Winter 2009/10

Lab-on-a-Chip Urban Regeneration International Music Program

TEL AVIV UNIVERSITY REVIEW

Israel through the Lens Young Excellence

Environmental Agents of Change at the Porter School 16 Social Responsibility Serving up Success 18 Urban Regeneration 19 How TAU graduate Allan Barkat is Recently re- in the World combining profit with a project that cruited from MIT, benefits society. Dr. Tali Hatuka is introducing a new way of Cover Story: thinking about Scene Stealers 2 urban planning. With six US Student Academy Award nominations under its belt, TAU’s Film and Television Depart- ment is leading Israel’s film indus- try to international success.

Science and Sport 46 A Little Chopin with Your Pita? 20 The Adler-Buchmann International Music Program for Outstanding Foreign Students is turning out musical ambassadors for Israel. Emerging Technologies

Lab-on-a-

TEL AVIV UNIVERSITY REVIEW Yiddish Conference 43

Winter 2009/10 Winter Chip 12 Miniature function- ing laboratories the Issued by the Strategic Communications Dept. size of a computer Development and Public Affairs Division chip are being de- Tel Aviv University veloped by TAU scientists Ramat Aviv 69978 Tel Aviv, Israel Tel: +972 3 6408249 sections Fax: + 972 3 6407080 E-mail: [email protected] Flash Flood Warning 23 www.tau.ac.il innovations 22 Editor: Louise Shalev Contributors: Rava Eleasari, Talma Agron, Pauline Navigation Tool for Reich, Ruti Ziv, Michal Alexander, Ilana Teitelbaum, leadership 26 the Blind 24 Sarah Lubelski, Stephanie L. Freid, Sandy Cash, Judy Siegel-Itzkovich, Karin Kloosterman, Carl Hoffman, Gil Zohar Graphic Design: TAU Graphics Design Studio/ initiatives 32 Michal Semo-Kovetz; Dalit Pessach Dio’olamot Photography: Development and Public Affairs Division Photography Department/Michal Roche Ben Ami, Michal Kidron associations 35 Additional Photography: ASAP, Rafael Herlich, Frankfurt, Krzysztof Mazur/Pryzmat/Wroclaw University of Technology digest 42 Administrative Coordinator: Pauline Reich Administrative Assistant: Roy Polad Translation Services: Sagir Translations, Offiservice newsmakers Printing: Eli Meir Printing 47 Officers of Tel Aviv University a

Robert Goldberg Chairman of the Board of Governors Dr. Leora Meridor Chair of the Executive Council Prof. Joseph Klafter President Prof. Rector Mordehai Kohn Director-General Prof. Ehud Gazit Dear Friends, Vice President for Research and Development Dr. Gary Sussman Vice President for Development and Public I am delighted to address the community Affairs of TAU supporters for the first time since Yehiel Ben-Zvi my appointment as President of Tel Aviv Vice President University this fall. Having been on the fac- Dr. Raymond R. Sackler, ulty of the University since 1987, I can assure Michael H. Steinhardt you we have much to be proud of. TAU is an exciting world center of Honorary Chairmen of the Board of Governors Dr. h.c. Karl Heinz-Kipp, discovery and knowledge, and our task now is to jointly spread the Deputy Chairman of the Board of Governors word of TAU’s achievements and potential. Dr. h.c. Josef Buchmann, One of the measures of a university’s standing could be summed Stewart M. Colton, François Heilbronn, up as “international exposure,” which is the scope and influence of its Dr. h.c. Raya Jaglom, John Landerer AM CBE, Adolfo Smolarz, Melvin S. Taub research and study programs in global terms. We’re working to be- Vice Chairpersons of the Board of Governors come an international magnet in TAU’s strongest fields. We’re com- peting for the largest and most competitive scientific grants, building Prof. Aron Shai Vice Rector sophisticated labs that draw post-docs and researchers from abroad, Prof. Shimon Yankielowicz and transforming TAU into a “must-visit” institution for the world’s Pro-Rector best scientists and students. Prof. Hannah Naveh Dean of the Yolanda and David Katz Most important, we’re drawing on the University’s strength as Faculty of the Arts Israel’s most comprehensive institution of higher learning to advance Prof. Ehud Heyman interdisciplinary research and teaching. This issue ofTAU Review fea- Dean of the Iby and Aladar Fleischman tures just one area of TAU’s interdisciplinary pre-eminence – lab-on- Faculty of Engineering Prof. Haim J. Wolfson a-chip technology, which involves engineering, physics, chemistry, Dean of the Raymond and Beverly Sackler biology and medicine. Our goal as an institution will be to continue Faculty of Exact Sciences tearing down barriers between classic areas of study and encouraging Prof. Shlomo Biderman our researchers and students to work together in new and surprising Dean of the Lester and Sally Entin Faculty of Humanities directions. Prof. Hanoch Dagan This issue showcases our wonderful, award-winning Department of Dean of the Buchmann Faculty of Law Film and Television, as well as our prestigious new Adler-Buchmann Prof. Yoel Kloog Dean of the George S. Wise International Music Program. Not only exporting Israeli excellence Faculty of Life Sciences and innovation, these programs reinforce art’s bridging role between Prof. Asher Tishler societies. Dean of the Faculty of Management—Leon Recanati Graduate School of Business Administration Yours sincerely, Prof. Yoseph Mekori Dean of the Sackler Faculty of Medicine Prof. Noah Lewin-Epstein Dean of the Gershon H. Gordon Faculty of Social Sciences Professor Joseph Klafter Prof. Yoav Ariel TAU President Dean of Students Prof. David Menashri Dean for Special Programs 1 6

2 By Ilana Teitelbaum cinema and garnering and garnering prizes What’s behind the new behindthenew What’s story of Israel.story intown – the compelling story tobearoncreativity themost of the TAU their bring filmschool University. andgraduates Students 2 ? Inthree words: Tel Aviv thatiswowing audiences major international major international 7 Israeli Scene Stealers vr h ls tre er, TAU- years, three last the Over finding told. to be beg that stories are – students by TAU and alumni – dominated filmmakers Israeli landscape, war-torn a of heart the from cultures, these of struggles groups. and From clashes the Russian and Ethiopian secular, and Arab, religious and Jewish of comprised try tapes cultural rich a depict Israel in made Films stories. of land a as alive come has it screen, silver the on controversy.But and conflict perpetual They tell, and the world listens. listens. world the and tell, They of land a is Israel news, the On 3 - 4

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generated films have reaped over 100 from TAU’s Department of Film and 1. TAU PhD student and film historian Pablo Utin awards and have been screened at film Television, Yolanda and David Katz 2. Israel Prize-winning director Prof. Judd Ne’eman, a founder of the TAU film school, on the set of his film, festivals around the world such as Faculty of the Arts. Streets of Yesterday Cannes, Berlin, Venice, Tribeca and In 2006, CILECT, the interna- 3. Director, actor and TAU alumnus Pini Tavger Sundance, most recently being spot- tional association of 143 major film 4. A scene from TAU graduate Yaron Shani’s film Ajami, lighted at the Toronto Film Festival and television schools, established which won the Best Film Award of the Israeli Film in September, 2009. an annual competition to select the Academy, a Golden Camera Special Mention at the 2009 Cannes Film Festival and the Wolgin Award at the 2009 Academy-award nominated Waltz world’s best student film. TAU stu- Film Festival with Bashir, written and directed dent films took first prize for the first 5. A scene from Pini Tavger’s film Weitzman St. No. 10 by Ari Folman, and HBO’s Emmy- three years of the competition’s exist- 6. A scene from TAU film student Yuval Shani’s film, winning In Treatment, based on an ence, selected out of submissions from Segal, first-prize winner in the film school awards section Israeli series created by Folman’s about 50 countries by an internation- of the San Sebastian Film Festival 7. TAU student cameraman former classmate, Hagai Levi, have al panel of judges. 8. TAU cinematography class became international household “We’re a global film powerhouse,” 9. Co-directors of the 13th TAU International Student Film names – and both creators graduated says Prof. Hannah Naveh, Dean of Festival Hila Streit (left) and Noa Regev 3 Lights, Camera… Arts, who points out that over the Interaction! past four years, the department’s pro- If you’re tired of sitting back ductions have been nominated three and watching film characters make times for Best Student Film by the US disastrous choices, Prof. Nitzan Academy Awards, an unprecedented Ben-Shaul of the film school has a achievement. solution: Computer technology that So what is the film school’s secret? allows the viewer to interact with a How is it that, despite low budgets film, making choices for the characters at critical moments in the story. and a location in one of the smallest The result? A film that has not just one plot, but several, depending on the decisions and most turbulent countries in the Prof. Nitzan world, TAU’s school is winning so Ben-Shaul of the viewer. “My idea is to maintain the cinematic experience and engagement of the viewer much acclaim? while also allowing interaction,” explains Ben-Shaul. “Until now no one else has suc- Director Judd Ne’eman, winner of ceeded in doing this – mainly because interactivity implies gaming, and gaming is anti- the 2009 Israel Prize in Cinema and thetical to what I wish to give the viewer.” a driving force behind the success of Games are by their nature focused on puzzle-solving, scoring and action rather than the TAU film school, isn’t telling. “It’s a dramatic experience, Ben-Shaul maintains. A film must above all offer an engrossing in the method, and we keep it secret and well-crafted story, which is challenging to pull off if interactivity becomes an op- because we want to be unique,” he tion. Above all Ben-Shaul considers it essential that the dramatic flow of the story be hints. “It has to do with the genius of maintained throughout, complete with suspense and an element of surprise. the Jewish people.” Ben-Shaul hit on an ideal way to blend interactivity with film by creating “hypernar- rative” films in which the character faces a wide variety of options or realities. Sliding Doors starring Gwyneth Paltrow and the German arthouse filmRun Lola Run are famous examples of the hypernarrative film. When interactivity is added to the mix, viewers can make choices that will determine the fates of the characters. The result is not just an entertaining experience for the viewer, but a potentially psychological one as well. “Regular movies don’t really trigger ‘what if?’ questions, because they get onto a People who say to one-plot track,” says Ben-Shaul. “In contrast, hypernarrative movies have the ‘what themselves, ‘I’m going to if’ notion built into them, and that could have different implications for the way people study at the university,’ consider situations. “One of my PhD students is developing this idea into a tool for psychological ther- are interested not just in apy. It could be particularly helpful to youth at risk, who don’t see any way out of their making films, but also in situations, as a way of considering their options.” thinking about cinema. Ben-Shaul wrote and produced the hypernarrative film Turbulence, in which three people who had been estranged under tragic circumstances are reunited, with fateful consequences for the course of their lives. Viewers are faced with a series of choices that will determine just how deeply the reunion will affect the characters – and whether the marriage of one character will be broken or saved. Take 1: First Love Ben-Shaul acknowledges that while the acting and camera work were done by Pablo Utin was 19 when he immi- professionals, the help of TAU film students was essential to the film’s production. grated from Buenos Aires, Argentina, “Producing a movie is very complex, and when you add the experimental aspect to it, to Tel Aviv – straight to TAU’s film you need a whole additional team,” he explains. “We had 30 students working in the school. Today, at 32 years old, Utin production. For them it was a very interesting experience, not only because they were is a PhD student, a published author involved in the production of a state-of-the-art movie, but also because of the chal- and a recipient of the TAU President’s lenge implied in the type of movie we were making.” Doctoral Fellowship, which is award- Students also helped Ben-Shaul with the work necessary to obtain a patent for the in- ed to only ten students at the univer- teractive film technology, which he filed through Ramot, the TAU technology transfer arm. sity per year from all departments. Today Ben-Shaul is involved with projects in other fields of interest. An expert on the Of the many film schools in Israel, impact of television news on viewers in the US and the Middle East, Ben-Shaul is the Utin explains why he chose TAU: author of A Violent World: TV News Images of Middle Eastern Terror and War. “After speaking with friends I un- derstood that the academic part of 4 Winter 2009/10 TEL AVIV UNIVERSITY REVIEW

studies is as important for me as the Take 2: “Always even if the resulting film is one that actual study of filmmaking,” says Experimenting” the teacher doesn’t like. Utin. “It’s not enough for a filmmaker After TAU students won Utin elaborates: “The teachers at to know how to hold a camera – he CILECT’s best international student TAU compel you to do what’s re- should know philosophers like Plato, film three years in a row, Hecker says ally yours, and to think. Usually in Aristotle and Nietzsche as well. The he was asked to explain this improb- academia teachers have a theory, and great filmmakers were philosophers able success. you have to listen to them and accept themselves.” “We ourselves don’t know,” says what they’re teaching you. At TAU, The oldest film school in Israel to- Hecker. “We’re always experimenting they inspire you more than they teach day, TAU’s school is also the only one and checking ourselves, and we’re not you – inspire you to learn. Prof. Judd that is part of a university. over-confident.” Ne’eman won’t come and tell you that Reuven Hecker, head of the film school and a documentary filmmak- er, sees a solid academic foundation as essential to the making of great films. 261 screenings “A filmmaker has to be well educated, broad-minded, and we have that ad- at 176 festivals in 2009 vantage over other film schools,” says Hecker. “In addition to the theoreti- cal classes students take at the depart- ment, they also take classes in theater, 6 student Academy Award art history, architecture, mathemat- ics, philosophy, or psychology – what- nominations ever interests them.” Utin, who in 2008 published the Additionally, says Hecker, “Our what you’re doing is wrong. He will first book on the new Israeli cinema, students are older because of the say, ‘It’s interesting that you’re do- says, “It is only TAU that offers this army and post-army travel, so they ing it that way. It’s dangerous to go intense way of studying film, and stu- come in with more life experience. there, but you should go there.’ Judd dents are usually at a higher level here. And our program is unique in the inspired me to learn, to be myself, not People who say to themselves, ‘I’m go- world. I don’t think there is another to limit myself, and to search for the ing to study at the university,’ are in- film school that has the same in- things I want to explore.” terested not just in making films, but tensive combination of theory and Admission to the film school is also in thinking about cinema.” practical studies, that does not force competitive yet fair. Unlike other Utin relates that when he first ar- students into narrow specializations, film schools, which require a student rived in Tel Aviv in 1996, without and that provides absolute creative film as part of the application process, family or friends, “the university was freedom.” TAU evaluates applicants according my home. It was the first place where With freedom comes accountabil- to their grades. This ensures that stu- I felt I belonged.” His friends from ity, adds Hecker: “TAU film students dents who cannot afford to produce the department are now his work col- learn that the full responsibility for a their own films are not at a disadvan- leagues in the film world, and often film’s success or failure rests on their tage in the application process, and show him rough cuts of their films to shoulders. They get guidance, help will be given the opportunity to make critique. and suggestions from their teachers, a film and prove themselves once they “When you’ve spent so many years naturally, but if someone is leading are accepted for university studies. of your life at the department, you a project, all the critical decisions are After the first year, students choose feel that you belong, and you take made by him or her alone.” one of three programs – directing/ that feeling with you,” says Utin. Other teachers and filmmakers production, scriptwriting or theory. “You feel connected to that; you feel from TAU offer many variations on TAU’s Yael Perlov, one of the you owe the university. Remembering this theme – that at TAU, originality country’s leading film editors and the the first time you picked up a camera of vision and creative independence daughter of well-known filmmaker and made a film is like remembering are paramount. Students are encour- David Perlov, a founder of TAU’s your first love.” aged to discover their own stories, film school and an Israel Prize lau- 5 1 2

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Part of the world’s fascination with Israeli cinema is a shared wonder at the country’s continued survival.

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1. A scene from Pinhas, chosen as best student film for 2008 by CILECT, the international film school association 2. TAU graduate and prize-winning director Dover Kosashvili (Late Marriage) 3. Head of the TAU film school and documentary filmmaker Reuven Hecker 4. Film student in action 5. A scene from Weitzman St. No. 10. evoking the first Gulf War 6. Leading Israeli film editor Yael Perlov, a TAU alumna 7. Director and TAU faculty member Eitan Green (left) on the set of It All Begins at Sea

