Dear Friends,

Last May, when I sat down to write the message for the year’s President’s Report, we were in the middle of our war of survival, hoping that very soon, we would declare a decisive victory. Unfortunately, we are now more than 575 days into the war, many of our hostages still remain in Gaza, and we are still fighting a ruthless enemy on numerous fronts.

Throughout this unprecedented period, Bar-Ilan’s performance—on campus and throughout Israeli society—has been for me an immense source of pride, and of light and hope in the dark. Yet our ability to rise to the occasion so effectively was in no way a given. When we adopted our ten-year strategic plan almost eight years ago, the challenges before us were immense. In almost every area, from finance and infrastructure to organizational culture and enrollment, enormous work was required to set Bar-Ilan on an upward course. At times, the task almost seemed overwhelming. Yet there is no denying success: Today, Bar-Ilan is a very different place. Our diligent, consistent implementation of that plan has yielded remarkable fruit. Indeed, a survey of our most visible achievements over the last year—from the growth of the Azrieli Faculty of Medicine, the Russell Berrie Galilee Diabetes SPHERE, Psifas–the National Genomic Medicine Initiative, and the National Institute for Energy Storage, among others—demonstrates the efficacy of steady, step-by-step, and goal-oriented work carried out by a dedicated team.

These achievements also offer another important lesson: Namely, the value of aiming high. All these projects hold the potential to transform the State of Israel, making us healthier, more resilient, and better able to withstand threats, of both the man-made and natural kind. And with last year’s official approval for our new Health-Tech Valley Campus, Bar-Ilan will soon be even better positioned to promote Israel’s prosperity, in particular by driving the growth of its biotech industry. The fact that all this expansion occurred while we developed comprehensive systems for supporting our student reservists, as well as solutions for the wider community affected by the war, is a testament to our new and much-increased capacity. I am delighted that this capacity is now being directed toward the achievement of still more research publications and funding, which in turn will elevate Bar-Ilan’s rankings and attract more top talent to the university. I am also pleased that we are now pushing forward programs that support our third mission, such as the Jonathan Sacks Institute and new degrees aimed at Jewish students from abroad. Our commitment to promoting Zionism and Jewish values alongside innovation and discovery is part of what makes Bar-Ilan so critical for the Jewish state and people everywhere.

Speaking of the third mission, the creation last year of a new vice president for this purpose, as well as a new vice president for academia-industry relations, is yet more evidence of the university’s growth and positioning for impact. These new members of our leadership team, along with the newly appointed vice presidents for research and resource development, hit the ground running. They have already developed strategic plans for their areas of responsibility and brought new ideas to the superb work of their predecessors. Together, these vice presidents will provide a strong leadership backbone for the university.

It is important to note, however, that all of this positive growth would have been impossible without the stewardship of the Bar-Ilan Executive Committee and Board of Trustees. Last year, despite all the difficulties of operating a university while so many students and faculty were called up for duty, we determined to continue with our plans—and with full force. Members demonstrated their commitment to the Bar-Ilan vision through deep involvement and hands-on work. They contributed generously of their time and expertise, helping ensure that Bar-Ilan continued its progress toward fulfilling its strategic plan. And it did. As we say in Hebrew with regard to the war, yachad nenatzeach, together we will win. So, too, with regard to Bar-Ilan: Together, we are making Bar-Ilan the means to a stronger Israel and a better world.

Shlomo Zohar
Chairman
Bar-Ilan Executive Committee