Historic $125 Million Donation Transforms Tel Aviv University’s Medical School

Tel Aviv University has received a groundbreaking \$125 million donation from Jonathan Gray, President and COO of Blackstone, and his wife Mindy. This contribution marks the largest in the university’s history and stands as one of the most significant gifts ever made to an academic institution in Israel. It comes at a crucial time, aiming to address inequality in medical education, support marginalized communities, and boost the future of Israeli healthcare.

The donation will fund full scholarships, the construction of a new 600-bed dormitory, and a major expansion in enrollment—particularly among underrepresented groups such as Arab students, Haredim, Ethiopian Israelis, and immigrants. In recognition of this transformational gift, the university will rename its Faculty of Medicine after the Grays, officially retiring the Sackler name that had long drawn criticism due to its connection to the opioid crisis.

This move symbolizes not only a philanthropic milestone but also a cultural and academic shift, with implications for Israel’s future healthcare workforce and social inclusion efforts.

Tel Aviv University’s Medical School Gets Historic \$125M Boost from Blackstone President Jonathan Gray

Jonathan and Mindy Gray have pledged \$125 million to Tel Aviv University’s Faculty of Medicine, the largest gift in the school’s history.
The donation ranks among the top academic gifts in Israeli history and will be used to promote social equity in medical education.
Funds will provide scholarships, build new student housing, and increase accessibility for Arab, Haredi, Ethiopian, and immigrant students.
A 600-bed dormitory is set to be constructed, prioritizing students from marginalized communities.
The faculty will be renamed in honor of the Grays, replacing the Sackler name, which was removed in 2023 due to ties to the opioid epidemic.
Tel Aviv University trains more medical students than any other institution in Israel—around 300 annually.
With the donation, the university plans to increase that number to over 400 students per year—a 33% jump.
The donation will also enhance programs in nursing, audiology, speech therapy, physiotherapy, and occupational therapy.
The Grays are long-time philanthropists, having also donated over \$125 million to the University of Pennsylvania, including a \$55 million cancer prevention institute.
The October 7 Hamas attacks were a driving factor in their decision, deepening their commitment to Israel.
Unlike other philanthropists, Gray has avoided publicly criticizing U.S. universities over their responses to the Israel-Hamas conflict.
In a 2023 interview, Gray emphasized the need for academic institutions to denounce antisemitism clearly.
The Sackler name had been under scrutiny for years due to Purdue Pharma’s central role in the opioid crisis.
Other institutions like the University of Oxford and the British Museum have similarly distanced themselves from the Sacklers.
Tel Aviv University’s Faculty of Medicine, established in 1964, is Israel’s largest and is affiliated with 18 hospitals across the country.
The school includes divisions for dentistry, public health, and various health sciences.
The Grays’ donation is expected to strengthen the university’s leadership role in Israeli medicine.
The move also reaffirms a broader push toward social diversity and regional inclusion in higher education.
The donation is historic but not the largest: Howard and Lottie Marcus donated \$400 million to Ben-Gurion University in 2016.
Bar-Ilan University received an anonymous \$260 million gift last year focused on scientific research.
The gift is expected to have ripple effects across Israel’s medical training infrastructure.

What Undercode Say:

This massive contribution by Jonathan and Mindy Gray to Tel Aviv University’s medical school carries weight far beyond its impressive \$125 million figure. It represents a strategic redirection of philanthropy toward social equity and public health infrastructure—areas critical to national stability, especially in the post-October 7 era. The Grays’ decision reflects a profound understanding of the intersection between education, healthcare, and national resilience.

The donation is not just about infrastructure—it’s about impact. Scholarships will lower financial barriers that typically limit access to elite medical education. Dormitories will address housing insecurity for students from disadvantaged areas. Increased enrollment will help close Israel’s widening physician gap, particularly in underserved regions. This comprehensive package demonstrates an intentional investment in Israel’s human capital.

Renaming the school after the Grays and severing ties with the Sackler family further marks a symbolic rebirth for the institution. The removal of the Sackler name is significant, signaling a moral repositioning in academic partnerships, and aligning the faculty’s values with public accountability. While the Sackler donations helped build infrastructure, their legacy was tainted by Purdue Pharma’s opioid epidemic fallout—a weight Tel Aviv University no longer has to carry.

Interestingly, Jonathan Gray’s philanthropic style stands in contrast to the reactionary withdrawals seen from donors to U.S. institutions post-October 7. While many froze funds and launched media campaigns, Gray quietly expanded his giving—an approach that suggests long-term vision over short-term signaling. This kind of calm, strategic philanthropy sends a louder message than outrage ever could.

In terms of numbers, this donation helps Tel Aviv University surpass its peers. By boosting medical school admissions from 300 to over 400 annually, the school will produce nearly twice the number of new doctors compared to other Israeli institutions. That alone could help alleviate the chronic physician shortage projected by Israel’s Ministry of Health.

Furthermore, expanding into allied health fields (nursing, speech therapy, etc.) addresses system-wide bottlenecks. Israel’s health system—already strained by an aging population and rising chronic illness—needs multidisciplinary teams, not just more doctors. This donation directly supports that reality.

Also notable is the inclusion of underrepresented groups. Integrating Arab, Haredi, and Ethiopian Israelis into the country’s healthcare leadership is vital for national cohesion. It transforms the medical workforce into a reflection of Israeli society, fostering trust and improving health outcomes in marginalized communities.

What we see here is a textbook example of precision philanthropy: targeted, scalable, and socially conscious. It reflects a new era where donors not only fund buildings, but shift paradigms.

Fact Checker Results:

✅ The \$125 million donation is confirmed by multiple credible sources including the university itself.
✅ The Sackler name was officially removed in June 2023 due to public backlash linked to the opioid crisis.
✅ Tel Aviv University is Israel’s largest medical school, training the most physicians annually.

Prediction:

The Grays’ donation will catalyze a new wave of philanthropic activism centered on social equity and medical access. Expect to see other global donors follow suit—especially those looking to align their legacy with ethics and impact. Within five years, Tel Aviv University will likely lead Israel in producing not only the highest number of medical professionals, but also the most demographically diverse. This act may also inspire a broader re-evaluation of donor relationships and naming rights in institutions worldwide.