Prof. Aaron Ben-Ze’ev, President

NEWSLETTERUniversity of Haifa

“The 38th year has been a splendid year for the University of Haifa and the 39th year will be no less,” said Chairman of the Board of Governors, Mr. Leon H. Charney, in a special video that he prepared to greet the guests of the 38th Meeting of the Board of Governors at the Opening Plenary Session. Although unable to attend the meeting, he assured the assembly: “I am not there to cheer you on, but I am there in spirit.” Mr. Charney along with Vice President of External Relations and Resource Development, Mr. Amos Gaver, expressed their sincere thanks and appreciation to Executive Director of the Division of External Relations Mrs. Rachel Kaverman and the entire devoted team for their great efforts and work in making this Meeting an enormous success.

In a written note to each of the Members of the Board, Mr. Charney wrote:Seeing our University prevail despite the many challenges it has faced during the past several years, mainly the economic crisis, fills me with a sense of great pride and genuine satisfaction. I wish to commend the Board of Governors for the growth and outreach efforts it has made and I welcome with open arms our new members, each one of whom represents a priceless asset to the University of Haifa. I am positive that our new board members will add to the prestige of our University and do their utmost to contribute to its development. I would like to praise the exciting plans for the New Science Campus of the University of Haifa in the Galilee. I am certain that this new endeavor will house groundbreaking advances in scientific disciplines and in the overall development of our University. I am confident that the New Science Campus in the Galilee will contribute significantly to positioning the University of Haifa amongst the top research Universities in the world.For the New Year, Mr. Charney extends best wishes for a year of continued academic growth and success – in Haifa and the Galilee – and to each of the members of the board, supporters of the University, administration, faculty and students, a year of good health and inspiration.

Dear Friends Greetings from the Chairman

Looking Ahead

Shana Tova

08-10August 2010

It is an honor to introduce you to this special edition of our newsletter, featuring events from the 38th Meeting of the Board of Governors and in anticipation of the New Year. An Outstanding Leadership Award that was presented to President of the State of Israel, Shimon Peres, was a highlight of the BOG events. It was a truly successful and inspirational meeting, and I was particularly pleased with the participation of so many members of the Board, from Israel and overseas, attesting to their bond and commitment to the University of Haifa.As we are in the midst of an unprecedented process of academic development, I was glad to have the opportunity to discuss the University’s activities, projects and aspirations with our Board Members. Our current development involves strengthening existing departments and opening new ones. Particular focus for our new year ahead is being placed on planning a new science campus in the Galilee, which will significantly increase the University’s research capacity and advance higher education and science in northern Israel. We are very excited to be leading such a strategic national project.

The absence at the meeting of our Chairman of the Board of Governors, Mr. Leon H. Charney, due to having taken ill, was greatly felt throughout the meeting. Prof. Manfred Lahnstein, Vice Chairman of the Board, graciously agreed to chair the Board of Governors Meeting and did so in an exemplary manner.I am confident that this meeting provided our supporters with the information and enthusiasm necessary to continue full speed ahead in advancing our plans for the University. I wish you all a year of health and success!

NEWSLETTERUniversity of Haifa

The first evening arranged for the members of the Board was a special Memorial Day cocktail hosted by the Ameri-can Society of the University of Haifa and generously sponsored by Mr. Avi Abekasis, a member of the Board of Governors. The evening was a wonderful way for the members of the Board to mingle as a prelude to the of-ficial opening of the Meeting of the Board of Governors.

Dr. Oliviero Stock, a member of the University’s Board of Governors, introduced the PIL Hecht Museum Intelligent Mobile Multimedia System at the Opening Plenary Session of the Board of Governors Meeting.

Dr. Stock is Director of the collaboration developing this technology: the University’s Caesarea Edmond Benjamin de Rothschild Foundation Institute for Interdisciplinary Applications of Computer Science (directed by Prof. Martin Golumbic) with the Institute for Scientific and Technological Research of Trento, Italy.

