Yad Hanadiv

Yad Hanadiv, also known as the Rothschild Foundation in Israel, is a philanthropic foundation whose work is directed toward strengthening Israeli society, its institutions, and its natural environment. The foundation is associated with the Rothschild family's longstanding tradition of philanthropy in Israel and commemorates Baron Edmond James de Rothschild, who was known in Hebrew as Hanadiv Hayadua, or the well-known benefactor. Yad Hanadiv took its current institutional form in 1958 and has since combined grant-making with the development, operation, and long-term support of major public initiatives. The foundation is not a conventional consumer brand or commercial enterprise. Its identity is built around public-purpose investment, institutional development, research support, and partnerships with government, universities, civil-society organizations, and other philanthropic bodies. It describes its guiding principles in terms of democracy, equality, inclusion, excellence, and shared responsibility. Its operating focus is Israel, with projects intended to benefit diverse communities and to improve public capabilities over the long term. Yad Hanadiv's program areas include education, environmental protection, academic excellence, early childhood, and the Arab community. In education, it has supported initiatives intended to improve formal and informal learning for children from lower socioeconomic backgrounds, strengthen teacher professional development, and build national educational infrastructure. In early childhood, the foundation focuses on improving the quality of care and development for infants and preschool children, particularly those facing socioeconomic disadvantage or other risks. Its Arab Community Programme supports the participation of young Arab women and men in Israel's economy and wider society, including work related to employment and high-achieving Arab students in science and technology. The foundation's environmental work addresses ecological resilience in natural, agricultural, and urban settings. Its activities include support for marine ecosystems and river rehabilitation, as well as the operation of Ramat Hanadiv Memorial Gardens and Nature Park. Ramat Hanadiv combines remembrance, horticulture, public access, and conservation and is one of the foundation's most visible continuing undertakings. Yad Hanadiv has also played a significant role in developing national cultural, scientific, and civic institutions. It was instrumental in the construction of the Knesset building and the Supreme Court of Israel and has supported institutions and programs including Israeli Educational Television, the Open University, the Centre for Educational Technology, the Jerusalem Music Centre, the Institute for Advanced Studies, the Water Research Institute at the Technion, and the Israel Institute for School Leadership. Its support for the renewal of the National Library of Israel included funding for a new building facing the Knesset. The building opened to the public in 2023. Academic and research support is delivered through prizes, fellowships, and programs designed to retain and develop high-level talent. These include the Rothschild Prize, the Rothschild Fellowship for postdoctoral research outside Israel, the Rothschild Prize in Education, and support for the Michael Bruno Memorial Award. The foundation has also supported initiatives in precision medicine, humanities research and teaching, and the use of data and institutional infrastructure to improve Israeli society. Governance has remained closely connected to the Rothschild family. Dorothy de Rothschild served as the first chairperson from 1958 until 1988. Lord Jacob Rothschild became chair in 1989 and later served as president after Dame Hannah Rothschild assumed the chair in 2018. Lord Rothschild remained president until his death in 2024. As of 2025, the foundation's chief executive is Professor Yigal Mersel. Yad Hanadiv continues to operate as an active philanthropic institution rather than as a listed company, with its public profile defined by long-term partnerships and institution-building rather than commercial products.

Yad Hanadiv's institutional identity is rooted in the Rothschild family's philanthropic relationship with Israel and in the legacy of Baron Edmond James de Rothschild. His Hebrew honorific, Hanadiv Hayadua, means the well-known benefactor and provides the foundation's name and commemorative purpose. The foundation's current form was established in 1958, creating a durable vehicle for supporting Israeli public life through institution-building, grants, and strategic partnerships. Dorothy de Rothschild was the foundation's first chairperson and held that position until 1988. In 1989, Lord Jacob Rothschild became chair. During the foundation's development, Yad Hanadiv supported projects that helped establish or strengthen major civic, educational, scientific, cultural, and environmental institutions. Its contributions included involvement in the construction of the Knesset and Supreme Court buildings, support for Israeli Educational Television and the Open University, and assistance to organizations such as the Centre for Educational Technology, the Jerusalem Music Centre at Mishkenot Sha'ananim, the Institute for Advanced Studies, and the Water Research Institute at the Technion. The foundation also helped create or support initiatives in science education, school leadership, nonprofit information, and environmental and health policy. These included HEMDA, the MANOF Youth Village, the Environment and Health Fund, the Israel Institute for School Leadership, and GuideStar Israel. The pattern across these activities was not the provision of short-term charitable relief alone, but the development of national capacity and institutions that could continue serving the public. In 2018, Dame Hannah Rothschild became chair, while Jacob Rothschild assumed the presidency. Under its continuing leadership, Yad Hanadiv organized its work around education, environmental improvement, academic excellence, early childhood, and the Arab community. Projects have addressed teacher development, childhood care, ecological restoration, marine systems, river rehabilitation, Arab employment, scientific and technological advancement, precision medicine, and humanities research. Ramat Hanadiv Memorial Gardens and Nature Park became a major ongoing undertaking combining public gardens, conservation, remembrance, and environmental education. Yad Hanadiv also became a principal supporter of the renewal of the National Library of Israel. The new library building, designed by Herzog & de Meuron on a site facing the Knesset, opened to the public in 2023. The foundation's academic role has included the Rothschild Prize, the Rothschild Fellowship, the Rothschild Prize in Education, and support for the Michael Bruno Memorial Award. These programs aim to recognize excellence, encourage early-career researchers, support international postdoctoral experience, and strengthen the contribution of scholarship to Israeli society. Jacob Rothschild remained president until his death in 2024. Reference material identifies Professor Yigal Mersel as chief executive as of 2025. Yad Hanadiv remains an active Rothschild family philanthropic foundation with Israel as its central field of operation.

