The Faculty of Humanities marked the opening of In the Beauty Salon of History at the Max and Iris Stern Little Gallery, Mt. Scopus Campus.
The exhibition explores how societies confront historical injustice, focusing on the 1952 Holocaust reparations agreement between West Germany, Israel, and the Jewish Claims Conference.

Drawing on Ronny Someck’s poem “Tractors,” the exhibition asks whether history can undergo a “beauty treatment” and reflects on the possibilities and limits of reparations and reconciliation.
Deep thanks to the scholars, curators, artists, designers, and partners who made this exhibition possible.

The exhibition will be on display for one year. We warmly invite you to visit.

The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, together with the University of Notre Dame and the Cardinal Bea Center in Rome, marked sixty years since Nostra Aetate, the landmark Vatican II declaration that reshaped Catholic-Jewish relations.

Hosted in Jerusalem, the conference brought together scholars, religious leaders, activists, and students from Israel and around the world for a meaningful conversation on dialogue, memory, and the challenges of interreligious relations today.

Deepest thanks to Dr. Karma Ben-Yohanan, Dr. Jonathan Moss, and all our partners and participants.

The Hebrew University’s Center for the Study of Christianity hosted the 23rd Annual Brenninkmeijer-Werhahn Lecture, highlighting the enduring importance of interreligious dialogue and intellectual friendship.

The evening featured a keynote by Prof. Uta Heil of the University of Vienna on the historical “Heavenly Letter,” followed by a response from Prof. Israel Yuval.

Prof. Elisheva Baumgarten, Dean of the Faculty of Humanities, opened the event by emphasizing the Center’s role as a model for dialogue, learning, and shared understanding across differences.
Heartfelt thanks to the Brenninkmeijer-Werhahn family for their visionary and continued support.

A memorable traveling seminar in Greece brought together students and faculty for an intensive academic journey through history, archaeology, landscape, and culture.

Through visits to archaeological sites, fortresses, theaters, temples, and historic landscapes, the seminar offered a unique opportunity to connect classroom learning with field experience, deepening students’ understanding of the ancient and medieval worlds.

The journey combined academic study, shared discovery, and meaningful encounters with the landscapes and heritage of Greece.

A successful traveling seminar in South Korea was held with the support of the International Office, bringing together students, teaching staff, and distinguished guests from the Department of Asian Studies.

The seminar provided an opportunity for academic exchange, intercultural learning, and the strengthening of institutional ties between the Hebrew University and academic partners in Korea.

As part of the visit, three MOUs were signed with Korean universities: Busan University of Foreign Studies, Chongshin University, and Presbyterian University and Theological Seminary.

Exploring Taiwan Through Economics, Politics, and Culture

Students from the Department of Asian Studies at the Faculty of Humanities traveled to Taiwan as part of the course Economics, Politics and Business in Asia, led by Dr. Dror Kochan.

Over seven days, the delegation met with diplomats, policymakers, entrepreneurs, experts, and students, gaining insight into Taiwan’s geopolitics, foreign policy, semiconductor industry, civil society, and rich cultural and spiritual life.

From meetings at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to conversations on disinformation, entrepreneurship, and Israeli-Taiwanese connections, the visit offered a meaningful look at the shared challenges and possibilities linking two small nations.

Deep thanks to the Taiwanese Representative Office in Israel and to all who made this delegation possible.

Sicily as a Living Laboratory of Transculturality

Third-year students in the Amirim Honors Program recently returned from a study tour in Sicily, the concluding workshop of their three-year program.

Led by Dr. Chiara Cardona, the tour explored Sicily as a site of transcultural encounter, examining how interactions between cultures shape history, art, and identity.

Throughout the tour, students connected theory with direct observation in the field, each leading a presentation at a selected site while integrating interdisciplinary knowledge from the program and their additional fields of study.
Highlights included La Zisa Palace, the Temple of Segesta, Sicilian puppet theatre, and local culinary traditions.

Wishing the graduating cohort great success as they continue on their way.

We warmly congratulate Professor Nissim Otmazgin, outgoing Dean of the Faculty of Humanities, on receiving the Japanese Foreign Minister’s Commendation.

A leading scholar of Japanese and East Asian culture and politics, Prof. Otmazgin has devoted his academic career to advancing the study and understanding of Japan in Israel.
This prestigious recognition honors his outstanding contribution to strengthening academic and cultural ties with Japan.

The Faculty proudly congratulates Prof. Otmazgin on this remarkable achievement.

We are proud to congratulate Professor Michael Segal of the Department of Bible on his prestigious appointment to the European Academy of Sciences and Arts, in the “World Religions” category.

This international recognition honors Prof. Segal’s outstanding contributions to the study of the Bible and Second Temple literature, especially his groundbreaking work on textual criticism, the Book of Jubilees, and the Book of Daniel.
Prof. Segal’s scholarship continues to shape the field and strengthen the Faculty of Humanities as a center of academic excellence.

Please join us in congratulating him on this well-deserved honor.

Advanced students from the Department of Arabic Language and Literature took part in a week-long workshop on Arabic dialectology at Freie Universität Berlin.

Led by Prof. Ori Shachmon of the Hebrew University and Prof. Shabo Talay of Freie Universität Berlin, the workshop included lectures by leading scholars from German universities and introduced students to research on dialects from across the region, including Iraqi Arabic, Arabic spoken in Turkey, and Maltese.
Several students also presented their own research, receiving professional feedback and gaining valuable experience in an international academic setting.

Alongside the academic program, the workshop included cultural and social activities around Berlin, combining advanced research, intercultural learning, and a meaningful shared experience.

We are proud to congratulate Prof. Yossi Zaidner of the Institute of Archaeology on receiving a prestigious Volkswagen Foundation grant to establish Tajikistan’s first Archaeological Science Laboratory.

The project will build new research infrastructure, develop scientific protocols, and provide training for local students and researchers.
Located at a key crossroads for the study of human history and evolution, Tajikistan offers extraordinary potential for prehistoric research. This initiative will strengthen local capacity and deepen long-term collaboration between the Hebrew University and partners in Tajikistan.

Please join us in congratulating Prof. Zaidner and his team on this important achievement.