It is the ability to fuse a reverence for Jewish values with the rigors of academic study that makes Bar-Ilan University (BIU) like no other university in Israel. With the mission of “Impact Beyond Excellence,” BIU has distinguished itself amongst its peers not only with its milestone achievements in the sciences and humanities, but with its requirement that all students take academic level Jewish studies courses. BIU provides its students with “wings and roots” — the wings to “fly” academically and the roots to “bind” them to firm moral ground and apply ethical context to all they strive to accomplish.

It is important to note, Bar-Ilan University is not a religious institution – only 30% of the student population is religiously observant; in fact, it is one of the most pluralistic universities in Israel. The University’s student body represents a microcosm of the State of Israel — including non-Jews, immigrants, and international visitors among its student population. Diversity and tolerance are key at BIU.

American Friends of Bar-Ilan University (AFBIU), which operates four offices in the U.S., is an essential partner in the University’s development, providing needed philanthropic support that allows Bar-Ilan to grow and strengthen its mission to remain both the bastion of Jewish studies and a world leader in cybersecurity, science, technology, engineering and mathematics. For the past 60 years, AFBIU has developed and nurtured relationships with individuals, foundations, and corporations across the U.S. to help build state-of-the-art facilities, attract preeminent faculty, and promote an appreciation of Jewish heritage at the University.