ZEFAT, Israel, August 27, 2026 — Zefat Academic College has received a $707,000 grant from The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust to enhance clinical and professional training at Zefat Academic College. A state-of-the-art ophthalmic surgical simulator for cataract and retinal surgery, together with a virtual reality (VR) training system, will be installed at the College’s Helmsley Medical Simulation Center, established with prior Helmsley grants. The simulator will serve optometry students and practicing ophthalmologists from across the region and beyond, helping improve surgical skills and enhance the quality of eye surgery performed in hospitals.
In addition, the equipment will be used to train students in the College’s Department of Optometry, exposing them to advanced vision science and modern eye care technologies. These new resources are expected to significantly strengthen clinical education by providing realistic simulation-based training, expanding opportunities for practical experience, and supporting professional specialization and continuing education.
Helmsley’s grant will also establish a new mobile optometry initiative that will expand access to eye examinations and vision care services throughout the Galilee and northern Israel, while strengthening the clinical training of students and healthcare professionals.
The project, led by Dr. Eran Tal-Or and Dr. Oren Yechezkel, will include a fully equipped mobile eye care unit featuring an advanced examination room and diagnostic equipment for vision screening of both young children and adults. The mobile clinic will serve communities across northern Israel, enabling the early detection of vision disorders and facilitating referrals for further treatment whenever needed. It will also provide optometry students with supervised hands-on clinical experience alongside ophthalmologists and specialists while delivering essential services to underserved populations, including individuals with limited mobility and preschool-aged children.
The initiative is expected to be launched with the opening of the upcoming academic year, creating a direct connection between academic training and the healthcare needs of communities throughout northern Israel.
Sandor Frankel, a Trustee of the Helmsley Charitable Trust, said:
“Providing enhanced clinical education for optometry and ophthalmology professionals and expanding eye care services in the Galilee are part of what makes Zefat Academic College an anchor for communities in the northern periphery. We are pleased to support Zefat in expanding access to quality healthcare training and services.”
Prof. Yechezkel Taler, President of Zefat Academic College, said:
“We are deeply grateful to the Helmsley Charitable Trust for its continued confidence in our institution and for its longstanding partnership with Zefat Academic College. This generous grant will enable us to expand the practical training of the next generation of optometry professionals while making advanced eye care services more accessible to the residents of the Galilee. The integration of academic excellence, cutting-edge technology, and direct community engagement is central to our mission as an academic institution that was established in the North and is dedicated to serving its people.”
This grant is part of the Helmsley Charitable Trust’s broader investment in healthcare initiatives in Israel. Since 2010, Helmsley has committed more than $800 million in grants for Israel to expand the nation’s world-class healthcare services, strengthen contributions to scientific, technological, and medical research, and promote a global understanding of Israel and its people.
###
About Zefat Academic College
Zefat Academic College (ZAC) is a public institution of higher education in Israel’s Galilee. Through studies in the health sciences, social work, law, and the humanities, the college extends opportunity to thousands of diverse students each year, acting as a key driver of regional development and social mobility. Learn more at en.zefat.ac.il
