BGU | Fundraising Handbook

2.4 DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION Vital for a just society

The Need While often considered a melting pot of diverse cultures, Israeli society has historically been deeply segmented. The fractious state of Israeli society was at its peak when the Hamas attack occurred on October 7, 2023. Although the attack and ensuing war have been unifying forces for some, Israeli society remains heavily divided. The number of institutions and settings that bring all sectors of Israeli society together is very limited, and include healthcare, public transportation, some workplaces, and higher education. Outside of settings like these, the paths of most Israelis from different backgrounds don’t cross. With few natural opportunities for interaction, many Israelis don’t get to know people from other groups in society. This informal, but entrenched segregation contributes to mistrust, suspicion, and further separation, as well

as long-standing inequities, with large swaths of the country’s population suffering the results of inequities in healthcare, education, housing, employment, and more. At BGU, steps toward addressing social injustice concentrate on promoting diversity and inclusion, which are vital for a just society. In addition to furthering social justice, diversity and inclusion contribute to the University’s growth and ability to achieve academic excellence. Equity strengthens academia and everything that stems from it. It encourages diverse and different approaches and ways of thinking, improves decision-making and problem solving, and is a crucial requirement for broad discourse and the creation of an environment of creativity, originality, and innovation. Thus, while contributing to social justice on a personal, organizational, and societal

STUDENT ACCESS AND SUPPORT

27

DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION