WINTER 2010/11

www.bgu.ac.il

The Sky is the Limit CONTENTS

Message from the President 1 Thinking Globally, Acting Locally: Dr. Meidad Kissinger 2 Pursuing Proteins: Dr. Anat Ben-Zvi 4 Going South: Dr. Miki Malul 6 Disorder in the System: Dr. Moshe Schechter 8 All in the Family: Prof. Aya Biderman 10 Poetry in Motion: Dr. Yair Huri 12 The Sky is the Limit:Dr. Anat Tchetchik 14 Man’s Best Friend: Lior Tevet 17 Helping Others Help Themselves:Adi Krespi 18 On a Bicycle Built for Two: Aviv Ben Eliezer 19 Soft Matters:Prof. Yoav Tsori 20 Cities in the Desert: Dr. Yodan Rofè 22 Dollars & Sense: Dr. Oren Rigbi 24 In the Gallery: The “Old Man”26 Innovating Energy, Transforming Society: Dr. Taleb Mokari 28 Centered on Africa: Dr. Lynn Schler 30 Knowing our Neighbors: Dr. Kobi Peled 32 On the Bookshelf 34 A Collaborative Effort:Prof. Yael Segev & Prof. Daniel Landau 40 Breaking the Silence: Hadas Goldstein 43 It’s Music to their Ears: Yaniv Evgi 44 Making Children Feel at Home: Eden Mehlem 45 The Beauty of Bacteria:Dr. Eyal Gur 46 Seeds of the Future: Dr. Aaron Fait 48 What’s the Story: Prof. Ilana Rosen 50

BGU Now is published by the Department of Publications and Media Relations Director: Faye Bittker | Editor: Angie Zamir | Contributors: Larry Derfner, Stephanie Freid, Patricia Golan, Roberta Neiger, Alana Sobelman Photos: Dani Machlis | Add. photos: Wolfgang Motzafi-Haller | Assistant photographer: Eugene Nestorovsky | Design: Shai Zauderer Vol. 5, No. 1 Winter 2010/11 ISSN 0793-7393 Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, P.O. Box 653, Beer-Sheva 84105, Israel | Fax: 972-8-647-2803 | E-mail: [email protected] | Website: www.bgu.ac.il BGU’s 40th Anniversary parade and President Rivka Carmi in a t-shirt made for the start of the academic year

FROM THE PRESIDENT

The Israeli government’s implementation of the decision to relocate the Israel Defense Forces training bases in the South has led to a massive investment in the region, including the building of new housing developments and road systems. This is most acutely felt on the way to Sede Boqer where a modern four-lane highway is emerging, providing tangible evidence that change is on its way, that the State of Israel is finally realizing that its future lies in the periphery, just as its first Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion maintained throughout his life. For Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, this movement is to be commended and encouraged. The cornerstone of this development is the Advanced Technologies Park, now actively under construction in the area adjacent to the University’s Marcus Family Campus. This will be the first environmentally-conscious green park of its kind in Israel and will be divided into civilian and open military sections, including the IDF’s advanced communications unit. Large companies from Israel and abroad are already showing interest in the Park, and will give a giant boost to the South as the State of Israel’s Silicon Valley. This excitement is paralleled by the exciting developments that have been taking place across the University. In May of this year a survey commissioned by the National Union of Israeli Students revealed that Ben-Gurion University of the Negev placed first in student satisfaction for both its caring atmosphere and overall experience. This is a great achievement and one that is as exciting as it is rewarding. Also, our researchers have distinguished themselves and received an impressive number of highly-prestigious competitive grants this year, reflecting the University’s ongoing commitment to bring the best and brightest scientists and scholars to the Negev region. I believe that together we are living David Ben-Gurion’s dream in real time and I want to thank you sincerely for your enduring support, encouragement and most dedicated commitment to our beloved University.

Yours in appreciation and friendship,

Prof. Rivka Carmi, M.D. President emphasizes the linkages between the 1950s, in order to increase production, improvements to come out of his own local and the global and the implications new breeds of coffee were developed that wallet. In general, environmentalism is a of global changes on local sustainabil- not only didn’t need forests in which to cause taken up by the “haves” of the world There is going to have to be ity. This is a new interdisciplinary field of grow, but which made it profitable for cof- in ways that don’t restrain their high-con- awareness at government levels social science whose ultimate purpose is fee companies to cut down forests so they sumption lifestyle, which brings Kissinger to reverse the effects of to change public policy. “The idea is that would have more land on which to grow to the case of his high-consumption home- environmentally-indifferent it’s not enough to focus on local efforts beans. Now the overwhelming major- town, Ra’anana. to improve quality of life, we also need ity of coffee that’s drunk in the world is “I did my master’s thesis on Ra’anana’s economic policy to take care of the places we depend on,” ‘full-sun’ coffee, and huge expanses of for- ecological footprint. Now I’m going back says Kissinger, who received his Ph.D. in est have been and are continuing to be cut 10 years later to see if, despite all the envi- community and regional planning at UBC down to grow it.” ronmental awareness that’s since gone after studying at Tel Aviv and Haifa uni- Besides wiping out forests and any into local policy – such as the expansion of Thinking versities. number of species that lived in them, a parks and recycling programs – that foot- Globally To illustrate, he recalls a study he con- half-century of full-sun coffee growing print has gotten smaller or larger.” ducted of Israeli grain purchases which has also engendered the heavy use of pes- He thinks he knows what the study will Acting showed that even though the country was ticides to protect the crops, resulting in a find. Asked if Ra’anana’s popular “green” purchasing more grain in the last two terrible degradation of the soil. decades than previously due to its grow- What to do? Kissinger says there are Locally ing population and increased prosperity, small-scale economic projects to sup- the “ecological footprint” – the amount of port small coffee growers who grow their land and energy used up by Israel’s grain beans in forests, but these are not enough consumption – had actually shrunk. to halt the deforestation process that the He explains: “In the past Israel bought modern, rapidly growing coffee industry over 90 percent of its grain from North has caused. “There is going to have to be America, mainly from the U.S., but since awareness at government levels to reverse Dr. Meidad Kissinger the Cold War and the Soviet boycott on the effects of environmentally-indifferent Israel ended, we’re buying more grain, economic policy,” he insists. image is accurate, Kissinger answers in mainly wheat – mostly from Ukraine and This sort of awareness has started to the negative. “The wealthier you are, the Russia, where the shipping distances are come to richer, Western countries just as more resources you consume, the more much shorter and the means of production developing countries like India and China energy you use, the larger your footprint.” are different, so the ecological footprint of are emerging from a history of poverty. In the Negev, he’s working on a project When it comes to environmental aware- our grain purchases is smaller.” They’re resentful of the wealthy West ask- funded by a European Union International ness, Israel has come a very long way from Thinking globally but acting locally, ing them to rein in their industry for the