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reate, maintains that in addition to independence, rigorous discipline is a high priority at TAU. “We teach stu- dents that filmmaking is a very tricky subject, as opposed to art forms that are more straightforward. In music, if you play a false note, the ear detects it immediately. But in film, anyone can hold a camera, so the work appears easy on the surface. Our job is to make film a meaningful and artistic discipline, so that our students under- stand that it’s not easy.” TAU graduate Perlov believes that the opening Ari Folman won the Best Foreign moments of a film, in the hands of a Language Film at mediocre filmmaker, are just as dis- the Golden Globe Awards, and was sonant as a false note in music. And a nominated for an great film, when it first opens, reveals Academy Award for Best Foreign itself in an instant. Film, with his Lebanon War- themed feature Curtain Call: Directors film, Waltz with Take a Bow Bashir. They’ve won awards around the world. Their films have been screened at the most prestigious internation- al film festivals such as Cannes and Toronto. And every one of these di- rectors began as a student at TAU. True to their individualistic educa- tion, no two of these directors are alike, and they all know exactly where they want to go. Dover Kosashvili is best known for his internationally acclaimed feature film,Late Marriage, a heart-wrenching budgetary limitations on filmmak- this year and will be representing dark comedy centered on the tradi- ing: “Budget-wise, you’re not free in Israel at the US Academy Awards. tions of Israel’s immigrant Georgian Israel to imagine any script you like, The film is a grittily realistic, epic community. To create Late Marriage, so we have no choice but to make portrayal of the seamy side of life in Kosashvili drew upon his own experi- small films. When you grow up and the mixed Arab-Jewish city of Jaffa, ence of Georgian family life. mature your wings are much larger, opening with a murder and involving The lesson at TAU that affected and you want to take off.” family feuds, police detectives and him most profoundly came from his So what’s next? Kosashvili is now Bedouin revenge squads, with a cast teacher Avraham Hefner, who told editing a film he directed, which has of about 150 characters. Kosashvili, “Don’t do things for other three other TAU teachers, themselves Ajami is the 36 year-old TAU grad- people – do them for yourself. If you filmmakers, in key roles – writer, pro- uate’s first full-length film, which he like it, other people will, too.” ducer and editor. Named Infiltration, co-directed together with Jaffa film- Now Kosashvili is passing on this the film is based on a novel by maker Scandar Copti. The film was message to a new generation of direc- Yehoshua Kenaz that takes place in seven years in the making, in the tors as a teacher at TAU. an IDF platoon. course of which Shani taught himself Kosashvili speaks of the conflict The film Ajami by TAU graduate Arabic, the better to explore the com- he feels about living in Israel with its Yaron Shani won the “Israeli Oscar” plex cultural dimensions of Jaffa. 7 Of the tremendous scope of Ajami, understand a political background ing drove him to study film at TAU, Shani says, “For me this film is a con- that was unfamiliar for me.” where he learned important lessons junction of many branches of thought As a child Shani was gifted in for his career. that I’ve been developing through the , so people assumed he Shani believes that the art of film- years. I was hoping they would bloom would take his career in that direc- making requires a willingness to someday, and now they’ve bloomed in tion. But a love of the arts and writ- make sacrifices, an attitude that was one film.” shaped at TAU. “Even if you take the One e le me nt salary that you deserve for a project, was the decision to it’s not something that can compen- cast non-actors in sate for seven years of filmmaking,” the roles, and an- Students are encouraged to says Shani. “The financial aspect is other to work with- discover their own stories, even something you have to be willing to out a script. Cast sacrifice, and the university is a kind members under- if the resulting film is one that the of preparation for that.” went what Shani teacher doesn’t like. Another vital lesson Shani learned describes as “in- at TAU was the importance of film tense psychological preparation” to bring them closer to their characters. The actors were then A Society Searching for Its Center put into situations that had been out- In 1972, on the eve of the , a film school was established at TAU and lined, but not scripted, by the direc- the intellectual sparks flew. Israel’s foremost film critic, Uri Klein, himself in the first class, tors, and told to improvise – with ex- describes those first years as “extraordinary.” From the first graduating class came direc- plosive results. tors and producers, such as Eitan Green and Mark Rosenbaum, who continue to exert a “What resulted is a fiction film powerful influence on Israeli cinema to this day. that you know isn’t real, but the The film reviewer for since the 1980s, Klein is familiar with the trajectory of sound and the way people behave is Israeli cinema since its infancy. He describes how he and his fellow students at TAU were extremely realistic. Cops behave like acutely aware that they were creating an indigenous film culture where none as yet ex- real cops. People from the neighbor- isted. hood in Jaffa act like people from the Before the Yom Kippur War, Klein and his friends were influenced by the French New neighborhood, not like actors. For Wave in cinema. But afterward, when the grim reality of war intruded on their reverie, me this way of working is the central Israeli cinema took a sharp turn toward the political, and by the 1990s had developed into value of the film.” a unique entity. Shani relates that he was inspired “Israeli cinema since the early ‘90s has reflected the variety in Israeli society in a very by directors Martin Scorsese and Ken interesting way,” says Klein. “There are societies within societies here, and Israeli cinema Loach to use non-actors. Such a raw reflects them all – whether they are religious or secular, Jewish or Arab.” depiction of Israeli urban life is rare in The fragmented quality of Israeli society as depicted in Israeli films, combined with a Israeli cinema. And since most main- relentlessly human outlook, is what is most intriguing to an international audience, con- stream Israeli films feature the same tinues Klein. “What makes Israeli films appealing is that they show us a society that is small pool of popular actors, a cast of searching for its center, its identity, and total unknowns heightens the realism that is something that the world can iden- even more. tify with.” Another aspect of the film that ex- But Klein cautions against relying on cites Shani concerns its unflinching fads in the world of popular culture, where exploration of society in Arab Jaffa. public opinion is fickle and not always mo- “As a teenager I wasn’t interested in our tivated for the good. “Asian cinema was culture at all, but when I became more fashionable for awhile; now we’ve become Uri Klein mature, more aware of where I am and fashionable. There’s something dangerous where I’m living, I became very curi- about it, I think,” says Klein. “Most Israeli ous,” Shani relates. “Making the film films are produced as co-productions with was a great opportunity to learn about Germany, , Holland and other coun- the language and the people, and to tries. These foreign companies become 8 Winter 2009/10 TEL AVIV UNIVERSITY REVIEW

criticism. “It’s important for a film- maker to understand the meaning of criticism, in order to know the mean- 5 degree programs for ing of good film,” Shani explains. In addition to the attention Ajami a BFA or MFA in direction/production, has brought Shani, the seven-year process of making the film has been a scriptwriting and theory life-changing experience. “I’ve met so many people that I would never have met if I had done something else,” 800 says Shani. “People from Ajami, cops, students annually army people. I got to know them in- timately and some have become good decided to study cinema. It’s a change peared in such notable Israeli films friends of mine.” that he doesn’t regret for a moment. as Sweet Mud and Lost Islands. “You TAU alumnus Pini Tavger first re- “As an actor you enact the visions make it personal, but you’re still ex- ceived acclaim as an actor before he of others,” says Tavger, who has ap- pressing someone else’s ideas. I stud- ied cinema because I wanted to create my world.” very important for raising enough money, and His most recent short film,Pinhas , they often determine the subjects of Israeli films. about a lonely Russian immigrant They want to see films about the relations be- boy who yearns for the Israeli family tween the Ultra-Orthodox and secular, about the experience, has won awards this year , about – and this out- from Beijing to Brooklyn and was side influence can be problematic. It’s their way nominated for a US Student Academy of making sure they see what they want to see in Award. Israeli films.” It was the experience of travel that Another influential figure in the development opened Tavger’s eyes to the gifts of Prof. Judd of Israeli film, TAU’s Prof. Judd Ne’eman, believes his own alma mater. “When I toured Ne’eman that part of the world’s fascination with Israeli cin- around the world from festival to fes- ema is a shared wonder at the country’s continued tival, and saw the prizes that films survival. “There are so many tensions that could from the TAU school got, I realized tear Israel to pieces, yet it still stands. People that it’s one of the best schools in the wonder how this can be – what is the cement? I world,” he asserts. “In Israel we lack think Israeli films can give an outsider an idea of how this very complex entity still stands.” money, but we don’t lack for subject Ne’eman has championed the cause of filmmaking at TAU as a teacher and as head matter. We have social and political of the school, while also directing critically acclaimed films such as The Dress and The upheaval, immigrant communities, Streets of Yesterday. He was awarded the 2009 Israel Prize, the nation’s highest honor, for and unfortunately also wars. I make his contribution to film. films about immigrants because my Ne’eman believes that with the strong legacy of the school behind them, young film- parents immigrated from Russia.” makers now have more opportunities to reach audiences than their predecessors had. Today Tavger is hard at work on “I think that Israeli filmmakers have always had strong artistic and political sensibili- his first feature film. It’s a grueling ties, but it is only recently that the films have been so well made,” Ne’eman explains. process, throughout which he is in “Beforehand, when Israeli films were not so well crafted, they were not admitted to im- constant communication with men- portant festivals and had little international reach. But now we’ve reached the point where tors at the department. Even via e- people with incisive messages can still create good yarns from them, and the result is very mail, says Tavger, “I feel my teachers’ strong content expressed via very good cinematic means.” support – it’s like home.” Ne’eman acknowledges that Israel offers a wealth of complexities for filmmakers to An unexpected benefit of going draw upon. “On the one hand, there’s a great mixture of different immigrant cultures in back to school has been the intellec- Israel, people whose native language is not Hebrew. On the other hand, there are people tual stimulation, which was missing from more traditional societies with very deep roots in the country like Palestinians and from Tavger’s training as an actor. Orthodox . The clash between these parts of society is reflected in the films,” he says. “One of the major lessons of the film 9 school is that the director has to bring some thinking to the table. Studies that are not practical, like the history of cinema and philosophical explora- tions, have been a strong influence on my work.” Yuval Shani is a name to watch out for. The fourth-year student’s short filmSegal was screened at Cannes this year and starred one of Israel’s most re- spected veteran actors, Yosef Carmon. The film won first prize at the 8th International Film School Meeting of the 2009 San Sebastian Festival in , one of the most important film competitions in the world. In Segal, an androgynous older man is given the unexpected chance to repair his relationship with his daughter, but to do so, he must sac- The Anda Zimand Film Archive is a key resource for the study and research of film rifice something from his identity. in Israel, comprising approximately 20,000 titles in fiction, documentary, , Explains Shani: “I was trying to cap- experimental and student genres, 4,500 of which are local works. The archive, which is ture the ambivalence of this. On the run by Liviu Carmely, a film director and TAU graduate, provides faculty and students one hand there’s an emotional need with slides, films, videos, DVDs, scripts, screenplays, and other written sources on for belonging, but for the comfort of Jewish and Israeli cinema, international film genres and student films. belonging there is always a price.” For Shani, one of the most excit- emotional moment, because this was ing for the project from beginning to ing aspects of making this film was my first film, Carmon was a real ac- end, and even to shoot in 16 millim- working with Carmon, whose dis- tor, and I was intimidated.” eter, which is rare in Israel and more tinguished stage and film career -en But Carmon assured the young expensive. compasses over 50 years of experi- director that he loved the script and The film could only have come out ence and many awards. Shani relates would do as he was told, recounts of TAU, says Shani. “At TAU there’s how he took the giant step to contact Shani. “By doing that, he shifted the a big flow of ideas, and you don’t feel Carmon about starring in his film. “I power balance toward me. When he that there are barriers holding you called him and said, ‘I have a script trusts a person and the written word, back,” he explains. “The point of de- for you.’ We talked two days later and he really gives it his all.” parture of cinema studies at TAU is he said he would do it. It was a very TAU helped Shani obtain fund- that the broader your education, the better you will be at directing and screenwriting.”

A Seminal Director Prof. Eitan Green, director of It All Begins at Sea and Henry’s Dream, was 1972year founded one of the first graduates of the TAU film school. Today, he continues to direct and also heads the MFA pro- 84% – the percentage of films gram in scriptwriting at TAU. Teaching and making films go to- produced in Israel last year that involved gether for Green, igniting his creative TAU graduates and students in key roles energies. “As a teacher, I have to ask myself, seriously, what I really think 10 Winter 2009/10 TEL AVIV UNIVERSITY REVIEW

about students’ questions, which are age to build their own stories. “I feel the only academic faculty of arts in sometimes very important questions. that I’m a cheerleader for moviemak- Israel. “Along with film, our programs While teaching I understand myself ers,” he explains. “I think that that’s in music, architecture, theater and art better as a filmmaker and as a person, the spirit of our school – we are much history combine scholarship, practi- and that helps me as a teacher and as more open than a lot of other schools cal studies and artistic production in a director.” to every kind of subject, format and an inspiring way,” she says. “The wide In his own films, Green is repeat- length. That’s the spirit of TAU as a scope of vibrant activity at the faculty edly drawn to the theme of relation- whole, and I’m very proud of it because and its success in advancing teaching, ships within the family. “Everything I see a lot of success from students in research and creativity is reflected in interesting in the world happens in festivals around the world. Clearly the contribution of our students and the family,” remarks Green. “I find something works in the system.” graduates to Israeli culture and arts.” myself again and again writing about Summing up the influence of the connections within the family, espe- Department of Film and Television, Louise Shalev, Talma Agron and Elite cially between father and son.” Dean of Arts Hannah Naveh notes Zexer contributed to this article. Regarding his students’ produc- that it nourishes the unique atmos- tions, Green helps them find the cour- phere of the Katz Faculty, which is

The Student Film Festival at TAU Hailed as the largest student film festival in the world and one of Ajami director Yaron Shani, co-director of the 9th TAU Student the most prestigious, the biennial Tel Aviv University International Film Festival, agrees with Regev. “We have very stimulating meet- Student Film Festival attracts thousands of film students and ings between young people from all over the world who are inter- screens hundreds of student films. Workshops, master classes, ested in filmmaking,” says Shani. “I can really say that it’s one of film events and special projects are offered in abundance. the most exciting student film festivals in the world – and I’ve seen Admission of films to the festival is highly competitive, with stu- a lot of them.” dents from 40 countries vying with one another for the privilege. Themes of the upcoming festival include “Out of Nothing,” an It has been named one of the three most important student film idea inspired by the economic crisis. Students in Israel will experi- festivals by CILECT, the umbrella organization of the world’s major ment with the limits to which they can stretch their imaginations film schools and institutions. on the smallest possible budget. Every festival boasts a star-studded roster of guests, with ce- Another theme, which will apply to lebrities like Richard Gere and John Sayles attending in previous documentary film students world- years to give master classes and workshops. wide, is “Work and Workers.” In The festival was initiated by TAU students in 1986, and today this instance, student filmmakers it is still entirely student-run, with about 100 student volunteers who have already made noteworthy Ajami participating. documentary films on this theme will director The goal is to nurture filmmakers of the future, with several stu- be invited to screen their films at the Yaron Shani dents going on to become famous after their screenings at the festival. film festival, such as Denmark’s Thomas Vinterberg, co-founder Both themes are timely in their re- of the Dogme 95 movement in filmmaking, and Israel’s own Dover flection on the world’s current preoc- Kosashvili. It is also an opportunity for professional networking cupation with economic survival and that can lead to artistic collaborations. a new kind of financial outlook. But the festival also serves another, equally important pur- The determination and initiative that student volunteers show pose of promoting dialogue, says Noa Regev, co-director of the each year in organizing the festival, Regev points out, are charac- 13th Student Film Festival, which is slated for June 2010. Foreign teristic of film students at TAU. “I think this festival is exceptional students are hosted by Israeli students through the course of the partly because it’s the students who make it happen and give so event. For most of the visitors, it is their initial experience with much of their talent and time to it,” she says. “I think it’s one of Israeli culture, which until then they have only witnessed as sound the most important cultural events in Israel, and I’m happy to be bites on the news. a part of it.”

11 science 12 According exact sciences, life sciences and medi and sciences life sciences, exact engineering, – faculties four today across students and by scientists pursued TAU being is that biochips, called also labs-on-a-chip, on search re multidisciplinary promising, the exemplifies stage, experimental the remove or not.” apolyp to whether deciding in physician the assist will and time real in cancer for TAU. screening rapid allow at will tool “This Fellow Doctoral Family Crown former a is who Vernick, says away,” right answer the getting and progress, in is colonoscopy the as yps pol from samples little is tiny taking envisioning we’re “What faster. and the simpler even make procedure medical to endoscope an of end the at micro-sampler a with terface answer. an orfor days even weeks several waiting and pathology to sample tissue a off sending involves which diagnosing malignancy, for method regular complement the will analysis the-spot on- This examinations. colonoscopy standard during obtained biopsies of minutes, in analysis, accurate highly a perform can “lab” com The chip. puter a of size the laboratory ature to mini Sciences create a functioning Life of Faculty Wise S. George the of Freeman Amihay Prof. with together technology “lab-on-a-chip” using are Shacham, Yosi Engineering of Dean lives. saving of lier colon– diagnosis and to cancer he that may an has answer lead to ear believes who Engineering, of Faculty Fleishman Aladar and Iby TAU’s at electronics physical in a student PhD Vernick, Sefi Enter screening. ear ly through preventable most the of one also is it Yet year. each death cancer of causes five top the among numbers cancer colon Organization, enc’ wr, hc i sil at still is which work, Vernick’s in will system the future, the In Vice supervisor, his and Vernick to the World the to Health ------he says, “and they will have a large large a have will they “and says, he purpose,” this for Israel in biochips advanced most the produce that ties facili nano-fabrication and micro- field. lab-on-a-chip ‘whole-cell’ the in world the in sition “our holds university a prominent po Technology, in Information holds Chair Nanoscale Schwartz who L. Bernard Shacham, the publications,” Prof. scientific says recent of bacteria. and antibodies cells, diseased as such materials manipulate biological or detect can they and chip, single a on functions laboratory several or one integrate they that is devices such characterizes What cine. “TAU has invested $10 million in in $10million invested has “TAU number the by measured “When Lab human organs, toensuringthe restoring sightandrepairing diseased from medical andenvironmental functions, identifying pollutedairorwater chips TAU scientistshopetocoaxsilicon fields –engineeringandbiology Combining twoverydifferent freshness offood diagnosing cancers intoperforminganarrayof - - inmarketsand ecules, called cancer biomarkers, that that biomarkers, cancer called ecules, mol signature recognizing by works for self- testing,” he says. hefor says. testing,” self- households – future kits could have sophisticated-but-easy the in – and patientthe waits, while instantly tests medical doing for chips have could Shacham. samples,” foresees biological testing for and accurate cheaper more smaller, be will time, fivebe in ready could years’ these and fields. other and safety environment, cine, medi healthcare, in uses of number Electrochemical biosensing Electrochemical Vernick’s lab-on-a-chip technique technique lab-on-a-chip Vernick’s For example, “doctors’ offices offices “doctors’ example, For biochips, of generation next “The earlier, on

