Letters & Articles

Dear Weizmann Institute community,

I hope that all of you are safe, and that you are doing as well as possible given the difficult circumstances. The Weizmann Institute of Science, like Israeli society as a whole, is facing exceptional challenges at this time. It goes without saying—but should be stated nonetheless—that the attack that occurred at the Weizmann Institute on June 15, which caused severe damage at the heart of our campus, was an unprecedented event in the history of the Institute.

I returned from Europe last week on one of the first repatriation flights. Being away from the Institute and from the country during this crisis was challenging and distressing. My heart broke to see our campus home damaged. But our spirits are high. I continue to encounter the strength of the community—my fellow faculty members, emergency teams, students, and employees—who are showing courage, resourcefulness, and inspiring resilience, even at this most difficult time. Your care and concern for the campus is testament to the strong bonds of our community.

The damage to campus is extensive and painful: Four buildings are inaccessible, and dozens of others were affected to varying degrees. Critical infrastructure was damaged, and 52 labs were destroyed, as well as six research service units in the Life Sciences Core Facility. Fortunately, there were no human casualties. Immediately after the incident, emergency crews stabilized the situation. Within 24 hours, it was under control and we are continuing to restore function to infrastructure, buildings, and research activities.

The outpouring of support and solidarity from Israeli and international universities is moving. We have received countless offers from colleagues around the world expressing support and offering to host our researchers and students from the affected labs. This is a testament to the strength of the scientific spirit, and to the Institute's standing in the international community.

This was an attack on science itself—but science does not stop. Recovery efforts are progressing on two avenues: Clearing damaged infrastructure and removing hazardous waste, making damage assessments, and conducting planning for short- and long-term renovations, under the direction of Vice President for Administration Alon Weingarten. On the scientific front, Vice President Prof. Ziv Reich is leading efforts to map the damage and the scientific needs of the affected research groups, and finding interim solutions for damaged labs in nearby, off-campus facilities including the Science Park, as well as ensuring research continuity. At the same time, we are in contact with the relevant authorities for the purpose of the orderly handling of damage to property and equipment.

The Weizmann School of Science, under the direction of Dean Prof. Gilad Perez, is working diligently to maintain contact with students and postdocs in Israel and around the world to identify urgent needs and provide emotional and practical support to those directly affected.

We have established a dedicated philanthropic fund, the Weizmann Institute Emergency Recovery Fund, to advance efforts to raise funds and allocate them according to management priorities, in a flexible and efficient manner.

I would like to thank the vice presidents—Alon Weingarten, Prof. Ziv Reich, Prof. Irit Sagi and Prof. Roee Ozeri—for their determined leadership during this challenging time. Thank you, too, to the deans, scientists, and administrative heads for their careful and attentive management of the crisis. Also, thank you to the social workers who are working around the clock with attentiveness, providing emotional support to the campus community in this complex situation.

Although the challenge before us is an immense one, I have no doubt that we can overcome it together. In the spirit of partnership, hard work, and commitment to the scientific and human values on which the Institute was founded, we will rebuild, grow stronger, and continue to shine.

We continue to call for the immediate release of our hostages and an end to the war in Gaza, and we look forward to more peaceful days ahead.

Be well and stay safe,

Prof. Alon Chen