Hebrew University of Jerusalem: 100 years of innovation

Australian Friends of the Hebrew University (AustFHU) held events in Sydney and Melbourne to mark the 100th anniversary of the prestigious institution last week.

In a packed room in Sydney on Sunday night, AustFHU CEO Rob Schneider noted how Israel’s first president Chaim Weizmann led the fight for its establishment in 1911, with the cornerstone laid in 1918 and the Mount Scopus campus officially opening in 1925.

“We had founders that include Albert Einstein, Martin Buber, Chaim Nachman Bialik and Chaim Weizmann. I don’t think any other institution of higher learning in Israel can claim to have such illustrious founders,” Schneider said.

Israeli ambassador to Australia Amir Maimon praised the university as “a place founded not only to educate but to elevate, to embed moral purpose and national resilience in the life of the Jewish people”.

“This institution has become a beacon of learning and values. Its record speaks for itself. Eight Nobel laureates, one Fields Medallist and one Abel Prize winner,” he lauded.

Stepping in as keynote speaker, Executive Council of Australian Jewry co-CEO Alex Ryvchin described the university as “a bastion of truth”.

“A hundred years ago, Chaim Weizmann spoke of the great social and political problems that we face. Weizmann knew that the true solution to these problems … our true victory comes when we build things that will stand and flourish 100 years on,” Ryvchin said.

Sky News journalist Sharri Markson received the university’s prestigious Scopus Award for her commitment to Israel.

Expressing gratitude for the honour, Markson highlighted the disproportionate Jewish contribution to global knowledge, noting that whilst Jews represent just 0.2 per cent of the world’s population, there are 216 Jewish Nobel laureates, representing 22 per cent of all Nobel Prize winners.

“I hate to correct you, Ambassador, but nine of the Nobel laureates graduated from Hebrew University,” Markson quipped, while praising the institution’s groundbreaking research including its new centre for computational medicine, funds for which were being raised on the night.

AustFHU president Michael Dunkel noted that Einstein and the other founders “would be extremely proud” of the university’s current standing in the top 100 of world rankings, describing it as being “at the forefront and the inspiration of the startup nation”.

Australia-Israel Chamber of Commerce chairman Leon Kempler then moderated an innovation panel that included Israeli trade commissioner Ohad Blumberg and Noam Pilpel, leader of Sydney University’s Venture Investments.

The Melbourne event featured former federal treasurer Josh Frydenberg as keynote speaker.