Reintegration Grant to map the ecological the time back in the early 1970s when Kissinger’s goal is to get Israeli decision- sake of the environment, when these rich, footprint in various small towns, Jewish Finance Minister Pinchas Sapir brushed makers to consider the impact on the “green” nations got rich despoiling it. and Bedouin, and then find ways with res- off the whole subject as “ecology, shme- environment when formulating planning “You can’t argue with them,” Kissinger idents and local authorities to reduce it. cology.” Still, Israel is not yet Canada, and economic policy. Are Israeli leaders acknowledges. “For the last century, 20 “For instance, if we hear from residents and Dr. Meidad Kissinger of the Depart- open to this idea? “Not really,” he laments, percent of the world’s population has con- that they drive their cars to work instead ment of Geography and Environmental “but to be fair, political leaders in very few sumed 80 percent of the world’s resources.” of taking the bus because the bus stop is a Development should know. He came to countries are.” But at the same time, the earth and 15-minute walk from their homes, we can Ben-Gurion University of the Negev after A key tool he uses in his work is “eco- humans simply cannot live with another bring this data to transportation officials years at the University of British Columbia logical footprint analysis,” which he pollution-choked Industrial Age. One to adjust the stops on the bus routes.” (UBC), where the word “sustainability” is describes as “environmental account- of the solutions, he suggests, is for richer As committed an environmentalist as on everyone’s lips. ing.” It means looking at human activities consumer countries to impose tariffs on he is, though, Kissinger doesn’t try to be Kissinger is a “human ecologist” who and their impact on natural systems, then imports from poorer producer countries a saint, nor has he lost his sense of humor. works on people’s social interactions seeing where these activities are taking like China, and to kick the money back During the interview, his office was with the supporting ecological systems place, where they are having their impact to them for environmentally-friendly getting hot, so he turned on the air con- (dependence and impact). This approach and where they are affecting ecological reforms. ditioner. Horrors! Didn’t he feel guilty? changes. But this sort of trade policy remains a “Half the things I do in a day make me feel Pointing to the cup on his desk, he uses long way from international acceptance, guilty,” he replies, turning up his palms. the example of coffee. “In the old days it he says. Everybody wants to improve “You learn to live with it.” was grown only in forests – in Ethiopia, the environment, but nobody wants the Costa Rica and other countries – then exported all over the world. But in the 3 Pursuing Proteins For Dr. Anat Ben-Zvi, the decision to correct structure; abnormalities lead to This led to her current stage of research: research protein folding came naturally; folding-linked diseases like Alzheimer’s, determining why in age-related dis- she says her life’s trajectory was clear to Huntington’s, Cystic Fibrosis and Parkin- When you look into genetic diseases, you see eases proteins lose function and misfold her from youth – she simply set out to son’s. a lot of them that result from proteins that at adulthood – a finding that could lead heed the call. “When you look into genetic diseases,” lack the correct structure and are misfolded to reversing that shift in function – and A member of the National Institute for Ben-Zvi explains, “you see a lot of them Dr. Anat Ben-Zvi a focus on cell-specific functioning and Biotechnology in the Negev, the 34-year- that result from proteins that lack the cor- why some proteins behave the way they do old got a jumpstart career-wise. rect structure and are misfolded. This can to be folding mutations. Using the trans- based on location in the body. “When I was fifteen I knew I wanted result in aggregations, which are large parent worms, she observed that when the Ben-Zvi, who is also a senior lecturer to be a scientist so I moved to Jerusalem associations of misfolded proteins. The cell is challenged by a protein associated at the Department of Life Sciences and from Herzliya and enrolled in the biology general consensus, which is still under with diseases, temperature-sensitive pro- received a European Union International program at the Israel Arts and Sciences debate, is that those aggregates are toxic teins are affected even when the animals Reintegration Grant that helps support Academy high school. I boarded there, to the cellular function and can result in grow at low temperature, resulting in dis- her research, says her current activity will fell in love with Jerusalem and stayed memory, function and coordination loss if ease symptoms: aggregation, toxicity and be the mainstay of the remainder of her there from my bachelor’s degree studies it happens in neurons.” affected organism function. career. “The field of protein folding in fold- in biology to my doctoral studies in bio- By studying protein folding in Cae- This gave her a sense, when viewing ing-linked diseases has opened up over the chemistry. Then I went to Switzerland and norhabditis elegans, a transparent worm, the disease, of the temporal and physical past few years so there’s lots of space for Chicago for my final Ph.D. year and post- Ben-Zvi is able to observe their function interactions that affect humans at a later researchers looking to find solutions,” she doctoral work,” she explains. within cells of a living organism. “It’s com- age. says. “At the same time, the newness of it It was during her first year of college, pelling because you can look at the worm As a result of her testing and observa- all can sometimes make pinpointing spe- while attending a seminar, that she was and see it moving normally when proteins tions, two major issues came to the fore: cific scientific questions difficult.” exposed to the world of protein folding are correctly folded, but a worm carrying One is that other genes that are not con- But Ben-Zvi is enthusiastic, main- and its potential for understanding how proteins associated with folding diseases nected to the disease are important; people taining that her attraction to protein protein abnormalities may be the cause barely moves and there is clear protein from different families may carry the dif- folding and chaperone research was par- of different age-related genetic diseases. “I aggregation. It is an amazing system,” she ferent sensitive proteins, which could be tially motivated by work under University knew then that I wanted to work on this exclaims. affected when a disease starts. of Chicago Prof. Rick Morimoto’s tutelage subject. I just love proteins and I think A major breakthrough in her research The second finding may change the for six years. “I was blown away by one of they’re amazing machines. So I felt com- came during her postdoctoral work, when approach to treating age-related diseases. his lectures in Switzerland and pursued pelled to pursue proteins that fix other she began focusing on a cell’s protein fold- Researchers thought that when exposed working alongside him after that,” she proteins and make them my career focus,” ing environment and how a misfolded to stress conditions, chaperone expres- says. she says. protein impacts on others in the cell. sion increases and would therefore rescue Wanting to raise her three children in Specifically, Ben-Zvi’s research hones “If I have a protein that is affected and it affected proteins. But Ben-Zvi’s exper- Israel is what brought Ben-Zvi