Our first full day here we had the pleasure of taking a tour of our campus with Haim the intern and here are some of the CRaZy facts we learned about our little school.

1. It was founded as an archaeology school in 1963.

2. The administration building opened in 1963, prior to 1967, when this was “No-Mans-Land” and Jordanian attacks were a security threat.  It was very difficult for HUC to be shown land to purchase in Jerusalem.  Finally, they were given its current spot near Mamilla (a 99 year lease for $1)—a slum neighborhood, and in the target and fire-range of the Jordanians.

3. The building’s fortress-like facade was more then just stylistic.   All the windows on the lower floor are narrow slits, with only one window (in the men’s room) facing east towards the old city walls. A large water cistern, electric generator and location made HUC an ideal facility for a police and army headquarters during both the Six-Day and the Yom Kippur Wars.

4. In 1985, the new campus addition was designed by the internationally renowned architect, Moshe Safdie.  Moshe also designed the new Ben Gurion airport and the new Yad V’shem building.  Moshe brought a pad of paper with him around the Old City  and drew images that he found pleasing to the eye.  He compiled these drawings and the resulting campus is filled with beautiful courtyards, arches and gates.

5. We are required to know this information to give campus tours after Saturday morning Shabbat services - keep your eyes peeled for our top 5 ‘inventive’ facts by HUC students for our tours.