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Halbert Centre for CANADIAN STUDIES Halbert Centre FOR CANADIAN STUDIES Fall 2019 Farewell to Ralph Halbert WE MOURN THE LOSS OF THE HALBERT CENTRE’S FOUNDER With great sorrow, we say good- Ralph’s legacy of building bye to Canadian philanthropist bridges between Canada and Dr. Ralph Halbert, who passed Israel through higher education away on December 4, 2018. will continue to live on through the Halbert Centre’s activities. More than 30 years ago, Ralph “It has taken the world 25 years and his beloved wife, Roz, to catch up with Ralph Halbert’s helped to establish what would vision,” Prof. Janice Stein, become the Halbert Centre for founding director of the Munk Canadian Studies at the Hebrew School of Global Affairs and University of Jerusalem. Ralph Public Policy at the University and Roz wanted to facilitate of Toronto, and chair of the closer academic ties between Halbert Networks Program, told Canadian and Israeli academics the Globe and Mail. “His great through collaborative research achievement was to bring and teaching. Since its founding, together networks of scholars.” the Halbert Centre has enabled hundreds of Canadian and Ralph will be missed by many at Israeli scholars to develop rich value; central to his vision the Hebrew University, and in and productive academic was the deepening of Canadian- Israel and Canada, who had the relationships and networks. Israeli academic ties. In addition good fortune to know him and to his foundational support of to experience his good will, Ralph was a devoted and the Halbert Centre, Ralph served graciousness, deep commitment effective friend of the Hebrew as Chairman of the Hebrew to academic excellence, and University for decades. He University’s Board of Governors, unstinting generosity. understood and believed in and was an honorary doctor academic excellence as a core of the university. FAREWELL TO EDIT DORON We were deeply saddened by the recent passing of Halbert Academic Committee member Prof. Edit Doron. Prof. Doron was a member of the Hebrew University’s Department of Linguistics and its Language, Logic and Cognition Centre. In 2016, she was awarded the Israel Prize for her contribution to the field of linguistics. COTLER RECEIVES HONORARY DOCTORATE We extend congratulations to Halbert Centre Advisory Committee member Prof. Irwin Cotler, who received an honorary Doctor of Laws, honoris causa, from McGill University, and gave the commencement address at McGill’s faculty of law convocation ceremony on May 30, 2019. Prof. Cotler was also awarded the prestigious Heintz Memorial Award for Humanitarian Achievement in August 2019. A Family Legacy MICHAEL HALBERT & SONS VISIT HALBERT CENTRE The Halbert Centre for Canadian Studies was delighted to welcome Advisory Committee member Michael Halbert for a visit in March 2019. Michael, a son of Halbert Centre founders Ralph and Roz Halbert, was accompanied by his two sons, Naftali and Yoel. Here, Naftali reflects on the visit: Visiting the Halbert Centre for Canadian Studies at hope between nations. Before my visit, I had not the Hebrew University affirmed many of the lessons been particularly involved with the Centre. Upon my dear grandparents, Ralph and Roz, transmitted my departure, I felt relieved to be connected to a to the family. Although the Centre is 40 years old, it larger family of academics and coordinators who has been though many transitions and still remains care as much as I do about the future of this a beacon of hope for the future of Canadian-Israeli precious centre of learning. collegiality, congeniality and academic alignment through a shared vision. My beautiful wife, Brielle, and I are very proud of Ralphy and Grammy’s contributions. The Hebrew Ralphy and Grammy built a bridge between their University, State of Israel, Canada, the Jewish two homes: Canada and Israel. As a grandchild People and humankind have all benefited living in Israel, I feel a strong sense of belonging immensely from their generous devotion to building to both countries, thanks to their commitment and bridges between worlds. We are inspired by the contributions to both places. My children, Calla Halbert Centre for Canadian Studies, and look Lily and Oliver Kai, have much to look forward to forward to doing our part to ensure this great as they grow and learn of their great-grandparents’ legacy continues for many years to come. great acts of kindness to empower this bridge of 2 Globalization and Innovation 16th International Jerusalem Conference on Canadian Studies (l to r) Conference co-chair Prof. Gili Drori; Prof. Nachman Ben-Yehuda, Acting Director Conference co-chair Prof. Dafna of the Halbert Centre; Hebrew University president Asher Cohen; and Prof. Janice Stein, Kariv (l) with Halbert Centre Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy, University