Since its earliest days in the 1920's, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem has played a major role in absorbing new immigrants. Israel’s first institution of higher learning, the University contributed toward transforming the land of Israel into the center of Jewish intellectual life and the world focus of modern Jewish scholarship. The University was a pivotal force in creating the infrastructure in advanced science and industry, and today, as in the past, is educating top-level professional in every sphere.

 

Today, the Hebrew University’s 24,000 students are enrolled in undergraduate and graduate degree programs in seven Faculties: the Humanities, Science, Medicine, Dental Medicine, Social Sciences, Law, and Agricultural, Food and Environmental Quality Sciences. Attracting the best and the brightest students from Israel and more than 70 countries, the University educates people of all nationalities, cultures and faiths in a community of open dialogue. Its students represent a cross-section of Israeli society, hailing from every socio-economic, cultural and ethnic background.

 

The Hebrew University continues to absorb new immigrants, among them Jews from the former Soviet Union and Jews from Ethiopia, who came to the country with a radically different cultural background, as well as a vast educational gap.

These students, who arrived in Israel to fulfill their dream of living in the Land of their forefathers, require extra attention and assistance in order to succeed. Despite the difficulties that these young people face in terms of learning Hebrew, adjusting to Israeli society, and often overcoming educational handicaps, many of them harbor aspirations to complete a university degree. 

 

  

Young immigrants and children of immigrants can face particularly challenging language, social, and cultural barriers to be fully integrated into Israeli society and to achieve academic success.

 

A significant proportion of young adults who immigrated to Israel during their adolescence experience academic difficulties that prevent their being accepted by the regular University program. In many cases, these immigrants have enormous potential, as indicated on the psychometric entrance test, which is not reflected by their matriculation scores or academic achievements in high school. 

For example: the mechina program offered by the University’s Joseph Saltiel Center for Pre-Academic Studies provides these students with reinforcement in certain academic areas and gives them the opportunity to complete or improve their matriculation examinations.

 

The curriculum is designed to meet these important student needs, which allows them to gain self-confidence in their abilities. Mechina students spend 30 to 40 hours per week in the classroom where they study such courses as mathematics, English, and academic writing. Instruction provided by University faculty within the walls of the institution helps integrate students into the regular academic framework. These concentrated efforts have borne fruit, as seen by the success rate among the students, with over 70% of mechina students are accepted to the Hebrew University.

Academic and vocational achievement are key elements in the successful absorption of new immigrants, and the University has striven to do its part to help thousands of immigrants acclimatize to their new surroundings.

 
Project

The Hebrew University offers the following academic, financial, and emotional support for immigrant students: 

v Tutoring for preparatory and university students

v Living expenses for preparatory and university students

Specific objectives for immigrant students enrolled in the mechina program and university studies include bolstering their skills in Hebrew, English and mathematics, as well as boosting their self-confidence and social adaptability. In addition, mechina students often receive special assistance in preparing for the psychometric examinations, required for university admission, which even many strong students fail because of its basis in Western cultural norms.

 

In addition to meeting the academic needs of the immigrant students, the University needs to address their financial ability to embark upon university education. The majority of immigrant students in Israel are demobilized soldiers with little or no savings of their own and in many cases cannot count on financial assistance from their families.

 

This initiative will have a significant impact in advancing the education of these promising young students in pursuing their dream of attaining a college degree and making a difference to Israeli society.