May 27, 2025

Message from Prof Milette Shamir, Vice President International, Tel Aviv University

“In these turbulent months, I’ve been deeply moved by the extraordinary acts of humanity and expressions of hope that continue to emerge. Since October 7, my colleagues and I have witnessed countless gestures of solidarity; reminders of the resilience and generosity that sustain our community. One particularly humbling example came recently from Mindy and Jon Gray, whose monumental gift to Tel Aviv University—the largest in our history—underscores their deep belief in the power of academia to shape a better future for Israel and the world.”

The full newsletter

February 27, 2025

Message from Prof Milette Shamir, Vice President International, Tel Aviv University

“Since the ceasefire with Hamas began in January, Israel—including Tel Aviv University (TAU)—has been navigating a period of cautious hope. The return of hostages occasioned a collective feeling of joy and relief, even as unfolding tragedies evoked a deep, shared mourning. While we don’t exactly know what the next months will bring, we remain committed as ever to doing what universities do best. And we remain heartened by the increase in flights and visitors we’ve had—there is nothing more we want than to continue collaborating and researching and connecting with you, as we keep our eye on a better world.”

“Know that we are always committed to working with you and will do our best to roll out the red carpet should you choose to visit. There is still so much for us to do, to discuss and to build—together. May these coming months bring us ample opportunities to do so, and may we continue to see the hope and the light through the clouds.”

The full newsletter

January 19, 2025

Today, a ceasefire with Hamas came into effect. This follows a ceasefire with Hezbollah, which came into effect on November 27, 2024.

November 28, 2024

Message from Prof Milette Shamir, Vice President International, Tel Aviv University

“Academic creativity, innovation, and collaboration offer the world its best chance for a better future. In times when our societies may fail to recognize this, we must make the case ourselves—boldly, together, and with an unwavering commitment to our shared values.”

Read the full message in the latest issue of the Lowy International Newsletter.

October 1, 2024

We want to assure you that The Lowy International School remains safe at this time and all necessary precautions have been taken to prioritize the continued safety and wellbeing of our team and community. 

Learn more about safety & security at TAU

September 2, 2024

A Message from VERA Association of University Heads, Israel

The Association of University Heads, Israel (VERA) announces that Israel’s research universities will join the nationwide strike, calling for the promotion of a deal to secure the release of the hostages. The university leaders reiterate their call for the Israeli government to prioritize the release of the hostages as the nation’s top priority.

August 1, 2024

Message from Prof Milette Shamir, Vice President International, Tel Aviv University

“With August here, we are finally bringing our academic year to a close at Tel Aviv University (TAU). The original schedule looked quite different; then October 7 happened, followed by a war, and the school year was postponed. We adapted to the best of our ability, and we continue to adapt, focusing primarily on making sure no one in our academic community is left behind and that our students, staff, and faculty are all cared for. We continue to focus on safety and actively monitor the situation in Israel.”

Read the full message in the latest issue of the Lowy International Newsletter

Please keep up-to-date on our latest safety and security information on our website.

May 9, 2024

Setting the Record Straight

Since its founding in 1956, TAU has been dedicated to advancing excellent research and world-class education. Evolving amidst a history of violent regional conflicts, as well as within a society marked by ethnic and religious tensions and political polarization, the university has remained steadfast in its commitment to fostering peace and to safeguarding democracy and human rights. We work actively on integrating the diverse sectors of Israeli society and extending the promise of higher education to minority students, including Palestinians. Renowned for its pluralism, our campus is a place where contentious issues are rigorously examined based on reason and facts, and where faculty members are empowered to explore ideas that challenge the prevailing consensus in Israel.

Read the full Statement by Tel Aviv University

April 16, 2024

Following the episode with Iran, TAU and The Lowy International School are operating in accordance with Israel’s Home Front Command and other government agencies. The recently placed restrictions on gathering and educational activities have now been lifted. Our focus continues to be on prioritizing the safety and well-being of our international community, with whom we are in direct contact.

For more information on safe areas on campus and in the dormitories, as well as other safety guidelines, please see our Safety, Health and Security page.  

We will continue to update you on any changes.

Lowy’s international programs are running as scheduled.

At the same time, classes in programs following the Israeli academic calendar began on December 31, 2023. All the universities have decided to push back the start of the academic year because many Israeli students and faculty have been called up for reserve duty in these challenging times of war. 

Semester dates and exam periods for programs following the Israeli academic calendar have been adjusted accordingly:

• First Semester (11 weeks of studies): December 31, 2023, to March 15, 2024.
• First Semester Exam Period (7 weeks): March 17, 2024, to May 17, 2024.
• Second Semester (11 weeks): May 19, 2024, to August 5, 2024.
• Second Semester Exam Period / Summer Semester: August 6, 2024, and onwards.
• Opening of Academic Year 2024-2025: November 3, 2024.

Program managers will most certainly keep all the students updated about the semester and exam dates.

February 21, 2024

New TAU Initiative to Help Student Reservists

TAU introduces a new admissions pathway supporting reservists, evacuated citizens and families of fallen soldiers

Tel Aviv University announced that for the next school year, many hundreds of students who serve in the IDF reserves will be eligible for admission to study for a bachelor’s degree through a new admission route that will be opened for them in all fields of study on campus (excluding medicine), without the need for a psychometric exam. The admission will be available to candidates who served 60 days or more in 2023 (starting from October 7th 2023) or those who served longer than 28 days in 2024 (from January 1, 2024).

More details available here

January 25, 2024

Message from Prof Milette Shamir, Vice President International, Tel Aviv University

With the arrival of 2024, many around the world have welcomed new beginnings. At Tel Aviv University (TAU), we rang in the new year by officially starting our academic term. Of course, the start of the new term in no way diminishes the fact that today is Day 111. We are still mourning those taken from us too soon, both on October 7 and since then. And we are still advocating for the return of the more than 130 Israeli hostages who remain in Gaza; they are our parents, children, grandchildren, cousins and friends, and giving up on them is not an option.

Even as the ripples of October 7 continue to affect our daily lives, we know we need to find strength in what gives us meaning. For us in academia, so much of this comes from our research, our teaching, our learning and our community.

In this first month of TAU’s academic term, while there have certainly been hard times, I also see a renewed sense of hope. I see labs once again brimming with researchers and ideas, local students reunited and running clubs, and faculty members bumping into one another in the hallways. While there are fewer international visitors, we are certainly still welcoming delegations, including one recently from the University of Pennsylvania (you can read about it below). We are also sending our own talented students on trips abroad, including to the recent Global Young Scientists Summit in Singapore.

Of course, we are not back to normal. Most notably, we still wait anxiously to welcome many of our students from the reserves. We are optimistic that we will see more and more of them in the coming weeks, and we have an academic plan, as well as financial and psychological support, to help these students to not only transition but thrive.

Together, we stand strong and keep our sights on a better future; this first month at TAU, if anything, has been a beautiful testament to this.  

