The donation is one of the largest ever to an academic institution.
A Columbia University alumnus has anonymously donated $260 million to Bar-Ilan University, one of Israel’s largest universities, according to reports The New York Post. The donor, described as a North American Jew and World War II veteran, is said to be impressed by Bar-Ilan’s focus on science and technology.
The donation has sparked speculation that the alumnus may be unhappy with Columbia’s handling of the Israeli-Hamas conflict. Some believe this is a message to the university in light of the recent anti-Israel protests on campus.
“It’s a slap in the face for Columbia. It’s just the beginning,” said Hank Sheinkopf, a longtime political consultant, pro-Israel activist and rabbi. The mail.
The announcement was picked up by e-JewishPhilanthropy.com.
Bar-Ilan University President Arie Zaban said the donation will be used to develop “deep tech” sciences and has the potential to significantly impact Israel and the world. The donation is one of the largest to an academic institution since James Simons’ $500 million gift to Stony Brook University last year.
The donation also set off a guessing game over who the ultra-rich donor is. The detail that he served in World War II means he would be about 100 years old.
“The donor, a man with broad academic training, believed that the development of Israel’s technological resilience depends primarily on cutting-edge science. During his visits to Israel, he recognized the significant impact Bar-Ilan University has made in key areas through its scientific knowledge. based infrastructure and deep connections with all sectors of Israeli society,” Bar-Ilan President Arie Zaban said in a statement announcing the donation.
