Marking 100 Years
This year marks a momentous milestone as we commemorate 100 years of Israel’s premier institute of higher learning and research, the Hebrew University of Jerusalem (HU). HU was born from an idea proposed in 1913 by Chaim Weizmann. His enthusiasm for the project was shared by other visionaries, including Albert Einstein, Martin Buber, and Sigmund Freud. Three years after the symbolic foundation stones were laid on Mount Scopus in 1918, Weizmann and Einstein set out across the U.S. to promote and raise funds for the University. Below is a snapshot in time of major events from the University’s inauguration to the present day.
On this day, shortly after the end of World War I, Hebrew University held the historic laying of the cornerstone ceremony. This ceremony was funded entirely by financial support from Jews around the world. Image: Protocol of the Laying of the Cornerstone for the Hebrew University (1918).
The Hebrew University formally opens with a historic ceremony attended by thousands on its Mount Scopus campus. Speeches were given by Lord Balfour, Chaim Weizmann, Rabbi Kook, Sir Herbert Samuel, and Hayim Nahman Bialik.
Hebrew University awarded its first degrees, Master of Arts degrees, to 13 graduates.
With the lighting of the 1st candle of Hanukkah in December of 1942, the Institute for Agricultural Studies was inaugurated in a moving ceremony at the Aaron Aaronson Building, with the participation of the President of HU at the time, Dr. Y.L. Magnes.
The new Faculty of Medicine officially opens, and the Faculty of Law, Hebrew University Hadassah Medical School, and Adult Education Center are established.
The first M.D. degrees are awarded to students who had begun their training abroad.
Yissum Research Development Company established to patent university research and technology and to promote university partnerships with industry.
HU establishes the Harry S. Truman Research Institute for the Advancement of Peace, the Middle East’s first conflict resolution research center.
The Faculty of Medicine expands with the addition of the Henrietta Szold-Hadassah-Hebrew University School of Nursing and the Hadassah-Hebrew University School of Occupational Therapy.
Opening of the Koret School of Veterinary Medicine, the first and only institution that teaches veterinary medicine in Israel.
The D. Walter Cohen Center for Dental Education in the Middle East is created to bring together dentists from the region to engage in joint research projects and learn their colleagues’ respective techniques.
Three HU graduates, David Gross, Avram Hershko, and Aaron Ciechanover, became Nobel Prize laureates in Physics and Chemistry.
Edmond and Lily Safra Center for Brain Sciences established, with a goal to revolutionize neuroscience research.
The dedication of the Einstein House in the Marie and Jose Mugrabi Building, a new museum and research center to be built adjacent to the Edmond J. Safra Givat Ram campus, was held on June 13th.
Even in the face of hardship, HU remains unwavering in its pursuit of excellence, maintaining its position as the No.1 university in Israel. Commemorating 100 years in 2025, HU will continue to shine brighter than ever as Israel’s precious jewel of academia, research, & innovation for centuries to come.
We hope you will join us throughout this special year to honor this remarkable legacy. To see a calendar of events, please click here. To see more centennial-related content, please click here. To follow us throughout the year on social media as we share HU fun facts, click on our handles in the footer below.