Dear University Community,
We are now at the beginning of the second week of the war, amid continuous alerts and sirens, frequent stays in safe rooms and shelters, many members of our community called up for reserve duty, and others remaining at home with their children while the education system is closed. We hope that you and your loved ones are safe and well.
Despite the wartime circumstances, we are trying to maintain a certain degree of routine, in accordance with the directives of the Home Front Command, and to continue our research and work activities. It is important to emphasize that we are not requiring anyone to work from home, and certainly not requiring anyone to come physically to campus. Our goal is to create working frameworks for those who wish to continue, to whatever extent possible, with their research and work.
A. Arrival on Campus: As noted in our previous email, access to campus will be permitted subject to the restrictions issued by the Home Front Command. These primarily include the requirement that approved protected spaces be accessible during alerts, as well as gatherings of no more than 50 people. Anyone arriving on campus is required to complete the attached form with their personal details, specifying the location they will be visiting, hours of presence, and related information. This form is needed for emergency situations, when we may be required to immediately verify who is present in a particular building. The links to the forms are below:
a. Form for faculty / student – link here.
b. Form for supplier / external visitor – link here.
B. Opening of Second Semester: In coordination with most other institutions, the second semester will begin on Sunday, March 15, as originally planned. If educational activities cannot take place on campus, we will begin instruction via Zoom and transition to on-campus teaching as soon as circumstances allow. A final decision regarding the start of the semester will be made during the week following additional consultations and in accordance with the evolving situation.
C. Examination Schedule: In light of the new directives prohibiting educational activities on campuses until Monday evening, exams will not be held this week. Moed Bet exams will take place during the second semester, according to a revised format that will be developed in coordination with the Student Union.
D. Reserve Duty: Many of our students have been called up for reserve service, as have several faculty members. We will reinstate the frameworks that were implemented during the previous war in order to ensure that those serving in reserve duty, as well as their spouses or partners, are not disadvantaged. These frameworks will be published once the situation becomes clearer.
E. Emergency Housing Assistance: The Dean of Students’ Office and the Human Resources Division continue to operate an emergency housing assistance program, as announced last week. For further information, please contact the Human Resources Division at huhr@savion.huji.ac.il.
The university administration holds daily meetings to discuss emergency directives and daily updates issued by the government, as well as their implications for the university, including teaching and research activities. We make every effort to communicate these guidelines clearly and thoughtfully through the university leadership. These discussions will continue for as long as the situation persists, and we will keep the university community informed as developments unfold.
We remain available for any questions or requests for assistance.
Tamir Sheafer, President
Oron Shagrir, Rector
Naama Kaufman-Fass, Director General