These guidelines are mandatory for all members of the University community, including academic staff, administrative staff, and students.
Basic Principle: Tolerance
The Hebrew University of Jerusalem community recognizes the importance of expressing opinions and ideas and of critical public discourse, particularly in times of crisis. Freedom of expression is an essential element in realizing individual autonomy and maintaining a democratic society.
Engaging in public discussion on controversial issues is essential for the vitality of any democratic society. Hence, the University is highly tolerant regarding legal, but controversial, statement of opinion, and tends to avoid exercising its enforcement authorities regarding them. Nevertheless, every member of the Hebrew University community is required to meet the rules and norms essential for the existence of a tolerant and egalitarian community that promotes excellence. Where deemed necessary, enforcement and disciplinary measures will be taken.
The Duty to Act Responsibly
As an institution of higher education committed to promoting open dialogue and criticism, the Hebrew University is committed to protect the community members’ freedom of speech, but is also committed to creating a public space that ensures a safe community life and to safeguarding its members. This commitment places significant responsibility on each of us to carefully consider the positions we choose to express publicly and the way we do so. Each and every one of us must consider the repercussions of our expressions on other members of the University community and on the fabric of our relationships.
Guidelines for Community Members’ Statements
❶ Expressing support for the terrible October 7th massacre and the harming of innocent people, regardless of their origin, undermines the very foundations of human society. It reflects disregard for human life and severely offends the values sacred to the University community. It is also beyond the legal scope permitted by the law.
❷. It is permissible and appropriate to express empathy for innocent victims who have been
harmed themselves, or whose loved ones have, be they Israelis, Palestinians or others. Expressing compassion and empathy for the suffering of others contributes to strengthening the foundations of human society.
❸ All statements should be made in a manner that respects other members of the University community. We recommend focusing on the content of claims rather than on personal attributes of any person, and avoid, as much as possible offensive statements made in an aggressive tone, expressions of hatred, and statements that deny the rights of another party to the conflict. The more serious the statement or allegation, the more essential it is to support it with a solid and detailed factual basis.
❹ In all expressions, one must consider the anticipated consequences, both deliberate and unintentional. Expressing support for terrorism, inciting hatred and racism, or advocating violence are strictly and absolutely forbidden. When in doubt, it is crucial to clarify one’s intent, in order to minimize the risk of misunderstandings.
❺ Generalizations that attribute negative qualities or wrongful acts to people based on group characteristics such as religion, nationality, or gender should be avoided. It is forbidden to instigate action against people on the basis of group characteristics. Such statements may be considered incitement to racism and are prohibited because they can be particularly harmful: they may encourage discrimination, reinforce biases, and offend the dignity of community members.
Guidelines in Case of Offense
In any case of offense, the University provides dedicated channels for disciplinary procedures, mediation, investigation and consensus-building. As a rule, the preferable course of action in response to an offensive statement, which is controversial but legal, is responding to it by addressing any claims matter-of-factly, as well as their emotional implications.
October 2025
Revision of the document originally published in December 2023.