Lowy International Bulletin #10

December 14, 2023

Partner Universities Invite TAU Students to Apply for Outgoing Exchange Programs

The call for applications is now open for TAU undergraduate and graduate students looking to go on exchange in Fall 2024.

Lowy International Bulletin #9

December 7, 2023

Letter from the Israeli Association of University Heads Regarding Statements by American University Presidents during Congressional Hearings

“The university presidents’ failure to provide a firm stance in dealing with instances of antisemitism and anti-Israel sentiment on many campuses in the United States is alarming. Apologies and expressions of regret are not enough; what is required are clear and decisive actions. In their testimony before Congress, the university presidents mentioned measures taken or planned to protect the security and well-being of Jews and Israelis on campuses.

It is now their responsibility to ensure the effectiveness and sufficiency of these measures. The burden lies on their shoulders to demonstrate that the universities they lead not only excel in academics but also uphold universal humanistic values and defend the rights of minorities.

It is imperative that everyone understands that advocating for the destruction of a people is strictly prohibited at Harvard, MIT, Pennsylvania, and everywhere else in the world.”

Read the full letter here

November 30, 2023

Lowy International Bulletin #8

In the eighth issue of the Lowy International Bulletin, Joshua Younger, a medical doctor and an assistant professor at the Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra University in New York State, as well as a TAU alumnus, talks about the pledge of support from the alumni of TAU’s American School of Medicine. Joshua was one of the initiators of the pledge, which now has over 120 signees offering their volunteer medical services to the state of Israel.

The bulletin also includes updates on TAU events and volunteer efforts.

Lowy International Bulleting #8

November 16, 2023

Message from Prof Milette Shamir, Vice President International, Tel Aviv University

It is now day 41 of the Israel-Hamas war. There is a prevailing feeling among us at Tel Aviv University (TAU) that, by continuing our work and doing it well, we are in our own way standing up to terror. This strength, this resilience, is seen across the University. 

I have heard countless stories of researchers doing everything they can to keep their labs running, amid coworkers who are either abroad, tending to their families, volunteering, or in the reserves. We continue to apply for grants and funding, and we very much appreciate the extensions that have been granted, like from Horizon Europe.

We continue to celebrate new research findings and new academic books by our colleagues. 

We recognize, too, that we are indeed not alone in this. We have received offers from colleagues abroad who volunteered to teach in place of faculty members who are serving in the reserves. Some of our international partners offered to increase funding for collaborative research programs and joint projects. 

At TAU, across our faculties and departments, we are sowing the seeds for a brighter future. Our focus extends beyond mere survival. This moment is about fostering recovery and growth and emerging stronger than before.

Lowy International Bulletin #7

November 9, 2023

University President Calls for Immediate Release of Hostages

University President Ariel Porat has called for an immediate release of hostages from Gaza:

“Irrespective of one’s opinion about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the world cannot remain silent in the face of pure evil. This is not, by any means, ‘legitimate resistance.’ This is a clear crime against humanity and one that we must condemn and fight. 

We ask that you don’t stay silent. Demand their immediate release. 

Speak for the hostages, since they are deprived of the right to speak to the world. Be their voice. Now.”

Lowy International Bulletin #6

November 7, 2023

Memorial Ceremony on Campus

Tel Aviv University’s community commemorated 30 days since the brutal attacks on Israeli citizens on Oct. 7th. Over 50 TAU families were directly affected by the attacks.

“We’ve been raised on the values of sanctity of life. What we learned is that there are things more horrendous than murder,” said President Porat at the ceremony.

Also, on November 7, International students participated in a first-aid training session in English led by Magen David Adom instructors on TAU campus.

November 2, 2023

Message from Prof Milette Shamir, Vice President International, Tel Aviv University:

“Currently, more than 15% of our student population is Arab-Israeli; we have made it a priority to ensure these students feel safe coming to the University. We instated a zero-tolerance policy toward incitement and hate speech on our campus,  regardless of whether these are directed at Jews or Arabs.

As with all of our students, we have been offering our Arab-Israeli students a variety of mental health and academic supports, paying particular attention to their unique circumstances.  Led by Prof. Neta Ziv, Vice President for Equity, Diversity and Community, TAU has been holding regular group and individual meetings with minority students to better understand and address their concerns. 

In these challenging times, we must do all we can to support all members of our academic community, especially those who may be feeling vulnerable. We are facing manifold difficulties and tragedies; however, those with agency have a responsibility to fight hate. By embracing diversity and actively addressing its challenges, we will emerge a stronger, more supportive community when peace is finally restored.”

Lowy International Bulletin #5

The Lowy International Student Task Force has released an open letter calling on students worldwide to unequivocally condemn terrorism

October 31, 2023

Members of the Lowy International School community have joined the Israeli-wide volunteer effort to help farmers in the south. Read the full story here

October 24, 2023

Lowy International Bulletin #4

Video of the UNITED AGAINST TERRORISM exhibit at the Smolarz auditorium

October 22, 2023

We wish to maintain communication with our international students during these challenging times.

This form is designed by the Student Life team to gather information about your current circumstances allowing us to offer support, guidance and student life activities. 

International students are kindly asked to provide the information as of October 22.

For those students who decide to travel home for the time being, kindly inform us via email madrichimosp@mail.tau.ac.il

In the face of terror, one of the most important things we can do is continue with a semblance of normalcy; by continuing on with what we set out to do, we are sending the message to Hamas that we are strong and will prevail. Here, at Tel Aviv University, we are committed to providing students with an excellent education. 

With that in mind, and after careful deliberation, we made the decision to begin the term for the majority of international degree programs on October 22. Studies will begin in a hybrid format so that students can study remotely. Hebrew programs are now scheduled to begin on November 5. 

The later date for the wider TAU community is because many Israeli TAU students are currently in the army reserves (milium).

We would not be beginning the term if we felt it was unsafe. We want to highlight, moreover, that all of our international programs will be extra sensitive to student needs at this time, and we suggest students contact program coordinators about any concerns.

October 19, 2023

Student Initiatives at Lowy International

Our international students at TAU have set up a new task force aimed at countering disinformation and antisemitism, and are now meeting daily on Zoom to strategize how they can share the story of what they’re encountering on-the-ground in Israel.

You can learn more about the task force’s story here. Are you on campus and want to join? Contact the Student Life Team at 052-5346188.

On campus, international students are joining the university-wide aid efforts, offering their dorm apartments to families from the south of the country and organizing charity drives to collect food and donations for civilians in need.

Read more about the international student involvement in charity work here.

Meanwhile, Smolarz Hall at Tel Aviv University is hosting a poignant exhibition featuring over a thousand photos of missing people, abductees, and victims of the Iron Swords war. The Tel Aviv University Student Union is proud to collaborate on this project alongside esteemed universities like Harvard, Yale, MIT, NYU, Michigan University, Columbia University, and more. Our deepest wish is that every chair in this hall were filled by the people in these pictures.