Guests aboard the scientific cruise, hosted by the Leon H. Charney School of Marine Sciences

L-R: Mrs. Herta Amir, Prof. Aaron Ben Ze’ev, Dr. Michal Amir Salkin and Mr. Paul Amir

Dr. Oliviero Stock addressed the Plenary Session assembly. Standing (L-R): Prof. Martin Golumbic, Dr. Nadav Kashtan, Dr. Tsvika Kuflik

The University at sea

Arriving in good cheer

Haifa-Italy technology collaboration

You are invited . . .

08-10The attendees of the Board of Governors Meeting were treated to an unusual, exciting and informative cruise on the Mediterranean, setting out from the port of Akko and sailing to the port in Haifa. Doctoral students from the Leon H. Charney School of Marine Sciences joined the passen-gers on board and wowed them with some of their recent and fascinating studies, including hands-on displays of their work.

Action was not contained to the boat alone: Research-ers Dr. Dan Tchernov and Dr. Beverly Goodman-Tchernov completed a diving expedition and clad in their wetsuits, approached the cruiser on a small boat. Joining the gath-ering on board, they discussed their current research and answered questions on the various and curious aspects of carrying it out.

The Meeting of the Board of Governors featured a unique exhibition of historical invitations and pho-tographs from past annual meetings of the Board of Governors, produced by Ms. Rona Perkis, Head of the University Archive.

This was, on all accounts, a spectacular opportunity for the board members to create long-lasting ties while enjoying the sea and experiencing the unique marine studies taking place at the University.

08-10NEWSLETTERUniversity of Haifa

The University dedicated the new Sagy Center for the Study of the Internet during the Board of Governors meeting. The Center has been established thanks to a very generous gift from entrepreneurs Ami and Teddy Sagy. The dedication was attended by dozens of guests of the Sagy family who came from all over the country for this momentous event.

Zak Dechovich, Founder and CEO of Reimage, was guest speaker at the dedication. “The Internet is a new technology that enables us to create new worlds. This is the first time, since the Tower of Babel, that people of different cultures who speak different languages are able to communicate in the same language – the language of the Internet,” he said.

“Over the past decades the world of Internet has undergone significant changes, as an integral part of its develop-ment. Therefore, the formation of a study area that is aimed at researching this magnificent tool was really only a matter of time. We are happy to have been able to assist in the establishment of this Center,” said Mr. Ami Sagy.

The Sagy Center for the Study of the Internet is headed by Prof. Sheizaf Rafaeli, Director of the Center for the Study of the Information Society, Head of the University’s Graduate School of Management and one of the world’s leading experts in the research of the Internet. It is a multidisci-plinary research center and is unique in combining academic research and knowledge with the industry’s demand for developed Internet systems.

The inauguration of the magnificent Hatter Student

Building and the dedication of the Ruhman Family Cafeteria took place in the presence of honored guests Lady Irene and Sir Maurice Hatter, and Mr. and Mrs. Roberto Ruhman and family.The Hatter Student Building, with its beautifully crafted wooden decks and spacious halls, boasts exquisite views of Haifa Bay and its surrounding mountain ranges. The new building includes all student services, the Internet-equipped Ruhman Family Cafeteria, a social club, and more. Prof. Aaron Ben-Ze’ev, President, and Mr. Yona Yahav,

Mayor of the City of Haifa, delivered remarks to the guests, faculty members, and students who were present for the celebration.

Representatives of the California-based Rieger Foundation gathered during the Board of Governors meeting for the much anticipated dedication of the Rieger Café and Garden. Situated at the center of campus with stunning views of the Haifa Bay and surrounding Carmel Mountains, the Rieger Café and Garden is the central outdoor meeting and entertainment place for students and faculty. Committed to improving the quality of student life, the Rieger Foundation has been supporting scholarships and other projects at the University of Haifa for more than 20 years. The guests were welcomed by tens of Rieger Foundation scholarship students. Guests and speakers from the Rieger Foundation included: Chair of the Board, Dr. Stanley Leiken, Board member Dr. Naftaly Glasman, and representative Mr. Arthur Gaudi.