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a Winter 2009/10 TEL AVIV UNIVERSITY REVIEW

a chip

are detectable in the tumor or in the Artificial intelligence coup TAU’s Alex Maguy-Glass Chair in blood, urine or other body fluids of While Vernick’s work combines Physics of Complex Systems, and his PhD student cancer patients. These biomarkers are electronics, biochemistry and molec- former student, Dr. Itay Baruchi, was Sefi Vernick produced either by the tumor itself or ular biology, a project at the Raymond cited by Scientific American magazine by the body in response to the pres- and Beverly Sackler School of Physics as one of the world’s top 50 innova- ence of cancer. and Astronomy enlists neuroscience tions in 2007 in all fields of science The electrodes on the chip are and engineering for improving sci- and technology. programmed to identify tell-tale bio- entific understanding of information Many labs around the world have chemical signals indicating colorectal storage in the brain. tried to build a memory and informa- malignancy, and to convert these sig- A “neural chip” that could one day tion-processing chip made of living nals into an electric current that can help paralytics regain muscle con- neurons, but failed, says Ben-Jacob. be easily measured and quantified by trol, or improve brain functioning of “We succeeded because we attained Vernick. Alzheimer’s patients, moved one step new understanding of how the brain With this tool, Vernick can scan closer to reality after researchers at the works – in fact, the language of the for up to four different biomarkers school became the first in the world to brain. That helped us to ‘speak the lan- for colon cancer, a highly effective store memories in a lab-grown neural guage’ of neurons, develop new ways to method for finding notoriously elu- network for an extended period. This analyze special properties of neuron fir- sive colorectal malignancies and pre- advance in artificial intelligence by ing, and store laboratory-induced pat- venting false positives. Prof. Eshel Ben-Jacob, incumbent of terns of firing, or memories, on a chip.” 13 or even just to monitor the efficacy of which we can then investigate and drugs being given in treatment of dis- attempt to control,” explains Hanein. ease,” he continues. “These kinds of To stimulate the cells electrically, the functions are not as futuristic as they researchers wire each electrode and sound. They are being investigated in drive the needed amount of current to laboratories today.” make the cells active. “The main chal- lenge is to achieve such stimulation The better to see you with the least current,” says Hanein. A neural chip for restoring lost vi- “Our electrodes seem to do the job.” sion could be one possible outcome of research being conducted by Dr. Yael Chips for tissue engineering Hanein, a senior lecturer at the School While Sefi Vernick’s lab-on-a- of Electrical Engineering and a mem- chip has a diagnostic function, and ber of the Jack H. Skirball National Hanein’s a reparative one, the chip be- Center for Biomedical Nanoscience ing developed by the Sackler Faculty at TAU. Hanein’s team is attempting of Medicine’s Dr. Dafna Benayahu In their experiments, the TAU to create an interface between man- will ease the work of laboratory tech- team placed millions of neurons in a made electrodes and the neurons in nicians engaged in cell categorization. Prof. Eshel the retina. “Future retinal implant Benayahu is working on a chip Ben-Jacob petri dish studded with electrodes at its base, creating a fist-sized “living” devices based on such technology that can identify adult stem cells from chip. When the neurons began to would be very complex and would in- among the widely varied types of cells spontaneously form a communicative volve surgery, electronics, data analy- found in bone marrow. Only one out network, their signals were recorded sis and other fields,” she says. of 100,000 cells in marrow is a prized by the electrodes and the data relayed Hanein’s goal is to build elec- stem cell – a template cell that can dif- to special software that identified and trode arrays capable of stimulating ferentiate into major specialized cell recorded patterns which repeated damaged retinal tissue. She and col- types such as cartilege, bone or mus- themselves. The breakthrough came leagues at the University when Ben-Jacob and Baruchi applied of Newcastle in England chemical stimulation to the network, have taken chips and and found that it produced new pat- placed retinas on them in terns of electrical signals that ap- the lab to determine how peared again and again and were not the two systems inter- erased. “Here we created a module of act. “We’ve modified the intercellular communication that was chips using special nan- stored, which is, in essence, what hap- otechnological treatments pens with memory,” says Ben-Jacob. to make them compat- Currently Ben-Jacob is collabo- ible and durable,” says rating with Prof. Ari Barzilai of the Hanein. Department of Neurobiology, George The resulting hybrid Dr. Yael S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, on cultures are kept in in- Hanein in one of her growing the world’s first neural net- cubators and measured labs at the work using genetically engineered systematically to ana- Center for Nanoscience neurons that imitate human neuro- lyze and optimize living and Nano- degenerative disease. “Building such a conditions. “During our technology network will provide valuable clues for investigations we found future brain repair,” Ben-Jacob says. that neuronal cells pre- “Imagine if we could place a living fer to adhere to rough neural chip in the brain and program chip surfaces. In special it with the right information to ease conditions, they form or- or cure neurological disorders such as derly electrical circuits, or epilepsy, Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s, small neuronal systems, 14 Winter 2009/10 TEL AVIV UNIVERSITY REVIEW

cle, and that could be cultured for mimic nature’s process of turning of her career worked at NASA to find repairing diseased tissues and organs. these cells into the required tissue.” out whether life is possible on Mars The chip must be able not only to sort Benayahu has been focusing on – says the sensor is capable of detect- out stem cells, the molecular ing many other substances as well. “It but to support controls for really depends on what you put at the the automation stem cells’ dif- end of the electrode.” of the process ferent iat ion Prof. Ehud Gazit, TAU Vice on a large scale. Doctors’ offices could have into muscle, President for Research and Benayahu’s chips for doing medical fat or bone Development, believes that the lab- lab-on-a-chip tests instantly while the cells. Working on-a-chip research being conducted project is part with Prof. Yosi patient waits. of CellPROM, Shacham on short for “cell i n t e g r a t i n g programming,” a European Union- chips to measure electrical signals in- supported collaboration involving volved in cell changes, she hopes this over two dozen research groups en- work will eventually lead to a tool for gaged in nano-medicine. Their aim is the fast screening of drugs for various to perfect the basic science needed for diseases. For example, in osteoporo- creating a “tissue machine” – a device sis, stem cells can turn into fat in using stem cells that could produce bones, severely weakening them. If specific populations of cells or tissue this process can be blocked, the bone for healing a variety of ailments. formation activity can be restored. “Once we’ve harvested the stem cells and cultured them,” says Electrode-based detectives Benayahu, “we’ll work on developing Coupling biological materials nano-biotechnological tools that will such as enzymes or bacteria with an electrode-based device, Prof. Judith Rishpon of TAU’s Molecular Microbiology and Biotechnology Department, George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, has developed a small biosensor for sniffing out the presence of poison, pollution and disease. About the size of a stick of gum, the sensor is meant to be inexpensive and easily connected to a handheld at the university exemplifies TAU’s Prof. Yosi device like a Blackberry or iPhone for interdisciplinary strength. “It’s us. It’s Shacham quick and reliable results. An electri- exactly who we are and what we do,” in the clean room cal signal will pulse “yes” for the pres- he says. “Because we combine differ- ence of a test molecule and “no” for ent fields and directions, we can rope its absence. in the brightest people to solve multi- “Biosensors are important for the dimensional problems that touch on anti-terror industry, but they are also biology, chemistry and physics all at critical for detecting pathogens in our once. I think this approach will yield water and food, and infinitesimally some astonishing discoveries in the small amounts of disease biomarkers future.” in our blood,” says Prof. Rishpon. So Contributing to this article was Judy far, it is being used to detect proteins Siegel-Itzkovich associated with cancer and provide an early warning system for heart attacks, but Rishpon – who at the beginning 15 cifically, city planning – and social work. I’m interested in empowering disadvantaged communities in the struggle for social and environmental justice. The two go together. If you help people gain control of their envi- ronment to make it better, you’re also empowering them socially and politi- cally. They gain a greater voice in the democratic process while learning to promote their own interests.” With this research focus in mind, Butbul was matched with Transport

Environmental Agents of Change

The city of the future will be a Founded nine years ago by TAU Today and Tomorrow, an NGO that cleaner, greener and more pleasant benefactor Dame Shirley Porter, the promotes environmentally sustain- place to live, with its social and en- Porter School is Israel’s first and only able transport in Israel. Serving as its vironmental resources shared equally graduate school dedicated to environ- information technology coordinator, by all of its residents – at least if 28 mental studies, and one of a few in she created an electronic newsletter year-old Rinat Butbul has anything the world to combine the sciences, for the NGO and upgraded its web- to say about it. humanities and arts in its interdisci- site, dramatically expanding the or- By Carl Hoffman Butbul is one of seven TAU gradu- plinary approach to the subject. The ganization’s presence on the Internet. ate students who recently completed a school’s programs emphasize the For Butbul, her NGO work and one-year Porter School Environmental important role of academia in com- her interdisciplinary classroom stud- Internship Program, which combines munity outreach, and the specific role ies were a good match. “Sustainable work experience at environmen- that students play in being environ- transport must be examined from tal non-governmental organizations mental agents of change. many different angles. My training (NGOs) with study days on social at the Porter School prepared me for change. This practical activity com- Social justice this.” plements the students’ intensive regi- For Butbul, the Porter School and Butbul is involved in the national men of coursework and individual its Internship Program have meshed student environmental organiza- academic research within the frame- perfectly with her research interests. tion, Green Course, and served work of the school’s master’s program. “My thesis concerns geography – spe- as student representative on Tel 16 Winter 2009/10 TEL AVIV UNIVERSITY REVIEW

Aviv University’s Green Campus highly motivated graduate students science, said he first became inter- Development Committee. Currently with expertise in environmental is- ested in the field while touring New she’s interning with a project aimed sues.” Zealand. “I saw that there are far at promoting social equality in Porter Intern Avi Luvchik, 30, more advanced ways of dealing with Israel’s mixed Jewish-Arab cities in whose master’s studies in the field of the environment than what we are do- the areas of housing, infrastructure geophysics and planetary science in- ing in Israel and that there remained a and planning. volve forecasting the amount of sea lot for us to do to catch up,” he says.

Her goal is to combine academic salt aerosol in the air, was assigned to Does Luvchik think that the environment study with continued participation in Adam Teva V’Din—The Israel Union Internship Program was worth a year NGOs. “As I see it, ideally, the path for Environmental Defense. The or- of his time? “Absolutely yes,” he de- for change is to constantly acquire ganization deals with legal problems clares. “First of all, I learned how to and produce knowledge and to put it relating to the environment not cov- work in an NGO setting – I’d nev- into action,” she says. ered by Israeli law. er had any exposure to this before.

In a bid to weave academic knowledge, practical experience and social consciousness into one comprehensive program, the Porter School has its students interning at environmental NGOs

Highly motivated students “I worked in the science depart- Second, I learned how to work well Launched last year in conjunction ment, supplying data and models in a team, and third, the experience Porter with Shatil—The New Israel Fund’s for legal cases and for public aware- gave me the tools to deal with specific Interns Rinat training center for NGOs, the Porter ness campaigns against polluters,” environmental problems, how to go Butbul and Avi Luvchik Internship Program matches students says Luvchik. “I studied the aerosol out and talk to the community. Also, with organizations like the Society that comes from the refineries in I was able to help the NGO. I helped for the Protection of Nature in Israel, Bay – a big problem for climate them just like they were helping me.” Movement for Israeli Urbanism and change and human health.” Butbul concurs that the program Zalul, an organization for the protec- Surprisingly, Luvchik’s research was constructive. “My future is in the tion and maintenance of Israel’s rivers has led him to conclude that aerosol world of non-profit environmental or- and shorelines. does not affect the ozone layer, contra- ganizations, possibly in advocacy and Shachar Bookman, Shatil program ry to popular belief. “But aerosol does public policy,” she says. “And I think coordinator, says, “The students re- affect many other things,” he cau- the Porter School Internship Program ceive a stipend plus professional guid- tions. “Aerosol collects radiation from has been a very good first step for ance from the NGO, and they gain solar energy and causes modifications that, because it gave me a chance to hands-on experience in dealing with to climate change. It also gets into the work in that world. I also liked being the environmental issues they’re in- lungs and affects human health.” encouraged to learn about different terested in. Meanwhile, the NGOs Luvchik, who completed his un- subjects and do different things. It benefit from the assistance of bright, dergraduate studies in environmental was ideal for me.” 17 alumni 18 By Sandy Cash completed TAU’s Kellogg-Recanati Kellogg-Recanati TAU’s completed non-profits operate,”whosays Barkat, and businesses how between ference life. for abetter chance a and employment paid ing, train baker’s and cook people young the offers Lilit chefs, professional and workers social of guidance Underthe business. restaurant the in profession Tel Aviv that helps at-risk youth gain a – Lilit, a kosher in gourmet restaurant of heart one of Barkat’s latest ventures success. financial self-sustaining to works good linking model new entirely an get you – tal capi venture Israeli in figures the leading of one – Barkat Allan alumnus University Aviv Tel is businessman with concerned more just than the bottom line? that’s If the outfit an to expertise profit-generating his applies International Executive MBA Executive International Program W crisis is forcing people to reexamine reexamine to people forcing is crisis society.”of members the weakest efit profit ben that of support projects the with combines that one business, doing of way new a represents “Lilit Partners. Apax of office Israeli the of Director Managing as working while “There’s a basic philosophical dif philosophical basic a “There’s the at is entrepreneurship” “Social According to Barkat, the financial financial the Barkat, to According hat hat do you get when a businessman

Serving up Serving alumnus TAU Kellogg-Recanati recipe responsible for Allan Barkat Allan venture capital - - - -

taurant’s Board of Directors. of Directors. taurant’s Board Nadav Berger,on res the whoserve together graduate Kellogg-Recanati fellow and Barkat profes including – sionals to reins the handed ELEM 2009 of January In distress. in youth that for provides organization services an – ELEM 2001by in beginning ed investments.” business tosound cases’ ‘charity from partner transformed be non-profitscan ships, creative forging “By Tishler says. disappeared,” have sources funding traditional because crisis, in Administration. Management—Leon Graduate School Recanati of of Business Faculty of Tishler,Tel Dean Aviv University’s Asher Prof. was attendance In initia tives. entrepreneurship social downturn and economic the discuss to together leaders business 30 brought to live.” place world abetter our making for responsibility a have – tomorrow’sleaders – dents business stu “Today’s says. he heart,” a with business do to students their inspire should programs “MBA education. business in change positive a about bring may that priorities –something Founded in 1993,operat in Founded was Lilit are organizations welfare “Social Lilit at held conference recent A Allan Barkat restaurant’s Chef Noam in theLilit (left) and Deckers kitchen ’s

Success ------www.lilit-pfs.com www.lilit-pfs.com at found one’s benefit,” states. he every for community, the into back channeled be can money smart how about – story great a and service offer fine we people, 200 for events ing host or individual, an serving we’re “Whether investment. first Dualis’ is which Lilit, at meal a for by stop to is says, Barkat act, balancing this part of the program’s of the value.”part It’s another. one for doors open and over students stay years, two in touch, together intensively studying “After job. onthe intuitively learned already had colleagues his and he what mat, for structured a in examine, to him allowed program MBA executive the that adding says, Barkat graduate,” Kellogg-Recanati another with ing financial gain with social value. value. social with gain financial balance to aims Venturewhich Fund, he Israel launched Social Dualis—The in children Givat Olga. More recently, underprivileged for center education technology and science a Technoda, at work to connections high-tech his put he Partners, Apax at still While business. conscious socially with ence More information on Lilit can be be can Lilit on information More understand to way best the And experi first Barkat’s not is Lilit “It’s no coincidence that I’m“It’s workthat coincidence no - - - - - Winter 2009/10 TEL AVIV UNIVERSITY REVIEW

As Israel’s urban centers grow in in Israel and worldwide. Over the last Aviv’s liveliness and testify to trans- density, quality-of-life issues are being few months, I’ve been contacted by parency and involvement. “Urban sidestepped, believes Dr. Tali Hatuka, several local municipalities regarding planning criticism is an important a new faculty member specializing in issues of urban density and revitaliz- tool for promoting action and change urban regeneration. “As a scholar and ing city centers. It’s a great opportu- in the city,” she adds. architect, one of my aims is to influ- nity for seeing your recommendations Hatuka says she’s pleasantly sur- ence Israel’s building policy,” she says. take shape on the ground and for edu- prised to see talented people in this gain brain Currently constructing an cating students,” Hatuka says. field joining the TAU faculty. “Young, Urban Design Lab within TAU’s In addition to getting the lab up bright people are choosing to work in Department of Geography and and running, Hatuka is working on the public and academic sector, rath- Human Environment, Hatuka spent an English-language publication due er than the private one, and to solve six months traveling Israel’s cities in out this year on the relationship be- pressing socio-spatial problems.” preparation for her new position. tween Tel Aviv urban design and po- “Right now in Israel we’re expe- “Housing projects in Israel today litical violence. The book examines riencing a generational shift in the versus those of the 1960s and 70s may the way violent acts over the past 15 fields of planning and architecture,” be higher quality in terms of mate- years have profoundly altered civil rit- Hatuka concludes. “Today’s 70 year- rials,” Hatuka says, “but there isn’t uals and cultural identity in Tel Aviv. old architects who crafted the Israeli By Stephanie L. Freid