The exhibition UNITED AGAINST TERRORISM will be open for the whole of next week. 

Opening hours for October 22: 8AM – 2PM

Lowy International Bulletin #3

October 12, 2023

Flexible Start of the Academic Year

Tel Aviv University has currently postponed the academic term’s start date to November 5th. For all our international programs, each program head has tailored its start date to meet our students’ needs, and have informed all students about their specific starting dates. In addition, hybrid options are offered to prioritize safety and provide a flexible learning environment.

For study abroad programs, the start date is October 16.

Most international degree programs will commence the week of October 22, 2023. However, some will start on November 5, aligning with the rest of TAU’s programs.

For further updates, please reach out to your program coordinators.

Read the message from the University President Ariel Porat here

Lowy International Bulletin #2

October 10, 2023

Please feel free to opt-in to the Lowy International School Bulletin with regular updates regarding safety, wellbeing sessions, protocol and scheduling here.

Your solidarity means so much to us, and we value your friendship and continued commitment. Thank you again for the many kind words and patience during this time.

Read the full statement by Professor Milette Shamir, Vice President International of Tel Aviv University, here

Lowy International Bulletin #1

October 9, 2023

Emotional Support Hotline Available to University Community

Dear Students,

In these trying times, our hearts go out to the residents of the southern regions of Israel, the IDF soldiers, and the emergency response teams.

In light of the current situation in Israel, we regret to inform you that the start of the academic year will be postponed to October 22 instead of October 15 as originally planned.

The orientation week originally planned for this week has been canceled. We will follow the events and if possible we will have limited activities in the future.

We would like to assure you that your safety and academic success are a top priority for TAU and for the Lowy International school. We are here to support you as you begin your journey with us. Even though your school year has not yet started, we consider you a part of the Tel Aviv University community. We have established a hotline run by the campus psychological services, available in Hebrew and English. 

If you would like to access these services, please download and complete this form and email it to clinic@tauex.tau.ac.il prior to the initial intake. Alternatively, you can leave a short WhatsApp message with your name and number at this WhatsApp number +972-50-2787037, a psychotherapist will contact you as soon as possible. 

Should anyone in our international student community need further guidance, please email: hstlife@tauex.tau.ac.il or call our 24/7 mobile number 052-5346188.

We are thinking of all of you and ask you to be careful to follow the instructions of the Home Front Command, and above all to take care of yourselves and your loved ones.

We hope for calmer times ahead and for all of us to resume our daily routines, including studying, conducting research, and meeting one another.

Sincerely,
Tel Aviv University

October 7, 2023

Sirens have gone off in Tel Aviv, along with other locations in Israel, alerting us to an incoming missile attack. These sirens are part of the “Iron Dome” system which alerts and protects us in Israel at any given time. 

All international students have been given instructions on how to proceed. We are actively monitoring the situation and will continue to be in contact with our international community.

Should anyone in our international student community have a question, our 24/7 on call Student Life Team can be reached at 052-5346188. 

We encourage you to check this site for additional updates.

Meet Attay Kremer, a PhD student in the Department of Philosophy at Tel Aviv University, currently pursuing research into German philosophy—with a focus on Kant—at Yale as a Fox International Fellow. Throughout this academic year, he is taking part in events across the Ivy League campus and joining Fox Fellowship seminars to exchange ideas and experiences with Fellows from around the world.

About the Fox Fellowship

The Fox International Fellowship is a prestigious exchange program between Yale University and 20 partner institutions worldwide, including Tel Aviv University. The program seeks excellent PhD students who are passionate about connecting with renowned faculty and making a global impact for a better world through scholarly exchanges and collaboration. 

The fellowship serves as an academic bond between nations through global-civic discourse, cultivating spaces and conversations for future leaders on a wide-reaching, cross-cultural scale. 

At Tel Aviv University, Kremer has been selected for the Fox International Fellowship on the strength of his research proposal and personal leadership qualities. 

Yale Experiences

During his time at Yale, Kremer has immersed himself in the philosophy department, attending various colloquia that involve discussion sessions and lectures. 

“Part of the benefit of being at Yale is that a lot of speakers come around—that opens you up to new directions.”

He has also been part of a German philosophy reading group that meets weekly. “We’ve been reading Nietzsche,” Kremer shares. “It’s quite a good exercise. It’s also reading it in German, which is nice. Tends to happen less so in Israel than does here.”

Yale campus (photo credit: f11photo on istock)

The fellowship has allowed Kremer to connect with other scholars working on German philosophy and to take advantage of extensive library resources at Yale. He also appreciates the welcoming atmosphere at the department and the university as a whole:

“I get the sense that most of the PhD students are very close knit and they are quite good at welcoming newcomers”

Kremer feels that being at Yale has helped him clarify the audience of his research. “I think it’s quite helpful in adjusting how you position things and how you frame them to know who it is that you’re speaking to, and what this audience looks like and speaks like outside of the publications.”

Overall, Kremer has been able to make great strides while in New Haven. “It’s a very small place with little going on. You can really focus on your research,” he notes. He has been able to attend several conferences and publish some papers.

“I’m nearing the end of my PhD. So it was a very productive decision to come to Yale.”

Studying Philosophy, American Style

One fascinating aspect of Kremer’s experience has been noticing the differences between American and Israeli academic approaches to philosophy: “In the American style, there is a big focus on technical precision, it’s noticeable.”

He elaborates with an example: “When we were reading Nietzsche, one of the people in the group was reading it with a scan of Nietzsche’s original draft in his handwriting. And every now and then he would make a comment about where the new edition of the German that we were reading deviates from the original, where Nietzsche kind of strikes out a word where he maybe chose a different word and then regretted that.”

Highlights and Challenges

A highlight for Attay was presenting at a conference organized by Yale scholars. The experience helped him bond with the community and better understand how they communicate: “When you speak and have to manage the Q&A, it clues you into how that community works.”

When asked about challenges, Attay primarily mentions the inherent difficulties of living abroad: “Unless you’re traveling with your family, you’re going to be 10 months in a foreign country by yourself, and there’s some loneliness involved in that.”

Regarding concerns some might have about being an Israeli scholar on American campuses, Attay notes: “I can say quite safely that at Yale, this is not a real issue.”

“People have been fairly open with me about their political views. And they can be from anywhere on the political spectrum, but it’s not led into personal lines at all.”

Feeling Supported

Yale provides robust support for international students like Attay. The Fox Fellowship offers housing, placing him in an apartment with two other fellows. “The program itself is quite helpful: if we need something around the house that we don’t know how to get, we can contact them and they help us,” he explains.

A meeting of Fox Fellows at Yale

There’s also institutional support through the Office of International Students and Scholars, which is a body of Yale that manages issues to do with international researchers. “A lot of the people here are not Americans, and the university makes a lot of effort to help you be part of something,” says Kremer.

“Yale is very well equipped to welcome international people and more specifically, there’s a very strong Jewish community.”

