Hebrew University aims to create a fair, equal, safe, and encouraging environment for all, regardless of race, religion, gender identity, sexual preference, and ethnicity. Faculty, students, administrators, and staff fully embrace a vision of equity, diversity, and inclusion. We have an opportunity to lead by example, both as an institution and as individuals, to create a more equal and just society.
Hebrew University does not tolerate any form of discrimination. If you feel that you have been subjected to discrimination, please submit a complaint. A coordinator from the Rothberg International School is tasked with handling all issues related to diversity and inclusion at Hebrew University, as well as in Jerusalem and Israel.
Our Commitment
- Promoting an inclusive community in which diversity is valued and every member feels they have a rightful place and are welcomed, respected, and supported.
- Developing and supporting programs and policies that help attract and retain students from historically underrepresented groups, as well as hiring and promoting faculty, administrators, and staff from those groups.
- Building structures that promote inclusiveness and equity for all members of the community, especially students and staff from marginalized groups.
- Eliminating intimidation, bullying and harassment, including unwanted physical contact, offensive jokes, personal insults, and offensive materials. Such unwanted actions will be treated as disciplinary offenses.
We Encourage Diversity
- Students with Disabilities
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Hebrew University welcomes students, faculty, staff, and visitors with disabilities. Hebrew University’s Accessibility Services Center works to ensure an accessible and welcoming working and learning environment for all individuals with mobility, learning or other disabilities. The center provides on- and off-campus resources and assistance for people with disabilities. It also helps raise awareness among students and faculty, and informs students with disabilities of their rights at the university.
The university assigns accessible parking spots and all campus buildings are wheelchair accessible. Spaces are reserved for students with disabilities in all lecture halls and an FM system is available for those with hearing disabilities. The Faculty of Law has a dedicated clinic for the advancement of people with disabilities. Students with neurological disabilities can receive physical therapy and access to the School of Occupational Therapy lab for diagnosis of writing skills. The lab offers typing courses and helps students overcome difficulties.
The Learning Center for the Blind provides a wide range of services to some 150 blind and visually impaired university students and pre-academic preparatory students, in conjunction with the “Aleh” organization, free of charge. The center provides support and rehabilitation staff who accompany students as they integrate into the university community. The center also offers career assistance to graduates and organizes community services for the blind.
The Office for Students with Learning Disabilities provides unique assistance to some 2,000 students with all types of learning disabilities, including ADD and ADHD. It offers a large array of technologies and professional didactic assessments, as well as private tutoring and group seminars for improving learning skills such as time management, summarizing lectures, and academic writing.
Additionally, numerous organizations throughout Israel assist people with disabilities, providing services for the blind, access to wheelchairs and walkers, and more.
- People of Color
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Jerusalem is a diverse city and is home to people from a wide range of ethnic backgrounds. However, students of color may occasionally come across individuals who are narrow-minded and hold stereotypical views about various groups of people with whom they haven’t had many encounters. The Office of Student Life staff is available to students who have questions or concerns, or would like to discuss any experiences or encounters they have had while in Israel.
- Religious Identity
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Jerusalem is considered a holy city by the world’s three largest monotheistic religions: Judaism, Christianity and Islam. As such, religion plays an important role throughout the city. In Israel, freedom of and from religion is protected by law. There is, however, tension in Israel between Jews and Muslims (and Christian Arabs), which is exacerbated by the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Within Judaism, there is some tension between ultra-Orthodox and other Jews, including Reform, Conservative and Reconstructionist Jews. For Christians in Israel, being part of a religious minority may be a new and different experience. This is not a reason to hide one’s identity, but, rather, an opportunity to learn about other religions and serve as an ambassador of one’s own religion. There are many synagogues, mosques and churches that welcome students throughout the city.
Hebrew University offers a diverse range of religious services on each of its campuses.
- LGBTQ+
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Hebrew University welcomes LGBTQ+ students. There are no laws in Israel prohibiting LGBTQ+ identity or behavior and many cities in Israel, including Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, host gay pride parades. Since Jerusalem is a more conservative city than Tel Aviv, the Jerusalem gay pride parades tend to be more controversial. However, these parades have the support of leading Muslim, Christian and Jewish liberal religious authorities in Jerusalem.
Additional LGBTQ+ information & resources
- Heritage Students
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Heritage students are Jewish or Arab students from abroad who have ancestors from or relatives living in the region. Jewish students from outside of Israel might be perceived by locals as rich and privileged, or may be judged for not moving to Israel and joining the army. Similarly, Arab students from other countries might be perceived as privileged for having grown up in more comfortable circumstances than their relatives. Arab students might even face judgment for acknowledging Israel by studying at Hebrew University.
If you encounter any problems, please contact the Rothberg International School's Office of Student Life or the Dean of Students Office.
- Student Parents
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Hebrew University provides students who are parents with the opportunity to combine family and higher education. Students may enroll their newborns and toddlers in the university day-care system. In addition, nursing stations are located throughout the university campuses.
Learn more about the university's parental services.
Equal Opportunity Programs
Pre-Academic Preparatory Programs
The university runs six pre-academic preparatory programs for more than 1,000 students every year, recognizing the importance of providing an opportunity for people from all parts of society to study at the university: a general pre-university preparatory program, a preparatory program for Arab students from East Jerusalem, a preparatory program for immigrants, a preparatory program for ultra-Orthodox students, a matriculation preparation program, and a preparatory nursing program for students from disadvantaged socio-economic backgrounds.
The Center for Diversity & Multiculturalism
Hebrew University is making great efforts to increase the number of both students and faculty from minority groups, in particular ultra-Orthodox Jews, Arabs, Ethiopian-Israelis and people from disadvantaged socio-economic backgrounds. These efforts include special preparatory programs, as well as academic and social assistance programs. In addition, the university implements affirmative action in its admissions, by easing admission criteria for students from disadvantaged socio-economic backgrounds who are recognized as eligible by the Association for the Advancement of Education.
Steps are also being taken to express the diverse university community within the public sphere of the university. These include a Jewish-Arab leadership group, which runs cultural events on campus, and an interfaith dialogue group, which meets for discussion on topics relating to Jewish, Christian, and Muslim sources.
Building Bridges between Ultra-Orthodox, Religious & Secular Students
The program helps break stigmas and create positive interactions between ultra-Orthodox, religious and secular Jewish students, as well as provide the ultra-Orthodox students with the help they need to succeed in academia. Every week, pairs of ultra-Orthodox and secular or religious students study together. For the first two hours, the secular or religious student tutors his/her ultra-Orthodox peer in the basic academic subjects in which they lack background knowledge, such as Math, Sciences, Computers, and English. In the remaining hour, the pair studies together a Jewish text of their choice, using it as the basis for discussion and mutual understanding.
Neuroscience Studies in the Middle East
A summer school for graduate students brings together students from Israel, Iran, and Arab countries, who study neuroscience together. The project is an initiative of the Edmond & Lily Safra Center for Brain Sciences, and students have enjoyed summer schools for the past five years.
Entrepreneurship & Leadership for Arab & Druze Students
This initiative fosters entrepreneurship and leadership among the university’s talented Arab and Druze students from medical and engineering fields. Arab students, who realized that such students were lacking entrepreneurial role models and skills, partnered with the private sector to set up Wamda-Tech. Three start-ups have already been established as a result.
HUJI-Innovate – Business & Social Entrepreneurship Education
The Hebrew University Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship helps students and alumni bring to fruition their ideas for digital and social startups. The programs are free and combine hands-on workshops and lectures, as well as consultations with leading entrepreneurs, investors and experts who help the students develop their ideas.