New faculty recruit Dr. Tali Hatuka ushers in Revitalizing next-generation urban planning at TAU Cities much thought about what makes a good neighborhood in big cities, or about housing environments for low- income families, both topics that are of concern in the Israeli context.” Examining the urban environ- ment is Dr. Hatuka’s specialty. She earned an architecture degree from Haifa’s Technion—Israel Institute of Technology, an urban design degree from the University of Edinburgh and a PhD from the Technion; and pursued post-doctoral research at the Department of Urban Studies and Planning at MIT as a Fulbright and European Union Marie Curie Scholar. Hatuka returned to Israel with European funding for her new lab, which will address urban regenera- tion and encourage students to com- Hatuka views Tel Aviv as “scarred landscape can’t address how Israel bine practice and theory. “We’re cre- and complex, yet dynamic and live- will look in 20 years – that’s our job. Dr. Tali ating an urban regeneration database ly.” According to Hatuka, the social, The 30-40 year-olds will see to that. Hatuka in Tel Aviv to be used as a research and reference political and spatial conflicts taking This is an exciting time to be in this tool for urban planning departments place in the city only reinforce Tel field.” 19 int’l program 20 program by the well-known Russian Russian well-known the by program recommended to the Adler-Buchmann orchestras. symphony and opera of world the in handsomely Israel and TAU senting repre diplomats,” “musical of work net a as serve will school the of ates gradu international decades, future institutions. two the between partnership of a strategic Philharmonic Orchestra (IPO) as part Israel the of members leading by ing train includes Buchmann-Mehta also Music of School the at study regimen The teachers. and musicians classical best-known Israel’s are whomamong fac of many TAU members, by ulty promise and outstanding talent of basis the on picked Norway, Kenya. and Kosovo Unitedthe as , diverse States, as countries from students fellow with together skills performing her ishing and knowledge academic pol gaining is Nishimura old 26-year the gram, Music. of School Buchmann-Mehta TAU’s at Students Foreign Program Outstanding for International Buchmann Adler- new the in studying currently scholarships full on students overseas music 22 of one is Tokyo- violinist The born violin. the of for tradition respect long native a her harbors like Japan, that, country a as Israel of admirer keen a become has she noodles, ramen of bowl a savors she as much as humus love to learn dents to the program. program. dents to the stu their recommending are circuit international the in teachers music sought-after and respected most the that buzz much so created has gram International impact impact International W Program organizers believe that, in believe that, organizers Program hand- are participants Program pro bachelor’s-level the Through Already in its first year the pro the year first its in Already Nishimura explains that she was was she that explains Nishimura hile Mika Nishimura may never never may Nishimura Mika hile ------A LittleChopin TAU’s new International music studentsin Program superpower superpower world but witha not justwithprofessional skills, with Your Pita? : music Israelisa classical will leave the country leave will thecountry message tothe Adler-Buchmann Adler-Buchmann Buchmann-Mehta School of Music, Music, of School Buchmann-Mehta ships to international students.” to international ships scholar give to heart big a has “Israel other.” of each care take We family. a like is all “My says. class she kind,” so is everyone University student “At from the . Tel Aviv Arab an Hashem, with violin playing enjoys she though students origin Russian music of Israeli are campus years. three next for the telage Svetlova’stu under remain to Nishimura hopes adds. she of, enamored greatly become has Nishimura which style Russian emotional distinctly a Her violin teacher, Irena Svetlova, has notes. she level,” professional “high Cosmopolitan flavor Cosmopolitan Spain. in studying was Bron, with whom Zakhar violinist she Prof. Tomer Lev, former head of the “I love this country,” she concludes. on friends Nishimura’s of Most a on are TAU at studies Music - - tial for high-level music making.” music making.” for high-level tial essen is identities cultural and alities convergence of differentperson ideas, The Berlin. or York, New as such centers metropolitan in schools biggest the in only found be can that temperaments cosmopolitan and cultures a of blend introduced has It dramatically has the atmosphere at changed the school. program the but says: “It’s its second year, only starting very good.”very “It’s Albania. in for four years studied country,” whoGoranci, adds Rachum.” Tamar Prof. – teacher great a have I And cultures. and religions different about lot a learned “I’ve beams. she opportunity,” amazing an been “It’s now. Aviv Tel in living about fusive ef is she day, one Europe in star era ing opera.”ing lov started I So solo. sing to wanted I “But Nairobi. in choirs church and got ascholarship,” he says. I process the in and audition, an for Beijing Olympics. “I to came Tel Aviv music 2008 the at performing ofwas he when school first TAU’s of singer learned Kenya-born Nairobi, The TAU. his at training of after years three in singer an opera become ternational to hopes also 21, Vienna Philharmonic. the for works who teacher a TAUby at program music international the to recommended was she that lates re 23, Goranci, Kosovo? of Pristina, capital of Goranci Flaka soprano Lev. students to the world, points out Prof. Aspiring opera singer singer opera Aspiring “It’s my first time living in a in living time first my “It’s “Tel Aviv is really fun,” he grins. grins. he fun,” really is Aviv “Tel Israel? How he find does school in singing up Njorogegrew Njoroge, Zachariah Goranci, Like op an become to hopes she While mezzo- meet they could else How Israeli up opens also program The ------coaches and conductors,” and coaches he notes. good very some had We’ve develop. and perform to opportunities many “ThereProgram are rewarding. highly oppositethe of that.” It’sfighting. people with news, the in a is see we It’slike Israel notcountry. beautiful warm. are people “The lence but will.” for good the word that we do not forstand vio spreading Israel of out “go will pants partici international the hoped he that said School, the Buchmann-Mehta of President Honorary Mehta, Zubin Director Musical IPO ence, School. of the head also by IPO,ofed Ze’ev the now Dorman conduct Orchestra, Music of School Buchmann-Mehta the with forming per students international 15 turing concert fea bysponsored Dr. Buchmann h.c. all-Beethoven an with ing meet Governors of Board 2009 the the TAU Board. of Chairman Tel Vice Josef Buchmann, of h.c. Dr. Friends and University; Aviv Brazilian the of Chapter Paulo Sao the Adler, of President Arthur Mario leaders Dr. TAU, and of supporters long-time two of honor in named Foreign is Students Outstanding for Program musicians.” good such bloc are Soviet former the from here teachers The to. gotten I’ve point highest the is Prague,” This steps. “It’slike to continues. she comparison in higher it thought Thewas dangerous. level hereis much They here. study to ing Michigan TAU. to the attend Music Academy from offer an down 18,turned Prague, of Matlova Maria violinist Republic, Czech the in ily Israel over the USA over the Israel Njoroge findsthe Adler-Buchmann n ae getns o h audi the to greetings taped In at inaugurated was program The TheAdler-Buchmann International decid by family my surprised “I fam her of consternation the To Winter 2009/10 TEL AVIV UNIVERSITY REVIEW UNIVERSITY AVIV TEL ------21 Nishimura and Mika Goranci Flaka Njoroge, Zachariah Matlova, Maria From left: By Gil Zohar One of the main reasons formation and make concessions. For for the continuation of example, a detailed description of the Israeli-Palestinian the grave economic consequences of conflict, maintains Prof. continuing the present situation, or Daniel Bar-Tal of TAU’s of the possibility of losing the Jewish School of Education, is majority between the Mediterranean a social-psychological sea and the Jordan river, were more one. “Nations that are persuasive in getting people to con- involved in a longstand- sider dividing the land, and ending ing conflict, such as our- the conflict, than when presented a selves, develop a reper- scenario describing positive gains re- Photo courtesy of the Peres Center for Peace toire of rigid, entrenched sulting from peace-making. beliefs which only serve to preserve This finding, notes Prof. Bar Tal, and even deepen the conflict,” he ex- accords with the views of Nobel lau- plains. Moreover, this rigidity causes reate Prof. Daniel Kahneman and the Cutting each side to collectively “close their late Prof. Amos Tversky, who posited minds to any information that could that because the prospect of losses Your Losses possibly support the advancement of hurts more than the prospect of gains for Peace the peace process.” feels good, people are likely to take In a new TAU study, However, recent research con- greater risks to avoid a foreseeable loss Israelis show a greater ducted by Prof. Bar-Tal and Dr. Eran than to ensure a foreseeable gain. The Halperin of the Interdisciplinary Israelis and Palestinians, says Bar-Tal, readiness to accommodate Center (IDC) Herzliya, together with should be made to recognize that the an Israeli-Palestinian accord their colleagues, demonstrates that costs of continuing the conflict will when shown the potential the Israeli mindset can be changed. be greater than the costs of making losses of not compromising. People who were presented with the concessions for peace. This is apparently more high price Israel risks paying for the Prof. Bar-Tal holds the Branco persuasive than imagining continuation of the conflict showed Weiss Chair for Research in Child the benefits of peace. a greater readiness to accept new in- Development and Education at TAU.

Friendships at work can make a job more enjoyable, but they can also be fraught with difficulties that can -af Friendships fect a company’s bottom line. For example, if a well-liked individual at at the Office the office leaves – or is fired – other employees could “abandon ship,” cre- ating a high employee turnover rate. Pay Off Now, Dr. Hilla Dotan of TAU’s mine what kind of friendships a per- demonstrates that workplace relation- Faculty of Management—Leon son is likely to have and how wide he ships can be managed strategically to Recanati Graduate School of Business or she should cast a friendship net for benefit both employer and employee.” Administration has developed the job success. Moreover, the tool can be Dr. Dotan was one of the 30 young “Relational Tendency Tool,” a practi- used to predict how workplace friend- faculty members recruited from pres- cal method of identifying the types ships improve or detract from produc- tigious institutions last year to join and effects of workplace relation- tivity, commitment and loyalty. the ranks of TAU’s academic facul- ships. This patented tool, used today “A good friend at work can increase ty. She was born in Israel, raised in by headhunter organizations, focuses a person’s willingness to get up in the the Netherlands, and completed her mainly on healthy network building morning and commit to the com- PhD at UCLA’s Anderson School of within the organization. It can deter- pany,” Dr. Dotan says. “My method Management. 22 Winter 2009/10 TEL AVIV UNIVERSITY REVIEW

Depression doesn’t only change the way we feel, but also the way we see – according to TAU medical researcher Dr. Uri Polat of the Maurice and Gabriela Goldschleger Eye Institute, Sackler Faculty of Medicine. To investigate the effects of depression on visual per- ception, Dr. Polat and his team developed a computer- ized test that lets them assess “the filling-in process” that Predicting a healthy mind undertakes when looking at objects. They set up two groups – one of patients hospitalized for depres- sion and the other of control subjects – and asked them to Flash look at identical images that were missing visual informa- tion. The control subjects were able to successfully fill in and “see” missing parts, while the depressive ones were Flooding not. Furthermore, the brain activity of depressed people looked very different from that of the control group. A TAU-developed technique using cellular telephone towers to warn of flash floods was selected best of 2009 by Popular Science

Flash floods are among the most devastating weather- related disasters, combining unpredictability, incredible speed and destructive power to ruin property and take lives. Now, research by doctoral student Noam David of the Department of Geophysics and Planetary Sciences, Raymond and Beverly Sackler Faculty of Exact Sciences, and his PhD supervisors, Prof. Pinhas Alpert and Prof. Hagit Messer-Yaron, could lead to an early warning sys- tem for flash flooding using wireless communication net- Viewing the Blues work data. TAU brain research links Flash floods occur when the ground becomes over-satu- visual perception deficits to rated with water that has fallen too quickly to be absorbed. The TAU technique is based on the principle that signals clinical depression from one wireless communication base station (such as that of a cellular phone company) to another base sta- “We see with our brain, not with our eyes. The eye is tion are affected by the amount of rain falling between only the tool,” says Dr. Polat, who studied the brainwave the two stations. By measuring the signals, one can gauge activity of the experiment participants. the strength of the rain in flood-prone areas and accurately The new results linking depression to eyesight could predict flooding. result in a breakthrough tool to accurately diagnose de- The method of using cell phone data for monitoring at- pression. They could also assist physicians in monitoring mospheric phenomena was discovered in 2006 by Alpert, the effects of anti-depressants such as Prozac within days. who heads the Porter School of Environmental Studies, Currently, it can take up to six weeks after the start of and Prof. Messer-Yaron, former Vice President of Research treatment to know if the prescription is right for the pa- and Development at TAU, together with PhD student tient. Artem Zinevich. Now its new application as a hazard Dr. Polat and his team are now developing an EEG warning system will make it possible to alert people to the test to scan brain activity for the signature signs that threat of flooding in real time. depression creates. “A standardized tool for depression The TAU technique was awarded a “2009 Best of could save the healthcare system millions of dollars in What’s New” award in the safety category, along with costs resulting from misdiagnosis, and would give de- 99 other leading inventions in 11 categories, by Popular pressed people peace of mind,” says Dr. Polat. Science magazine. 23 Egypt and Israel: Ancient Friends? Rare Egyptian artifact found at TAU-led dig in the Galilee

The discovery of a fragment of a ancient Egyptian symbol for life – carved stone plaque bearing archaic and can be attributed to the period Egyptian signs was the highlight of of Egypt’s First Dynasty, in approxi- the second season of archaeological mately 3,000 BCE. Finds of this excavations at Tel Bet Yerah, com- nature are rare even within Egypt. pleted this summer by a joint team The signs are executed to a high led by TAU’s Dr. Raphael Greenberg, quality, and bear comparison with of the Jacob M. Alkow Department those on royal cosmetic palettes and of Archaeology and Ancient Near other monuments dating back to the Eastern Cultures, and Prof. David Pharaohs. Wengrow of University College Earlier discoveries, both in Egypt London. The site is situated on the and at Tel Bet Yerah, have indicated shores of the Sea of Galilee, along that there was direct interaction be- an ancient highway which connected tween the site, then one of the larg- Egypt to the wider world of the an- est in the Jordan Valley, and the cient Near East in the Early Bronze Egyptian court. The new discovery Palace of Al-Sinnabra. The structure’s Age. suggests that these contacts were of colorful mosaic floors were revealed The four centimeter-long fragment far greater local significance than had and properly recorded for the first was the first artifact of its kind ever been suspected. time, and its foundation walls showed unearthed in an archaeological con- Other advances made during this severe cracking that could be attrib- text outside Egypt. It depicts an arm year’s excavations included new in- uted to the massive earthquake of 749 and hand grasping a scepter and an sights into the site’s large fortified CE that destroyed many sites along early form of the “ankh” sign – the structure, known as the Umayyad the Jordan Valley.

Blind people face daunting challeng- es in unfamiliar environments and must often rely on others to help them get around. The problem with this Mental Maps support is that it doesn’t give them the tools to venture out on their own. tile feedback. Users can feel tension New TAU-MIT Now, a new computerized system de- and textures beneath their fingertips veloped by Dr. Orly Lahav of TAU’s as a physical sensation while they nav- software Constantiner School of Education igate around a virtual environment. can help the and Porter School of Environmental For example, the device stiffens when blind navigate Studies helps the blind gain inde- the user meets a virtual wall. Based on pendence by enabling them to create real-world maps, the device enables unfamiliar “mental maps” of unfamiliar spaces. the blind to distinguish between dif- spaces The BlindAid device, a type of joy- ferent ground textures as they move stick connected to a computer, helps the cursor like a computerized ‘cane’ the blind navigate through virtual en- across the computer screen. vironments that represent real-world The new system gives the blind the spaces by providing auditory and tac- ability and confidence to explore new 24 Winter 2009/10 TEL AVIV UNIVERSITY REVIEW

TAU researchers have come up with the novel dispos- the ultimate solution to bad breath in able plastic device. the form of a pocket-size test that lets The kit will show you know if malodorous bacteria are a blue spot within brewing in your mouth. The patent- minutes if a person pending saliva test, OkaytoKiss, is be- has enzymes in the ing developed by microbiologist Prof. mouth produced Mel Rosenberg and Dr. Nir Sterer of by Gram-positive TAU’s Sackler Faculty of Medicine bacteria. “The through Ramot, the university’s tech- presence of these nology transfer arm. enzymes means Most bacteria are either Gram- that the mouth is positive or Gram-negative, based busily producing on a staining technique developed bacteria that foster by Christian Gram in the 19th cen- foul breath,” says tury. Until now, scientists believed Rosenberg. that only the Gram-negative bacteria Besides the obvious social benefits, break down proteins in the mouth to the test can be used as an indicator produce foul odor. Rosenberg and his of a person’s oral hygiene and for en- Is It team have discovered that the other couraging better health habits such as population of bacteria, the Gram- flossing and brushing teeth. The dis- positive, also helps to create bad posable test could be ready in about Okay to breath by producing enzymes that a year for commercial distribution, break sugary pieces of protein into probably in the size of a pack of chew- stinky compounds. The enzymatic ing gum. activity of the Gram-positive bacteria, An earlier invention of Prof. Kiss? present in saliva, serves as the basis Rosenberg, who is an international A pocket-size breath for the new test and as an indicator of authority on the diagnosis of bad test developed at TAU bad breath risk. breath, led to the development of two- could prevent you from The test works by applying a little phase mouthwashes that have become making an oral faux pas bit of saliva onto a small window of a hit in the UK, Israel and elsewhere.

spaces in the comfort of their own The BlindAid software was first homes before venturing out into the demonstrated as an orientation tool real world. “This tool lets the blind at the Carroll Center for the Blind ‘touch’ and ‘hear’ virtual objects and in Newton, Massachusetts. In the deepens their sense of space, distance case study, a partially blind woman and perspective,” says Lahav. “They explored the virtual environment of can sense intersections, buildings, the center and its campus, as well as paths and obstacles with the tactile 10 other sites, including a four-story device and even navigate inside a building. After just three or four ses- shopping mall, train station or air- sions, the woman was able to effec- port. tively navigate and explore the actual “Users get feedback from the de- sites wearing a blindfold. vice that helps them build a cognitive The research was begun at TAU map, which they later apply in the under the supervision of Prof. David real world,” says Lahav. “This solution Mioduser and then developed fur- could help the blind to be independ- ther at MIT with colleagues Dr. ent and to find new paths in their Mandayam Srinivassan and Dr. world.” David W. Schloerb. 25 Leadership

“When I went into public life, my main problem was me. 2009 Dan David For my first speech, six people Prize Laureate Tony Blair turned up... and as I was read- ing my speech, I noticed, out Meets Young Leaders of the corner of my eye, that one of them had fallen asleep,” Can leadership skills be acquired? – significant fig- divulged Tony Blair, former A roundtable discussion on the ures who help UK Prime Minister, Quartet us in the most envoy to the Middle East and subject with Tony Blair was one of important mis- 2009 Dan David Prize laure- the highlights of this year’s Dan sion of all: get- ate, to four young Israelis who David Prize events. ting to know joined him for a roundtable ourselves and discussion on leadership. the world we The symposium, one of the highlights of the 2009 Dan live in.” Muhamad Agbarieh, 18, from Jaffa, David Prize events, was hosted by TAU’s Dov Lautman Unit spoke of Abraham Lincoln as an example of for Science Oriented Youth and moderated by the coordi- the perfect leader, combining inborn features nator of the unit’s leadership programs, PhD student Roni with acquired skills. And Noam Shamir, 15, Shechter-Baram. The four exceptional students on stage from Matan in central Israel, commended em- with Blair had been carefully handpicked from TAU’s young powerment through dialogue, saying: “After leadership groups. Aged 15-18, they all gave brilliant pres- studying leadership, look at me speaking in front of you to- entations that in themselves provided an emphatic, categori- day with self-confidence!” cal answer to the main question: YES, with good education, Applauding delightedly, Blair quipped to the Israelis in excellent training and hard work, leadership skills can defi- the audience: “Your future is in pretty good hands!” and nitely be acquired! agreed that “leadership is acquired.” Contributing his own Rana Taha, a 17 year-old from the Israeli Arab town thoughts, he listed four main qualities necessary for leader- of Jaljulya, stressed that “knowledge is power, and when a ship: hard work, creative thinking, courage and the desire to leader truly knows what he is doing, he is more likely to learn new things every day. make the right decisions.” Noam Shai, 16, from Binyamina, Blair numbers among the many distinguished global per- spoke about the importance of having “the right instructors sonalities that the Dan David Prize brings to Israel every

2009 Dan David Prize Winners

The Dan David Prize, endowed by the Dan David Foundation and headquartered at TAU, honors achieve- ments that have an outstanding scientific, technological, cultural or social impact on our world. The Prize awards a total of $3 million each year in three time categories: Past, Present and Future. The 2009 Dan David Prize was awarded in the presence of the President of the State Israel, , to the following: • Past dimension in the field of Astrophysics – History of the Universe, for discoveries concerning the ge- ometry and composition of the universe, Prof. Paolo

de Bernardis, University La Sapienza, Rome • Prof.

