500 New Olim Begin Studying at Bar-Ilan University

When Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, Elena Kravtsova, from St. Petersburg, decided it was time to leave her native homeland. The 33-year-old accomplished lawyer gave up her distinguished career to come to Israel. “I lost everything. I came to Israel with nothing and started here from zero because I wanted to live in a free country with democracy,” she says. Kravtsova is now enrolled in the International MBA Program, while also studying cyber security.

Elena Kravtsova is one of 500 new olim who joined BIU this year. 

This morning Minister of Aliyah and Integration Ofir Sofer MK met with Bar-Ilan University student olim enrolled in the University for the 2024-25 academic year. Five hundred olim, including scores currently in the IDF reserves, will study this year at Bar-Ilan – double the enrollment compared to the academic year preceding the outbreak of the war. According to data compiled by the Ministry of Aliyah and Integration, 500 additional olim have requested enrollment at Bar-Ilan University.

“Aliyah is a strategic asset for the State of Israel,” said Minister Sofer. “Through these programs, we guarantee that new immigrants will be able to integrate into Israeli academia in an optimal way while studying and coping with the language challenge. Anyone who immigrates to Israel now and encourages others to do so sends a message to our enemies that we are one people. This year we opened 27 programs intended for new immigrants, and we’ve set a goal to increase this number to 90.

“The fact that Bar-Ilan is a university that absorbs immigrants is a source of pride for us," said Bar-Ilan University CEO and Deputy President Zohar Yinon at the orientation event on campus. "Immigrant students from all over the world come to Israel and see our campus as a second home," he added, promising to continue accepting new immigrants alongside students from 52 countries currently studying at Bar-Ilan University.

This year Bar-Ilan University’s International School, headed by Vice President for International Affairs Prof. Rivka Tuval-Mashiach, launched three new bilingual undergraduate programs: a BSc in Computer Science, BSc in Life Sciences (Pre-Med), and Bachelor of Laws (LLB).  These programs begin with a foundation year of courses taught entirely in English. Students simultaneously study in an intensive ulpan which will enable them to gain enough knowledge of Hebrew to study with other Israeli students from their second year.

During a panel discussion Sammy Garfinkel, a 19-year-old new immigrant from London, said he couldn’t find any math degree program in Israel taught in English, so he decided to study computer science, which incorporates lots of mathematical content. “Bar-Ilan University was the only university that checked all the boxes: it offered the subject I wanted to study, intensive ulpan allowing me to integrate into my studies and society, and studies in English, so it is very well rounded in that way,” said Garfinkel. 

The panel discussion, including Garfinkel and five additional new immigrant students, focused on their decision to make Aliyah, to study at Bar-Ilan, and how they are integrating into university life so far. Participants included 22-year-old Anna Topolyanskiy, who immigrated from Philadelphia and is majoring in life sciences; 33-year-old Elena Kravtsova, an accomplished lawyer who gave up her successful career in St. Petersburg, Russia to move to Israel and is a student in the International MBA Program while also studying cyber security; Shani Gittler Geluda from Mexico City is a student in the Mechina (Preparatory) Program for new immigrants and intends to study systems engineering and business administration; 24-year-old Yitzhak Ginsburg, from Belarus, is studying for a bachelor’s degree in math; and Leah Elkin, originally from Los Angeles, is studying law.