Dear Friends,

Recently, at the inauguration of a new study center, our campus rabbi joked that over the last few years, there had been so many new physical-facility dedications, he was running out of mezozot. It was almost unimaginable, when I began my first term as president, that I would hear words such as those. Indeed, recalling where we were eight years ago, it was hard to imagine that Bar-Ilan would soon be the site of such rapid, transformative growth. Yet here we are: cutting-edge facilities for computer science, a first-of-its-kind energy prototype laboratory, a dedicated medical-education building, new student dormitories. All these new spaces, along with the ones soon to be built in the life sciences, engineering, and nanotechnology, reflect our increasing research and educational prowess in areas of national and global priority. Not surprisingly, they also demonstrate a corresponding interest by Israeli students to be part of the dynamic, forward-looking action taking place on our campuses.

Yet like all sound structures, these buildings required solid foundations. Which is precisely what we set out to build when, nearly eight years ago, we put multiple processes into place. By taking a clear-eyed look at our challenges, setting equally clear goals, and taking the incremental steps needed for eventual yet sustainable change, we reversed a period of stagnation and set ourselves on an upward trajectory. We corrected our budget deficit, for instance, even achieving a budget surplus for the first time this year. We invested in the physical and digital infrastructure required for 21st century research and instruction. We invigorated our teaching and learning through data and technology—which proved key to kickstarting our enrollment, and making us Israel’s fastest-growing university. And by strengthening our corporate governance and cultivating organizational alignment, we achieved the capacity to focus now on two additional, ambitious goals.

The first is the advancement of our third mission, something made more urgent by Operation Swords of Iron. Over the last year and eight months, we spared no effort in supporting our student and faculty reservists, as well as all members of the Bar-Ilan community whose spouses and children served our country. We also opened our arms to Jewish university students overseas who sought a campus where they can thrive, both academically and socially. For Bar-Ilan, these and other responses to the unprecedented challenges of our current war were seen as both natural and a privilege, and always undertaken with enthusiasm and empathy. In the coming years—in both war and, hopefully, in peace—we will continue to support each other and the entire Jewish people in effective and inspiring ways.

The second goal is the maximization of our research potential. As a proudly Zionist institution, Bar-Ilan has always emphasized research that advances the State of Israel and its society. When I took office, I added yet another dimension to our research aims: the anticipation of tomorrow’s needs, both in Israel and around the world. To be sure, these are grand aspirations. But Bar-Ilan has two key advantages working in favor of our success.

One is our embrace of interdisciplinarity. Our new research initiative will begin by identifying the problems that need solving, and not with the disciplines that have traditionally dictated how and by whom problems are solved. This “work back from the challenge” approach allows us to bring experts together across fields and sectors, who together can achieve breakthroughs impossible for lone scientists in their labs. This approach will also allow us to determine specific performance metrics, and to ensure that departments have the specific resources they need to achieve their objectives. Invariably, our investment in research excellence will attract more top researchers, who will further fuel our capacity for scientific and scholarly impact.

The other, and perhaps more important, advantage is our unique sense of purpose. An example expresses it best: At our neighboring Sheba Medical Center, there are veterans of the Iron Swords War whose injuries have confined them to the rehabilitation ward. Recognizing that they may feel as though the world had moved on without them—and that their confinement had likely left them hungry for intellectual stimulation—we reached out to them and invited them to become students at Bar-Ilan. Not surprisingly, they greeted our offer with immense enthusiasm. So, we enabled the enrollment of 20 such veterans this past semester, arranging for their transportation to and from campus and making the classrooms fully accessible. We also contacted the professors of every course to let them know about these veterans’ presence, encourage them to be in touch directly, and match them up with student mentors to help ensure their success. And in every single instance, the professors’ response was gratitude. They thanked us for the chance to be part of something so important and meaningful. In light of the enormous success of this program, we plan to expand it to more injured veterans in the coming year.

To me, this response represents the very essence of Bar-Ilan. Our researchers—like our dedicated staff and students—feel part of something bigger. They see their work as not only a contribution to their fields, but also to a larger mission of advancing a healthy, just, and resilient Jewish state. They are the reason I am so confident that our new growth is just the beginning. In the years to come, there will be many more new spaces for innovation and discovery, and many more people who want to join us and be part of our winning team.

Or, as I told our campus rabbi, buy twice the number of mezozot that you expect we’ll need.

With warmest thanks for your partnership,

Prof. Arie Zaban
President, Bar-Ilan University