The Roadburg Campus of Tel-Hai College, which is soon to become the University of Kiryat Shmona in the Galilee. Vancouver\u2019s Ronald S. Roadburg Foundation has donated $50 million Cdn to the institution. <\/i>(photo from Tel-Hai)<\/i><\/p>\n
Tel-Hai College \u2013 soon to become the University of Kiryat Shmona in the Galilee \u2013 has received a transformational $50 million Cdn gift from Vancouver\u2019s Ronald S. Roadburg Foundation. The historic contribution is the largest ever received by the institution and the largest single commitment in the foundation\u2019s history. It expands on the decades-long partnership between the Galilee and Canadian Jewish federations and communities in Vancouver, Edmonton, Calgary, Winnipeg, Ottawa and Halifax. It is designed to be the first steppingstone on Tel-Hai\u2019s path after acquiring its new status as the first university in the Galilee in late January.<\/p>\n
The investment comes at a critical juncture as the region transitions from two years of war and widespread displacement toward comprehensive renewal and growth. The university and the Roadburg Campus will meet the needs of the community, as the school prepares to take in thousands of new students, researchers and faculty members. The university is positioned as a global hub for applied research, addressing global challenges in sustainable agriculture, artificial intelligence, psychological resilience and social work, fields where Tel-Hai has gained international recognition for its field-tested expertise.<\/p>\n
\u201cTHU is more than an academic institution; it is the heartbeat of the Galilee and a beacon of coexistence,\u201d said Prof. Eliezer Shalev, president of the university. \u201cOur classrooms are a tapestry of Jews, Muslims, Druze and Christians studying together. This gift from the Ronald S. Roadburg Foundation ensures that our academic excellence remains inclusive and that we continue to serve as the region\u2019s primary engine for socioeconomic growth.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Roadburg Foundation\u2019s partnership with Tel-Hai reflects the foundation\u2019s belief that learning is the ultimate tool to bring people together, foster peace and create shared opportunities. This $50 million gift, expanded from an initial $8 million commitment to Tel-Hai\u2019s computer science facilities, will serve as a cornerstone investment as the university continues to be a catalyst for social and economic renewal in the Galilee.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe chose to make this landmark investment now because we believe in the resilience of the people of the Galilee,\u201d said Stephen Gaerber, the foundation\u2019s director. \u201cBy helping Tel-Hai elevate to a university, we are investing in a future where world-class science and social cohesion go hand-in-hand to build a stronger Israel.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOver the course of the war, we were involved in emergency efforts, especially in this region,\u201d Mark Gurvis, chief executive officer of the Roadburg Foundation, told eJewish Philanthropy<\/em>. \u201cWe started focusing on Tel- Hai as part of the solution for the period after the war, when people would focus on reconstruction efforts. We knew that Tel-Hai was already the major economic and social driver of the region. We focused on positioning Tel-Hai \u2013 as it was becoming a university \u2013 to be able to fulfil that potential.\u201d<\/p>\n There has been a steady Canadian partnership with Tel-Hai for years, led by the Jewish Federations of Canada-UIA (JFC-UIA) together with local federations and donors.<\/p>\n JFC-UIA and Federations across the country collectively helped move forward the transition of Tel-Hai to a university with significant support for Israel\u2019s north, including approximately $25 million Cdn toward strengthening the region and advancing Tel-Hai.<\/p>\n Israel\u2019s Council for Higher Education approved the transformation of Tel-Hai into the University of Kiryat Shmona in the Galilee, with university recognition beginning in the 2026\/27 academic year. The plan includes a 570 million NIS (nearly $200 million Cdn) investment over five years; proposals for new PhD programs in biotechnology, education, psychology and nutritional sciences; a faculty of engineering focused on precision agriculture, knowledge engineering and AI; and a veterinary school in the Golan Heights.<\/p>\n