and her in on protein folding that occurs in a nor- is misfolding, the helper or chaperone will iments have shown that the chaperone family back to Israel from Chicago. She mally functioning cell and the “helper” try to do something for that protein” Ben- proteins can become limiting and are not joined Ben-Gurion University’s faculty proteins that play specialized, dedicated Zvi observed. “But if there is a huge work able to repair and readjust to the environ- because she felt an instant liking for its roles in assisting malfunctioning or stress- overload in the cell, for example when a ment in protein folding diseases. culture, environment and staff. damaged proteins. The “rescue” proteins protein cannot be fixed, what happens to “Maybe we don’t need to focus on pro- “I’m working on age and dementia- help others get active again so they can the other proteins that need helpers? And teins that cause Parkinson’s or Huntington’s associated diseases because I feel I can resume correct structure and function. how does one misfolding protein affect all or Alzheimer’s,” Ben-Zvi explains. “This contribute. That’s part of the motivation Protein folding is a critical process the other proteins in the cell?” shows that maybe the focus should be and reason I wanted to pursue this field. I within cells because to do its function She decided to focus on tempera- on the chaperones and letting the system think it can help.” properly, a protein must first take on its ture-sensitive proteins and how they work its magic.” malfunction when a cell is challenged by protein aggregates. Delving into the proj- ect, the researcher sat at her computer viewing large groups of proteins with tem- 4 perature-sensitive mutations that appeared 5 There is no better advocate for developing erroneous view that there is more crime government can be most effective. “The In this context, Malul has researched the Negev than Dr. Miki Malul from the here causes companies to make the wrong Negev is very important for Israel, but is subjects connected to minimum wage in Department of Public Policy and Admin- decisions,” says the economist, who sug- still behind economically,” he says. “Beer- contrast to earned income tax credit. He istration in the Guilford Glazer Faculty gests that a government program should Sheva and the surrounding development favors the minimum wage approach for of Business and Management. When he be initiated to market the south to com- towns are weak. We must define the gov- employers with a low cost of acquiring speaks about the importance of investing panies, to demonstrate how investment ernment’s role in this region.” human capital and a long horizon of earn- in Israel’s periphery, he is basing his opin- In another main research area, Malul ings, and income tax credit for those who ions on extensive research and hard facts examines regional cooperation between obtain human capital at a high price and and figures. He makes a convincing case Israel and the Palestinians, the subject of have a short horizon of earnings. that development of the Negev will bring his postdoctoral research at Cornell Uni- For Malul, his wife and two children, prosperity to not only the region and the versity. Beer-Sheva is home and they are plant- companies that locate there, but to the At Cornell, Malul worked with the ing roots here. On a personal note, he country as a whole. prominent American economist Prof. comments, “We like the atmosphere, the “This is a truly win-win situation,” says Walter Isard. One of the main founders of people are warm and the surroundings Malul, who focuses on economic issues Dr. Miki Malul the field of peace science and of the Peace quiet and peaceful.” Returning to the pol- Research Society, Isard viewed his novel icy angle, he continues, “I believe we must discipline as an interdisciplinary, global settle and develop the Negev over the long effort to develop a special set of concepts, run, and this must be supported by the techniques and data for looking at and government on the economic and policy promoting peace. levels. “Of course,” he adds, “there is no Going South Malul holds that hope lies in hi-tech better place to investigate this than at Ben- cooperation, which does not require that Gurion University.” concerning the center of Israel versus its in the Negev can be beneficial to both the personnel commute to an office daily or periphery. Born in Dimona, the researcher firm itself and to the economy at-large. work together in a traditional way. Such has always been interested in how develop- “Establishing a company in the Negev is settings, he believes, eliminate the need ment of the Negev has lagged behind that not a matter of altruism, but of economic for direct contact, as everything can be of the greater Tel Aviv region, a subject he efficiency,” he emphasizes. done virtually. Even virtual incubators has been working on since he did his Ph.D. Malul has been involved in the effort, can serve as on-line “meeting points.” dissertation under the supervision of Prof. together with a research team, to relocate In the areas under Palestinian Author- Raphael Bar-El from the Department of more Israel Defense Forces training bases ity control, there are some hi-tech efforts Public Policy and Administration. to the south. Some of his proposals have and a growing population of educated per- A member of the economic team of the already been adopted by the Ministry of sonnel. “What can these people do?” asks Taub Center for Research on Social Issues Defense in identifying how the army can Malul. Answering his own question, he in Jerusalem, Malul frequently writes posi- most efficiently contribute to the south. claims that hi-tech can be the basis for Establishing a company in tion papers for Members of Knesset and This great investment will give a big push cooperation in which both sides will profit. other policy makers. One of his papers to the area and will have a multiplying The Palestinians will gain employment the Negev is not a matter of focused on industry’s differing percep- effect,” he says. “It can serve as leverage for and Israel can benefit from the opening of altruism, but of economic tions of the center and periphery. development of the entire Negev.” the Arab market. efficiency “When a company decides where Today Malul is examining another Under the umbrella of economics to locate itself, it weighs issues such as aspect of the center-periphery relation- and society, Malul looks at equality and manpower and infrastructure,” he says. ship: how gaps in salary affect incentives to inequality. He states that there is inequal- “Generally, the south is perceived as being acquire an education. His primary results ity of income distribution and a growing inferior to the center.” While he acknowl- indicate that if there is a gap in salaries – percentage of poor families in the country. edged that there is some difference in these if they are lower in the south – residents “We can establish a society character- regions, he found that in reality, there is of the south will acquire less education. ized by greater equality and welfare, even far less of a gap than is perceived. “They view it as a poorer return on invest- wealth.” Malul points to crime rates, which are ment. This, in turn, can create even greater actually lower in the Beer-Sheva area than gaps,” says Malul, who is currently work- in Tel Aviv, as a major misconception. “The ing on a model of this scenario and its implications for government policy. 