Advice for Future Applicants

For potential Fox Fellowship applicants, especially those from humanities backgrounds, Attay suggests preparing to balance two different academic personalities.

First, be ready to translate your work for a more social science-oriented audience of Fox fellows: “In the humanities, different things interest you than in the social sciences—there’s a different granularity to the way you talk. Social scientists tend to be more concrete about things, and much less conceptual, much more real world.”

His key advice: “Prepare to translate yourself a little” and focus on making your ideas more accessible to scholars from different disciplines.

“Presenting at the Fox Fellowship seminar is a good opportunity for working on concretizing your ideas.”

Second, engage fully with Yale’s rich humanities environment: “There’s lots to see, lots to hear, and there is a great opportunity to take books from the library.” He also encourages everyone to attend events happening on campus.

“It’s a very rich academic environment, and the humanities are very strong at Yale.”

The Fox International Fellowship is open to Tel Aviv University’s PhD students from the following fields:

• Management
• Law
• Social Science
• Humanities
• Public Health
• Environmental Studies

Read more about the fellowship

The first-ever Abrahamic Hackathon was a pilot initiative of the Joseph I. Lieberman Abrahamic Innovation & Entrepreneurship Program in the University of Connecticut’s (UConn’s) Office of Global Affairs.

It drew 42 students to convene virtually on May 14 and 15, spending 27 hours working in mixed-nationality teams to brainstorm solutions to a common regional issue: household water consumption.

The hackathon’s success proved to be a quiet but powerful statement that academic collaboration across divides is not only still possible, but more vital than ever.

“The fact that we provide students with an opportunity to work with people from other geographies in the MENA [Middle East and North Africa] region—something they would otherwise never do—is a really meaningful way for academia to bring more unity, more tolerance and more familiarity between communities.”—Yair Sakov, Founder and Managing Director of Tel Aviv University’s (TAU’s) Entrepreneurship Center, which helped to lead the initiative.

The event was organized in partnership with the UConn’s Abrahamic Programs under the Office of Global Affairs. The Lieberman program, named for the late Senator Joseph I. Lieberman, is part of the initiative and supports peaceful coexistence and regional integration through innovation and entrepreneurship.

“We are delighted with the positive results of this inaugural hackathon. The participants were deeply engaged with each other and demonstrated the beauty of pursuing a new politics of respect and cooperation in the region,” says UConn Vice President for Global Affairs Daniel Weiner. “And, we are very grateful to the TAU Entrepreneurship Center.”

The first-place winners, winning $1,000 each, were Anas Elkhabbaz, Linor Neiman and Aasim Choudhry.

In addition to student hackathons, UConn Abrahamic Programs include collaborative curriculum development with its partners, including a shared online course; experiential study-abroad programs; and a MENA region Abrahamic hub. It also includes support for small and medium enterprises (SMEs), as well as virtual and on-site workshops. 

“This inaugural hackathon bringing together bright young entrepreneurial minds from the MENA region and the U.S. reminded us once again that the Abrahamic programs plant seeds of peace and help us celebrate our common humanity while many college campuses around the world are drowning in the politics of difference.”—Sercan Canbolat, Director of UConn Abrahamic Programs.

UConn’s Abrahamic Programs initiative was established in 2016, four years before the Abraham Accords.

It serves as an academic umbrella fostering cross-border research collaboration, intercultural communication and community engagement to explore emerging trends and issues of critical importance in the MENA region.

From Planning in Connecticut to Teamwork on Zoom

According to Sakov, the idea for the hackathon began during a 2024 planning workshop in Stamford, Connecticut, and included a week spent with representatives from across the region. 

“The hackathon was the first project we chose to pursue, to see how the students responded to the opportunity to work with students from the other countries.”—Yair Sakov.

In addition to UConn and TAU as core institutional partners for the hackathon, the other participating institutions were Ben-Gurion University of the Negev; EcoPeace Middle East Palestine Office; INTERMID in Bahrain; the International University of Rabat (UIR) in Morocco; SP Jain School of Global Management in the United Arab Emirates (UAE); and The Dealmakers, formerly known as the Abrahamic Business Circle, in the UAE.

Hackathon participants were placed in 12 mixed-nationality teams and challenged to work together to propose solutions to the issue of household water consumption and waste.

The second-place winners, winning $500 each, were Adam Danny Benmansour, Dana Salman and Yash Ippakayal.

In addition to 42 participants, 12 mentors and seven judges from the MENA region and the US partook in the hackathon. Mentors and staff met individually with the teams in breakout rooms, and the event also offered group activity sessions for all participants.

“It’s not that simple to have a hackathon with 63 people, among them students, mentors and staff, working together for 27 hours, everything well-orchestrated, people going in and out of Zoom rooms,” reflected Eti Finkelstein, Programs Manager at TAU Entrepreneurship Center, whose expertise helped to put the various hackathon pieces together. 

Winning Ideas, Lasting Impact

The winning team—Anas Elkhabbaz from Morocco, Aasim Choudry from Bahrain and Linor Neiman from Israel—proposed a cost-effective solution that built on existing infrastructure.

“A lot of the students proposed installing new sensors, new equipment … which can be expensive and challenging to install,” Sakov said.

“But the winning team realized there are already quite a few homes in the region that have all kinds of sensors measuring water consumption. Instead, they decided to build on the existing infrastructure and have an avatar that talks to you in a very personalized manner, alerting you when water is used efficiently or wasted.”—Yair Sakov

Helping those brilliant young minds refine their products and perfect their pitch brought me immense joy as a mentor. Witnessing youth from different countries and backgrounds working hard together was a powerful sign of a future built on understanding and collaboration,” says Amine Saihi, Lecturer at UIR Rabat Business School and one of the mentors of the hackathon.

For many of the other participants, the success of the event went far beyond the hacks proposed.

“By the end of it, I felt like I had achieved an even cooler goal. I walked away with new friends—my teammate from Bahrain and my teammate from Morocco.”—Linor Neiman, a TAU student from the winning team

Sakov reinforced how critical it is to offer such opportunities to students in the MENA region.

“If you want to take communities that typically don’t talk to each other and bring them together, the best way is to give them a joint goal—and institutional support that says: it’s okay to do this,” Sakov said.

The third-place winners, winning $100 each, were Imane Enneya, Sana Abu Salem, Mohammed Isaamuddin and Samarth Dhupar.

TAU played a pivotal role in turning the vision into reality. “If it weren’t for us, this initiative wouldn’t have happened,” Sakov said. “Dan Weiner had the vision and the funding. But the execution—building the hackathon from scratch—was our job.”

The momentum is continuing. A six-week course titled Entrepreneurship Through Abrahamic Lands launched on May 20, bringing together 70 students, including eight TAU students, from across the MENA region for collaborative learning and project work.

Plans are also underway for a larger in-person hackathon and a regional summer program next year.

