The Roadburg Campus of Tel-Hai College, which is soon to become the University of Kiryat Shmona in the Galilee. Vancouver’s Ronald S. Roadburg Foundation has donated $50 million Cdn to the institution. (photo from Tel-Hai)
Tel-Hai College – soon to become the University of Kiryat Shmona in the Galilee – has received a transformational $50 million Cdn gift from Vancouver’s Ronald S. Roadburg Foundation. The historic contribution is the largest ever received by the institution and the largest single commitment in the foundation’s 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’s path after acquiring its new status as the first university in the Galilee in late January.
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.
“THU is more than an academic institution; it is the heartbeat of the Galilee and a beacon of coexistence,” said Prof. Eliezer Shalev, president of the university. “Our 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’s primary engine for socioeconomic growth.”
The Roadburg Foundation’s partnership with Tel-Hai reflects the foundation’s 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’s 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.
“We chose to make this landmark investment now because we believe in the resilience of the people of the Galilee,” said Stephen Gaerber, the foundation’s director. “By 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.”
“Over the course of the war, we were involved in emergency efforts, especially in this region,” Mark Gurvis, chief executive officer of the Roadburg Foundation, told eJewish Philanthropy. “We 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 – as it was becoming a university – to be able to fulfil that potential.”
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.
JFC-UIA and Federations across the country collectively helped move forward the transition of Tel-Hai to a university with significant support for Israel’s north, including approximately $25 million Cdn toward strengthening the region and advancing Tel-Hai.
Israel’s 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.
To read eJP’s interview with Gurvis, go to ejewishphilanthropy.com.
– Courtesy Tel-Hai College and Jewish Federation of Greater Vancouver