7 Malul stresses that his work focuses on areas of practical application: how the 40 Disorder Interactions between in theSystem particles, disorder and quantum fluctuations are glass, plastic or basically any other mate- especially, of course, in physics. “Although all essential in many rial, is cooled below the temperature of I am a theoretician,” he says, “I’m very three degrees Kelvin, they all behave very closely connected to reality, which physical systems similarly in several different ways. This becomes evident in my line of research. breakthrough showed that there exists a Most of my work involves either trying national and international competitions. Dr. Moshe Schechter fundamental mechanism that dictates the to enhance our understanding of existing Our high school kids have done remark- physics of disordered systems, resulting experiments or in trying to predict physi- ably well, including taking the top prizes One of the things Dr. Moshe Schechter in these systems displaying unique char- cal phenomena that can then be verified in in the ‘First Step to Noble Prize in Physics’ likes about his field of physics – which acteristics that are significantly different new experiments.” competition held each year in Warsaw.” involves experiments with magnets as from those of ordered systems. The most obvious application of his This year three of the four top prizes went well as with hard materials, or “condensed “This gives further credence to the sci- work is in nanotechnology. “What I’m to students from the Center. “This is an matter,” at extremely low temperatures entific philosophy which holds that nature aiming for, ultimately, is a deeper under- incredible accomplishment that proves we – is that it stands at the scientific locale cannot be efficiently described by one standing of the properties of materials at have a winning formula,” he continues. “where reality and calculation meet at the set of rules, but at each level of complex- the nanoscale, which can lead to signifi- Among former winners were girls from optimal point.” ity arise new phenomena which have to cant advances in our ability to create new the desert development town of Netivot. The theoretical work he’s doing has its be described by rules appropriate to that technologies.” In recognition of the impor- “Until the Ramon Center opened, you most promising applications in the bur- complexity level,” Schechter explains. tance of this emerging field, Schechter didn’t find high school students in Netivot geoning field of nanotechnology. “One of Schechter’s other interest as a physicist received a European Union International majoring in physics; the schools didn’t the main barriers to advancing nanotech- is magnetism. “Magnets are interesting Reintegration Grant to help him establish have the resources to support it,” says nology is the noise coming from materials because of their importance to technol- his laboratory at BGU. Schechter. “Last year, 85 students in three in the physical states that I’m researching,” ogy, but also because they are excellent And then there is Schechter’s other different schools in Netivot majored in he explains. “Understanding the source of tools with which to study experimentally love, which he pursues at the Ilan Ramon physics, and 14 of them chose to add to the this noise and finding ways to reduce it is the validity of theoretical models.” Inter- Youth Physics Center at BGU. “Along with matriculation exam a final research proj- one of the prime challenges of today’s con- actions between particles, disorder and science, I have a passion for education,” he ect in that subject.” densed matter research.” quantum fluctuations are all essential in exclaims. Of all Israeli high school pupils who To this end, Schechter, who received his many physical systems. “In magnetic sys- At the Ramon Center it all comes do a final physics project as part of their bachelor’s degree at the Hebrew University tems all these can be tuned and studied in together for him – reality and calcu- matriculation, more than half now come of Jerusalem, his master’s and doctoral a controlled environment,” he adds. lation, science and education. He is from the Negev, he adds. Three high school degrees at the Weizmann Institute of To the layman, Schechter’s work seems scientific director of the unique Center, pupils in the Ramon Center’s labs have Science, and did his postdoc at the Uni- abstract. But then everything’s relative, which teaches physics to 4,000 pupils in conducted, through their final project, versity of British Columbia before coming the Negev every year. experimental work that was so significant, to BGU, conducts theoretical research Started in 2007 and funded by the The Center’s programs for Negev pupils they were named co-authors with their that aims to better understand the fun- Rashi Foundation together with BGU, range from astronomy classes for kinder- BGU mentors on scientific papers pub- damental properties of disordered and the Ramon Center’s main purpose is “to gartners to sponsoring high school physics lished in esteemed academic journals. amorphous systems, as were first observed promote physics education in the Negev projects that have won prizes at the most Schechter, who lives in Mazkeret Batya by Profs. Bob Zeller and Robert Pohl in by exposing pupils from elementary prestigious international competitions for with his wife and two children, says he 1971. school through high school to the field high school physics projects. decided to pursue his career at BGU “The two physicists found that for at a more advanced, intensive level than “At one end, the Center gives thousands “because the Department of Physics here some unknown reason, when condensed they get in school,” says Schechter. “Every of kids in the Negev their first exposure to is excellent, with a really strong group in matter in a disordered system, such as eighth-grader in the Negev comes to the the real world of physics. At the other, we my field of condensed matter theory.” He Center with his or her class for a three- take high school pupils who are major- found what he was looking for – and more. hour session. They do experiments in our ing in physics and enhance the quality of “Being a researcher of physics on the one state-of-the-art laboratories and also see a their education,” says Schechter. “If a pupil hand and an educator on the other,” he film on the Beer-Sheva-raised astronaut, feels ready to do a physics project as part says, “allows me to do the two kinds of Ilan Ramon, who perished in the tragic of his matriculation exam, we assign a fac- work I most enjoy.” 8 Columbia Space Shuttle disaster in 2003, ulty member or Ph.D. student to be his or and the legacy he left us.” her mentor. We send the best projects to Patients may come to talk about their sore throat or stomach ache or about their son who is in jail, or the bills they are unable to pay. This is an all-inclusive job

