted on making Hebrew the sole official language of the new university. This decision carried deep symbolic weight for Jews outside academia who saw it as essential to national identity. Ignaz Goldziher responded to an inquiry by Shmaryahu Levin in 1919 about the university's character. His proposals shaped early departments focusing on oriental languages and archaeology.
The Hadassah medical convoy massacre occurred in April 1948 when seventy-nine people died. Doctors, nurses, and patients were killed while traveling between Israeli-controlled areas and the Mount Scopus campus. Abdul Kader Husseini threatened military action against Hadassah Hospital if Jews continued using it as a base for attacks. British soldier Jack Churchill coordinated the evacuation of seven hundred Jewish doctors, students, and patients after the attack. The Jordanian government denied Israel access to Mount Scopus following the war. Classes moved into forty different buildings scattered across Jerusalem during this interim period.
Plans for a medical school received approval in May 1949. A faculty of law was inaugurated that same November. An agricultural institute founded in 1940 became a full-fledged faculty in 1952. Benjamin Mazar served as president from 1953 until 1961. Giulio Racah acted as president briefly from 1961 to 1962 before Eliahu Eilat took over. The Terra Santa building in Rehavia was rented from Franciscan Custodians to host classes temporarily. A new medical science campus emerged in Ein Kerem alongside the Hadassah Medical Organization.
Patrick Geddes designed the master plan for the university in December 1919 along with his son-in-law Frank Mears. Only two buildings from that original scheme were constructed: the David Wolffsohn University and National Library plus the Mathematics Institute. The Physics Institute likely followed designs by Benjamin Chaikin based in Jerusalem. Housing for students on Mount Scopus includes three dormitories named Maiersdorf, Bronfman, and Kfar HaStudentim. The Rothberg International School features secular studies and Jewish Israeli studies programs.
The Givat Ram campus opened in western Jerusalem and completed construction in 1958. It houses faculties of science including the Einstein Institute of Mathematics and the Alexander Silberman Institute of Life Sciences. The Edmond J. Safra Center for Brain Sciences resides there today. Ein Kerem hosts the Faculties of Medicine and Dental Medicine alongside the Israel-Canada Research Institute. The Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture operates in Rehovot where veterinary medicine training began in 1985. These institutions remain unique in offering both teaching and research programs within their fields.
In 2020 the Academic Ranking of World Universities placed Hebrew University between 101st and 150th globally. It ranked between 301st and 400th in physics and between 201st and 300th in computer science. Business economics scores fell between 51st and 75th worldwide according to Shanghai Jiao Tong University data. By 2022 the university climbed thirteen places to reach 77th among global top universities. It consistently ranks as Israel's best institution in mathematics specifically. In 2017 it held the 11th position worldwide while dropping to 25th by 2020.
One-third of all doctoral candidates in Israel studied at this university during recent years. Fifteen Nobel Prize winners have been affiliated with the school including eight alumni and teachers. Two Fields Medalists and three Turing Award winners also connect to its history. The Jewish National and University Library holds over five million books plus thousands of special items. Albert Einstein left his personal papers and copyright to the university in his will. His archive contains approximately fifty-five thousand items now digitized since March 2012.
Four Israeli prime ministers graduated from Hebrew University making it the most prolific producer of such leaders. Multiple presidents, Supreme Court justices, Mossad directors, and Israel Prize laureates emerged from its halls. Sigmund Freud sat on the first board of governors alongside Martin Buber. Canadian philanthropist Allan Bronfman founded Friends of the University in Canada in 1944. Felix M. Warburg established American Friends in 1925 to support fundraising activities globally.
The Rothberg International School offers mandatory Ulpan programs for foreign students learning Hebrew language and culture. All classes are taught by Israeli natives though many other courses involve Jewish immigrants to Israel. The Paul Baerwald School of Social Work became Israel's first bachelor program in that field in 1958. It houses the Israel Gerontological Data Center and Nevet-Greenhouse research group today. The school ranks highest among social work institutions nationwide while introducing master degree options in 1970.
Yissum Research Development Company was founded in 1964 as the university's technology transfer arm. Yaacov Michlin leads Yissum along with business industry figures like Tamir Huberman and Dov Reichman. Since formation the company has created more than eighty spin-off companies including Mobileye and BriefCam. Other notable ventures include HumanEyes, OrCam, ExLibris, BioCancell, and NewStem. Yissum handles all licenses and patents belonging to researchers and employees at Hebrew University.
A marijuana research center launched in 2017 aims to coordinate studies on cannabis biological effects. Commercial applications drive much of this innovation effort within the institution. Members of ITTN represent Israel Technology Transfer Organization membership status for Yissum. The university maintains international Society of Friends organizations covering over twenty-five countries worldwide. Canadian chapters exist in Montreal Ottawa Toronto Winnipeg Edmonton Calgary and Vancouver cities alone.
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Common questions
When was the Hebrew University of Jerusalem founded and who co-founded it?
Albert Einstein and Chaim Weizmann co-founded the Hebrew University of Jerusalem in July 1918. A cornerstone for the institution was laid on the 24th of July 1918 before the university officially opened its doors on Mount Scopus on the 1st of April 1925.
What happened to the Hebrew University of Jerusalem campus during the war of 1948?
The Hadassah medical convoy massacre occurred in April 1948 when seventy-nine people died while traveling between Israeli-controlled areas and the Mount Scopus campus. The Jordanian government denied Israel access to Mount Scopus following the war causing classes to move into forty different buildings scattered across Jerusalem.
How many Nobel Prize winners have been affiliated with the Hebrew University of Jerusalem?
Fifteen Nobel Prize winners have been affiliated with the Hebrew University of Jerusalem including eight alumni and teachers. Two Fields Medalists and three Turing Award winners also connect to its history alongside four Israeli prime ministers who graduated from the school.
Where is the main campus of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem located today?
The Givat Ram campus opened in western Jerusalem and completed construction in 1958 housing faculties of science including the Einstein Institute of Mathematics. Ein Kerem hosts the Faculties of Medicine and Dental Medicine alongside the Israel-Canada Research Institute while the Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture operates in Rehovot.
When did the Hebrew University of Jerusalem open its doors on Mount Scopus?
The university opened its doors on Mount Scopus seven years after the cornerstone was laid on the 24th of July 1918. That opening ceremony took place on the 1st of April 1925 attended by British dignitaries including Winston Churchill.