This week we mark one of the most important dates on the Hebrew calendar, and a major milestone in the history of the State of Israel: Yom ha-Atzma’ut this year will commemorate and celebrate the 75th anniversary of Israel’s independence. In this context, we have chosen to focus on the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and that place that it occupied in the country's independence process, and in the continued development of the State of Israel. 
The Hebrew University of Jerusalem is one of Israel's most important academic institutions. The cornerstone for the first of its campuses was laid in 1918 on Mount Scopus. The official opening ceremony was held in 1925.
Located on the eastern side of Jerusalem, overlooking the city and its access roads, the area became a key conflict zone in the period leading up to the War of Independence in 1948, and this compromised the university’s functioning. Studies were halted and moved elsewhere, and even the affiliated Hadassah Hospital was evacuated. During the war, the university campus served as a base for Israeli defense forces, providing logistical support, medical supplies, and accommodation for the soldiers, which included many of the students and teachers. The University library was used as a depot for storing ammunition and weapons. Although there were several attacks and attempts to remove Israeli forces from the site, they managed to maintain control of Mount Scopus. 
During the period between 1949-1967, the campus was an enclave under Israeli military control within the territory under Jordanian rule. In the summer of 1949, academic studies resumed with classes held in dozens of buildings scattered throughout Israeli-controlled West Jerusalem. The Givat Ram campus was completed in 1958.
The newly-created State of Israel needed teachers, doctors, lawyers, scientists, and agronomists to build the country. Despite the disruptions and difficulties, the university continued to grow and expand, becoming a symbol of Israel's ability to withstand and overcome challenges. 
Today the Hebrew University is one of the leading academic institutions in Israel, with a wide range of academic and research programs. In some areas, such as mathematics, it is ranked among the top universities in the world.
Among its many eminent graduates the Hebrew University counts two of the main architects of the State of Israel: David Ben-Gurion, the country’s first prime minister, and Chaim Weizmann, who became Israel’s first president. Many of the military and political leaders who played central roles in the War of Independence and the subsequent growth and development of the State of Israel were also educated at the University. The Hebrew University of Jerusalem is therefore a key institution in the history of Israel, not only as a source of knowledge and academic advancement but also as a training center for key figures who spearheaded the creation and development of the State.
The story of the War of Independence of 1948 is a central element in Israel’s history and an important angle for teaching about Yom ha-Atzma’ut, opening the door to many different approaches and realms of content. One possible direction for discussion is a focus on the educational institutions that have helped to shape Israel, its history, its leadership, and its outstanding contributions to scholarship and research - first and foremost among them, the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. 
 

Photo: The Times of Israel