Dr. Stanley Leiken speaking at the dedication ceremony of the Rieger Café and Garden

L-R: Vice President of External Relations, Mr. Amos Gaver; Mr. Roberto Ruhman and Mrs. Renata Ruhman; President of the University, Prof. Aaron Ben-Ze’ev

L-R: CEO of the Israeli Friends of the University of Haifa, Mrs. Shira Ben-Or; Teddy, Lizika and Ami Sagy; President, Prof. Aaron Ben-Ze’ev; VP of External Relations and Resource Development, Mr. Amos Gaver

The Sagy Center for the Study of the Internet unveiling ceremony. L-R: President Prof. Aaron Ben-Ze’ev; Teddy, Lizika and Ami Sagy; Prof. Sheizaf Rafaeli

Welcoming the new . . . Horizons in Internet research

08-10

Exceptional student facilities

Leisure on the lawn

Mr. Ruhman and Sir Maurice on the deck of the Hatter Student Building

Outstanding Leadership

A new generation

The Festive Opening Ceremony for the 38th Meeting of the Board of Governors, which took place at the Interna-tional Convention Center in Haifa, was indeed a very grand affair, hosting guests from all over the globe and fill-ing the hall to maximum capacity. The event was sponsored by Partner Communications Company Ltd. and the University was proud to have David Avner, CEO of Partner and alumnus of the University of Haifa, as an honored guest. Some 300 members of Israel’s Druze community in traditional dress were also among the guests, and all present enjoyed an exciting atmosphere that began with cocktails and was accompanied by a live band throughout. The Opening led into a moving ceremony conferring the University’s first “Outstanding Leadership Award” to the Presi-dent of the State of Israel, Shimon Peres, and was followed by the Conferment Ceremony of the Degrees of Philosophy, Honoris Causa.

“Leadership is always a challenge in counter-ing reality. A true leader is someone who al-ways looks for ways to change and improve. This is also true of academia. In order to be a good researcher, it is not enough to be clever. It is also necessary to endlessly challenge and cast doubt.” These were just a few of the words spoken by President of the State of Israel when receiving the University of Haifa’s Outstanding Leadership Award at the Festive Opening of the 38th Meeting of the Board of Governors. The award was presented by President of the University of Haifa, Prof. Aaron Ben-Ze’ev, and VP of External Relations, Mr. Amos Gaver, in recogni-tion of Mr. Peres’s ongoing service to the State of Israel with self-sacrifice and endless devotion. This is the first time that the University of Haifa presented an “Outstanding Leadership Award”-conferred upon leaders who have made a notable impact on the development and strength of the State of Israel. Prof. Ben-Ze’ev stated that it was most natural to choose the President of the State of Israel, Mr. Shimon Peres, to be the first recipient of this award. The Outstanding Award Committee noted Mr. Peres’s great contribution to Israel’s security and international status; his uncompromising struggle for secure and just peace between Israel and its neighbors; and his inspiring work for society and the economy. It marked Mr. Peres’s being a man of vision, working untiringly for the welfare of the citizens of the State of Israel, looking to the horizon while keeping his feet firmly on the ground; and the importance that he places on the central and vital role of science and research in the State of Israel, in the awareness that the fruits of investment in higher education today will be reaped by us all tomorrow.

Following the awarding ceremony, Da-vid Avner, CEO of Partner Communica-

tions, joined the stage with Hila Shmuel, a student in the Etgar program that enables advanced high school students the opportunity to complete higher education studies during their last year of school studies. Ms. Shmuel, a recipient of a Partner scholarship for her studies at the Uni-versity of Haifa, gave a moving account of her personal story and her heartfelt thanks to the President of the State of Israel and to Partner Communications for their commitment to the future of Israel and to its younger generation.