• 2025

  Yigal Mersel identified as chief executive

  [1]Yad Hanadiven.wikipedia.org

  Reference material identifies Professor Yigal Mersel as chief executive as of 2025.

• 2024

  Jacob Rothschild dies

  [1]Yad Hanadiven.wikipedia.org

  Jacob Rothschild's tenure as president ended with his death in 2024.

• 2023

  New National Library building opens

  [1]Yad Hanadiven.wikipedia.org

  The renewed National Library of Israel building opened to the public with Yad Hanadiv support.

• 2018

  Hannah Rothschild becomes chair

  [1]Yad Hanadiven.wikipedia.org

  Hannah Rothschild assumed the chair, while Jacob Rothschild became president.

• 1999

  Michael Bruno Memorial Award launched

  [1]Yad Hanadiven.wikipedia.org

  The Michael Bruno Memorial Award was launched to recognize outstanding researchers at an early stage of their scientific careers.

• 1989

  Jacob Rothschild becomes chair

  [1]Yad Hanadiven.wikipedia.org

  Lord Jacob Rothschild was appointed chair of Yad Hanadiv.

• 1988

  Dorothy de Rothschild concludes her chairmanship

  [1]Yad Hanadiven.wikipedia.org

  Dorothy de Rothschild served as the foundation's first chairperson until 1988.

• 1958

  Yad Hanadiv established in its current form

  [1]Yad Hanadiven.wikipedia.org

  The foundation was established in its current institutional form as a Rothschild family philanthropic foundation operating in Israel.

A long-term, institution-building philanthropic foundation focused on strengthening Israeli democracy, equality, education, scientific and cultural excellence, environmental resilience, and social inclusion.

• Environmental conservation and public gardens

  Ramat Hanadiv Memorial Gardens and Nature Park

  A foundation-funded and operated public landscape combining memorial gardens, nature conservation, environmental education, and visitor access. It represents Yad Hanadiv's effort to connect ecological stewardship with public benefit and remembrance.

• Cultural and civic infrastructure · 2023

  National Library of Israel renewal

  A long-term institutional renewal project that included support for construction of a new National Library of Israel building near the Knesset. The new building opened to the public in 2023.

• Academic prize

  Rothschild Prize

  A biennial prize recognizing original and outstanding published work across fields including mathematics and computer science, engineering, the physical and life sciences, Jewish studies, the humanities, social sciences, and the arts.

• Research fellowship

  Rothschild Fellowship

  A fellowship for outstanding young researchers seeking to undertake postdoctoral study outside Israel, supporting international academic development and the circulation of expertise.

• Academic development

  Academic Excellence Programme

  A program intended to nurture a diverse group of outstanding people in the sciences and arts and to increase the contribution of academic excellence to Israeli society.

• Environmental program

  Environment Programme

  A program focused on improving the health and resilience of ecological systems in natural, agricultural, and urban environments for the benefit of both people and nature.

• Early-childhood development

  Early Childhood Programme

  An initiative focused on raising the quality of care for infants and preschool children, particularly those from lower socioeconomic backgrounds and high-risk populations.

• Social inclusion and employment

  Arab Community Programme

  A program supporting the integration of young Arab women and men into Israel's economy and society, including initiatives related to employment and academic excellence in science and technology.

• Education

  Education Programme

  A program supporting quality formal and informal educational opportunities for elementary and middle-school children from lower socioeconomic backgrounds.

• Research award · 1999

  Michael Bruno Memorial Award

  An award launched in 1999 to encourage outstanding researchers at the beginning of their scientific careers. Yad Hanadiv granted it directly from 1999 to 2011; from 2002, it was conferred by the Israel Institute for Advanced Studies with continuing foundation support.

• 2023

  Public opening of the renewed National LibraryOther

  Background

  Yad Hanadiv supported the renewal of Israel's National Library and the construction of a new building near the Knesset.

  Action taken

  The new National Library building opened to the public in 2023.

  Aftermath

  The project expanded the country's cultural and knowledge infrastructure.

  Source

• 2018

  Leadership transition and continued Rothschild governanceStrategy

  Background

  The foundation continued its family-led governance model while moving to a new chair and president.

  Action taken

  Hannah Rothschild became chair and Jacob Rothschild became president.

  Aftermath

  The transition preserved the foundation's Rothschild family leadership structure.

  Source

1. 1Yad Hanadiven.wikipedia.org
2. 2Yad Hanadiv official websiteyadhanadiv.org.il