Founded in 1918 by the Zionist Organization, the Hebrew University of Jerusalem (HUJI) is Israel’s second-oldest university, after the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology. The university has three campuses in Jerusalem and one in Rehovot. The world’s leading center for Jewish studies is located here, as well as Israel’s National Library and archives. HUJI is a comprehensive research university; its faculties include Humanities, Social Sciences, Law, Medicine, Science, Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine.
The origins of the Hebrew University can be traced back to 1882 when Jewish philanthropist Moses Montefiore established a center for Jewish learning in Jerusalem which later became known as the Montefiore Endowment. In 1904 Theodore Herzl convened the Fifth Zionist Congress in Basel where it was decided to establish “a modern Hebrew university in Palestine”. The cornerstone of the new university was laid on Mount Scopus in 1916.
During World War I construction stopped and the British authorities demanded that work cease on Mount Scopus due to its strategic location overlooking both east and west Jerusalem. Instead they offered land south of Givat Ram for use as a temporary campus – an offer which was accepted by Albert Einstein who became one of HUJI’s most famous early supporters.
In 1925 work finally resumed on Mount Scopus with Albert Einstein laying the cornerstone for what would eventually become Israel’s largest library – today housing over five million books and manuscripts including some of rarest documents in existence such as original handwritten copies of biblical texts. When completed HUJI’s main campus included seven institutes, two observatories, nine museums and laboratories covering almost every field imaginable from archaeology to zoology.
The outbreak of World War II again put construction on hold but this time there was no offer made by the British authorities for an alternative site; instead they placed severe restrictions on building materials making it impossible to continue work at Mount Scopus. Nevertheless a decision was made to carry on regardless and between 1940-1947 students were forced to study underground while construction continued above ground under conditions of great secrecy. This period came to an end with the completion of The Edmond J Safra Building which today houses HUJI’s Faculty Of Law among others institutions.
It wasn’t until 1948 that regular academic life could finally resume on Mount Scopus when ProfessorAlbert Einstein formally inaugurated Hebrew University’s Hadassah Medical School – built with donations from American Jews through Hadassah Women’s Zionist Organizationof America.. Two years later war broke out between Jordanand Israel resulting in Mt Scopusto be once again cut offfrom Israelisociety – this timefor 19 years! Duringthe Jordanian occupation only staffand studentswith specialpermissionfrom King Husseinwere allowedto accessMountScopus whileothers hadto make do withthe crampedconditions atGivatRam– often describedas beinglike ‘a villagein Tel Aviv’ . Despite these difficulties many groundbreaking achievements took place duringthis period includingthe discoveryof quarksby ProfessorsBenjamin Levichand Murray Gell-Mann(laterawardedthe NobelPrizein Physics),as well asthe developmentof radioimmunotherapyby Professors Avram Hershkoand Aaron Ciechanover(also awardedthe NobelPrize– this timein Chemistry). In 1967 followingthe Six Day WarIsraeli troopsfinally regainedcontrolof EastJerusalemand onceagainaccess toparts of MtScopusthat had beenoff limitsfor almosttwo decadeswas possiblealthoughit would takea furtherten yearsof negotiationsbefore aconnectingroadwaywas constructedallowingfreepassageto allparts ofthesite . SincereopeningHebrewUniversity hasgone fromstrengthto strengthwith thenumberof studentsexceeding25 thousandtodayacrossallits variouscampusesand Facultieswhich nowincludeEnvironmentalStudies , Psychology , BusinessAdministration& Economics , Dentistry & morerecentlyArchitecture & RuralDevelopment . Itis also home toworld classresearchcenters suchasThe Edmond JSafraBrainResearchCenter , The Fritz BauerInstitute& RacahInstituteof Physicsas well asservingas amajor hubfor start up companieswith over 200high tech businessesgraduatingfrom itseconomic incubator “TheHoshen Center” eachyear . Locatedjust outsideRehovotHebrewUniversityalsoleads them wayin cuttingedgeagriculturalresearchthroughits RobertH SmithFacultyof AgriculturalChemistry& EnvironmentalScienceswhere importantworkisdoneontopics rangingfromdesertificationtocounterterrorism . TodayHebrewUniversitystands shoulder tonarrowwith someoftheworld’s mostprestigiousuniversities& continues toget strongerboth academically& physicallywith ambitiousnewconstructionprojects underwayincludinganextensiontothe centralEinsteinLibrary & stateoftheartbuildingsforthe FacultyOf Science & FacultyOf DentalMedicine .