A Grand Opening

President Shimon Peres receives Outstanding Leadership Award from President of the University, Prof. Aaron Ben-Ze’ev and Vice President for External Relations and Resource Development, Mr. Amos Gaver. L-R: Partner Communications CEO David Avner, Prof. Ben-Ze’ev, President Shimon Peres, Mr. Amos Gaver

Hila Shmuel,Etgar scholarship recipientwith Mr. David Avner, CEO of Partner Communications

NEWSLETTERUniversity of Haifa

NEWSLETTERUniversity of Haifa08-10

Prof. Ciechanover spoke on behalf of the recipients and said: “We have amongst us some of the best scientists, engi-neers, doctors, philosophers, artists, authors and intellectuals who have elevated the State of Israel up to the lofty peaks of achievement. These achievements bring joy and pride for all of us, while countries larger and wealthier than Israel can but envy them. But we face the future, not the past; the horizon on which our children and country will live.”

The University awarded six Doctor of Philosophy, Honoris Causa, degrees at the Festive Opening of the Meeting of the Board of Governors. Addressing the recipients, President of the University, Prof. Aaron Ben-Ze’ev said: “I am proud that the University of Haifa is conferring these honorary doctorates, showing its high estimation of the recipients, for it also gives a reason for the University to be proud that such people want to be part of it.”

Concluding the ceremony with Hatikva. L-R: Vice Chairman of the Board of Governors, Prof. Manfred Lahnstein; Mayor of the City of Haifa, Mr. Yona Yahav; President of the University of Haifa, Prof. Aaron Ben-Ze’ev; President Peres; Shaykh Mowafak Tarif; Mrs. Ruth Dayan; Dr. Albert Lincoln; Mr. Paul Amir; Prof. Aaron Ciechanover; VP for External Relations and Resource Development, Mr. Amos Gaver

Shaykh Mowafak TarifL-R: Prof. Yossi Ben-Artzi, Prof. Aaron Ben-Ze’ev, Shaykh Mowafak Tarif, Dr. Ruben Kaufman

L-R: Prof. Aaron Ben-Ze’ev, Ms. Lee Liberman, Dr. Francis Gurry, Dr. Yossi Bachar

Mrs. Ruth DayanL-R: Prof. Aaron Ben-Ze’ev, Prof. Yossi Ben-Artzi, Mrs. Ruth Dayan, Dr. Lia van Leer

Mr. Paul AmirL-R: Mr. Ami Sagy, Mr. Paul Amir, Dr. Younes Nazarian

Dr. Albert Lincoln L-R: Prof. Yossi Ben-Artzi, Mrs. Ruth Alon, Dr. Albert Lincoln, Mr. Moshe

Prof. Aaron Ciechanover L-R: Prof. Yossi Ben-Artzi, Prof. Alfred Tauber, Prof. Ciechanover, Mr. Sammy Segol, Prof. Aaron Ben-Ze’ev

NEWSLETTERUniversity of Haifa 08-1008-10

Dr. Francis Gurry

Honorary doctorates

NEWSLETTERUniversity of Haifa

NEWSLETTERUniversity of Haifa

The scholarship award ceremony hosted by the British Friends of Haifa University was attended by a warm and intimate gathering of students with their families, senior administration and academic faculty. The event was chaired by Executive Director of the British Friends, Jack Raymond, and the schol-arships were presented personally by Sir Maurice and Lady Irene Hatter, who generously sponsored some of the scholarships.

Ms. Leslie Miller, daugh-ter of the late Ettie and Dusty Miller, and Mrs. Jill Miller, daughter-in-law, present the Dusty and Ettie Miller Fellowship award. The recipient of this year’s award for an outstanding student is

Dr. Efrat Shadmi of the Department of Nursing.

The German Friends Association of the University of Haifa hosted a Scholarship Awarding ceremony, presided by Mrs. Sonja Lahnstein, President of the German Friends Association. Scholarships were presented to students who participate in the Jewish-Arab Community Leadership Program and the Werner Otto Program for Arab Women engaged in graduate studies. Two student coordinators of the Community Leadership Program, Mr. Belal Walked and Ms. Nava Vayner, spoke about the multicultural social interaction between Arab and Jewish students and their experiences working in community social programs. They expressed their appreciation to Mrs. Lahnstein and the German Friends for their wonderful sup-port. Ms. Juman Tannous, a Ph.D. student in the Faculty of Education, delivered thanks on behalf of the recipients of the Werner Otto Program who are achieving academic success due to the generosity of the German Friends.

