Alfred Landecker Foundation to support the Minerva Center for Human Rights
The Center located at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem benefits from the largest ever German-Israeli research grant
In times of rising Nationalism this can be seen as a strong and important sign: the German Alfred Landecker Foundation has awarded the Hebrew University of Jerusalem with the largest ever German-Israeli academic grant ever. Obtaining 12 Million Euros initiatives at the university will be supported in the fields of human rights, minority protection, the rule of law, and reparations for historical wrongs and injustices.
The Minerva Center for Human Rights, which is located at the Hebrew University and being funded by the Minerva Stiftung, will benefit from the grant with half a Million Euros funding. This can be seen as a appreciation for the successful research work at our Minerva Center.
This prestigious grant is one of the first major projects of the Landecker Foundation, as part of its commitment to create an international academic network that addresses key aspects in the protection of democratic values, pluralism and ethnic, religious and cultural minorities in an age of nationalism and emerging authoritarianism.
The donation is a cornerstone grant to build on the lessons learned from the collapse of democratic institutions in the 1930s – the emergence and proliferation of authoritarian and dictatorial regimes, the decline in minority rights protection, the subsequent World War, and the Holocaust committed in its shadow as an ultimate crime against humanity, committed against the Jewish people.
“I'm proud that at the very beginning of my assignment as the CEO of the Alfred Landecker Foundation, our first major donation goes to one of the world's outstanding and Israel's leading academic institution, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem. The foundation gladly supports the research and scholarly dissemination of legal and historical questions related to both the establishment and strengthening of human rights, individual as well collective rights. These subject matters were at the core interest and activity of leading Jewish legal scholars throughout the conflict-ridden 20th century. That legacy has to be continued, strengthened and applied during exceptionally precarious times,” said Andreas Eberhardt, CEO of the Alfred Landecker Foundation.
About the Alfred Landecker Foundation
The Alfred Landecker Foundation is dedicated to translating the lessons of the past into active engagement for strengthening democratic institutions, values and pluralism. While dangers are looming and reemerging, the foundation aims to help keep the memory of the Holocaust alive and to draw motivation from it to enlighten ourselves and others in order to combat antisemitic, racist, and antidemocratic trends. In terms of operational and funding activities, the Alfred Landecker Foundation seeks to do its part to preserve and expand a pluralist society. To do this, the Foundation will establish partnerships with leading institutions in academia, commemoration, and public policy, as well as with non-profit civil society organizations who share the same values. For more information on the Foundation and its programs visit https://www.alfredlandecker.org/home
About the Minerva Center for Human Rights
The Minerva Center for Human Rights has been established in 1995 jointly at the Hebrew University of Jeruslaem and the Tel Aviv University. The scientific main focus is to promote interest in local and regional human rights issues in the academic community and at large. It serves as a forum to exchange ideas on human rights issues between students, scholars, human rights activists and policy-makers from Israel and abroad. Information is being provided by a bibliographical database and documentation center. Scientific directors are Prof. Tomer Broude at the Hebrew University and Prof. Leora Bilsky at the Tel Aviv University.