26 Winter 2009/10 TEL AVIV UNIVERSITY REVIEW

Israeli industrialist Dov Lautman was embraced by hun- dreds of people at a special evening held in honor of his eight years as Chairman of the Executive Council of TAU. At the event, Lautman heard for the first time that one of the projects dearest to his heart – the Unit for Science Oriented Youth – will now bear his name, a gift of friends and colleagues. Lautman, 73, is founder and Chairman of Delta Galil Industries Ltd., former President of the Manufacturers Association of Israel and 2007 Israel Prize laureate for lifelong accomplishment. A longstanding friend of Tel Aviv University, he is the donor of the Adi Lautman Saluting Dov Lautman for Eight Years of Leadership

year, among them former US Vice President Al Gore, Davos visionary Dr. Klaus Schwab and celebrated cellist Yo-Yo Ma. Now in its eighth year, the prize gives young Israelis a rare opportunity to meet and be inspired by some of humanity’s greatest thinkers and doers. Additional events held at TAU in which 2009 Dan David Prize laureates participated were an astrophysics From left: symposium on “The Cosmic Microwave Background: Dov Lautman Cosmology’s Rosetta Stone,” and a symposium on Interdisciplinary Program for Outstanding Students, and a and students Shira Malka “Challenges for a Healthier World.” TAU honorary doctor. Lautman has also contributed a great and Revital deal to the causes of equal opportunity in Israeli society and Batoniashvili of the Dov peaceful coexistence with its Arab neighbors. Lautman Unit “Dovik’s only question before agreeing to chair the for Science Oriented Executive Council was: ‘Is TAU committed to social in- Youth at TAU’s Andrew E. Lange, California Institute of Technology, volvement?’” recalled former TAU President Prof. Itamar Constantiner School of Pasadena, California • Prof. Paul Richards, University of Rabinovich, who recruited Lautman in 2001 and worked Education California at Berkeley closely with him. “Indeed, our social projects, especially • Present dimension in the field of Leadership, for helping education for underprivileged children and youth, received to forge lasting solutions in areas of conflict, Tony Blair, a great boost from him. He also introduced very high mana- former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom gerial standards, and deserves enormous credit for the fact • Future dimension in the field of Global Public Health, the university overcame its severe financial crisis at the be- for pioneering AIDS research, Prof. Robert Gallo, the ginning of the decade.” Institute of Human Virology, Baltimore, Maryland Other prominent speakers included the former Minister

For additional details, visit www.dandavidprize.org of Finance, Avraham (Beiga) Shochat; President of the Israeli Friends and CEO of Cellcom, Amos Shapira; and member of the Executive Council, TAU donor and former President From left: Rector Dany Leviatan, Tony Blair (seated left), Prof. Paolo de Bernardis, Dan David, then TAU President of the Israeli Friends, businessman Alfred Akirov. Prof. , Prof. Robert Gallo, President of Israel Lautman said: “The only way to close the gaps in Israeli so- Shimon Peres (seated right), Prof. Paul Richards and Prof. Andrew E. Lange ciety is through education. Working with Tel Aviv University, I went home a happy man at the end of each day.”

27 Leadership

Like the prize he founded, Forever Young donor Dan David has deep roots in the past, strong interest in the present and far-reaching belief in the future – especially in his son, Ariel

One thing that TAU benefactor Dan David shares un- entific research, scholarships and theater studies at TAU, as equivocally with his son is a sheer delight with Tel Aviv well as major projects such as the Dan David Building. University. “Whenever I come to TAU,” says the elder David, “I recall my days as a young student in communist Giving talented young people a chance . I can best describe those days as gray. Buildings, A colorful and free spirit, Dan David brims with life, cu- speeches, faces, all seemed subdued and shrouded with the riosity and new ideas – which keep him youthful even at colorless emotions of sadness and oppression. Walking along 80. When asked – as he has been by countless interviewers the flowered pathways of the Tel Aviv campus, I cannot help worldwide – why he decided to donate half of his substan- but notice that color shines everywhere – in the students’ tial fortune to the foundation that endowed the Dan David chatter as in the professors’ lectures, in the air as in the soil.” Prize (and made many other gifts to institutions of culture and learning), he gives a characteristically original answer: “Money is just a measure of ability and success, not a pur- pose in itself. My wife, Gabriela, and I already have all we need, and we want to give back to society something of what we’ve received. We want to help advance human knowledge, and give talented young people an opportunity, like the one I was given as a young man.” In this, David refers specifically to an interest-free loan given to him in good faith in the early 1960s by a relative, Pierre Wahl, who believed in his abilities. A natural entrepre- neur, David used the sum to launch Photo-Me International Plc., an automatic photo booth business with global opera- tions, which ultimately placed him high on the list of the world’s wealthiest people.

And Ariel David, 29, a magna cum laude graduate of Multi-generational engagement Rome University and a successful AP reporter for the past Today, from the perspective of a long life well lived, Dan Ariel and Dan David five years, heartily agrees: “My visits here are nothing short David believes in youth and in the future. And the young of uplifting. Walking through the greenery, meeting the stu- man he believes in most of all is his only son, Ariel, to whom dents and professors, visiting the labs and learning about the he gladly passes the baton, in more ways than one. “Ariel important discoveries made here – it often crosses my mind is very talented,” says the proud father. “He is making his that I should have studied in Tel Aviv.” own way, doing well in the profession he loves, and writing It is precisely this strong affinity, based on decades of fast about many fascinating topics. But he’s also deeply involved friendship and generous contributions to TAU, that moti- in the activities of the Dan David Foundation, which gives vated Dan David to present the grand vision of the Dan me great satisfaction.” David Prize in 2002 to the president of TAU at the time, A member of the foundation’s board of directors, Ariel Prof. , and to Vice President Yehiel Ben- David is equally proud of his father and his initiatives. “This Zvi, and ask for TAU’s assistance. world-embracing prize is my father’s brainchild, emanating “The feeling of freedom I sensed here is why I believed from his ideas and ideologies,” he says, “but I share many that Tel Aviv University was the right place to celebrate the of his passions: for Israel, for science, for history, and most achievements of the human race,” explains the donor, who, assuredly – for Tel Aviv University. The university and the as an avid Zionist since his early youth, considers himself foundation are both very close to my heart. It’s a long-term an Israeli and speaks fluent Hebrew, even though he resides commitment, and I intend to continue my involvement for in Rome. David and his wife, Gabriela, have supported sci- many years to come.”

28 Winter 2009/10 TEL AVIV UNIVERSITY REVIEW 25 Years Tel Aviv University celebrated the 25th anniversary of the Josef Buchmann Doctoral Fellowship Fund, established of Buchmann Doctoral in 1984 at both TAU and the Johann Wolfgang Goethe Fellows University in Frankfurt, Germany. The ceremony and a spe- cial video produced for “Mr. Buchmann said to me: I Josef Buchmann the occasion, Help from don’t care about bricks and mor- (center, the Heart, illustrated tar. I want to invest in human standing) is congratulated how, over the past quar- beings,” recalls Yehiel Ben-Zvi, by friends ter of a century, the fund Vice President of TAU, about and family at the ceremony has fulfilled the twofold the genesis of the fund. “It be- marking 25 vision of Dr. (h.c.) Josef came the largest doctoral fellow- years of the Buchmann Buchmann, its founder: ship fund at Tel Aviv University.” Doctoral advancing PhD studies So far, the Buchmann Fund Fellowship Fund. in Israel to build up the has supported more than 350 country’s scientific and outstanding doctoral students in economic strength, and Tel Aviv and Frankfurt, in dis- enhancing academic and cultural cooperation between Israel ciplines as diverse as medical research, literature, software and Germany. engineering, zoology, law, biochemistry, music and history. Josef Buchmann, a TAU honorary doctor, is Vice Chairman of the TAU Board of Governors and one of the university’s most generous benefactors. His major contribu- tions include the Buchmann Faculty of Law, dedicated in memory of his parents who perished in the Holocaust, and the Buchmann-Mehta School of Music in cooperation with the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra.

Mr. Buchmann (left) being decorated this August by the Polish President, Lech Kaczynski, with the "Commanders Cross with Star" of the Polish Order of Merit as part of the Survivors Park celebrations on the 65th anniversary of the liquidation of the Lodz Ghetto. Buchmann spearheaded the renewal of the cemetery of the Lodz Ghetto, partnered in the Lodz Ghetto Memorial at Radegast Station, and provided day-to-day care for elderly Jewish survivors.

Annual John Gandel Symposium Experts from TAU’s Moshe Dayan Center for Middle Eastern and African Studies took part in the annual John Gandel Symposium on the Middle East, held for the sev- enth year running at TAU’s Board of Governors meeting. From left: Dayan Center Director Prof. Eyal Zisser, John Gandel, Prof. Itamar Rabinovich, Prof. Asher The founder of the Symposium, John Gandel of Australia, Susser, Pauline Gandel, Australian Ambassador a TAU Governor and honorary doctor, attended this year’s Richard Larsen and then President of the Australian Friends Association Ron Krongold event, which focused on “The Arab-Israeli Peace Process: The Way Forward.”

29 Leadership Honorary Doctors

Lord David Alliance Marc Rich Lifetime British peer, prominent entre- International business pioneer, benefac- preneur and philanthropist, promoter of tor of the arts, culture, welfare, education health, welfare and educational causes in and medical research in Israel, promoter Britain and Israel and dedicated supporter of interfaith dialogue, and supporter of of TAU. research and doctoral research fellowships at TAU. Gila Almagor Israel Prize-winning actress, author, screen- Moise Yacoub Safra writer and media personality, “first lady” Prominent banker, entrepreneur and phi- of stage and screen, philanthropist and lanthropist, Jewish community leader in champion of social causes including aiding Brazil, champion of Jewish education and children-at-risk. continuity, and generous benefactor of TAU. Miriam Ben-Porat Israel Prize-winning judge and public fig- Jacob Ziv ure, legal trailblazer, first woman to serve Israel Prize-winning scientist in electri- on Israel’s Supreme Court and staunch cal engineering and information theory, champion of the rule of law in Israel. champion of Israeli higher education, and esteemed academic leader in key national Manfred Bietak posts. Renowned archaeologist, pioneering re- searcher of ancient Egypt, Canaan and the Aegean, advocate of strong academic ties between Israel and Austria, and dedi- Honorary Fellows cated friend of TAU. Aharon Doron Joseph Hackmey High-ranking military professional, pub- Insurance industry leader, man of letters, lic servant, promoter of aliya and im- benefactor of the arts and culture in Israel migrant absorption, and first Director- and worldwide, and generous supporter General and former Deputy President of of higher education in Israel and at TAU. TAU.

Ron Huldai Tom Mandel Visionary mayor of Tel Aviv-Yafo, pa- Businessman, strategic consultant and triot, educator and political leader, and philanthropist, promoter of health, edu- champion of growth and rejuvenation in cational, welfare and Jewish causes in the city of Tel Aviv. Australia and Israel, and devoted friend and supporter of TAU and its Australian Charlotte Knobloch Friends Association in Melbourne. Prominent Jewish community leader in Germany and worldwide, promoter of re- David Meller ligious tolerance and coexistence, devoted Businessman and community leader, pro- friend of Israel and Vice President of the moter of charities aiding children, youth German Friends of TAU. and the needy in the UK and Israel, former Chairman of the Tel Aviv University Trust in Great Britain and supporter of young faculty recruitment at TAU.

30 Winter 2009/10 TEL AVIV UNIVERSITY REVIEW

• The Max Perlman Award for Excellence in Global Annual Prizes Business was awarded to Chaim Katzman (pictured), Chairman of real estate development company Gazit- Globe, for economic leadership in steering his company through the financial crisis toward positive results. Katzman is a TAU Governor and founder of the Gazit-Globe • The Raymond and Beverly Sackler Prize in Physical Real Estate Institute at TAU’s Faculty of Sciences was awarded to three outstanding young research- Management—Leon Recanati Graduate ers in synthetic organic chemistry: Prof. Phil S. Baran of the School of Business Administration. Scripps Research Institute (pictured left), Prof. Brian M. Stolz of the California Institute of Technology (center) and Prof. • The Dr. Jaime Constantiner Prize in Jewish Education Matthew D. Shair of Harvard University, for their exceptional was presented to Haya Shoam (pictured fourth from right), achievements in total synthesis of natural products. Principal of the Tichon Hadash High School in Tel Aviv, in recognition of the school’s achievements in introducing • The Renata Adler Prize for Child Jewish heritage Welfare and Protection of the Renata and Hebrew Adler Memorial Research Center for Child culture topics Welfare and Protection was awarded to the into its secular center’s founder, Israel Prize laureate Prof. teaching cur- Zahava Solomon of the Bob Shapell School riculum. of Social Work (pictured), for her dedicated leadership of the Center from its establishment, her initiation of a vast amount of research projects and for bringing prestige to the standing of the center in the international community.

Yaakov and Pnina Herzog Chilean Liberator Honored Doctoral Fellowship The founding father and liberator of Chile, Captain The 2009 Yaakov and Pnina General Bernardo O’Higgins Riquelme, was commemo- Herzog Doctoral Fellowship was rated at TAU with a bust donated by the Chilean army, the awarded to Nechamit Peri, a TAU PhD O’Higgins Institute in Israel and the Chilean Embassy. The student in Bible studies. The fellowship bust was presented to TAU by the Commander in Chief of honors the late Dr. Yaakov Herzog (pic- the Chilean Army, General Oscar Izurieta Ferrer (pictured tured), one of Israel’s most gifted diplo- left), at an event attended by Chilean Ambassador to Israel mats and a renowned scholar of Jewish Irene Bronfman (right) and representatives of the diplo- philosophy who served as advisor to numerous Israeli prime ministers. Herzog was the son of Israel’s second Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi, Isaac Herzog, and the younger brother of the sixth President of Israel, . The fellowship also commemorates Yaakov’s late wife Pnina Herzog, a pharma- cist by profession who was active in international women’s health organizations and the World Health Organization.

matic corps and militaries of Latin America, the O’Higgins Institute, the Israeli-Chilean Institute of Culture and the Spanish Speaking Friends of Tel Aviv University.

31 Initiatives

Argentina Honors Program Promotes Young Researchers in the Life Sciences Safra Gate to The new Argentina PhD Honors Program within the Future the framework of the Smolarz Family Graduate School of Life Sciences offers very generous fellowships to young More than a mere researchers of exceptional promise. Allowing the students entranceway, the new to focus their attention on their innovative work, this di- Chella and Moise rect, fast-track PhD program is sure to produce leaders Safra Gate will provide for Israel’s high-tech, biotech and biomedical industries a sophisticated and at- – mainstays of the country’s future economy. tractive welcome for “The George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences at TAU thousands of students, conducts cutting-edge research to improve humanity’s faculty and visitors to quality of life,” said President of the Argentinean Friends the TAU campus daily. and Honorary TAU Fellow, Polly Mizrahi de Deutsch. The gate was dedicated “We are proud to launch this scholarship fund that will by TAU Honorary Doctor Moise Safra (pictured second help to advance technology and keep the best Israeli sci- from left) and his wife, Chella, in the presence of Chairman entists in Israel.” of the Board of Governors Robert Goldberg (left) and then TAU President Zvi Galil. “We admire the achievements of Tel Aviv University students and are proud of the impor- tant role they play in Israel’s progress and development,” said Mrs. Safra at the inauguration ceremony.

Brody Institute: A Diplomatic Asset

The Frances Brody Dean of Life Sciences Prof. Yoel Kloog said that “the Institute for Applied generous support of the Argentinean Friends enables us Diplomacy was inaugurated to get the best students, increase their number, and keep at TAU by Janet Farber, the them at TAU.” TAU Rector Prof. Dany Leviatan added: niece of the institute’s late “Our Argentinean Friends are noteworthy for their en- founder Frances Brody, and ergy and initiative. They work constantly to strengthen her husband Jack Farber TAU’s presence in Argentina’s academic and Jewish com- (pictured). The institute’s munities, and have positioned their country as a leader goal is to train diplomats to in contributions to the university.” advocate for Israel around Ten students already conducting research through the the world. The ceremony program presented themselves and their research topics took place in the presence of – in disciplines as diverse as molecular biology, biochem- the Dean of Research and Development Prof. Ehud Gazit, istry, cell research, immunology, neurobiology and bio- Dean of the Gordon Faculty of Social Sciences Prof. Noah technology – to the pleased donors. Lewin-Epstein and Head of the Institute Prof. Yossi Shain.

From left: Dean of Life Sciences Yoel Kloog, Rector Dany Leviatan, President of the Argentinean Friends Polly Mizrachi de Deutsch and Vice President Guillermo Strauss 32 Winter 2009/10 TEL AVIV UNIVERSITY REVIEW

“My mother and I could not wish for more than to support these exceptionally bright, young Israeli scientists,” said Dr. Sieratzki as he handed From left: Dr. Roi Cohen out the prize. Kadosh, This generous gift Barbara Sieratzki, Dr. “I think of the university as an- Sieratzki-Korczyn Prize to Tel Aviv University Yaniv Assaf, other child of mine,” says Barbara crowns a long list of Dr. Harry for Advances in Neuroscience Sieratzki and Sieratzki, who for many years has been donations and activities TAU Vice a driving force behind the German Friends Association of that began in the 1970s, when Barbara Sieratzki became one President Yehiel Ben- Tel Aviv University, “a child that needs to be nourished and of the leading figures of the German Friends Association. Zvi helped as it grows.” Her son, Dr. Harry Sieratzki, a pediatric Scholarships funded by Sieratzki helped young students ac- neurologist and neuroscience researcher, adds, “contributing quire an education and lay foundations for their future. “My to young people is a great pleasure because they are so en- father always told me that education was the most impor- thusiastic.” tant investment, because no one can ever take it away from Indeed, the Sieratzkis’ latest contribution to TAU, the you,” says Sieratzki, who grew up in Kracow and survived Sieratzki-Korczyn Prize for Advances in Neuroscience, the Holocaust. reflects this inclination of their hearts. Recipients of the in- In 1995, Dr. Harry and Barbara Sieratzki established at augural prize were Dr. Yaniv Assaf, 37, Director of TAU’s TAU the Heinrich (Yehezkel) Sieratzki Chair in Neurology, Alfredo Federico Strauss Center for Computational Neuro- in memory of Harry’s beloved father – a man who through- Imaging, who studies the links between cognitive perform- out his lifetime cherished education and scholarship as ma- ance and the brain’s physical micro-structure and plastic- jor Jewish values. The chair was held by prominent medical ity; and Dr. Roi Cohen Kadosh, 33, a Research Fellow at researcher Prof. Amos Korczyn until his recent retirement. the Institute for Cognitive Neuroscience and the National “Education, science and academic excellence must receive Hospital for Neurology & Neurosurgery at University the highest priority in Israel,” believes Dr. Sieratzki. “We will College London, UK, whose work focuses on how our brain continue to do as much as we can for the gifted young Israeli processes numbers. researchers who are building Israel’s future.”