“Universities are a place where young people meet, interact, investigate and examine new concepts and new ideas in a very open-minded way,” Sakov said. “[Programs like this one] are a great way for us to leverage academia to bring more unity, to bring more tolerance and to get different communities familiarized with one another through talking.”

Find Out More

• Learn more about the University of Connecticut’s Abrahamic Programs.
• Learn more about TAU’s Entrepreneurship Center.

The recipients include renowned scientists, journalists, industry leaders, philanthropists, social activists, and Israel’s national orchestra — all honored for their impactful work and embodiment of TAU’s core values: innovation, academic excellence, and public engagement.

Dan Holzmann – Entrepreneur, Investor, and Philanthropist
TAU awarded an honorary doctorate to Dan Holzmann for his pioneering achievements over more than three decades as a businessman, entrepreneur, investor, and philanthropist. Holzmann has launched successful ventures across sectors ranging from real estate and sports management to AI-powered cosmetics. Through the Holzmann Foundation, he has supported over 50 educational and social organizations worldwide. He is also recognized for his commitment to empowering the next generation of Israeli entrepreneurs — particularly TAU students — through initiatives like the “Launchpad Dan” program on campus.

Dr. Yael Admi – Peace Activist and Software Engineer
Dr. Yael Admi, a leading voice in cross-cultural dialogue in Israel, received an honorary doctorate in recognition of her remarkable efforts to promote reconciliation and civic courage. She is a co-founder of “Women Wage Peace,” Israel’s largest grassroots peace movement, and a former chair of the Israeli-Palestinian Bereaved Families Forum. With a background in software engineering and AI, Dr. Admi has combined technological expertise with decades-long peace activism to build trust and foster a more equal and responsible society.

Gideon Hamburger – President of Harel Insurance and Advocate for Higher Education
TAU honored Gideon Hamburger for his long-standing contributions to Israel’s insurance industry and for his philanthropic leadership in academia and culture. Together with his brother Yair, he established the Harel Center for Capital Market Research and the Harel Institute for Actuarial Innovation at TAU’s Coller School of Management. Beyond his business achievements, Hamburger holds prominent roles in major Israeli cultural institutions, including the Israeli Opera, the Tel Aviv Museum of Art, Variety Israel, and the Weizmann Institute of Science.

Israel Philharmonic Orchestra – Cultural Icon and Academic Partner
The Israel Philharmonic Orchestra was awarded an Honorary Fellowship for its immense contribution to Israeli and global culture over nearly 90 years. Founded in 1936 to provide refuge for Jewish musicians fleeing Europe, the IPO has performed with world-class conductors and soloists ever since. The orchestra is a key partner in TAU’s Buchmann-Mehta School of Music, where it plays a vital role in training the next generation of musicians. Maestro Lahav Shani, the IPO’s current Music Director, is a graduate of the school.

Prof. Miranda A. Schreurs – Global Environmental Policy Leader
A distinguished scholar in environmental policy and sustainability, Prof. Miranda Schreurs of the Technical University of Munich received an honorary doctorate for her research and public service. Known for her cross-continental efforts to promote climate action, Prof. Schreurs serves in influential advisory roles across Europe. TAU recognized her for advancing global academic discourse at the intersection of science, policy, and environmental justice — and for her ongoing collaborations with institutions worldwide, including TAU.

Yair Hamburger – Chairman, Business Leader, and Philanthropist
Yair Hamburger, Chairman of Harel Insurance and Finance Group, was honored for his leadership in Israel’s financial sector and for his social impact through broad philanthropic engagement. His initiatives in education, the arts, and public health reflect a lifelong commitment to improving Israeli society. At TAU, he has played a key role in establishing research centers that shape the future of economics and actuarial science. His honorary doctorate recognizes over 50 years of visionary leadership and civic dedication.

Danna Azrieli – Chairwoman of the Azrieli Group and Azrieli Foundation
Businesswoman, real estate developer, and philanthropist Danna Azrieli was honored for her visionary leadership of Israel’s largest real estate group and her extensive philanthropic activity in education, health, and Jewish identity. Under her leadership, the Azrieli Group expanded into senior housing and data centers internationally. The honorary doctorate also acknowledges her long-standing support of TAU’s Azrieli School of Architecture and her role in cultivating Israel’s next generation of architects and builders.

Thomas L. Friedman – Award-Winning Journalist and Commentator
Thomas Friedman, one of the world’s most influential journalists, received an honorary doctorate for his exceptional role in shaping public discourse on the Middle East, globalization, and foreign policy. A longtime New York Times columnist and three-time Pulitzer Prize winner, Friedman has helped global audiences better understand Israel’s regional dynamics. TAU recognized him for his enduring friendship with Israel and his meaningful connection to Tel Aviv University, where his sister once studied — a trip that first sparked his lifelong interest in the region.

Prof. Stephen (Steve) Quake – Pioneering Bioengineer and Innovator
Prof. Steve Quake of Stanford University was honored for transforming modern biology and medicine through groundbreaking technologies — including rapid DNA sequencing and the first non-invasive prenatal test for Down syndrome. He currently serves as Head of Science at the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative and co-leads the Biohub, a cutting-edge biomedical research center. TAU recognized his revolutionary scientific work, his mentorship of young researchers, and his active collaboration with Israeli scientists.

Jonathan R. Goodman – Pharmaceutical Entrepreneur and Philanthropist
Jonathan Goodman was awarded an honorary doctorate for his outstanding contributions to the pharmaceutical industry and his deep commitment to social impact. Founder and former CEO of Paladin Labs and current Executive Chair of Knight Therapeutics, Goodman has also led major philanthropic initiatives in climate, education, cancer research, and Jewish communities worldwide. His support of TAU and his dedication to Israel’s development reflect a powerful blend of entrepreneurial drive and civic responsibility.

When Mindy and Jon Gray donated $125 million to Tel Aviv University (TAU) in May 2025, it was a defining moment—not only for the institution but for Israel’s place in global biomedical science. Now renamed TAU’s Gray Faculty of Medical & Health Sciences, Israel’s largest medical faculty is poised for transformation, fueled by what Vice Dean Prof. Rina Arbesfeld calls a huge step forward in talent recruitment, infrastructure and international reach.

“We want the best scientists to come to Tel Aviv,” said Arbesfeld, who oversees non-clinical research programs across the faculty’s multiple schools, such as in public health, dentistry and medicine.

“What makes the difference is where they can do the best science—where they’ll have the infrastructure, the collaborators, the support. This gift helps us offer all of that.”—Prof. Rina Arbesfeld

A Leader in Translational Medicine

What sets TAU’s medical and health sciences faculty apart, she noted, is its extraordinary integration with Israel’s healthcare system. “We’re affiliated with 18 hospitals, many of them the most advanced in the country,” she said. This model—anchored in translational medicine—has already yielded collaborations in many areas, for instance like in gastroenterology and genetics. 

