American Friends of Bar-Ilan University

09/22/2026

Turning Research Into a Pursuit of Justice ⚖️

On October 6–7, scholars from Bar-Ilan University and Brandeis University will come together for an important conference examining conflict-related sexual violence, the legacy of October 7, and the pursuit of accountability and justice for victims.

The conference, convened by the Hadassah-Brandeis Institute together with The Dinah Project at Bar-Ilan’s Rackman Center, will bring together international experts to explore how sexual violence in war is addressed under international law, the challenges of denial, and pathways toward justice.

The gathering builds on the work of The Dinah Project and Bar-Ilan Prof. Ruth Halperin-Kaddari and her colleagues to document sexual violence connected to October 7 and its aftermath and advance concrete legal strategies for accountability.

Read more in the Jewish Journal of Greater Boston: https://jewishjournal.org/2026/09/17/brandeis-conference-to-examine-sexual-violence-on-oct-7-and-in-war-zones-globally/

09/18/2026

As Yom Kippur approaches, we join together in a time of reflection, prayer, and renewal. 🕯️

May this sacred day inspire us to look inward and move forward with greater purpose, compassion, and hope.

Shabbat Shalom and G’mar Chatima Tova from American Friends of Bar-Ilan University. May you and your loved ones be sealed for a good year.

09/16/2026

For Eliyahu, a computer science student at Bar-Ilan University, one phone call in the weeks after October 7 has stayed with him.

A professor whose class Eliyahu had previously taken called simply to ask how he was doing while serving in reserve duty. What made the gesture even more meaningful was that the professor was grieving the loss of his own nephew in the October 7 attacks.

“He told me he just wanted to hear me, and hear how I am doing in the field and if everything is fine.”

During our recent webinar, “Resilience, Purpose & Promise: Israel’s Students Look Back and Ahead,” Eliyahu reflected on the people and sense of community that supported him through an extraordinary period.

Hear Eliyahu’s story below, and watch the full webinar here: https://youtu.be/I7HCQItNP2w

09/15/2026

For Omri, a medical student at Bar-Ilan University, the past three years have brought a new perspective on what truly matters and on the kind of physician he hopes to become.

“I want to live a meaningful life... I try to strive to fill my life with meaning through medicine.”

During our recent webinar, “Resilience, Purpose & Promise: Israel’s Students Look Back and Ahead,” Omri reflected on how studying medicine during an extraordinary period for Israel has shaped his outlook on life, his studies and his future.

Hear Omri’s story below, and watch the full webinar here:
https://youtu.be/I7HCQItNP2w

09/14/2026

For Guy, an engineering student at Bar-Ilan University, the past several years have shaped not only the kind of engineer he hopes to become, but the kind of impact he wants to make.

“I want to develop as an engineer and build a stronger technical career, but I want it to be connected to something meaningful.”

During our recent webinar, “Resilience, Purpose & Promise: Israel’s Students Look Back and Ahead,” Guy reflected on how studying amid war has deepened his appreciation for Israel’s technological strength and his determination to contribute to its future.

Hear Guy’s story below, and watch the full webinar here: https://youtu.be/I7HCQItNP2w

09/10/2026

🍎🍯 Shanah Tovah from American Friends of Bar-Ilan University!

Rosh Hashanah is a time to reflect on the year behind us and look ahead with hope to all that a new year can bring.

At Bar-Ilan University, that spirit of looking forward is part of what drives us every day. Across the university, researchers are pursuing discoveries that can improve lives, students are preparing to become the next generation of leaders, and faculty are bringing knowledge, innovation, and Jewish values together in ways that strengthen Israel and contribute far beyond it.

As we welcome 5787, we are grateful for our friends and supporters and for the role you play in all that Bar-Ilan is building.

May the new year bring you and your loved ones good health, happiness, peace, and sweetness.

Shanah Tovah! 🍎🍯

09/10/2026

🏆 $4 Million Grants Affirm Bar-Ilan Researchers' Bold Pursuits ⚡

Two Bar-Ilan University researchers have been awarded prestigious European Research Council Starting Grants totaling more than $4 million, advancing their bold projects in family mental health and computer science.

Prof. Reuma Gadassi-Polack will investigate how children’s emotional difficulties can affect their parents’ mental health, challenging the traditional one-way model of parental influence. Her findings could lead to more effective interventions that support the entire family.

Dr. Arnold Filtser will develop new mathematical tools for algorithms operating in complex real-world systems, with potential applications in transportation, communication networks, data search, and network design.

Together, these grants reflect Bar-Ilan’s commitment to asking unconventional questions and pursuing discoveries with the power to improve lives and reshape our understanding of the world.

Read more: https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/bygvqxv00gg

09/09/2026

Resilience, Purpose & Promise: Israel’s Students Look Back and Ahead 🎓🇮🇱

What does it mean to pursue your education and plan for your future amid war, disruption, and uncertainty?

Join us LIVE for an inspiring conversation with three Bar-Ilan University students studying engineering, computer science, and medicine. Guy, Eliyahu, and Omri share their personal experiences navigating university life during an extraordinary period for Israel, the support and community they have found at Bar-Ilan, and how these experiences have shaped their ambitions for the future.

As a new academic year approaches, and with Rosh Hashanah just days away, we’ll also look ahead to what gives these students hope and optimism about what comes next.

09/08/2026

🧠 Bar-Ilan Research in The Washington Post

What if paying attention to pain could actually influence how the body responds to inflammation?

The Washington Post is spotlighting fascinating research led by Dr. Liron Rozenkrantz, principal investigator at Bar-Ilan University’s Azrieli Faculty of Medicine, exploring the powerful connection between the brain and immune system.

In the study, participants who focused their attention on an inflamed area experienced less swelling and redness than when they distracted themselves. When distracted, 90% experienced greater inflammation, with swelling and redness about 50% greater.

As Dr. Rozenkrantz told The Post, the findings suggest that “what we think matters.”

Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/wellness/2026/09/08/focusing-your-attention-may-help-your-brain-fight-inflammation-study-suggests/

Researchers found that people who distracted themselves from an itch actually had worse inflammation than those who didn’t.

09/03/2026

🤳 Helping Teens Find a Healthy Digital Balance📱⚖️

A new study led by Prof. Yossi Harel-Fisch of Bar-Ilan University’s Faculty of Education reveals a troubling rise in the rate of social media addiction among Israeli teenagers, from 4.1% in 2019 to 16.3% in 2025.

The findings reflect the lasting effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and prolonged war, which have left many young people increasingly reliant on digital platforms for connection. Yet Prof. Harel-Fisch emphasizes that the answer is not to reject technology, but to equip teens with the knowledge, skills and habits needed to use it safely and maintain a healthy balance between the digital world and meaningful social interaction, physical activity and community involvement.

Through research that informs public policy and strengthens the well-being of Israel’s young people, Bar-Ilan is helping families and educators navigate one of today’s most urgent challenges.

Read more in ynet: https://www.ynetnews.com/health_science/article/s1helnmpfe