UofH joins the “United Against Terrorism,” a global, university initiative advocating for the safe return of the hostages held in Gaza. Two-hundred and forty-one name tags representing the hostages, were hung on an olive tree on the Mt. Carmel campus. They will remain on the tree until every individual is safely reunited with their families. MORE ABOUT THE INITIATIVE 

Inbar Haiman, 28, student at the WIZO Academy of Design, was abducted by Hamas at the Nova music festival on October 7th along with hundreds of innocent civilians. WIZO is slated to merge with the University of Haifa this year. We pray for her safe return and for the safe return of all hostages.

President Robin speaks at the Lanesborough Hotel in London.

London

President Ron Robin delivered an insightful lecture on the war with Hamas at the historic Lanesborough Hotel in London on the 31st October. Prof. Robin was invited to speak by long-standing friend of the University and a member of the Board of Governors, Bob Amsterdam, who hosted the event for an audience of 35 selected guests. The lecture followed an earlier discussion about the war with Prof. Robin on Mr. Amsterdam’s podcast, Departures – A dispatch from Israel, recorded on the 22nd October. READ MORE

President Robin meets with American academics at top US universities.

USA

Representing University of Haifa and Israeli academia as a whole, President Robin met with university administrators, faculty and student groups in the campuses of City University of New York (CUNY), Harvard University, University of California - Berkeley, Stanford University, and University of California - San Diego. The meetings addressed the rising anti-Israel and antisemitic sentiments being observed on university and college campuses around the country. The aim was to ensure the protection and respect of Israeli and Jewish students and faculty, and to allow a discussion about the intersection between freedom of speech and its being used to legitimize hate speech or to justify violence. READ MORE | TOUR COVERAGE IN FOX NEWS

The meetings were coordinated and accompanied by American Society of the University of Haifa professionals.

In a recent interview with the BBC, President Ron Robin discussed the ongoing tensions on campus, shedding light on the University's commitment to promoting tolerance and coexistence during challenging times. WATCH THE INTERVIEW

President Ron Robin and eight other presidents of Israel’s leading universities have issued a powerful letter decrying academia in the U.S. and around the world for its framing of this ongoing crisis and its failure to protect its Jewish students. The letter from Israel’s Association of University Heads (VERA) stated, "It’s unsettling to note that many college campuses have become breeding grounds for anti-Israel and anti-Semitic sentiments, largely fueled by a naïve and biased understanding of the conflict. It is ironic that the very halls of enlightenment in America and Europe… have adopted Hamas as the cause célèbre while Israel is demonized. Universities, as hubs of enlightenment and rational discourse, must take responsibility for the views they perpetuate." READ FULL LETTER HERE

Members of the university community have created a series of multi-language videos aimed at setting the record straight about the events of October 7, 2023, and providing an authentic perspective on our experiences here in Israel. The videos provide factual corrections to fake news reports, offering context to an emotionally charged and widely misunderstood conflict. The videos are available on all of the University’s social media platforms. Please share them to reach as many people as possible around the globe through this webpage, updated daily with more videos. READ MORE

The University of Haifa has made the decision to award scholarships of NIS 2,000 to students who are serving in the reserve forces to provide much-needed financial relief during this challenging period. In addition to financial support, the University is providing psychological assistance to student soldiers and their families through the Interdisciplinary Clinical Center. The commitment extends beyond their active service, ensuring ongoing support as they reintegrate into their studies. READ MORE in JPOST

(l-r) Lovisa Hamrin, Chairwoman of The Hamrin Foundation, and President Ron Robin at a University of Haifa honorary doctorate event in Sweden honoring Prof. Bertil Andersson.

The Hamrin Foundation, a Swedish family-run organization that supports the University of Haifa, will provide funding for the establishment of a program aimed at building individual and collective resilience among students, faculty, and staff, identify their diverse needs, and develop training programs to teach and research in a multi-cultural campus. READ MORE

"Today, in Sweden, there's a pressing call for practical action, making this learning especially relevant. The Foundation supports education that promotes unity and empathy in our societies.” - Lovisa Hamrin, Chairwoman of The Hamrin Foundation

A solidarity concert for Israel was recently held at the Laeiszhalle (Music Hall) Hamburg, hosted under the patronage of Dr. Carsten Brosda, Senator for Culture of the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg, and with the support of the German Friends of the University of Haifa and German Friends of the Israel Museum. The event aimed to commemorate the memory of the victims of the October 7th massacre, and denounce the global call for terrorist acts by Hamas and Islamic Jihad. Watch an interview (in German) featuring Dr. h.c. Sonja Lahnstein-Kandel, Chairwoman of German Friends, on ZDF television.

Survivors of the Nova rave massacre recounted their harrowing experiences to over 20 students from the University of Haifa's International School during a special gathering at the Mt. Carmel campus. The students, representing diverse nations including Ghana, Cameroon, Germany, the United States, Venezuela, Myanmar, and China, were deeply moved by the survivors' firsthand accounts of the tragedy. The event was spearheaded by the Israel-is and TalkIsrael Associations, as part of their ongoing initiative to disseminate the truth about Hamas' deadly attack on October 7th to the global community. READ MORE

WATCH A rendition of the "Hatikva"

An extraordinary and moving concert was recently held at the Hecht Auditorium on the Mt. Carmel campus, home to the only non-church organ in Israel. Renowned organist Dr. Yuval Rabin and viola player Dr. Itamar Ringel performed pieces associated with prayers, including a stirring rendition of "Hatikva" – all while the hall stood empty. Each seat  held  a picture of 241 hostages – men, women, children and the elderly – held captive by Hamas. The full concert will soon be made available for free online viewing. 

WATCH AS WE CREATE A HUMAN CHAIN IN SOLIDARITY WITH THE HOSTAGES. This seemingly endless line of people poignantly underscores the unimaginable number of hostages, each with their own story and families left behind. You can help us spread the message via sharing posts on our social media platforms: Facebook; Instagram; YouTube; Dropbox (Vertical for social media); and Dropbox Horizontal

At a Glance Archive