Niznick Clinic to Provide Community Dental Care Ten modernly equipped dental treatment units, an advanced operating theater, a center for dental treatment under general anesthesia, an implant center, a laboratory and a special facility for patients who suffer anxiety during dental treatment – all these are part of the new Dr. Gerald and Reesa Niznick Faculty Clinic at TAU’s Maurice and Gabriela Goldshleger School of Dental Medicine founded by the Alpha Omega International Dental Fraternity. The clinic, established through the joint support of the Niznicks and Alpha Omega, will serve as a major training center and provide top quality dental care at convenient prices to the that will draw patients from around the world.” general public. “This is a turning point in the history of our school,” said Dr. Gerald Dr. Niznick, an American dental surgeon, inventor, en- Prof. Haim Tal, Head of the Dental School. Thanking the and Reesa trepreneur, owner of several companies and over 30 patents Niznicks, he said that they were among the school’s best Niznick with Prof. Haim in the field of dental implants, and a TAU honorary doctor, friends, and listed their donations over the past two decades Tal (right) at spoke of his “20-year romance with this fine school.” He – including a chair in dental implantology and the floor for the unveiling promised: “I’m available to help you in any way I can. We’re graduate students and clinical implant dentistry. ceremony going to make this a strong school, a center of excellence

33 Initiatives

Fabian-Cyril Boisson The Fabian-Cyril Boisson Auditorium: Transforming Tragedy into Generosity will find here an inexhaustible source of riches for the soul.” The new Fabian-Cyril Boisson Auditorium in the The Fabian-Cyril Boisson Auditorium, Health Professions at TAU’s Sackler School of Medicine was located on the entrance floor of the Gretl born of a unique nobility of spirit of two donors, Jacques and Fred Raymond Building of Health Boisson, Secretary of State and former ambassador of Professions, serves students in four Monaco in France and the UN, and Colette Kerber, a true fields: nursing, communication disorders, physical therapy French lady of letters, owner of the renowned Parisian book and occupational therapy. This modern, impressive lecture store, Les Cahiers de Colette. Having lost their beloved son, hall is the largest instructional space in the building, seating Fabian-Cyril, under tragic circumstances, the two decided 126 and measuring 122 square meters. It is in use from the to commemorate him in a meaningful manner through the early morning until the late evening, for lectures, symposia French Friends of TAU. and events. “It is most fitting that Colette and Jacques’ son will be honored in perpetuity in such an From left: impressive auditorium in one of the most TAU Rector Dany beautiful buildings on our campus,” said Leviatan, TAU Vice President Yehiel Ben-Zvi. Joseph H. Domberger, The family also launched the Fabian-Cyril Jacques Boisson Scholarship Fund for Outstanding Boisson, Jacqueline Sudents of Political Science, in tribute to Domberger, Fabian’s keen interest and achievements in TAU Vice President geopolitics, diplomacy and international rela- Yehiel Ben- tions. The first Boisson scholarship was pre- Zvi, Colette Kerber, sented by Colette Kerber to Nissim Menashe, Nathalie a 25-year-old master’s student. Kerber and President of Keynote speaker and guest of honor was the French Israeli author Meir Shalev, who spoke on Friends François “Fabian, we have brought you here to Israel, this land “Writing in Hebrew.” Excerpts of his book, The Pigeon Heilbronn where you dreamed that you would live,” said Mr. Boisson and the Boy, were read in French by Colette Kerber. Also to his late son in his address at the ceremony. “You are back participating in the ceremony were François Heilbronn, in Tel Aviv, this city that you liked so much, the city of your President of the French Friends Association, and Jacqueline first loves. You exist in the heart of this very beautiful uni- Domberger, a close family friend, who spoke in memory of versity. Your insatiable curiosity, your constant need to learn, Fabian.

Hackmey Hebrew Classical Library Inaugurated

A project of enormous cultural impact, the Hackmey Hebrew Classical Library was inaugurated at TAU by its founder, TAU Honorary Doctor Joseph Hackmey (pictured second from left). Attending the ceremony were Hackmey’s two children, Tal (left) and Billy (right). The project, which is coordinated by the Tel Aviv University Press, will help preserve the rich cultural heritage of classical Hebrew and Aramaic literature. Head of the Press, Prof. Aviad Kleinberg (third from left) described the project as a “labor of love.”

34 Associations

argentina Biomedical Advances Prof. Yoel Kloog, Dean Honoring the Maestro of TAU’s George S. Wise Zubin Mehta, honorary president Faculty of Life Sciences, of TAU’s Buchmann-Mehta School and Dr. Marcelo Ehrlich of the Faculty’s Department of Cell Research and Immunology took part in From left: Dr. Marcelo Ehrlich, Mimi Kloog, Dean Yoel Kloog, Nicole Maliar Smolarz, Miriam Smolarz, Tomas Maliar Smolarz, Adolfo the 2nd Argentina-Israel Smolarz and President of the Argentinean Friends Polly Deutsch Symposium of the Life Sciences held in Buenos Aires. Other participants included Dr. Lino Barano, Minister of Technology and Science.

From left: Leila Yael, President of the Argentinean Engaging the Younger Set Friends Polly Mizrachi de Deutsch and Zubin Mehta The “Next Generation” group of 30-45 year olds has been established by the of Music, was presented a plaque at Argentinean Friends of TAU. They have held several social and cultural events an event in Buenos Aires organized including a discussion with impresario Eduardo Elstzain and journalist Pablo by the Argentinean Friends of TAU. Wende, a lecture by historian Felipe Pigna and an economic conference with the Mehta was recognized for his cultural participation of Enrique Szewach and Claudio Zuchovicki. contribution to Tel Aviv University and Israel.

Perspective on the Economy australia Film Preview The 14th International Symposium Members and Friends of the Melbourne on Economics organized by the New President Chapter attended a preview screening Argentinean Friends Association was for the Melbourne of the film My Sister’s Keeper, starring held at the Alvear Palace Hotel in Friends Cameron Diaz, at the Jam Factory in Buenos Aires. Prestigious guests in- Vivien Zimmet South Yarra. The evening was spon- cluded Dr. Claudio Loser, a research- (pictured) has been sored by a longstanding supporter er at the Inter-American Dialogue, appointed President of TAU, Joel Pearlman of Roadshow Washington, DC; and Dr. Mario I. of the Melbourne Films and Village Cinemas. Blejer, President of the Hipotercario Chapter of the Australian Friends Bank. Representing the university were Association. A graduate in arts (ma- Inside Look at Iran Prof. Leo Leiderman of TAU’s Eitan joring in psychology and French) and Evi Selwyn, Vice President of the Berglas School of Economics and Dr. social work, Vivien has held numer- Melbourne Chapter, hosted a cock- Manuel Trajtenberg, also of the school, ous senior teaching and administrative tail reception at her home in honor of Gila and who is the Chairman of the Planning positions at major hospitals affiliated Prof. David Menashri, Dean for Special David Menashri and Budgeting Committee of the with both Melbourne and Monash Programs and Director of TAU’s (left) together Israeli Council of Higher Education. Universities. She was a member of the Center for Iranian Studies, and his wife, with Susan and Ronald At the beginning of the symposium inaugural Australia-Israel Leadership Gila, who were in Australia as guests Krongold, a video was shown of TAU honorary Forum held in Jerusalem, whose aim of the Australian Center for Jewish former President of doctor Stanley Fischer, Governor of the is to strengthen and broaden political, Civilization at Monash University. the Melbourne Bank of Israel, who spoke on the cur- cultural and diplomatic ties between Prof. Menashri spoke on the situation Friends rent economic situation. A reception Australia and Israel. Her past experi- in Iran and the was hosted by Leon and Paula Arazi ence in the areas of public relations, Middle East. with the participation of the Israeli event coordination and fundraising for Ambassador to Argentina, Daniel a number of community organizations Gazit. has enabled her to develop a broad range of contacts in the scientific and business communities.

35 Associations

canada

Toronto brazil New Leadership Psychology and Economics for Toronto Chapter Dr. Anat Bracha of TAU’s Eitan Berglas School of Dr. Norman Halpern Economics was a guest lecturer at an international (pictured) has been seminar on “Psychology and Economics: Behavior, named President of Gender Differences and Affirmative Action,” organ- the Toronto Chapter ized by the university’s Brazilian Friends Association of the Canadian together with Insper (Institute de Ensino e Friends of TAU. Dr. Halpern is Pesquisa). Dr. Bracha also took part in a workshop President of Halpern Associates Inc., a entitled, “Image, Financial Incentives and Prosocial consulting firm specializing in organi- Behavior.” zation design, and is a former adjunct professor at the University of Toronto in the Faculties of Engineering and uk Management Studies. Dr. Halpern serves on several charitable boards and From left: Third Annual TAU Student is a past president of Jewish Vocational Reuven Hecker, Pola Film Festival Services of Toronto. Zen and Dan Four award-winning short films Vanessa Valkin (pictured) is the new Patterson directed by students of TAU’s executive director of Department of Film and Television, the Toronto Chapter Katz Faculty of the Arts, were of the Canadian screened at the Curzon Cinema in Friends Association. London. With the backing of spon- Vanessa was previ- sors Stenham, Nyman Libson Paul, ously the editor-in- BMI and Tishbi Wines, this third annual film evening was organized by TAU gov- chief of Lifestyles Magazine which ernors Derek and Irene Bluston. The films gave a fascinating insight into Israeli focuses on major philanthropists. society and showcased the outstanding quality of TAU’s students. The packed She previously worked as a journalist audience enjoyed an engaging panel discussion hosted by Dan Patterson, creator for the New York bureau of the UK’s of Mock the Week and Whose Line Is It Anyway?, and featuring visiting young direc- Financial Times as well as at CNN’s tor Pola Zen and Chairman of TAU’s Department of Film and Television, Reuven New York bureau. She has a BA and Hecker. Also representing the university was Vice President for Development and Honors in Applied Psychology from Public Affairs Dr. Gary Sussman. Wits University South Africa, and an MSc in Journalism from Northwestern TAU Governor Sir Victor Blank hosted a luncheon in the Lloyds Banking University in Chicago. Group boardroom. Guests included Israeli Ambassador to the UK, Ron Prosper; TAU President Prof. Joseph Klafter; Chairman of the TAU Trust David Levin; TAU Governor Joseph Hackmey; and Israeli Business Club leader Leora Torn- Hibler. Following the luncheon, Prof. Karen Avraham of TAU’s Sackler Faculty of Medicine gave a talk on “The Impact of Genetics: Will It Tell Us Our Future?” and David Levin conducted a Q & A session.

Sir Victor Blank (left) and Vice President of TAU Dr. Gary Sussman

36 Winter 2009/10 TEL AVIV UNIVERSITY REVIEW

Toronto Embraces TAU Films Montreal Festival: The Toronto Chapter of the Canadian Friends hosted a highly success- Talking About Women Power ful reception in honor of the 100th anniversary of Tel Aviv and in recognition of Close to 300 Montreal guests attended the city’s being showcased at the Toronto International Film Festival. The guest of a breakfast symposium entitled “About honor was Tel Aviv Mayor and TAU honorary doctor Ron Huldai. The reception, Women Power and Leadership,” or- attended by over 100 people including the Israel Consul General, Amir Gissin, ganized by the Canadian Friends of and the TAU Vice President for Public Affairs, Dr. Gary Sussman, also paid trib- Tel Aviv University. The prestigious ute to the 11 short films panel was led by Emeritus Professor of and six full-length fea- Political Science at McGill University, tures made by students the author Dr. Blema Steinberg, or graduates of TAU’s together with the Ambassador of Department of Film Israel to the United Nations, Gabriela and Television that were Shalev; Quebec Minister of Justice shown at the festival. and Attorney General, Kathleen Sponsors of the event Weil; President and Vice Chancellor included PAYGEA, of Concordia University, Prof. Judith Zoomermedia, MMI Woodsworth; and anchor of CBC Product Placement, News and co-host of Marketplace, Wildflower and Martin Wendy Mesley. The audience, made From left: Toronto Vice President Jeff Wagman; Executive Director Vanessa Valkin; Ron Huldai; Executive Member Adrienne Cohen; and Peskin. At the recep- up of three generations of women and Toronto President Norman Halpern tion, CFTAU supporter men, listened attentively to the inspir- Moses Znaimer an- ing remarks regarding female leader- nounced that he would be bringing his forum, ideaCity, to Tel Aviv. Also known as “Canada’s Premiere Meeting of the Minds,” ideaCity is an eclectic gathering of artists, adventurers, filmmakers, inventors, magicians, musicians, scientists and technologists that is produced and presented by Znaimer each year. Fundraiser: In conjunction with the Toronto Jewish Film Festival, a highly successful fundraising evening was held in the presence of then TAU President Zvi Galil. Participating were Canadian filmmaker and 2008 Dan David Prize lau- reate Atom Egoyan and Israeli filmmaker and TAU faculty member Eitan Green. Green’s film,It All Begins at Sea, was screened.

TAU Professors Lecture

Prof. Asher Susser, Director for External Affairs and Senior Research Fellow at From left (standing): Dr. Blema Steinberg, TAU’s Moshe Dayan Center for Middle Eastern and African Studies, spoke at Judge Barbara Seal C.M., Wendy Mesley; and several gatherings, including a major lecture at Holy Blossom Temple on the sub- then President of the Montreal and Eastern Region, the Hon. Herbert Marx. From left ject of “The War in Gaza: The Strategic Impact on Israel and the Middle East.” (sitting): Minister Kathleen Weil, Ambassador Prof. David Menashri, Dean for Special Programs at TAU and Director of the Gabriela Shalev and Prof. Judith Woodsworth Center for Iranian Studies, addressed an audience on the impact of the recent elections in Israel, US and Iran, and the threat posed by a nuclear Iran. ship in the 21st century. Platinum sponsors included National President of the Canadian Friends Association Judge Barbara Seal C.M. and Donald Seal; Dr. Blema Steinberg; Monica and Mike Yuval and the Mount Stephen Club.

37 Associations

germany

Cabaret Fundraiser The German Friends of TAU organized a fundraising event featuring the author and cabaret artist Ernst Stankovski at the Hilton Hotel in Berlin. Proceeds from the event will support the Marcel Reich-Ranicki Chair in German literature. The event was introduced by Vice President of the German Friends of TAU, Hanns-Eberhard Schleyer, who reported comprehensively on the university. Mr. Schleyer, general secretary of the Central Association of German Trade, sponsored the evening and the From left: Ronald van Weezel, Ernst buffet, which was catered by Mr. Ronald van Weezel, managing director of the Stankovski and Hanns- Berlin Hilton and a member of the Berlin committee of the German Friends. Eberhard Schleyer Cultural evening The annual birthday party in honor of Dr. h.c. Ernst Gerhardt, President of the German Friends, who turned 88, was held at the premises of Frankfurter Sparkasse france bank. The event was moderated by entertainer and author Elmar Gunsch, and included works by Mendelssohn, Tel Aviv University at the Quai Schumann and Brahms performed by pianist Monica d’Orsay Dr. h.c. Charlotte Knobloch & Gutman and the Figuralchor choir of Frankfurt under Dr. h.c. Ernst Gerhardt More than 200 guests the direction of Prof. Alois Ickstadt. Proceeds from the Photograph: Rafael Herlich, attended a gala fund- evening benefit TAU’s scholarship fund for needy stu- Frankfurt raising dinner hosted dents which was established in 1986. Chairman of the Board of Frankfurter by the French Ministry Sparkasse Herbert Hans Grüntker welcomed the guests, and Elmar Gunsch read of Foreign Affairs at the out two thank-you letters from scholarship recipients. Quai d’Orsay and or- ganized by the French 26th Board Meeting of the Buchmann Fund Friends of TAU. Keynote The annual board meeting of the Josef Buchmann Doctoral Fellowship Fund was speaker was Jean-Claude held on the premises of Dr. h.c. Josef Buchmann in the presence of TAU Vice Trichet, President of President Yehiel Ben-Zvi, and chaired by President of the German Friends Dr.

Prof. Zvi Galil the European Central h.c. Ernst Gerhardt. (left) and Jean- Bank and an honorary member of the Reporting on the TAU Board of Governors meeting in May, Ben-Zvi de- Claude Trichet French Friends Association, who lec- scribed the festive concert of the symphony orchestra of the Buchmann-Mehta tured on the impact of the economic School of Music and the celebration of the 25th anniversary of the Fund. The crisis. François Heilbronn, President of newly-appointed Vice President of Johann Wolfgang Goethe-University, Prof. the French Friends, announced the es- Rainer Klump, reported on the new executive board of Frankfurt University and tablishment of the Hugo Ramniceanu emphasized the importance of the Josef Buchmann Doctoral Fellowship Fund for Scholarship Fund in Economics, com- Frankfurt University. memorating the founding president of the French Friends. Each year the fund will grant a scholarship to a stu- dent of merit from the Berglas School of Economics. Then TAU President Zvi Galil and From left: Danielle Vice President Yehiel Ben-Zvi Schemoul, Director represented the university. A of the French Friends Association; François private reception for major do- Heilbronn; Yehiel Ben- nors was held before the gala Zvi; Jean Claude Trichet; event. and Marc Haddad, Friends Treasurer 38 Winter 2009/10 TEL AVIV UNIVERSITY REVIEW

Israel Academic Club Focuses on enforcement agencies lack sufficient Leadership in Crisis, Government information regarding the scope of the Zohar Aloni Scholarship Fund Corruption corruption, and that this information Inaugurated Dealing with crisis: Former is not accessible to decision makers. At a very moving ceremony in the IDF Chief-of-Staff Dan Halutz, to- Another finding was that 50% of the presence of the Dean of TAU’s Gordon day the director-general of Kamour public believe that many or almost all Faculty of Social Sciences Prof. Noah Automotive Imports, was the guest municipal officials in Israel are involved Lewin-Epstein, a scholarship fund in corrupt practices, according to a poll was inaugurated in memory of Zohar carried out by TAU’s B.I. and Lucille Aloni, a student in the social sciences Cohen Institute for Public Opinion who was killed by the 2004 Indian Research. Attending the meeting Ocean tsunami while on a trip to was the State Comptroller, Judge Thailand. The fund was established by (Emeritus) Micha Lindestrauss, whose her mother, Gisela, and will allocate an office adopted the study’s conclusions; annual scholarship to a needy student leading Israeli entrepreneur and phi- in the Faculty of Social Sciences. The lanthropist Morris Kahn; former police first recipient is Hadas Lichtenstein, a From left: Amos Shapira, Ofer Bloch, Dan Halutz chief Shlomo Aharonishki; CEO of and Gad Propper of honor at a meeting of the TAU Business Academic Club. Halutz spoke on the Second Lebanon War, the Iranian threat and his image in the media. The event, entitled “Leadership Micha in Time of Crisis,” was moderated by Lindestrauss television personality Menashe Raz. (left) with Participants included director-general Avraham Shohat Gisela Aloni with Prof. Lewin-Epstein of International Gad Propper; second-year student in sociology and director-general of Leadcom Ofer political science. The event was attend- Bloch; deputy director-general of Mirs ed by family members and friends and Communications Avi Patir; director- From left: Morris Kahn, included a lecture delivered by Dr. Eyal general of Nesher Cement Co. Yoel Amos Shapira Chowers. Feldshaw; and chairman of Readimix and Vice President for Industries Yitzhak Bejerano. Research and Year-End Celebratory Concert Battling graft: A further meet- Development Prof. Ehud Gazit The end-of-year event of the Israeli ing of the Business Academic Club, Friends of TAU, including the English led by President of the Israeli Friends Petroleum and Energy Infrastructures, and Spanish Speaking Friends, was a Association Amos Shapira, discussed Rafi Tatarka; former Finance Minister concert featuring works by Vivaldi, a study conducted by TAU’s Hartog Avraham (Beiga) Shohat; and former Bach and Hendel, performed by harp- School of Government and Policy director-general of Zvi ists – teachers, graduates and students on corruption in local government. Ziv. – of the Buchmann-Mehta School of The study, which was headed by Prof. Music, and members of the Student Ephraim Yaar, indicates that state law Union’s choir. Greetings were delivered by the Rector and then acting President of TAU, Dany Leviatan, and President of the Israeli Friends, Amos Shapira.

