Tel Aviv University’s new home for heritage

A prominent building on the Tel Aviv University campus will be transformed into a centre for Jewish learning and research following a gift from Australian philanthropist Eva Selwyn.

The Eva Selwyn Building for Jewish Heritage will occupy 4500 square metres near ANU – Museum of the Jewish People. The current building will undergo a comprehensive renovation to create the centre. The project also includes an endowment and scholarships within the university’s Faculty of Humanities.

The building will bring together scholars and students across disciplines including Jewish history, Bible, Hebrew and Semitic languages, Talmud and rabbinic literature, Jewish philosophy, Israel studies, Zionism and biblical archaeology. Programs will examine Jewish identity and peoplehood, Israel–Diaspora relations, antisemitism, racism, and the relationship between tradition and modernity.

Selwyn, a governor of the university, said the project was “a commitment to preserving our Jewish heritage”.

“At a time when antisemitism is increasing around the world and the Jewish people face unprecedented challenges, investing in Jewish education and heritage has never been more important.