As of the time of composing this message, approximately 1,300 Israelis have been murdered during the Swords of Iron War, more than 3,000 have been injured, and over 100 individuals are currently held captive in Gaza. Every person has a unique story, and every story is profoundly heart-wrenching. The horrifying loss of innocent lives and the capture of civilians are acts of terrorism, a crime against humanity, and an embodiment of absolute evil.

 

The Hebrew University of Jerusalem community is an integral part of Israeli society. With more than 25,000 members and friends across our various campuses and hundreds of thousands of alumni both in Israel and around the world, not one remains untouched by this tragedy, either directly or through friends and family.

 

Thousands of our students have been called up for active duty, as have faculty, staff, or their children. Others have volunteered to contribute in any way they can. The University is committed to providing unwavering support and assistance to students who are called up to serve in the reserves or who have personally suffered or have been affected by the loss of loved ones.

 

During these challenging days, we want to inform you that the University is taking the following actions:

 

• The commencement of the academic year has been postponed, and classes are now scheduled to begin on November 5th, 2023 (please note that the situation is fluid).

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• A comprehensive system of volunteering and initiatives has been established to support our community and the nation, engaging both students and faculty. All pertinent details will be shared in the coming week.

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• A powerful and unequivocal response letter, jointly signed by Prof. Asher Cohen, President of the Hebrew University, Prof. Tamir Sheafer, Rector of the Hebrew University, and Prof. Barak Medina, has been sent to the Presidents of Harvard University and Stanford University. This letter is a direct response to what our University officials perceive as inadequate condemnations from these esteemed in the face of Hamas' recent brutal attack on Israel and the tragic loss of life among our southern residents.

 

You can read the full letters here:

Letter to Harvard University >>

Letter to Stanford University >>

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• The Hebrew University’s management has declared a policy of zero tolerance towards any members - be they faculty or students - who express support for the acts of terrorism and the heinous murder attack carried out by Hamas. Immediate action will be taken to address such expressions of support, including their immediate removal.

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• In memory of those tragically killed in the Hamas terror attack on October 7th and during the Swords of Iron War, we have established a dedicated memorial page on the University's website. This platform provides a space for us to pay tribute to the members of the Hebrew University community who have fallen victim to this conflict (an English version will be available shortly). Additionally, we have created a form to collect information about HUJI alumni or students you may know who have lost their lives in this war. This initiative seeks to ensure their memory is preserved and to provide support to the grieving families during this painful time. Please note that the webform is currently in Hebrew but will soon be provided in English.  

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• To support the student community and the faculty, the University has established the "We are One" support fund. Friends of the University and its supporters in Israel and around the world are actively mobilizing to provide assistance and support to address the evolving needs on ground. For further details, please visit the campaign page.

 

 

We will continue to provide you with important updates throughout the ongoing conflict and the challenging situation in Israel. We are closely monitoring all communication channels and social media of HUJI’s Global Alumni Association, offering information and being available to address your inquiries and questions.

 

May brighter days lie ahead.