A New Home for Jewish Heritage
Eva Selwyn’s latest gift to Tel Aviv University will transform a prominent campus building into a world-class centre for Jewish learning, scholarship and research – and help preserve Jewish heritage for generations to come.
A significant new chapter in the preservation of Jewish heritage at Tel Aviv University will begin with the transformation of a prominent campus building into a world-class centre for Jewish learning, scholarship and research, made possible through a generous gift from Australian philanthropist and Tel Aviv University Governor Eva (Evi) Selwyn.
The Eva Selwyn Building for Jewish Heritage, a 4,500-square-metre facility located in the heart of the campus near ANU – Museum of the Jewish People, will become a vibrant home for the study, preservation and celebration of Jewish heritage, culture and identity.
Originally constructed in 1980, the building will undergo a comprehensive renovation to create a contemporary centre for teaching, research and community engagement. Its ageing lecture halls and classrooms will be remodelled and equipped with modern audiovisual facilities, while lighting, electrical systems, air conditioning and interiors will be upgraded. The result will be an environment better suited to the needs of today’s students and researchers, with spaces in which teaching, collaboration and intellectual exchange can flourish.
The project extends well beyond the physical redevelopment. It also includes an endowment and scholarships within the Faculty of Humanities, helping to sustain the academic work undertaken in the building and ensuring that its impact is both immediate and enduring. By supporting students as well as scholarship, the project will benefit generations of students and scholars.
Recognised internationally for excellence in Jewish Studies, Tel Aviv University is home to one of the world’s leading centres for the exploration of Jewish history, civilisation and thought. The renewed 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.
Around 55 scholars teach and conduct research across these fields. Their work enables students to understand the richness and complexity of Jewish civilisation and the culture of the Land of Israel, while approaching the Jewish past with academic rigour and bringing new perspectives to the way it is understood.
This scholarship is not confined to the past. The University’s programs also examine issues of profound contemporary importance, including Jewish identity and peoplehood, Israel-Diaspora relations, antisemitism, racism and the relationship between tradition and modernity. These are questions with direct relevance to Jewish communities navigating rapid social change and increasing pressure around the world.
Through its close partnership with ANU – Museum of the Jewish People, the University continues to strengthen Jewish identity and foster connections with Jewish communities throughout the world. The renewed building will support that shared purpose, creating a setting in which heritage is not only preserved, but continually examined, interpreted and renewed.
For Eva, the project represents the continuation of her family’s enduring relationship with Tel Aviv University, spanning more than five decades, and reflects a lifelong commitment to education, philanthropy and the future of the Jewish people.
Her late parents, Alan and Ada Selwyn, were devoted supporters of the University. Alan Selwyn, who also served as a Governor of Tel Aviv University, was awarded an Honorary Fellowship in recognition of his outstanding contribution. He was one of the most active and dedicated members of the University’s Board of Governors and Australian Friends, a tireless fundraiser for important projects, and a strong supporter of educational, cultural, medical and welfare initiatives in Israel.
Alan’s commitment to Israel extended across more than 50 years. It began with his involvement in establishing a textile mill in Ashdod and included his role as a founder of the Australia-Israel Chamber of Commerce. Together, he and Ada gave generously to medical research and student scholarships at Tel Aviv University, establishing a family tradition of service and philanthropy that Eva has carried forward.
Their legacy continues through the Alan and Ada Selwyn Chair in Clinical Infertility Research and Molecular Medicine, now held by Professor Ariel Hourvitz. The Chair created an enduring connection between the Selwyn family and research directed towards improving human health.
Eva has developed a substantial philanthropic legacy of her own. Her support for Tel Aviv University has included the Selwyn-Cameron Laboratory for Neuro-Engineering, pioneering artificial retina research, student scholarships, post-October 7 recovery initiatives and an auditorium within the University’s Azrieli School of Architecture.
Although these initiatives span very different fields, they share a consistent purpose: expanding knowledge, creating opportunity and translating research into practical human benefit. The Eva Selwyn Building for Jewish Heritage adds another dimension to that legacy by investing in both the physical home of Jewish Studies and the scholarship that will take place within it.
Eva says:
“This building represents far more than the transformation of a physical space. It is 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.
I am grateful to my dear friend Rosie Potaznik, Ambassador and Governor of Tel Aviv University, whose encouragement and longstanding commitment to the University played an important role in bringing this project to fruition.
It is a privilege to dedicate this building and continue those values of giving back instilled by my parents. My hope is that it will stand as a lasting legacy, inspiring generations of students and scholars with the knowledge, understanding and confidence to carry that heritage forward with pride and dignity, whilst strengthening Jewish identity and continuity worldwide.”
President of Tel Aviv University, Prof. Ariel Porat, says:
“Tel Aviv University is deeply grateful for Eva Selwyn’s generous gift to the Faculty of Humanities. This significant donation will enable us to create a world-class home for Jewish learning and scholarship, while strengthening our ability to preserve, explore and pass on the richness of Jewish heritage to future generations.”
The Eva Selwyn Building for Jewish Heritage will stand as a lasting expression of Tel Aviv University’s commitment to academic excellence, Jewish scholarship and cultural continuity. More than a building, it will be a place where history is preserved and where a new generation can explore the Jewish past, engage with the questions shaping Jewish life today and carry that knowledge forward.
Through education, research and the enduring partnership between philanthropy and the University, it will help ensure that the richness of Jewish culture continues to inform, strengthen and inspire Jewish life for generations to come.
The formal groundbreaking for the project will take place in May 2027 during Tel Aviv University’s Board of Governors meeting.
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