Medical Dean Prof. Karen Avraham speaking at the inauguration ceremony (Photo credit: Yuval Yosef)

A recent example from Arbesfeld’s own lab moved from experimental design to clinical application and back again for joint analysis.

“We do our best to know what is missing and what a patient needs and to find solutions.”

“That’s what makes our faculty unique … working directly with the hospitals … and it’s what the Gray Foundation is helping to amplify,” said Prof Arbesfeld.

With the creation of a new interdisciplinary Biomed Building, researchers from TAU, its affiliated hospitals and beyond will share advanced equipment and lab space designed to encourage precisely the kind of interdisciplinary, translational work that can set international standards. “We want the building to serve the entire biomed community,” said Arbesfeld.

Additionally, funding will be earmarked to support other key strengths of the faculty, for instance as related to cancer research, BRCA-related genetic mutations, neuroscience and ancient DNA.

Building the Infrastructure to Attract Global Talent

The Gray Foundation’s support will also boost recruitment of top biomedical researchers from around the world. “We want to create the conditions that bring the best people here,” Arbesfeld said. “That means not just funding, but facilities, housing and strong scientific communities.”

(Photo credit: Yuval Yosef)

A new 600-bed dormitory—another component of the gift—will make it easier for graduate students, especially international and underrepresented students, to live and study in Tel Aviv. That accessibility is also being reinforced in other ways.

The faculty is expanding its English-language graduate courses, strengthening administrative support for international students and aiming to develop a dedicated summer research program to attract young talent from abroad.

Scholarships for international students are also in the pipeline—part of a broader vision to grow a globally connected academic community while deepening inclusion at home.

“We want a faculty that reflects the diversity of Israeli society,” said Arbesfeld. “Jewish, Arab, Christian, Muslim, Israeli and international—working together. This is who we are.”

Want to learn more about the Gray Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences? Join us at the faculty’s Prospective PhD and Postdoc week, happening August 31– September 1, 2025.

Admissions for the Biomedical PhD program at the Gray Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences are now open. 

“This recognition has huge importance for me,” said Rein, a historian of 20th-century Latin America and Spain, and the Elias Sourasky Professor of Latin American and Spanish History at Tel Aviv University (TAU).

“It comes from the most important university in Argentina, one of the most important universities in Latin America. I’ve always made a point of publishing not only in English, but in Spanish, so I could be part of the academic and public intellectual conversations there.”

Few non-Argentine scholars have had as visible a presence in Argentine public discourse as Rein. Over the past three decades, he has (co)authored and edited more than 50 books and 150 articles and book chapters, publishing in Spanish, English and Hebrew. He is a member of Argentina’s National Academy of History, former president of the Latin American Jewish Studies Association, and a recipient of national honors from both the Argentine and Spanish governments.

Rein’s Scholarly Axes: Peronism, Ethnic Studies and the Jewish-Argentine Experience

Rein’s work is rooted in three major axes, all of which continue to shape scholarly and political debates in Argentina today. The first, and perhaps most visible, is his scholarship on the Peronist movement; founded by Argentine leader Juan Domingo Perón in the 1940s, the movement is a populist political tradition that blends nationalism, social welfare and strong labor support. “Any study of Peronism in the 1940s and 50s provokes interest far beyond academic circles,” said Rein, who has been interviewed on the subject widely by Argentine media.

“My position as both an insider—someone who has spent years studying it—and as an outsider, a non-Argentine, allowed me to examine Peronism without being suspected of political bias.”

In his books—such as Populism and Ethnicity: Peronism and the Jews of Argentina and Peronismo, populismo y política—and beyond, Rein has illuminated the movement’s enduring legacy, especially outside Buenos Aires, where it continues to shape the political landscape. “The Peronist movement is still very active,” he said.

“For example, anything to do with the entry of Nazi war criminals to Argentina at the end of World War II—whether the Peronist government encouraged it, whether it offered a generous reception to these Nazi war criminals—becomes a public debate issue to discuss.”

The second axis of his research has been the introduction of ethnic studies into Argentine historiography in books such as Peronism as a Big Tent: The Political Inclusion of Arab Immigrants in Argentina or Los Muchachos Peronistas Judíos. While race and indigeneity had long been discussed, Rein helped bring sustained scholarly attention to the experiences of immigrants—Jews, Arabs, Japanese—whose stories provide nuance to Argentina’s national story. “I was the first to introduce discussion of the integration of various immigrant groups into Argentine society within an ethnic framework,” he said.

“Much of my work has been devoted to the strategies of social integration, and the various stereotypes that Argentine society held about non-Catholic, non-Latin immigrants.”

His third area of focus—Jewish life in Latin America—led to his groundbreaking argument that Jewish integration in Argentina was not only rapid, but in some ways more comprehensive than in the U.S. “In the 1930s and 40s, it was easier for a Jewish immigrant to become a professor at the University of Buenos Aires than at most elite universities in the US,” he said. “It’s an incredible story of success.”

A Career in Transnational Scholarship and Community

Yet Rein’s work is not only about national narratives—it’s fundamentally transnational. In his book Fútbol, Jews and the Making of Argentina, for instance, he traces the interplay between ethnic identity and mass culture, using Jewish football clubs as a lens to explore integration and community. But he also brings in comparisons from Chile, Brazil and beyond.

“There’s always been a diasporic element to my work. It’s never just about the nation.”

That commitment to international perspective has also extended into his leadership roles. From 2012 to 2020, Rein served as TAU’s first vice president for global academic engagement—the first such position at any Israeli university. “I always thought it was essential for scholars and students alike to look at different phenomena from multiple perspectives; the only way to do that is by having experiences in other places, within different intellectual climates,” he said.  Under his leadership, TAU launched joint research initiatives, workshops and exchange programs with dozens of institutions—including the University of Buenos Aires.

Raanan Rein attending the football club of Atlanta in Buenos Aires. (Source: Federico Imas)

For Rein, scholarly progress is inseparable from collaboration. “In most cases, scientific and scholarly breakthroughs are not the product of a sole researcher,” he said. “They come from collaborations, dialogue, interactions of all sorts.” His pride in this community ethos is perhaps most visible in his mentorship: dozens of his students have gone on to academic careers in Israel, Europe and the Americas. “I have one bookshelf with my own books,” he said. “And another shelf with the books published by my former students. I’m just as proud of that.”

As Rein reflects on this latest honor from Buenos Aires, he sees it not as a culmination, but as a continuation—of a career built on openness, dialogue and scholarly curiosity.

“If I helped even a few people look at certain topics in unfamiliar ways, then I’ve done something worthwhile.”

The new building, made possible by Lowy’s transformative $18 million donation, will serve as the permanent home of the Lowy International School. More than just a physical space, the building represents the University’s growing commitment to globalization and academic excellence.

TAU President Prof. Ariel Porat praised the visionary scale of the initiative:

“The Lowy International School is a key component of TAU’s global strategy. With Sir Frank Lowy’s support, we are not only building a state-of-the-art facility but laying the foundation for a future of greater academic diversity, dialogue, and cooperation. This will be a place of hope, where peace and togetherness will come to live.”