Family physician and researcher at the Biderman’s booklet-length resume career burnout. At the same time, though, open a new service, together with a social Faculty of Health Sciences Prof. Aya includes a long list of published research- these physicians may feel great “compas- work colleague – a consulting clinic for Biderman never knows who will show up based articles on different subjects, sion satisfaction.” patients with complex biomedical and at her office. The comprehensive nature including domestic violence, patient-cen- Over the years, Biderman has had direct psycho-social problems. She will divide of family medicine, together with Beer- tered medicine, secrets in primary care, experience with domestic violence and is her time between part-time practice at Sheva’s diverse population of veteran ethnic differences in preventive medicine committed to countering it. She currently this clinic, located in Beer-Sheva, and Israelis, Russian and Ethiopian immi- and the role of the family doctor in mental heads the Clalit Health Services southern serving as a family doctor in Beer-Sheva grants and Bedouin, makes her work day health and modern medicine. district committee for identification and and teacher at BGU. She teaches first year varied and altogether unpredictable. Despite this impressive inventory of treatment of domestic violence in primary and sixth year medical students, residents “I never know who will be waiting for research topics – all of which grew out of care. “Women are always ‘falling down’ in Family Medicine and practicing phy- me and what kinds of problems – med- clinical work – Biderman holds that as a and ‘bumping into things,’ and when they sicians in Continuing Medical Education ical or non-medical – they will report. family doctor, it is extremely difficult to finally kill themselves or are killed, every- courses at the University. Patients may come to talk about their conduct research. “Most of the time I’m one asks ‘how could this have happened’?” Biderman stresses to her students that sore throat or stomach ache or about with patients and there is no time for my family medicine is not for everyone. “It’s their son who is in jail, or the bills they own research except in my after-work not like other medical practices: family are unable to pay,” says Biderman. “This hours.” practitioners know their patients much is an all-inclusive job.” For this reason, the Faculty of Health better than most other doctors do and are Biderman decided during her intern- Sciences established the Sial Research far more involved in their lives,” she notes. ship to be a family doctor. “I was young Center for Family Medicine and Primary “Also, the profession is very broad and the and wanted to contribute in a special way, Care, which for people like Biderman is a physician must make decisions quickly, rather than be ‘one more doctor’,” she true blessing. The Center aims to nurture which often results in a lot of uncer- says, always seeing patients as part of the quality scientific research in family and Prof. Aya Biderman tainty.” big picture. This viewpoint takes in ele- primary care medicine. It helps related According to Biderman, the profes- ments like the long-term doctor-patient specialists and residents by assuming According to Biderman, family violence sion is in crisis and not many doctors relationship and the patient’s family. Her peripheral duties, such as seeking research is widespread amongst all populations in are entering it. The system, she says, will holistic approach enables her to view the assistants and writing, editing and sub- the region and, she noted, one in seven have to make changes, such as delegating patient as part of a system and not an iso- mitting proposals. women suffers from some form of it. more responsibilities to nurses and other lated entity. Currently, Biderman is involved in a In practicing medicine, Biderman personnel. “As things are now, time pres- As a family doctor, Biderman is very large-scale research project comparing views her Negev location as both a boon sures are too great and the workload too much part of the community, and is the state of aged people who visit day-care and a stumbling block. heavy.” in frequent contact with local schools, centers in the community to elderly who “Here there is much more cooperation Despite these drawbacks, she believes clubs and social welfare agencies. Having remain at home. The assumption is that than competition among medical per- that “family medicine is a wonderful pro- practiced medicine in Beer-Sheva for 30 those in the day-care centers feel healthier sonnel,” she says. “The level of the Soroka fession. Nothing could be more varied,” years, she has put down long roots and and consume fewer health-care facilities. University Medical Center is very high, she adds. “This job lets doctors try out so has worked with many of the same col- Another recent research topic involves and I know many physicians there who many things and then develop the areas leagues for more than 25 years. doctors who suffer from “compassion are willing to help with consulting – more that most interest them – be it palliative fatigue,” a gradual lessening of compas- than would be available in a big city,” care, geriatrics, psychiatry or infectious sion, common among those who work she continues, adding that personal rela- diseases.” Whatever changes occur in directly with victims of trauma. “This tions often form the basis for innovative the medical world, family medicine will phenomenon is widespread among family projects. In addition, she points out that remain the cornerstone for better health All in the doctors, who have such close relationships Beer-Sheva offers an array of patients and in nations all around the world.” with their patients,” says Biderman, who medical subjects as the city has absorbed checked family doctors in the Negev and wave after wave of immigrants. found many who suffer from this and from Biderman is now at a crossroads. Hav- Family ing managed the Yud Alef clinic of Clalit Health Services, where she worked for 25 years, she sought a change and plans to 11 For the average westerner, “Iraq” likely conjures up images of exploding cars, ambushes and repression. What that casual observer may not know is that Iraq After they graduate, many students write has a strong literary tradition, dating back to me about their ‘unique and wonderful’ to the Middle Ages. experience in the department.” “Iraqi literature and poetry play an The nature of Middle East Studies at important part in daily life, perhaps more Poetry BGU is above all interdisciplinary. This so than in any other Arabic-speaking approach fosters examination of liter- country,” explains Dr. Yair Huri, a mem- ature within a historical context and ber of the Department of Middle East in history from a literary perspective, unlike Studies and author of numerous scholarly Motion departments elsewhere that isolate these articles on modern Arabic poetry, literary fields. The department includes histori- criticism and linguistics, who is working This peripatetic existence characterizes only with the texts, he also tries to detach ans, literary experts and anthropologists. to bring this to the public light. an entire generation, according to Huri. the creator from his writings. “I did weave Here, interactions with colleagues from In his recent book, The Poetry of Sa’di “These writers were born in the 1930s and some biographical elements in my analysis different fields are unlimited, and hori- Yusuf – Between Homeland and Exile, Huri ‘40s and many became communists. For of his poetry, but in a very minor, low key zons as wide as the desert sky, he says. examines the works of Iraq’s foremost political reasons, they were persecuted way,” he says. “I approach texts more from The new track of Arabic language and living poet and one of the preeminent and jailed. Ultimately, they left Iraq, but an aesthetic point of view.” culture will focus on cultural aspects modernists of Arabic poetry. The study still feel an inseparable part of the coun- In the same vein, Huri wrote his doc- more than on historical and anthro- takes an in-depth look at more than 100 try.” toral thesis at Tel Aviv University under pological issues. Huri expects that like And while some Iraqi writers rejoice the supervision of Prof. Sasson Somekh, other classes in the department, this pro- at the fall of Saddam Hussein, political one of the world’s leading scholars of Ara- gram will be attended equally by Arab I want to deal instability keeps them away. “Iraq’s most bic literature. His dissertation focused and Jewish students. “We