John Paulson Donates $250 Million to Hebrew University in Historic Gift
American philanthropist and investor John Paulson has announced a $250 million donation to the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, the largest gift in the institution’s history. In recognition of this extraordinary contribution, the university’s historic Mount Scopus campus will henceforth be known as the Alina and John Paulson Campus.
For Paulson, the investment represents both a commitment to academic excellence and an expression of solidarity with Israel.
“Israel, a country of just 10 million people, has astonished the world with its scientific and technological achievements,” the investor said. He highlighted the Hebrew University’s role in educating generations of students and advancing scientific research.
Founded in 1925 with the involvement of Albert Einstein, the university was built on the conviction that education, particularly scientific education, is one of the foundations of a modern society. Since its establishment, the institution has filed more than 10,750 patents, and its researchers have been associated with major international distinctions, including ten Nobel Prizes, two Turing Awards and a Fields Medal.
Paulson believes the university combines exceptional academic standards with the ability to deliver scientific results at a lower cost than many comparable American institutions. He therefore considers it a particularly compelling destination for philanthropic investment.
He also praised Israel as an advanced, dynamic, democratic and pluralistic economy.
A Strategic Investment in Research and Innovation
Beyond its record-breaking size, the donation will support several of the university’s strategic priorities, with particular emphasis on fields essential to Israel’s future.
One of the main initiatives involves establishing a new Faculty of Engineering to strengthen the university’s teaching and research capabilities in disciplines at the forefront of technological innovation. The goal is to bring engineering, computer science, medicine and the life sciences closer together to address complex technological and societal challenges.
The funding will also contribute to the development of the university’s medical and biomedical research ecosystem. It is expected to strengthen research infrastructure, accelerate educational innovation and advance a new model of medical training that the institution is beginning to implement.
Part of the donation will be allocated to research into trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), an issue of particular importance amid the crises and conflicts that have affected Israeli society. The funds will support research into treatment and recovery for people affected by trauma.
Finally, the university plans to develop a new institute focused on public impact and communities. Conceived as a space for dialogue between academia and the practical needs of society, the center will seek to translate scientific knowledge into solutions to social challenges.
A Long-Term Commitment to Israel’s Human Capital
According to Hebrew University President Professor Tamir Sheafer, the contribution continues the institution’s founding vision.
“More than a century ago, on Mount Scopus, the Hebrew University was founded around a powerful idea: where history had witnessed destruction, the Jewish people would build their future through knowledge, discovery and education,” he said.
Sheafer said Paulson’s gift carries this vision forward as the university enters its second century. It will help recruit leading researchers, support exceptionally talented students, equip state-of-the-art laboratories and turn ambitious ideas into scientific advances capable of changing lives.
The university president also emphasized the significance of the commitment for the international Jewish community, describing it as an example of philanthropic leadership and a call to support Israel’s academic and scientific foundations.
The Hebrew University occupies an important position in the international academic landscape. In 2026, it ranked 89th worldwide in the Shanghai Academic Ranking of World Universities, according to information provided in connection with the announcement.
Paulson’s donation also builds on an established relationship with the institution. His foundation has previously contributed to the development of the university’s engineering and computer science infrastructure, including the Paulson Bar-El Building, dedicated to computer science and engineering, and the John Paulson Building, dedicated to electrical engineering. Both are located on the Edmond J. Safra Campus.
A Century of Academic Ambition
In 1918, nearly three decades before the establishment of the State of Israel, the cornerstone of the Hebrew University was laid on Mount Scopus. The institution officially opened its doors seven years later, in 1925, realizing a project championed by several prominent Jewish intellectuals of the time, including Albert Einstein and Sigmund Freud.
Since then, the university has become a major center for research, higher education and innovation in Israel.
Mount Scopus remains a symbol of this ambition: building a society through knowledge, educating generations of future leaders and putting scientific discoveries at the service of humanity.
Paulson’s $250 million gift marks a major milestone in that mission, providing long-term support for the research, education and innovation that will help shape Israel’s future.
Caroline Haiat
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