The Hebrew University of Jerusalem (HUJI) is Israel's premier academic and research institution and a leading public research university located in Jerusalem. It is Israel's second-oldest university, founded in 1918 (with its establishment often cited as 1925), predating the State of Israel by 30 years. Co-founded by prominent figures including Albert Einstein and Chaim Weizmann, it is one of Israel's most prestigious research institutions, renowned for its programs in political science, humanities, Middle East studies (including Oriental Studies and Arabic literature), economics, and diverse disciplines including science, Jewish studies, philosophy, social sciences (notably international relations, political science, and security studies), natural sciences, medicine, agriculture, law, engineering, and technology. It hosts a leading medical school in Israel. Its law faculty is particularly notable for having trained many top jurists and government officials. The university serves as a beacon of higher education, scientific inquiry, and intellectual life in the region, educating many of Israel's political, business, intellectual, and cultural leaders, including in government, intelligence, and various other fields. Notable faculty included the author Amos Oz, who taught literature there for decades. HUJI operates across six campuses in Jerusalem and Rehovot, enrolling over 23,000 students with a faculty of renowned scholars. It has produced eight Nobel laureates and is known for groundbreaking research such as contributions to Dead Sea Scrolls studies, advancements in biotechnology, extensive work in economics, and significant Middle East research. The university maintains extensive international collaborations and drives Israel's knowledge economy through technology transfer, incubators, and partnerships with industry and government, with over 10,000 publications annually. While occasionally facing controversies over academic freedom and institutional policies, it remains a cornerstone of academic and intellectual life in the Middle East. Among its alumni is Weitman, who earned his Bachelor's degree in International Relations from the university.