British Friends of the Hebrew University appoints new chair

British Friends of the Hebrew University has appointed London-based private equity investor Alan Jacobs as its new chair to replace the outgoing Isaac Kaye, who has been made the group’s president.

Jacobs is known throughout the Jewish community for his chairmanship of the Jewish Chronicle and directorships at UJIA and the B’nai B’rith Hillel Foundation. He is currently a trustee of The Jacob Foundation, owner of the Jewish News.

On the BFHU appointment, he said he was “honoured” to be take up the role and wanted to “build on the outstanding track record of the British Friends whose support for the HU dates back close to 100 years”.

The Hebrew University of Jerusalem (HU) is a top Israeli academic and research institution, serving more than 25,000 students over six campuses. Its luminaries include Albert Einstein, Chaim Weizmann, and Sigmund Freud.

“Few such organisations have achieved so much and left such an indelible mark on humanity with award-winning research, visionary leadership, excellent Faculty, and dedicated students,” said Jacobs, paying tribute to his predecessor’s “dedication”.

Kaye’s support for the Hebrew University spans seven decades, and BFHU said it was pleased to “continue to benefit from his unparalleled experience”. Kaye said Jacobs’ business experience and “deep personal and family connections to Israel” would serve him well in the role.