Prof. Milette Shamir, TAU Vice President International, highlighted the School’s expanding mission and reflected on the important milestones achieved so far: “Thanks to the large team we were able to build, and the clarity of purpose you inspired in us, Frank, we were able to move forward, rather than retreat. After October 7th, the importance of the Lowy International School became clearer than ever.”

TAU leaders and the Lowy family celebrating at the ceremony. (Photo: Yael Tzur) 

Lowy addressed the audience in Hebrew, offering a heartfelt message that underscored his deep connection to Israel. He also underlined his late wife Shriley Lowy’s commitment to education.

“I’m excited to be here in another ten months to see the memory of Shirley extended by the new building. This is just the beginning—the School will be a bridge of the world to Israel, and of Israel to the world.”—Sir Frank Lowy

Maureen Adiri, Director of the Lowy International School, expressed gratitude to the many partners who helped bring the project to life. She stressed that they gave the Lowy team “the courage to dream, even in the most difficult of times, and to build something truly meaningful.”

Offering an emotional account of her personal academic journey, Daniella Symonds, a student in the TAU-Columbia University Dual Degree BA Program, thanked Sir Frank for the opportunities the School opened to her. “The emotional and academic support I received from the Lowy International School are the greatest gifts I could have asked for,” she said. 

Laying the cornerstone at the Lowy building construction site. (Photo: Yael Tzur)

Designed by Potash Architects, the new two-story building will reflect the international and welcoming spirit of the Lowy School. It will feature an entrance lobby, a meeting room, offices for the School’s staff, and a charming outdoor space for events and gatherings. The design also includes sustainable elements, in line with the university’s environmental goals. Construction is expected to be completed in 2026, and once finished, the building will serve as a lively center for students and faculty from around the world.

In fact, all of TAU’s research MSc programs are tuition-free for eligible international applicants. We’ve highlighted a few of these opportunities below.

New International MSc Program in Environmental Engineering

In 2023, Tel Aviv was ranked the second best cleantech ecosystem worldwide. TAU’s new Environmental Engineering MSc program, ranked the top environmental engineering program in Israel, places you at the heart of these advancements. You’ll dive into topics such as water purification, renewable energy, desalination, microplastics, nanotechnologies and air quality improvement, and collaborate with a TAU research lab of your choice.

“If you really want to be an engineer, but you really want to save earth, then environmental engineering is what you should do,”—Prof. Hadas Mamane, head of the Environmental Engineering MSc program.

The MSc Program in Environmental Engineering is a two-year MSc and the research track is fully funded. Registration for the program is now open.

TAU’s New International MSc Program in Biomedical Engineering

Biomedical engineering is one of the fastest growing fields in the world and is focused on applying engineering to advance healthcare through biological and medical solutions. TAU’s School of Biomedical Engineering is in the top 150 globally for biomedical engineering departments, and TAU’s new international MSc in Biomedical Engineering takes students to the forefront of research.

Through the program, you’ll get to dive deep into lab work in areas ranging from biomechanics and computational biology to vision and hearing.

Professor Ben Maoz in his lab

“You learn how to do the research,” says Prof. Ben Maoz, the head of the Biomedical Engineering MSc program.

“If [later] you want to tackle a different question, you already know how you build the experimental design, the different tools you will tackle … it really helps you to learn how to think scientifically.”  

The Biomedical Engineering MSc is a two-year graduate program and is fully funded. Registration for the program is now open. 

International MSc Program in Neuroscience

TAU is the #1 place to study Neuroscience in Israel, and the sixth best place in Asia. TAU’s two-year international MSc program is housed in the Sagol School of Neuroscience and brings together 150 labs focused on cutting-edge neuroscience research related to biology, psychology, engineering and other areas.

“This program allows students to choose from a very large variety of laboratories and research groups”—Dr. Sagi Jaffe-Dax, the head of the Neuroscience MSc program.

“On the other hand, you don’t have to commit yourself only to a certain field; even if you chose one laboratory you can still choose from a very large variety of courses or models that you can take from all around the campus.”

Through the program, you’ll have the opportunity to dive into the inner workings of the brain from the molecular to the cognitive level, work on developing biomedical devices, explore nervous system disorders like Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s and autism, and work with top-notch neuroscience researchers. The Neuroscience MSc is a fully funded program, and students also get a 5,000 NIS scholarship.

Registration for 2026/27 will open in November 2025. Meanwhile, you can learn more here.

Other Tuition-Free Degree Program Opportunities at TAU

Through TAU’s Olim tracks, you’ll have access to programs that are either partially funded or tuition-free. In addition, new olim are invited to join a community-building program specifically designed to support new Olim in their academic and personal journey in Israel. Eligible students can receive a housing scholarship while becoming part of a supportive community.

Via the Olim track, the BA in Liberal Arts and Management program is partially funded and will allow you to gain a comprehensive education in both management and entrepreneurship studies, as well as in the humanities and social sciences. 

And if you are looking for a STEM degree in Israel, you can join the academic integration track of BSc in Mechanical Engineering or BSc in Electrical Engineering. Both involve a preparatory year with intensive Hebrew studies and several Maths and Physics courses in English. 

Brian Rosen, Vice Dean for International Affairs, Faculty of Engineering, talks about the new Olim track at the TAU’s Faculty of Engineering:

If you have already completed an undergraduate degree, you can apply for the partially funded MA in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) program, which will prepare you for a variety of career opportunities in the English teaching profession and enable you to obtain teaching certification in Israel.

Are you interested in pursuing a tuition-free program in Israel and at TAU? Explore our master’s and bachelor’s degrees, as well as our other educational opportunities to find the right opportunity for you.

We also encourage you to chat with one of our international students to learn more about student life at TAU.

At the festive ceremony held on campus in the presence of President of Israel Isaac Herzog and First Lady Michal Herzog, Gray Foundation co-founders Jon and Mindy Gray said: “We know that there has always been so much promise in this Promised Land, despite – or maybe because of – its greatest challenges. We could think of no better place to start planting a few seeds of promise than the amazing medical faculty here at Tel Aviv University.”

A TAU alumnus himself, together with his wife, Michal, President Herzog said to the Grays that at this “critical point in Israel’s 77-year-old history …  you chose to reach out and have our backs. What a profound statement of solidarity and optimism.”

TAU President Prof. Ariel Porat told the audience: “The Gray donation is a vote of confidence in Tel Aviv University, in Israeli academia, in Israeli science–in fact, in the State of Israel and its future.”

Also participating in the ceremony were Mrs. Dafna Meitar-Nechmad, Chairwoman of the TAU Board of Governors; Prof. Mark Shtaif, TAU Rector; Prof. Karen B. Avraham, Dean of the Gray Faculty of Medical & Health Sciences; other TAU academic leaders and TAU Governors and friends.

