University of Haifa recently held its 50th Board of Governor's Meeting, attended by governors, friends and supporters from Israel and four corners of the globe. The festivities, which kicked off the University's jubilee year, were highlighted by the conferment of an honorary doctorate degree to philanthropist and  businessman, Mr. Elie Horn. Guests attended a number of high profile inauguration ceremonies including the launch of the Bloom School of Graduate Studies, and the celebration of the new German-Speaking Jewry Heritage Wing at the Hecht Museum. Dedication ceremonies were held for the refurbished Aviva and Sammy Ofer Observation Gallery and the Eyal Ofer Family Conference Hall, the Lady Barbara Davis Wild Cereal Gene Bank, also supported by the Laszlo N. Tauber Family Foundation, the Herta and Paul Amir Technology Complex, the Herta and Paul Amir Health Sciences Building, and the Herta and Paul Amir Faculty of Social Sciences.  

Credit: University of Haifa Archives

University of Haifa mourns the passing of Lily Safra – Honorary Doctorate recipient, exceptional and compassionate humanitarian, who was deeply committed to reducing economic inequities and advancing social mobility in Israel through the establishment of the Israel Scholarship Education Foundation (ISEF). Under her visionary leadership, the University established the Edmond J. Safra Brain Research Center for the Study of Learning Disabilities, a groundbreaking research center focused on improving learning in Israel's official languages. May her memory be a blessing.

Our missions are intrinsically linked:
Developing Israel's young people through
academic excellence to bridge social gaps within Israel.

In 1977, philanthropists Edmond J. and Lily Safra joined Nina Weiner in founding ISEF. Together they dreamed of eradicating poverty in Israel through higher education. They found a willing partner in the University of Haifa, which was established with a founding mission of combining academic excellence with social responsibility – ensuring that students from the full spectrum of Israeli society have access to higher education.

Congratulations to 1,951 undergraduate and 2,877 graduate students, on the successful completion of their University of Haifa degrees. Best wishes and good luck!