have Bedouin with the younger important intellectuals left the country. on metapoetics and narcissistic poetry students, along with Americans, Euro- generation and see They still write in Arabic and hold vital in Arabic poetry, that is, poetic texts that peans, veteran Israelis, Ethiopians and dialogs through journals and on the Inter- reflect upon their own constitution, inner Arabs,” he says. “This is truly an aca- how their poetry net,” says Huri, adding that many of those dynamics and claims to truth and author- demic melting pot. It is fascinating to be reflects the political in exile miss their association with Jewish ity. At BGU he decided to integrate poetry a lecturer here.” situation intellectuals and maintain connections and history in his scholarly research. As with Israeli researchers. “In contrast to Iraq always held great interest for him, he others from Arab countries, these writers started to seriously research Iraqi writings of Yusuf’s poems. No less importantly, and intellectuals are very willing to talk to during the second Gulf War. it helps present this poet to the Western Israelis.” The son of parents who immigrated world. Huri, who is in the process of creat- from Iraq, Huri has been bilingual in “I examined the works of Sa’di Yusuf, ing a study track in Arabic literature and Hebrew and Arabic as long as he remem- who shifted from a literary arena within culture, now plans to broaden his scope bers. His parents support what he does, Iraq’s geographic boundaries to exile in the to other exiled Iraqi writers and poets. which is, in effect, to preserve a tradition Dr. Yair Huri West,” says Huri. Like Yusuf, he explains, “I want to deal with the younger genera- they revere. “I would love to visit Iraq, to other Iraqi poets and writers have moved tion and see how their poetry reflects the see Baghdad, where my parents and grand- to the West and adopted the local spo- political situation. I want to examine how parents grew up, and told me far more ken language, but most continue to write they see themselves, as human beings and good things than bad about it,” says Huri, in their original language, establishing artists, in their self-imposed or enforced adding that the city’s Jewish community an Iraqi literature outside the country’s exile,” he explains. dates back 2,000 years to the First Temple borders. Not unique to Iraqis, this is an Many important authors and poets like period. international phenomenon, and expatriate T.S. Eliot, Vladimir Nabokov and Thomas Meanwhile, Huri remains content- writers often remain strongly connected Mann wrote in exile. Huri now wants to edly at BGU. “I am very satisfied here, this to their home countries for decades. see how this phenomenon has manifested is a university unlike any other,” he says. itself in connection with Arabic literature “There is great interaction here between over the last 30 to 40 years. the faculty and the students, who enjoy a Not a believer in “meeting your author,” casual, un-buttoned relationship. The stu- Huri holds that there must be a separation dent community is dynamic and young. between artist and researcher. A sup- 12 porter of the New Criticism, which deals 13 40 Dr. Anat Tchetchik did not plan an aca- demic career, but perfect timing led her to the area of tourism research and to a position in the Department of Hotel and Tourism Management in which she found her home. Having earned her bachelor’s and mas- ter’s degrees in agricultural economics and management from the Hebrew Universi- ty’s Faculty of Agriculture in Rehovot, and worked for three years as an economist at the Weizmann Institute of Science, Tchetchik came to the realization that “I wanted to do something more challeng- The is the Limit ing and fulfilling than EXCEL reports Sky and budget planning; in other words, research.” While seeking a topic for her Ph.D. dis- Tchetchik’s Ph.D. dissertation analyzed sertation in the department she graduated the growing market of rural accommo- from, she soon realized that “the agri- dations – rZimmers o B&Bs – which are cultural subjects, such as the market for small apartments or rented rooms in nat- frozen chickens, just didn’t grab me any- ural settings. “Despite the rapid growth more.” The Hebrew University had just of rural tourism and its great contribu- opened a new program: Hospitality, Food tion to the economy, there was no research that examined it using a robust economic theory framework,” continues Tchetchik, whose findings appeared in two jour- nals and two book chapters. Good timing With time, in order to compete in the showed up again when, upon finishing limited market, owners began to intro- her Ph.D., the Department of Hotel and duce innovations in their accommodation Tourism Management at BGU opened units. They began featuring luxury facili- its master’s program in 2007 and sought ties such as saunas, Jacuzzis, wood stoves, Dr. Anat Tchetchik a faculty member who specializes in the surround music systems and swimming economics of tourism. pools. Innovations also took place in Resources and Tourism Management in “At that time they were only a few tour- the design of the units, which started to the Department of Agricultural Econom- ism researchers in Israel that originated take the shape of fantasy escapes, such as ics and Management. “I met Prof. Aliza from the discipline of economics, so I was romantic caves, Mongolian yurts and Jap- Fleischer, the head of this program, and very lucky to find a place in this depart- anese houses. With some Zimmers today she offered a thesis subject in the field of ment,” Tchetchik says. offering ceilings that slide open to reveal tourism economics. I immediately said Speaking of rural accommodations, the stars overhead, it is no exaggeration to yes. Personally, I was always fascinated Tchetchik describes a sector that started say that in this sector, the sky is indeed the by the tourism industry, not to mention growing in 1986 and underwent a major limit. that tourism is the biggest export industry change roughly ten years ago. “Rural As Israeli visitors started to flock to and employer in the world,” explains accommodations originally started as a these innovative Zimmers, their own- Tchetchik. “It’s growing at the high rate side business for farmers who couldn’t live ers enjoyed large profits, with an average of four percent per year, in contrast with on agriculture alone,” she explains. “They price-cost margin of 60 percent. As a approximately three percent for the world provided just the basics for outdoor recre- result, hundreds of rural households GDP on average. As a research arena, tour- ation and a very simple accommodation entered the market. ism is a multi-disciplinary field including standard, bordering on Spartan. An air psychology, sociology and anthropology, conditioner was an exception. As the mar- as well as geography and economics.” ket was exclusively domestic it had to rely Rural accommodations originally started as a side business 40 on repeat visitors.” for farmers who couldn’t live on agriculture alone 15 Man’s Best Friend