Presenting the TAU certificate of appreciation to Jon and Mindy Gray. (Photo credit: Yuval Yosef)

A quantum leap in education and research

The Grays’ transformative gift, the third largest to any Israeli academic institution, includes funding for: 

–    A new 600-bed dormitory, with preference given to underprivileged students
–    New advanced teaching and research facilities
–    Modernization of the Schools of Medicine and Dentistry
–    Scholarships for underrepresented groups 
–    Support for faculty recruitment and retention
–    BRCA research and collaboration
–    Creation of a memorial for the victims of October 7th 

Prof. Ariel Porat: “The Gray family’s generous gift will enable us to make a true ‘quantum leap’  in both medical education and research. In honor of this gift, the Faculty will be named the Gray Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences. I believe and hope this gift will inspire many others to follow their example.”

Mindy and Jon Gray: “We’ve been searching for a way to make a meaningful impact in Israel since the tragic events of October 7th. We can think of no better way to accelerate healing than by supporting an institution that touches the lives of so many. This gift will expand Tel Aviv University’s capacity to educate new healthcare professionals, including underrepresented students, and create state-of-the-art research facilities, building on our longtime support for medical research and access to higher education.”

The signing ceremony. (Photo credit: Yuval Yosef)

Dean Karen Avraham: “Thanks to the remarkable support of Mindy and Jon Gray and the Gray Foundation, we will take our medical training and research complex to a new level of excellence, enabling Tel Aviv University to train future clinicians and researchers to lead Israeli healthcare and global science. We will foster the next generation of medical innovators in rapidly evolving fields – from diagnostics and personalized treatment to healthcare delivery and biomedical research.”

Addressing Israel’s acute doctor shortage

Recent reports show that the number of doctors and medical school graduates in Israel is well below the average for OECD nations. The country faces additional pressure from looming retirements, with 25% of current doctors over the age of 67 and nearly half over 55. Israel’s Ministry of Health has prioritized increasing enrollment in medical schools, with a strategic plan to reach 2,000 new incoming students per year by 2030. 

This gift allows TAU – the largest training institution for doctors in Israel – to increase the number of new medical students by approximately 25%. In addition to doctors, TAU will also aim to increase the number of students in the overall Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences by approximately 20%, training thousands of nurses, therapists, dentists, and other healthcare professionals.

TAU plays a central role in Israel’s healthcare system through its partnership with 18 hospitals and alumni working across most hospitals in the country.

Access to medical education

To dramatically improve access for students, the Grays’ gift will help create a new 600-bed dormitory and additional scholarship opportunities. This will include targeted support and recruiting efforts for underrepresented groups at TAU who have faced challenges with housing costs and access. 

Further expanding the pool of medical students, while elevating the quality of training for all in the Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, will ultimately improve care for communities across Israel.

Boosting innovation and discoveries

This gift will enable a comprehensive renovation of existing medical and health sciences facilities, along with the creation of new world-class research laboratories. It also provides for strategic investment to attract and retain leading biomedical scientists from around the world. 

One area of focus will be TAU’s work in BRCA-related cancers, which disproportionately impact the Ashkenazi Jewish community, nearly one-third of the Israeli population. 

(photo credit: Yuval Yosef)

Gray Foundation’s support 

The Gray Foundation has a dual mission of accelerating research, awareness, and treatment for individuals and families who have inherited BRCA mutations, as well as expanding access to education, healthcare, and opportunity for low-income youth in New York City. 

In 2012, the Grays created the Basser Center at Penn Medicine’s Abramson Cancer Center, the first center in the world exclusively focused on BRCA cancers. The Foundation has also supported programs focused on careers in medicine at CUNY School of Medicine, Montefiore Einstein, Mount Sinai, Memorial Sloan Kettering, among others.

In 2024, the Foundation helped launch a holocaust education program for students at the Museum of Jewish Heritage in New York, and the Grays have been long-time supporters of UJA and other Jewish organizations.

Dear Tel Aviv University community – faculty, staff, students, Governors, and Friends of the TAU in Israel and worldwide,

Today, a special event took place at the University: the naming of the Faculty of Medical & Health Sciences, as well as of the School of Medicine and School of Medical Sciences, after the Gray family. The Gray Foundation has made a major gift of $125 million to the University for the development and advancement of the Faculty. This is the largest donation ever received by Tel Aviv University and one of the largest ever made to an academic institution in Israel.

About half a year ago, I met for the first time in New York with Jon Gray, President of Blackstone, and presented him with Tel Aviv University and its needs. It did not take long for Jon and his wife, Mindy, to visit the University, be impressed by our Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences, and decide to support it.

The Gray family’s generous gift will enable us to make a true “quantum leap” in both medical education and research. It will allow us to increase the number of medical students, including those from minority groups in Israel; bolster the high-quality research taking place at the University in medicine and related fields; and deepen our collaborations with 18 affiliated hospitals. Since our Faculty of Medical & Health Sciences is the largest of its kind in Israel, the Gray family’s contribution will directly strengthen the national healthcare system and advance biomedical research throughout the country.

Mindy and Jon Gray’s philanthropic efforts did not begin today. Through their family foundation, they provide access to education and health services for underprivileged children in New York, thereby promoting equal opportunities. They are also active in advancing research, treatment and prevention of breast and ovarian cancer associated with genetic mutations. Mindy and Jon are not only generous individuals, they are also humble, compassionate, and captivating in their personal charm. Their love for the State of Israel and the Jewish people is what motivates their support of the University, and their aim is to help Israeli society heal in the aftermath of the October 7th tragedy.

I would like to recognize the exceptional teamwork that brought this donation to fruition. I extend thanks to Professor Karen Avraham, Dean of the Gray Faculty of Medical & Health Sciences, to the Faculty’s leadership and heads of schools, and to the faculty members and students who met with the Grays and made a great impression on them. Thanks to my deputy, Amos Elad, and to the University’s CEO, Gady Frank, and their dedicated teams. Thanks to Julie Lipsett-Singer from American Friends of Tel Aviv University; to Danny Gillerman, a TAU Governor; and to Yifat Oron, President of the Israeli Friends of TAU, for their support and guidance. A special thank-you goes to the President of Israel, Mr. Isaac Herzog, and to his wife, Mrs. Michal Herzog – both alumni of the University – for honoring us with their presence at today’s inauguration ceremony and for their unwavering support of the University and Israeli academia as a whole.

Since October 7th, we have all swung between hope and despair. Today is a day of hope. The Grays’ decision to support us with such generosity moves us deeply. I believe that their act, which expresses great confidence in Tel Aviv University, will inspire other philanthropists in Israel and around the world to support Israeli academia, recognizing it as an essential pillar of the State of Israel and a cornerstone of its continued survival and prosperity.

Today, we gained precious partners – the Gray family – we are profoundly grateful for the trust they have placed in us.

Sincerely,

Prof. Ariel Porat

President of Tel Aviv University