39 Associations

Northeast Region Alumni Photo Party Amid an exhibit of evocative photos by usa Tel Aviv native Lili Almog, more than 75 alumni and guests mixed, mingled National and made new friends at a party at the Journey of Discovery The Calatravas Host TAU Dinner Andrea Meislin Gallery in the heart of No been-there-done-that – not on this Forty special guests toasted the recipi- Manhattan’s contemporary art district. trip! Thirty experienced international ents of TAU honorary degrees at the Billed as a networking get-together, the travelers embarked on AFTAU’s sec- Park Avenue townhouse of interna- ond annual Journey of Discovery, se- tionally celebrated architect Santiago cure in the knowledge they’d see Tel Calatrava, best known for his designs Aviv University – and Tel Aviv – in a of bridges. Calatrava and his wife, fresh new way. Robertina, committed supporters of On the TAU campus, the Journey the university, arranged the evening provided a virtual backstage pass. With to recognize the enormous value TAU adds to Israel’s oldest modern city, Tel Aviv, in its centennial year. Participants at the event who hold TAU honorary degrees were Calatrava himself; histori- Sharon Haberman and Oren Heiman an Bernard Lewis; medical men Arturo evening was organized by AFTAU’s Constantiner, Isadore Rosenfeld and Northeast Alumni Leadership Raymond Sackler; financiers Alan Committee led by chair Oren Heiman, Aufzein, Bertram Cohn, and Michael with cultural committee chair Daniella Steinhardt; corporate chiefs Allan Ohad Smith and event chair Sharon Greene and Shalom Yoran; scientist Haberman. Mary Jane Kreek; community leaders Investors University Breakfast Journey chair daily updates by the president, one- Gaby Brill and Series Julie Tauber McMahon on-one meetings with faculty super- Dina Ettinger; As the dimensions of the global eco- and Steven stars, and the opportunity to hear what and artist Varda nomic downturn were becoming evi- Lightman outstanding students really think, par- Yoran. Then dent, AFTAU’s Investors University ticipants had exceptional access to the TAU President Breakfast Series offered straight talk creative minds shaping Israeli science Zvi Galil toast- from insiders in the world of finance. and technology today. ed this unprec- Martin J. Whitman, founder and co- That access extended to corporate edented gather- CIO of Third Avenue Management Israel, as well, with the gracious as- ing of honorees. LLC and a pioneer in the field of dis- sistance of Amos Shapira, president of tressed markets, held the rapt attention TAU’s Israeli Friends, who was named of American Friends who packed the recently as one of the 100 most in- Santiago Calatrava conference rooms of host Arnold & fluential people in Israel. At a private Porter LLP. Harvey Krueger, the dean dinner, guests had the opportunity to of Israeli investment banking, was get to know some of the leaders of the equally engrossing as he explained why country’s business community in an in- From left: he has been William timate setting – a highlight of the trip. Cohen, Jack involved in Other high points included a break- Feiler, Alan finance and Silberstein, fast briefing with a high-ranking IDF Martin Israel’s eco- intelligence officer, a rare visit to the Whitman and nomic de- classified Hatzor air force base, and a Steve Tepper velopment special roundtable seminar delivered for half a by two panels of TAU’s top policy and century. defense analysts.

40 Winter 2009/10 TEL AVIV UNIVERSITY REVIEW

DC Area Kick-Off Reception More than 40 community leaders were hosted by Ruth Gramlich at a reception held at her home in Washington, DC. TAU professor and well-known media commentator Yoram Peri of the Department of Communication, Gershon H. Gordon Faculty of Social Sciences, gave an up-to-the-minute analysis of “What’s Ahead for the Israel-America Partnership.” The evening was part of a calendar of mexico 2009-2010 events planned by long-time American Friends Dr. Ben Williamowsky and Ralph Rothstein for the Washington-Maryland-Virginia area. New Association President TAU President Prof. Joseph Klafter, Western Region Southeast Region Vice President Dr. Gary Sussman and Solar Energy Briefings Reception and Briefing TAU representative Dany Schmit at- At two California events, American Over cocktails at the Turnberry Village tended a re- Friends enjoyed dessert and an insid- club house overlooking the ocean, ception held er briefing on renewable energy from AFTAU friends heard special guest by Dr. Arie internationally known TAU scien- Prof. Asher Tishler, Dean of TAU’s Dorenbaum, tist Prof. Avi Kribus. In Los Angeles, Faculty of Management—Leon the new Pres- Prof. Kribus spoke to an engaged Recanati Graduate School of Business ident of the and environmentally aware group at Administration, give an analysis of M e x i c a n the contemporary-art-filled home of Israeli innovation in the highly compet- Friends of Ruth and Michel Steinberger. The itive world of high tech. The event was TAU, together with his wife, Coly. From left: Dr. couple are currently underwriting a hosted by Vanessa and Uri Benhamron Dr. Dorenbaum is a graduate of TAU’s Sarita Dumont, President of the doctoral fellow in renewable energy and Ronit and Sami Shiro. Sackler Faculty of Medicine and the Latin American in Prof. Kribus’ Tel Aviv laboratory. In grandson of Marcos Fastlicht, donor Friends in Israel Guillermo Palo Alto, the heart of Silicon Valley, Latin American Community of the Adolfo and Thelma Fastlicht Sverdlin, and Prof. Kribus’ audience at the global Inaugural Reception Auditorium in the Mexico Building, Agnie Grinberg headquarters of Better Place included AFTAU’s first Spanish-speaking event Katz Faculty of the Arts, on the TAU over 60 interested American Friends, – a dessert reception at the home of campus. Also attending was the Israeli including TAU alumni and CEOs of Vera and Pedro Biro – kicked off the Ambassador to Mexico, Yossi Livne, high-tech companies American Friends’ first annual program and his wife, Norma. of events aimed at Florida’s influential Film Screening & Wine Reception Board Meeting More than 70 guests enjoyed a pri- A meeting of the Board of the vate screening in Van Nuys of TAU Mexican Friends Association led by film department alumnus Dan Katzir’s Dr. Dorenbaum was attended by Prof. award-winning film, Out for Love: Be Klafter, Dr. Sussman and Dany Schmit. Back Shortly. The movie evening was This was the first meeting that brought the premiere event of the Southern veteran and new members together.

California Alumni 2009 season. The From left: Pedro Biro, Claudio Schapsis, Vera Biro event was produced by the Southern and Vivi Schapsis California Alumni leadership led by and rapidly growing Latin American event chair Orna Yarzin, along with Jewish community. Guests enjoyed Sharon Ben Shachar, Dalia Dvoretsky, the Biros’ warm hospitality and par- Dan Katzir, Dr. Doron Kahana, Prof. ticipated in a live videoconference with Yaniv Konchitchki, Ilan Mandel, Ravit Tel Aviv University expert in solar and Markus and Diana Rubanenko. renewable energy, Prof. Avi Kribus. From left: TAU President Prof. Joseph Klafter, Dany Schmit and President of the TAU Mexican Friends Association Dr. Arie Dorenbaum

From left: Orna Yarzin, Dan Katzir, Rosalie Lurie, Executive Director of the Western Region of AFTAU; and Ravit Markus 41 Although they comprise almost of integrating 1,000 unemployed Arab tant that we invest energies in raising 20% of Israel’s population, Israeli teachers into Jewish schools and this issue. Jews and Arabs have to Arabs continue to remain a faceless described how these teachers could live together in this country. So many sector to most Israeli Jews, espe- bring “added value” to the classroom, barriers still exist – social, political cially children. Even in such ethnically both culturally and pedagogically. and economic – and the best way to mixed cities as Jaffa, Haifa, Ramle TAU Vice Rector Prof. Aron Shai overcome them is to integrate Arabs and Lod, Jewish kids attend Jewish predicted that the need by 2013 for into Jewish institutions.” schools taught by Jewish teachers, 10,000 additional teachers would and Arab kids attend Arab ones, and serve as a likely, if not inevitable Rethinking Israeli education neither group has any real contact stimulus to integrating Arab teachers A thought-provoking counterpoint with the other. into Jewish schools. “The encourag- was provided by Dr. Bashir Bashir, Nevertheless, a recent survey pre- ing thing is that because of this need, Fellow of the Van Leer Institute in sented at an international conference Israeli Arab teachers will be much Jerusalem. Bashir challenged the held by TAU’s Walter Lebach Institute more involved in Jewish education.” audience to decide whether “insert- for Jewish-Arab Coexistence through ing a few Arab teachers into Jewish Education, shows that 47% of Israel’s Dispelling prejudice schools constituted genuine integra- unemployed Arab teachers would be Prof. Yitzhak Schnell of the De- tion or a fig leaf for the sake of politi- willing to teach in Jewish schools, partment of Geography and Human cal correctness.” He said that inte- and an additional 34% would strongly Environment of TAU’s Entin Faculty of grating teachers was a waste of time consider doing so. At the same time, Humanities stressed the importance without “fundamentally rethinking 56% of Israeli Jewish parents have no of not only bringing Arab teachers Israeli education to change Israel’s objections to Arab educators teach- to Jewish schools but also Jewish current unequal power structure and ing in their children’s schools. Getting to Know the “Others” Israeli schools suffer from a teacher shortage, yet 8,000 Arab teachers are currently unemployed. A TAU conference examines how Jews and Arabs can be integrated better through education.

teachers to Arab schools. He said end its social exclusiveness. What we that having people from “the other need is education that reinforces true side” – both in the classroom and democracy, not demography.” the teachers’ room – will enable each Other sessions at the conference group to experience the thoughts, focused on specific instances of feelings and perspectives of the other, Jewish-Arab teacher integration, with The conference was coorganized something that Israelis do not get via presentations by both Jewish and by Merchavim—The Institute for the the media. Prejudices and miscon- Arab education officials, school prin- Advancement of Shared Citizen- ceptions will slowly disappear, he cipals and teachers. Imam Abu Ziyad, ship in Israel and brought together said, as Jewish and Arab teachers 26, spoke of her three years of teach- local and foreign experts to discuss are integrated. He also expressed the ing Arabic at a predominantly Jewish the integration of Arab teachers in view that Jews and Arabs could one elementary school in Ramle. Describ- Jewish schools in Israel. Among the day be as integrated in schools as ing the difficulties involved with her participants were some of the 90 they are in Israeli hospitals, where the position, Abu Ziyad said, “The task is By Carl Hoffman Arab students currently training to be presence of Arab nurses, doctors and harder than normal, because I am as- teachers at TAU’s Jaime and Joan surgeons is now taken for granted. signed the responsibility of breaking Constantiner School of Education. Conference organizer Dr. Amal down social barriers and countering Jamal, Head of the Lebach Institute negative stereotypes.” Added value and Chair of the Department of Politi- The positive impact Abu Ziyad The founder and head of Mer- cal Science at TAU’s Gordon Faculty exerted became evident earlier this chavim, Mike Prashker, who pre- of Social Sciences, noted the political year during Israel’s operation against sented the survey at the conference, sensitivity of the topic of Arab-Jewish Hamas in Gaza. “A fourth-grade pupil suggested the immediate possibility teacher integration. “It’s very impor- asked me. ‘Are you with us or with

42 Winter 2009/10 TEL AVIV UNIVERSITY REVIEW

them?’ Before I could answer, another child said, ‘Why are you insulting her? Why are you asking her that?’ I finally Looking Back on Iran replied, ‘I’m not with them, and not TAU conference provides perspectives with you. I’m with peace.’” on Iranian Revolution Sponsors of the conference includ- ed the Embassies of the Netherlands The disputed presidential elections in Iran dem- and Canada, the Andrea and Charles onstrated the continued influence of the Islamic Bronfman Philanthropies, the Pears Revolution after three decades; competing can- Foundation, the Alan B. Slifka Foun- didates brandished their “revolutionary creden- dation, UJA-Federation of New York, tials” even while protesters in the streets called for United Jewish Communities and the counter-revolution. The country’s turbulent past, and Joint Distribution Committee-Tevet. its implications for present-day Iran, was the topic The Walter Lebach Institute aims to of the annual conference of TAU’s Center for Iranian use education as a means of creat- Studies. Entitled, “The Iranian Revolution: Thirty ing a culture of coexistence between Years After,” the conference was held in honor of Lord David Alliance of Jews and Arabs, based upon a sys- the United Kingdom, who received an honorary doctorate from TAU in May 2009. Alliance is the first Iranian lord, as well as the cofounder of the Center Lord David tem of positive relations between the Alliance peoples that encompasses fairness, for Iranian Studies and a conference sponsor. (left) and In his opening address to the conference, Prof. David Menashri, Director of Prof. David equality, trust, mutual respect, accep- Menashri tance and sensitivity to each side’s the Center, emphasized the growing academic interest in Iran, as well as the needs. The goal of the institute is to country’s international relevance. His message was optimistic, as he noted change the fundamental attitudes, that 50 percent of Israelis support political and diplomatic ways to solve the beliefs, and behavior of Jewish and problems with Iran, demonstrating belief in the strength of dialogue. Some Arab children toward one another. 40 scholars participated, representing 10 countries in Asia, Europe, North America and the Middle East.

Although “Yiddish” usually con- their exciting work, including TAU’s jures up heimish images of the shtetl Aya Lahav-Elyada and Galili Shahar.

or of great writers such as Mendele The presence of such young and Israeli actress Mokher Sforim, Sholom Aleichem, dynamic scholars should give rest to Channa and I.L. Peretz, a recent conference the fear that Yiddish scholarship has Marron (left) and Prof. at TAU focused on German protestant no future. Hana Wirth- clergymen writing in Yiddish, and the TAU has taken the forefront in ex- Nesher, Head of the Yiddish vocabulary in the works of panding the discourse on Yiddish to Goldreich such great German writers as Hein- include topics such as why Christian Institute reich Heine and Franz Kafka. clergy wrote in Yiddish, attitudes Entitled “Between Mameloshn and towards Yiddish in German literature, Talking Muttersprache: Yiddish and German the significance of Heinrich Heine’s in Dialogue,” the two-day conference surprising Jewish vocabulary, and the Mammeloshn was sponsored by the Lester and influence of Yiddish as the language Take medieval German Sally Entin Faculty of Humanities; The of homelessness in Kafka’s stories. A Goldreich Family Institute for Yiddish highlight of the conference was a dra- and write it in , Literature, and Culture; matic reading by actresses Channa letters, and you have the and the Minerva Institute for German Marron and Lea Szlanger of German emergence of Yiddish. A History. and Yiddish poetry, performed both in TAU conference explored The conference featured leading the original and in translation into the scholars in the field of Yiddish and other language. the cross fertilization, German studies, such as Jeffrey The conference, along with this mutual suspicion and Grossman of the University of Virgin- year’s Summer Yiddish program symbiosis of the German ia, Marion Aptroot of Heinrich-Heine- sponsored by the Goldreich Family and Yiddish languages and Universität, Düsseldorf, and Michael Institute for Yiddish Language, Lit- Brenner of Ludwig-Maximilians- erature and Culture and Beit Sholom cultures – so close to each Universität München. Also introduced Aleichem, have established TAU as a other, and yet so far apart. were a number of young scholars and world leader in Yiddish studies. 43 Strengthening Chinese-Israeli Ties Israel’s diplomatic policy toward honor were Wang may need a make-over, espe- Chen, Minister of cially if China emerges from the world the State Coun- New Sculpture economic crisis an even stronger cil Information major power. According to TAU Vice Office of China, TAU Vice Unveiled on Campus Rector A sculpture entitled Butterfly Man, Rector Prof. Aron Shai, incumbent and Prof. Stanley Prof. Aron created by artist David Gerstein and of the Shoul N. Eisenberg Chair for Fischer, Governor Shai donated to TAU by Moshe Gersten- East Asian Affairs and organizer of the of the Bank of haber, was recently placed in front of “China, Israel and World Economy” Israel, who noted the Sourasky Central Library. Ger- conference held at TAU, diplomatic that in the wake stein was trained at the Bezalel Acad- relations between China and Israel of the current economic crisis, Asian emy in Jerusalem as well as the Ecole are more important than ever. The countries such as China will play a Nationale Supérieure des Beaux Arts conference addressed growing larger role in the running of the global in and St. Martin’s School of Art Chinese-Israeli relations and dis- economy. in London. His colorful sculptures can cussed ways to strengthen ties in the The conference was organized be found around Israel and interna- future. Prof. Shai noted that China’s by the Confucius Institute of TAU’s tionally, such as the recent sculpture recent success in trade and devel- Department of East Asian Studies entitled Momentum in Singapore’s opment is merely a stepping stone and the S. Daniel Abraham Center for International Business Park. on the way to greatness. Guests of International and Regional Studies.