of Toronto. coordinator Diana Munayer. Canadian Amb. to Israel Deborah Lyons at Daniel Ben-Natan, president of the Israel Association for Canadian Studies (IACS). the opening session of the 16th Jerusalem Conference in Canadian Studies. In May 2019, the Halbert Centre and the Israel Canadian Ambassador to Israel Deborah Lyons Association for Canadian Studies (IACS) hosted the greeted attendees at the conference’s opening 16th Jerusalem Conference in Canadian Studies at the session, along with Hebrew University Pres. Asher Hebrew University, on the theme of “Globalization Cohen, Prof. Drori, and IACS Pres. Daniel and innovation: Canada and Israel in comparative Ben-Natan. University of Toronto Prof. Janice Stein perspective.” Nearly 90 people attended the three- chaired a keynote session in memory of Dr. Ralph day event, including 30 Canadian scholars. Halbert. Hebrew University Rector Prof. Barak Medina, Prof. Kariv, and Prof. Nachman Ben-Yehuda, The rich academic program included sessions on acting director of the Halbert Centre, provided topics as diverse as “Integration v. assimilation: closing remarks. Jewish-Canadian woman authors,” “The nature of religious education in Canada and its place within Additional highlights included a tour at Start-up a global context,” and a comparative study of Nation Central in Tel Aviv, followed by a reception urban planning in British Columbia, Ontario and at the Canadian Embassy, as well as three lectures at HUstart, the Hebrew University Entrepreneurship Israel in the context of the global housing crisis. Center at the Givat Ram campus. Hebrew University Prof. Gili Drori and Dafna Kariv, Vice President for Global Initiatives at the The conference was warmly and positively received College of Management (COLLMAN), by speakers and attendees. co-chaired the conference committee. 3 Joint Israeli-Canadian Workshops STRENGTHENING ACADEMIC TIES & EXCHANGING KNOWLEDGE AT THE FOREFRONT OF ACADEMIA The Halbert Centre is committed to funding joint research workshops between partnering Israeli and Canadian researchers and scholars. The workshops, held at the Hebrew University, aim to • strengthen academic ties between Hebrew University researchers and their colleagues at Canadian universities • promote the exchange and development of ideas and knowledge with Israeli and Canadian content • promote and remain at the forefront of the latest developments in academia. Prof. Moshe Dr. Micki Prof. François Prof. Prof. Hillel Prof. Shalhevet Prof. Emeritus Haviv Eisenmann Cooren Ran Hassin Aviezer Attar-Schwartz James Anglin 2018–2019 workshops 2019–2020 workshops “Understanding international economic agreements: “Wrongful convictions in Canada and Israel: Theoretical innovations and methodological Barriers to exoneration — Phase II,” led by challenges,” led by Hebrew University international Dr. Barak Ariel and Dr. Anat Horowitz, relations scholar Prof. Yoram Haftel and McGill Hebrew University faculty of law, and Prof. University political scientist Prof. Krzysztof Pelc Kathryn Campbell, department of criminology, (May 2019) University of Ottawa. Phase I was held at the Hebrew University in April 2018, and Phase II “Israeli-Canadian workshop on queues,” led by will take place in Canada. Prof. Moshe Haviv, department of statistics, Hebrew University, and Prof. Opher Baron, “New frontiers in morality and emotion research,” Rotman School of Management, University of led by Prof. Ran Hassin and Prof. Hillel Aviezer, Toronto (May 2019) Hebrew University department of psychology. “Conversations on sociomateriality and “Resilience among children and youth in out-of- understanding affordances,” led by Dr. Micki home care: Issues and challenges in child and Eisenmann, Hebrew University of Jerusalem youth care research and practice,” led by School of Business Administration, and Prof. Prof. Shalhevet Attar-Schwartz from the François Cooren, communications department, Hebrew University School of Social Work, and Université de Montréal (June 2019) Prof. Emeritus James Anglin, faculty of human and social development at the University of Victoria. “Charity in classical Jewish law: Between religion and social ethics,” led by Dr. Benny Porat, “Reflecting on the legacy of G.A. Cohen’s Hebrew University faculty of law, and Prof. Gregg egalitarianism after a decade,” led by Prof. Shlomi Gardner, department of classical, Near Eastern Segall, Hebrew University department of political and religious studies, University of British science, and Dr. Igor Shoikhedbrod, 2018–2019 Columbia (July 2019) Halbert Postdoctoral Fellow at the Hebrew University. 4 THE 2020 JAMES R. BULLOCK VISITING CHAIR IN CANADIAN STUDIES HAS BEEN AWARDED TO DOMINIC BARTON The James R. Bullock Dominic Barton Visiting Chair in Canadian 2020
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