Since the age of 15, Lior Tevet has is to talk to visitors about the dogs that students making a difference volunteered at the Haver (Friend) are up for adoption. Every week when he Foundation, a no-kill dog shelter in Holon. arrives to volunteer, he walks the dogs and A second-year student in the School of singles out one or two to be checked out Pharmacy in the Faculty of Health by visitors, many of whom are taken by the Sciences, Tevet’s commitment to the warmth and kindness they receive from the dogs at Haver has not budged over the animals. He greets the visitors, allows them years. The organization’s central goal is to get to know the dogs and gives them the prevention of animal suffering as a important information regarding the dogs’ result of abandonment, human abuse health status, temperament and previous and recklessness, and traffic accidents. living conditions. With time, though, the gold rush The dogs brought into the shelter are One of the things that brings Tevet joy flopped. The growth had been too fast and instantly given medical care, including each week is his interaction with other too many families had become involved. vaccinations and sterilization, and are people, both those who work at the shelter “Since 2009, revenues have dropped by then given an identification microchip and and visitors. “At the beginning,” he says, “I seven percent, and now the sector is on kept in the shelter for as long as necessary, was this little kid and everyone was so nice. the verge of a crisis,” says Tchetchik, who regardless of whether they are adopted. They took me in and as a result I learned early on had suggested that growth should Tevet’s passion for ensuring fair treatment how to talk to people of all different ages. be regulated. of animals and his genuine respect for the I’m also working with a crowd of people, Her current research topic has interest- dogs with which he works is evident in his which has really enhanced my social skills.” ingly emerged from her personal phobia. Aside from conducting her research, dedication to the Haver Foundation and its On the most basic level, Tevet is involved Working as an airline stewardess while Tchetchik teaches courses in economics vision. with Haver because “it’s good to take dogs completing her master’s degree, Tchetchik and management and forecasting meth- For nearly ten years, Tevet has helped out of the bad situations they’re in on the developed a fear of flying, which seriously ods in tourism and hospitality. She also out at the shelter – which at any time streets. Dogs are living in very dangerous clipped her wings. Unable to continue in consults for the Ministry of Tourism and houses 70 to 80 stray dogs – in innumerable conditions today, but we’re looking out for that line of work, she never used the free for El Al Airlines. She is helping to create ways. “Every Saturday, for four hours, I‘ve them.” ticket to Thailand she received as a part- travelers’ flight decision making. They policy where none existed and to get firm gone to the shelter to help with the dogs. Volunteering through Haver, says Tevet, ing gift from El Al. After she left her job, examined whether aerophobic passen- long-range plans in place. “I believe in this When I first came,” he says, “I had only “is like a time out from the big city – it’s four it took her five years until she boarded a gers who do fly, prefer flights with specific industry and its huge potential,” says the minor jobs. Now I’m the one training the hours with the dogs I love.” It seems there plane again. features – such as specific type of airline researcher, who is confident that Israel can 15-year-olds coming in to volunteer.” He is nothing else he’d rather be doing on the More than ten years later, when she and aircraft, time of departure and routes reach the same tourism level as a country knows all too well the sad reality faced weekend. “Every Saturday my friends go to came to BGU, Tchetchik decided to exer- – when they choose to fly to a given des- like Greece. by these dogs, both on the street and in the beach,” he jokes, “but I’d rather go to cise one of her strongest talents: turning a tination. The answer was clearly yes: When not involved in academic or the municipality-run dog pounds. “The the shelter.” negative to a positive, and thought about people who fear more will pay more for family matters, Tchetchik is writing. ”I municipality puts them to sleep after a how to use her fear of flying (aka avio- flights with characteristics that reduce love words, the power of words,” she says, month,” he laments. “We don’t put them to phobia, aviatophobia and aerophobia) as a their fear. These travelers are willing to dig and these words are hardly limited to the sleep – we give them medical care and the subject of research. Right off the bat, she deeper into their pockets for regular non- academic sphere. She has written two necessary shots and take care of them until learned that there was an increase in this stop flights during daylight hours. Also it books, one on the life story of her parents they find a happy home.” phenomenon after the September 11, 2001 was found that this phobia is more prev- and grandmother. As she describes it, “My L i o r T e v e t Tevet is the recipient of a Lubner Prize attacks and that one of every five Ameri- alent among females than males, though roots are planted in two different land- for Community Service, made possible cans suffered from this fear. Tchetchik suspects that women may just scapes – Poland and Israel.” Her second through the generosity of Vice-Chairman of Tchetchik, together with Prof. Aliza be more willing to talk about it. book is about her ringlet-headed five-year the Board of Governors Bertram Lubner of Fleischer and Dr. Tomer Toledo from the In another research project, Tchetchik, old son, Ori. “I love my writing, my work, South Africa. His specific job at the shelter Technion – Israel Institute of Technol- with Prof. Nati Uriely from her depart- the academic lifestyle and the interaction ogy, decided to probe the subject further ment, are studying a network-related with students. It all gives me great satis- and study whether fear of flying affects subject. Around the world people relocate faction,” she says. “Aside from time, I have to find work, affecting the tourism pat- everything.” terns of their families and close friends. They are probing this trend and the role of 17 40 the Internet within it. 33 Helping Others Help Themselves On a Bicycle Built for Two

Adi Krespi is a realist. When asked what devoted to helping people in minimum Aviv Ben Eliezer finds tandem bicycling in a youth hostel or hotel somewhere on students making a difference she plans to do when she graduates from wage jobs understand their employee students making a difference just as stimulating as sifting through the a Friday night; on Saturday we go out and BGU with a degree in social work, she says rights. pages of a rare book. The master’s student ride.” that in addition to being a social worker, As a member of the Forum for Social in the Department of General History, who The activities outside the organized she also intends to teach Pilates. When Justice, Krespi has been part of the is researching the relatively unexplored rides, he says, “are somehow more asked why Pilates, she jokes, “Well, I still movement to help cleaning crews at the subject of female models in pre-Raphaelite meaningful – they bring a real sense of need something to pay the bills with.” It is University who are employed through art, defies all stereotypes of the determined family to the group. So I enjoy not just certainly an odd combination of professions, private contractors receive fair wages and budding scholar, as he is as devoted to his the riding – I can do that by myself – but but one that demonstrates how the second- social benefits due to them. riding partner as he is to his studies. especially the experience of riding with year student favors commitment to helping Krespi saw for herself once she joined the Every Thursday and Friday for the past someone else and doing extra things with others over monetary success. forum, that “before these demonstrations, three years, Ben Eliezer has headed to the group.” Since she began her studies in the we hardly noticed the presence