Minister of people Finance Meets With New TAU International President Incoming TAU President Prof. Students Celebrate Joseph Klafter (right) greeted Minister of Finance Dr. Yuval New Programs Steinitz (center) at an event of Tel Aviv University affirmed itself as the Academic Business Club a truly international academic desti- of the Israeli Friends Associa- nation this year with the launch of two tion of TAU, hosted by Friends new English-language programs – the President Amos Shapira (left). Prof. Klafter called on the minister to increase Sofaer Family International MBA and the budget for higher education, noting that without sufficient funding the the International Master’s in Conflict research universities would be unable to maintain their qualitative edge in the Resolution and Mediation. In celebra- realms of science, technology, security, economics and culture. tion, graduate students from TAU’s various international programs gath- ered at a hip bar in downtown Tel Aviv for a night on the town to usher in the Prof. Jan Philipp 2009-10 school year. Reemtsma (pic- First Visiting Professor tured), founder of the Hamburg Institute for of Reich-Ranicki Chair Social Research, be- came the first visiting Reemtsma is the recipient of the 2008 professor of the Marcel Reich-Ranicki President’s Award of Tel Aviv Univer- Chair in German Literature, delivering sity for his outstanding contribution two lectures on the TAU campus. He to scholarly and cultural activity in discussed Gotthold Ephraim Less- Germany, his commitment to promot- ing’s drama Nathan the Wise, and ing German-Jewish understanding the 17th century German poet and and his active support of the Reich- writer, Christoph Martin Wieland. Ranicki Chair. 44 Winter 2009/10 TEL AVIV UNIVERSITY REVIEW

prizes

Prize Recognizes Contribution to Mideast Peace Prof. Itamar Rabinov- ich (left), a former TAU President and Israeli From left: Filmmaker and TAU graduate Ari Folman; French Ambassador ambassador to the USA, Jean-Michel Casa; Lev cinemas founder Nurit Shani; TAU archeologist Prof. Israel Finkelstein; conductor and TAU graduate Gil Shohat; and was co-winner of the Korn Suzanne Dellal Center Director-General Yair Vardi and Gerstenmann Foun- dation Prize for Middle East Peace together with French Ambassador Honors TAU Palestinian peace activist Alumni, Faculty Member and President of Al-Quds University in Jerusalem, Prof. In a ceremony held at the residence of the French Sari Nusseibeh (right). The prize, which was presented Ambassador to Israel Jean-Michel Casa, five Israelis were at an event held at the Ignatz Bubis Jewish Community awarded the Knights of Arts and Literature award. Among Center in Frankfurt, Germany, recognized their contribu- the recipients were Gil Shohat, composer, conductor and tion to reconciliation between Israelis and Palestinians TAU music graduate; Ari Folman, director of the Academy and between Israel and its Arab neighbors. Greetings at Award-nominated Waltz with Bashir and TAU film gradu- the ceremony were given by Chairman of the Board of the ate; and Prof. Israel Finkelstein, TAU archaeologist and Jewish Community in Frankfurt, Prof. Dr. Salomon Korn, 2005 Dan David Prize laureate. The French award is given and keynote speaker was former representative of the to those who excel in the fields of arts, cinema and hu- Konrad Adenauer Foundation in Israel and President of manities, and who contribute to the cultural connections the German-Israeli Society, Johannes Gerster. between Israel and France.

Insight, creativity and a little bit sites such as places of worship is of chutzpah – that’s what secured a legitimate war tactic. It was their the TAU debating team first place in in-depth analysis of what religion and the English as a Second Language faith means to people that secured (ESL) category at the World Debat- that win, says Cohen-Idov. ing Championships that were held in Cohen-Idov said that the TAU team Uri Merav Istanbul, Turkey, in December 2009. used its reputation as being the “fun- (left) and Yoni Cohen- Yoni Cohen-Idov, a BA student from niest” to its advantage. “We didn’t Idov the School of History, Entin Faculty know of any of the motions prior to of Humanities, and Uri Merhav, an debates,” he explained, “but we were MA student from the Beverly and determined to bring our charm and Raymond Sackler School of Physics wit to the floor.” and Astronomy, prevailed over three The World Debating Champion- teams from the Netherlands, Malay- ships brought together over 1,000 sia, and the University of Haifa in the TAU Team Wins students from some 150 universities. final round. The team was asked to Title at World Cohen-Idov believes that debate is debate the law against presenting something very much rooted in Jew- war criminals in a positive light in the University ish tradition, as far back as Talmudic media. In the semifinals the debate Debating discussion. “Israeli debaters differen- focused on whether to allow the chil- Championships tiate themselves with their readiness dren of prisoners to be raised in jail. to see the other side. We are more Previously the team astonished the team in the semifinals and becoming mature than the average student competition at the European Champi- the first Israeli team to compete in abroad due to our army service, and onships when the pair made it to the the ENL finals in Europe. At that time because we live in this complex part English as a Native Language (ENL) they were asked to argue against the of the world, we understand things final round, knocking out an Oxford motion that the desecration of holy more deeply,” he says. 45 Acclaimed Prize Recognizes Excellence in Mathematician Proteomics Recognized Dr. Sarel Fleishman (pictured), a recent PhD graduate Prof. Mikhail Gro- from the Department of Biochemistry at TAU’s George mov of NYU (pic- S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, has won the GE & tured), recognized Science Prize for Young Life Scientists awarded for as one of the most outstanding doctoral dissertations in molecular biology. important mathema- He was one of five global winners of the prestigious ticians of our time, prize awarded by GE Healthcare and the journal, Science. was awarded a TAU Working under Prof. Nir Bar-Tal of the Department of Biochemistry, Fleish- honorary doctorate man investigated the structure, function and evolution of membrane proteins in a ceremony held associated with hereditary hearing loss, neurodegenerative diseases, cancer as part of the conference, “The State and bacterial drug resistance. The team was the first to suggest that mutations of Geometry and Functional Analysis,” implicated in these diseases share a common mechanistic cause. organized by the Raymond and Bev- Fleishman, a graduate of TAU’s Adi Lautman Interdisciplinary Program erly Sackler School of Mathematical for Outstanding Students, conducted his doctoral research at TAU with the Sciences. Prof. Gromov was honored support of a Clore Fellowship and a Constantiner Travel Award, among other for his outstanding contribution to the awards. He is currently a Human Frontier Research Post-doctoral Fellow at the field of geometry as well as his long- University of Washington, Seattle, where he is developing new methods for standing friendship with the school. protein-based inhibitors of pathogens.

TAU at ORT’s high schools and col- community leges for advanced technologies and sciences. “Springboard,” developed and supported by Brack Capital and TAU’s Elite Sports Center, combines Science and Sport fitness instruction with preparation for ORT Israel recognizes TAU final exams in English and math- ematics and aims to instill values of Two outreach projects run by the Unit excellence and responsibility, notes for Social Involvement of TAU’s Ruth Racheli Varshavsky, coordinator of and Allen Ziegler Student Services the program at TAU. “Teaching Com- Division were awarded prizes by puter Science in the Community,” ORT Israel, the largest educational initiated by TAU’s Blavatnik School of network in the country. The projects, , provides software Chemistry “Springboard” and “Teaching Com- engineering courses in junior high puter Science in the Community,” are schools. Both projects receive sup- Outreach Members of a Herzliya-based day among the many programs run by port from the Israeli Friends of TAU. center for the elderly were treated to a demonstration of chemistry experiments by graduate students from TAU’s Raymond and Beverly Sackler School of Chemistry. The students, who specialize in organic

From left: President of chemistry, are part of the research ORT Israel Prof. Bracha group of Dr. Michael Gozin of the Rager; Director of ORT school, who loaned his lab equipment Israel Zvi Peleg; then Head of TAU’s Social for the event. A representative from Involvement Unit, Hana the day center thanked the initiator, Dorsman; TAU Director of Development and PhD student Hanit Marom, an Eshkol Public Affairs Arik Prize recipient, for the meeting with Rosenblum; and Deputy Chairperson of the “promising young people of the ORT Israel Dvora Tomer future.” 46 Winter 2009/10 TEL AVIV UNIVERSITY REVIEW

Prof. Yossi Loya of the Department Prof. Joseph Klafter of Zoology, George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, incumbent of the Robert Raynor Appointed Eighth President Chair in Environmental Conservation of Tel Aviv University Research, and Prof. Abraham Nitzan of the R a y m o n d Prof. Joseph (Yossi) and Beverly Klafter, who has been a S a c k l e r member of the Raymond School of and Beverly Sackler School Chemistry, of Chemistry since 1987, is S a c k l e r widely recognized in his aca- Faculty of Exact Sciences, incumbent of demic field, chemical phys- the Riwka (nee Schechter) and Iser Kodesz ics. Since 2002 he has served Chair in Chemical Dynamics, have been as the chairman of the Israel appointed Fellows of the Israel Academy of Science Foundation (ISF), Sciences and Humanities. makers news the main institution sup- porting scientific research in Prof. Anita Shapira Receiving an honorary doctorate from Israel with a $70 million an- Wroclaw University of Technology of the Department of the nual budget. History of the Jewish People, Prof. Klafter completed his BSc and MSc in physics at Bar-Ilan Lester and Sally Entin University, and his PhD in chemistry at Tel Aviv University in Faculty of Humanities, in- 1978 under the supervision of Prof. Joshua Jortner. After post-doc- cumbent of the Dr. Ruben toral studies in chemistry at MIT, he joined the research and en- Merenfeld Chair for the Study of Zionism, gineering division of Exxon in the US, where he worked for eight has received an honorary doctorate from years before joining TAU in 1987. In 1989 he was promoted to full Ben-Gurion University of the . professor; from 1998 to 2003 he was the incumbent of the Gordon Chair in Chemistry; and since 2003 he has held the Heineman TAU professor of eco- Chair of Physical Chemistry. nomics Manuel Trajtenberg Prof. Klafter has published close to 400 scientific articles and of the Berglas School of edited 18 books. He is a member of the editorial boards of six sci- Economics has been ap- entific journals, and has been a member of the scientific committee pointed Chairman of the of dozens of conferences. Planning and Budgeting A Fellow of the American Physical Society among other organi- Committee of the Council zations, Prof. Klafter has won many prestigious prizes in his field, of Higher Education by Israeli Minister of including the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation Prize, the Education Gideon Sa’ar, a TAU alumnus. Weizmann Prize for Sciences, the Rothschild Prize in Chemistry, Prof. Trajtenberg has headed the National and the Israel Chemical Society Prize. He also holds an honorary Economics Council since its establishment doctorate from Wroclaw University of Technology in Poland. and was economic adviser to former Prime Minister .

Appointments: • Prof. Zeev Dorman, Arts, Head of the Buchmann-Mehta School of Music • Prof. Daphne Barak- Erez, Law, Director of the Cegla Super-Center for Interdisciplinary Research of the Law • Dr. Alon Rachamimov, Humanities, Director of the Cummings Center for Russian and East European Studies • Prof. Tammie Ronen, Social Sciences, Director of the Renata Adler Memorial Research Center for Child Welfare and Protection • Prof. Chaim Fershtman, Social Sciences, Head of the Sackler Institute for Economic Studies • Dr. Tali Fisher, Law, Head of the Prof. Dr. Raphael Taubenschlag Institute of Criminal Law • Prof. Nurit Guttman, Social Sciences, Head of the Chaim Herzog Institute for Media, Politics and Society • Prof. Ron Harris, Law, Head of the David Berg Foundation Institute for Law and History • Prof. Dan Maoz, Exact Sciences, Head of the International Institute for Experimental Astrophysics • Dr. Uzi Rabi, Humanities, Head of the University Institute for Diplomacy and Regional Cooperation founded by the Peres Center for Peace and TAU • Dr. Yosef Schwartz, Humanities, Head of the Cohn Institute for 47 the History and Philosophy of Science and Ideas • Prof. Daniel Cohen, Exact Sciences, incumbent of the Stanley Steyer Chair in the Prevention and Control of Cancer • Prof. Yoav Ganzach, Management, incumbent of the Lilly and Alejandro Saltiel Chair for Corporate Leadership and Social Responsibility • Prof. Israel Gershoni, Humanities, incumbent of the Kaplan Chair in the History of Egypt and Israel • Prof. Aida Inbal, Medicine, incumbent of the Jose Henriques de Paiva Ferreira Chair in Thrombosis and Hemostasis • Prof. Leo Leiderman, Social Sciences, incumbent of the Jack and Lisa Yael Chair in Comparative Economics • Prof. Yishay Mansour, Exact Sciences, incumbent of the Chair in Communication Networks • Prof. Shaul Mishal, Social Sciences, incumbent of the Brian Mulroney Chair in Government • Prof. Raanan Rein, Humanities, former Vice Rector of TAU, incumbent of the Elias Sourasky Chair for Ibero-American and Spanish Studies and also Commander in the Order of the Liberator San Martin of the Argentinean Government • Prof. Mordechai Shohat, Medicine, incumbent of the Adler Chair in Pediatric Cardiology Research • Prof. Jacob Sonnenschein, Exact Sciences, incumbent of the Wolfson Chair in Theoretical Physics

Honors: • Landau Prize of Mifal Hapayis, Prof. (Emeritus) Zev Levin, Exact Sciences, and Prof. Eliezer Ben-Rafael, Social Sciences • Order of Arts and Letters of France, Prof. Israel Finkelstein, Humanities • Fellow of the American Academy of Mechanics, Prof. Leslie Banks-Sills, Engineering

Christ Killers: The Animals as Disguised Symbols in Charity in Islamic Societies Jews and the Passion Renaissance Art By Amy Singer, Cambridge from the Bible to the By Simona Cohen, Brill’s Studies in University Press (2008) Big Screen Intellectual History (2008) By Jeremy Cohen, Oxford In the first book of its kind, University Press (2007) Filling a gap in the field Amy Singer explains the con- of Renaissance culture cepts and practices that have Throughout his scholarly in general, and its art shaped Muslim philanthropy career, Cohen has explored in particular, Cohen for over fourteen centuries. the perplexing and painful demonstrates the This book demonstrates how relationship between Jews continuity and te- historical circumstances, social and Christians in antiquity nacity of medieval status, gender, age and other fac- and the Middle Ages. In animal interpreta- tors interacted with religious ideals to create his latest work, he addresses tions and symbol- a rich variety of charitable practices since the the claim that the Jews were ism in the iconography of birth of Islam through to present day. Using responsible for the death of animals in the Renaissance. Case studies written texts, architectural designs, images Christ, and asserts illustrate ways in which Renaissance artists and objects, Singer explores the motivations that over the last revived conventional animal imagery in un- for charity, its impact on the rich and the two millennia the precedented contexts and invested them with poor, and the politicization of charity. Amy Christ-killer myth new meanings. Simona Cohen is a senior lec- Singer is a professor of Ottoman history at the has been essential turer at TAU’s Department of Art History, Department of Middle Eastern and African to the development Katz Faculty of the Arts. History, Entin Faculty of Humanities. of anti-Semitism, Christianity and The Trouble with Terror: Liberty, Security and the western culture. His Response to Terrorism By Tamar Meisels, Cambridge University Press (2008) book presents an intriguing introduction to the history What is terrorism and can it ever be defended? This book offers a full of anti-Semitism, demon- theoretical analysis of terrorism, beginning with its definition, proceed- strating that long-standing ing to its possible justifications and culminating in proposals for com- interpretations of the Passion bating it. Meisels opposes those who express sympathy and justification narratives have always been for terrorism, but at the same time also opposes those who would tolerate at the heart of Christian diminished civil liberties in exchange for greater security. She argues that, hostility toward Judaism. regardless of its professed cause, terrorism is diametrically opposed to the Jeremy Cohen is a professor requirements of liberal morality and can only be defended at the expense of relinquishing of Jewish history at the Entin the most basic of liberal commitments. Tamar Meisels is a professor of political science at the Faculty of Humanities. Gordon Faculty of Social Sciences. 48 Save The Date

Please join us for the Tel Aviv University

th b 19 European Conference in Rome

Thursday, March 4 to Monday, March 8, 2010

Highlights: Reception and dinner hosted by the Mayor of Rome at Capitoline Hill (City Hall), the architects of which included Michelangelo  Visit to the Jewish Ghetto – still a dynamic Jewish community  Lecture sessions on the Jewish-Christian dialogue and on Iran today  Private reception at the fashion house of Fendi  Tour of “Cinecitta,” ’s Hollywood, where HBO’s Roma and Fellini’s masterpieces were filmed

For more information Call Mrs. Ilana Papo at + 9723 640 87 69 or e-mail: [email protected] Accommodation at Exedra Roma Hotel Tel Aviv

University Germany Dr. h.c. Ernst Gerhardt Lay Leadership President German Friends of Tel Aviv University

Worldwide Israel Amos Shapira President Argentina Israeli Friends of Tel Aviv University Polly Mizrahi de Deutsch President Mexico Argentinean Friends of Tel Aviv University Dr. Arie Dorenbaum President Australia Mexican Friends of Tel Aviv University Vivien Zimmet President Netherlands Australian Friends of Tel Aviv University Robert Van Der Heijden Victoria Chapter (Melbourne) President Dutch Friends of Tel Aviv University John Landerer AM CBE President Norway Australian Friends of Tel Aviv University Herman Kahan New South Wales Chapter (Sydney) Chairman Norwegian Friends of Tel Aviv University Austria Dr. Hannes Androsch SOUTH AFRICA President Jonathan Osrin Austrian Friends of Tel Aviv University Chairman South African Friends of Tel Aviv University Brazil Dr. Mario Arthur Adler SWEDEN President Peter Seideman Brazilian Friends of Tel Aviv University President Sao Paulo Chapter Swedish Friends of Tel Aviv University

Eng. Luiz Chor President Anette Bollag-Rothschild Brazilian Friends of Tel Aviv University President Chapter Swiss Friends of Tel Aviv University

Eng. Pedro Simon Gus UK President David Levin Brazilian Friends of Tel Aviv University Chairman Porto Alegre Chapter Tel Aviv University Trust in Great Britain

Canada Leslie Wolfson Judge Barbara Seal, CM Chairman National President Tel Aviv University Trust in Great Britain Canadian Friends of Tel Aviv University (CFTAU) Scottish Group

Theodore Goloff Uruguay Chairman Ing. Carlos Spiller Canadian Friends of Tel Aviv University President Montreal Chapter Uruguayan Friends of Tel Aviv University

Norman Halpern USA President William F. Cohen Canadian Friends of Tel Aviv University National Chairman Toronto Chapter American Friends of Tel Aviv University (AFTAU)

France François Heilbronn President French Friends of Tel Aviv University (AFAUTA)

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