Scholarship recipients accompanied by Sir Maurice and Lady Irene Hatter

L-R: Rector of the University of Haifa, Prof. Yossi Ben-Artzi, Dr. Efrat Shadmi, Ms. Leslie Miller, Mrs. Jill Miller

Mrs. Sonja Lahnstein, President of the German Friends Association, with scholarship recipients from the Jewish-Arab

Community Leadership Program and the Werner Otto Program

British Friends Scholarship ceremony

“Patenting for Growth”

Dusty and Ettie Miller Fellowship award

German Friends awards scholarships

Academic excellence08-10

Honorary Doctorate recipient Dr. Francis Gurry, Director General of the World Intellectual Property Or-ganization (WIPO), was keynote speaker at a conference on “Pat-enting for Growth: Leveraging the Israeli High-Tech Industry” that took place in the course of the Meet-ing of the Board of Governors. Hosted by the special Patent Law pro-gram in the Faculty of Law, an interna-tional program in collaboration with WIPO that provides academic training in Intellectual Property and business law, Dr. Gurry discussed changes that have been taking place over the past few years in intellectual property, particularly relating to technological developments.

Dr. Francis Gurry

NEWSLETTERUniversity of Haifa

Rosario Capital, Ltd. and alumnus of the University. The festive event displayed outstanding centers of excellence at the University, including the Cognitive Neuroscience Program; the Department of Learn-ing Disabilities and Edmond J. Safra Brain Research Center for the Study of Learning Disabilities; Marine Geophysics in the Dr. Moses Strauss Department of Marine Geosciences; the European Master’s Program in Law and Economics; and much more. Prof. Braverman placed an emphasis on achieving academic excellence with the guidance of outstand-ing leadership, saying: “Talent also needs leadership, and leadership of the future that not only thinks about what should be, but also takes these young people and gives them guidance.” The evening was emceed by Dr. Michael Lazar of the Department of the Dr. Moses Strauss Marine Geosciences, repre-senting the Faculty of Natural Sciences.

Honoring academic excellence

Dusty and Ettie Miller Fellowship award

08-1008-10The second evening of the Meeting of the Board of Governors was dedicated to “Honoring Academic Excellence: Where In-spiration Meets Innova-tion”. Guests of honor at the event were Minister

of Minorities Affairs Prof. Avishay Braverman and Mr. Ruben Eblagon, founder of

Faculties welcome new deans

The Senate of the University of Haifa has elected three new Deans for 2010-2014, who will take up their positions in October. Prof. Ofra Mayseless, Dean of the Faculty of Education, has been reelected for a second term. “I extend sincere congratulations to the elected deans and wish them a fruitful, enjoyable and successful term ahead,” said Prof. Yossi Ben-Artzi, Rector of the University.Faculty of HumanitiesProf. Reuven Snir of the Department of Arabic Language and Literature at the University will be replacing Prof. Menahem Mor as Faculty Dean. Prof. Snir is an expert in Arabic literature, Arab-Jewish his-tory and culture, and Muslim asceticism and mysticism.Faculty of Social Welfare and Health SciencesProf. Shai Linn, MD, DrPH, formerly head of the University’s School of Public Health, will replace Prof. Perla Werner as Dean of the Faculty of Social Welfare and Health Sciences. Prof. Shai Linn’s research focuses on new diagnostic tech-nologies, clinical epidemiology, cost of illness and disability, environmental health and causality in tort litigations.

Graduate Studies AuthorityProf. Itzhak Harpaz of the Graduate School of Manage-ment and Department of Sociology and Anthropology will be the new Dean of the Graduate Studies Author-ity, replacing Prof. Sophia Menache. Prof. Harpaz is an expert in human resource management, organiza-tional behavior, and employment relations.

Prof. David Faraggi has been elected the incoming Rector of the University of Haifa by the Senate of the University. He is to take over from current Rector Prof. Yossi Ben-Artzi in October 2010.

