Bar-Ilan University proudly announces the recipient of the first-ever Jonathan Sacks Institute Prize: renowned Harvard political scientist Prof. Robert Putnam.

The prize, one of the most prestigious honors ever awarded by the university, will be presented in May 2025 as part of a celebration of shared values, moral courage, and academic excellence. This is not just a recognition of one man’s scholarship, but a moment that symbolizes Bar-Ilan University’s growing role as a global hub for thought leadership rooted in ethics, unity, and social responsibility.

“My PhD Took Me into a Whole New World”

Prof. Karen Agay-Shay – Environmental Epidemiologist, Faculty of Medicine

The 2025 Rector’s Award for Scientific Innovation has been awarded to eleven leading researchers at Bar-Ilan University, spanning disciplines from the natural sciences and technology to the humanities and social sciences. Their groundbreaking work not only pushes the boundaries of human knowledge, but also provides promising solutions to some of the most pressing challenges facing modern society—offering the potential for a better future for all.

Safer Technology for Gene Editing

What if drinking more water could help prevent heart disease?

Bar-Ilan University has been awarded the 2025 Minister of Defense’s Award of Recognition for its exceptional support of reservist students during a challenging academic year. The prestigious national award was granted by a committee composed of representatives from the IDF, the Ministry of Defense, the business sector, and local government, placing Bar-Ilan among only 20 organizations and employers to receive the award.

"There is anger that consumes, and there is anger that propels. I chose to let my anger propel me," says Jenny Savidia, who survived the October 7 massacre at the Nova music festival but lost her brother Shlomi in the attack.