Prof. Faraggi, who is currently Vice Rector, is a bio-statistician

in the Department of Statistics. He received his doctorate from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1984 and completed his postdoctoral studies at the Harvard School of Public Health’s Department of Biostatistics. He has been visiting professor and fellow professor in many higher education institutions around the world, includ-ing Harvard University, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and more.

President Prof. Aaron Ben-Ze’ev congratulated Prof. Faraggi on his appointment and said: “I look forward to working with Prof. Faraggi, who is a highly capable individual and a person who is very much liked by all. I am confident that he will therefore be able to carry out his role as rector in a way that will best serve the academic growth of the University, its academic faculty and students.”

New rector appointed

Prof. Avishay Braverman (center) receives gift from University President, Prof. Aaron Ben-Ze’ev (left) and Vice President and Dean of Research, Prof. Majid Al-Haj (right)

Prof. David Faraggi

L-R: Prof. Ofra Mayseless, Prof. Shai Linn, Prof. Itzhak Harpaz, Prof. Reuven Snir

More than 90 members of this year’s Tribute Commit-tee attended the Canadian Friends launch of their 2010 “Partners for Peace” Tribute Dinner at a cocktail recep-tion held in Toronto recently. Bob Rae, former Premier of Ontario and current Member of Parliament and Foreign Affairs Critic for the Liberal Party of Canada, will receive an honorary doctorate from the Univer-sity of Haifa at the Tribute Dinner on November 7. Leaders from the Toronto Jewish and Arab communities attended the launch and several guests flew in from Montreal to show their support for Mr. Rae and the Uni-versity of Haifa, including Prof. Irwin Cotler, Canadian MP and an honorary degree recipient from the Univer-sity of Haifa; former Conservative Party Cabinet Minister and Secretary of State, and Vice President of Canadian

NEWSLETTERUniversity of Haifa

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Contact: Office of the Vice President for External Relations Tel: +972-4-8240093 Email: vice-president@univ.haifa.ac.il

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Ambassador to the UN hosts ASUHA dynamic mix of New Yorkers gathered at the residence of Israel’s Representative of Israel to the United Nations, Prof. Gabriela Shalev. University President, Prof. Aaron Ben-Ze’ev, was present to greet guests and speak about the emergence of the University of Haifa. Prof. Shalev focused her remarks on the delegitimization of Israel in the global arena. She commended the University of Haifa in its rigorous study, academic and regional leadership. Arthur K. Wachtel, Chair of ASUH, moderated a lively question and answer exchange with Prof. Shalev.

Prof. Gabriela Shalev receives a gift from ASUH Executive Director Fran Ginsburg, Chair Arthur K. Wachtel and Prof. Aaron Ben-Ze’ev

08-10

Canadian Friends launch 2010 “Partners for Peace” campaign

L-R: Dr. Michael Dan, Prof. Ben-Ze’ev, MP Bob Rae, and Dinner Chairs, Shawky Fahel and Gerald Sheff

Upcoming events

Partners for Peace Tribute Dinner, paying tribute to The Honourable Bob Rae, Mem-ber of Parliament in the Canadian House of Commons. The Fairmont Royal York, Toronto, Canada

39TH BOARD OF GOVERNORS MEETING Pre-mission - May 30, 2011 A visit to specially selected sites, accompanied by University academic staff. Post-mission - June 2, 3, 2011

November 7

SAVE THE DATE! May 31 – June 2, 2011

Masada Opera Weekend: AIDA at Masada

Friends, Gerry Weiner; and Canadian businessman and Foreign Affairs Advisor in the House of Commons, Thaer Mukbel. President of the University, Prof. Aaron Ben-Ze’ev, and his wife, Ruth, also attended the event. Dr. Michael Dan, President of the Canadian Friends, gave a spectacular address, affirming that “Institutions like the University of Haifa are models of constructive co-existence, inclusiveness, and integration in the Middle East. When, through some political miracle, peace fi-nally comes to the region, the University of Haifa, more than any other university in Israel, will be ready for it.” The Tribute Dinner will be held on Sunday, November 7. Proceeds will establish “The Bob Rae MBA Scholarships for Jewish and Arab Students” at the University of Haifa.