of the Kibbutz Hatzerim to volunteer with the Ben Eliezer and his riding partner’s Charlotte B. and Jack J. Spitzer Department workers. Now we notice them more and southern branch of the Etgarim (Challenges) relationship is, as family relationships often of Social Work, Krespi, recipient of a Lubner more. Before, they were afraid to open up organization as a front-seat guide on a are, based on trust and communication. Prize for Community Service, has managed and tell us about their problems because tandem bicycle for physically challenged “After every ride, my partner always thanks to juggle her course load and volunteer this was sometimes the only work they individuals who cannot ride solo. me. The group means a lot to her; she goes work in three separate organizations. Part had. Our task,” she continues, “is to make Etgarim is a non-profit organization through the week waiting for the rides.” of her time is dedicated to Paamonim sure the people they work for won’t take dedicated to providing physically Ben Eliezer stresses his gratitude towards his (Bells), an organization devoted to helping their benefits from them; that they all have challenged citizens with the opportunity to fellow volunteers, some of whom are BGU individuals and families to learn how workers’ rights. It’s to take charge for them participate in outdoor sports and activities graduates “who come back to the south to conduct their economic activities at the University.” regardless of the nature or severity of from other parts of the country to ride with responsibly. Her interest in this particular Krespi’s devotion to helping individuals each individual’s handicap. One of the their partners.” work, she says, has to do with her desire become confident, self-assured and organization’s popular activities is tandem He has also been greatly moved by the not only to help others, but to expand her informed citizens is a sure sign that the field bicycling, which gives the physically involvement of the volunteers from Kibbutz own knowledge. “Because I study social of social work is where she belongs. “All of challenged – the majority of whom are blind Hatzerim. “The heart of the program,” he work,” she says, “I feel I don’t know enough what I’m doing helps me learn about myself – the experience of riding outdoors with says, “really lies with the people from the about economics. I want to learn how to and other people and understand people’s the comfort of reliable volunteers like Ben kibbutz – without them, the group wouldn’t help people help themselves financially and difficulties,” she says. “I hear from others who Eliezer at the handlebars. be what it is.” adapt it to use in my own life and profession also work with these individuals and now Ben Eliezer, recipient of a Lubner Prize for Ben Eliezer insists that “the people after I complete my degree.” I’m learning how to organize people and Community Service, currently rides with a at Etgarim are not, as most people say, In an altogether different field of to get them the rights they deserve. What I vision- and hearing-impaired woman whose ‘special’ or exceptional – they are normal interest, Krespi also gives her time to the really want is to make a difference.” handicap has not kept her from very much, people with disabilities. And despite Jewish Agency, leading Zionist seminars in including marriage, three kids and nearly their disabilities, they are really doing various countries. Teaching about Israel and complete independence. everything.” His genuine respect for all of Zionism and providing informal education “When I first joined,” he says, “I had the the riders is a major factor in his overall take to Disapora Jews, as well as working in a stereotype in mind of what a blind person on tandem bicycling with the physically Jewish youth movement, she says, “all help is and what he or she is capable of. But I challenged: “When riding with someone me to learn about myself. When I teach quickly learned that all of the people in who cannot do it completely alone, this is A d i K r e s p i about Israel, I also expand my connection to Aviv Ben Eliezer the group are very independent – they are where the boundaries are crossed and the my heritage and to Zionism.” family people and most are married and disabilities end. On the bike, although I may Although her work in these have children.” be navigating, we are part of the same force. organizations is beneficial in a number This independence is also evident in the The handicaps are no longer there.” of ways, Krespi seems most passionately bond shared between the group’s members. Ben Eliezer explains that “we also meet separately from the riding – for events like birthdays and holidays. And every couple of months we have a weekend trip which 18 involves riding, but it also includes staying 19 Thus, he sees the possible hi-tech applica- tions of his work being applied to advances in medical research. “By arriving at a greater understanding of how liquids and molecules can interact, I want to be able to develop this new you can control the biological reactions chemistry without chemistry, this Soft Matters in human cells,” he says. “For example, there is a class of proteins called actins idea of applying a physical principle Physicist Prof. Yoav Tsori remains a that polymerize into long filaments in the to the chemical world kibbutznik and banana farmer at heart, body all the time. These actins help give having been a member of Kibbutz Afikim cells a certain solidity, a physical integ- near Lake Kinneret until two years ago. rity. Now we know that in cancer patients, “I’m a patriot of the periphery,” he says. “I the actins do not behave normally, and if don’t have anything against Tel Aviv; I just Prof. Yoav Tsori it is possible to apply electrical fields to the wouldn’t want to live there.” cancer cells in a way that interferes with The irony is that this quiet “coun- It sounds abstract, and in truth, it is, their negative behavior – that destroys the try boy,” now 41 and living with his wife but potentially it could have applications actins in question, or changes the rate at and four children in Lehavim near Beer- in cancer research, in nanotechnology, which their molecules grow into filaments Sheva, began his career not just in any city, and in the endless applications for the – then this could be a very important but in Paris. After earning his bachelor’s emerging miniaturized field of chemistry development in the fight against cancer. and master’s degrees in physics and math- known as “lab-on-a-chip,” he explains. But that’s much further down the road; ematics from the Hebrew University of The breakthrough for Tsori in apply- what I’m doing now involves learning the Jerusalem, and his doctorate in physics at ing electric fields to liquid mixtures came basic underlying physical processes, which Tel Aviv University, he spent roughly four while he was working with Leibler at the are the building blocks of the process.” years doing a series of postdoctorates in Grand Ecole. He outlines the basics of his Asked why he chose to work at BGU the City of Lights. The first one was under research field: “I’m looking at soft mate- after his years at the highest levels of sci- the tutelage of the renowned Polish phys- rials, like liquids, polymers, colloids and entific research in Paris, Tsori says: “I was icist Prof. Ludwik Leibler at the Grand micelles, and how such materials are attracted to the University’s Department Ecole for physics and chemistry. He then affected by external electric fields. For of Chemical Engineering. It’s a very highly moved on to the Collège de France and the instance, if you take a liquid mixture, say developed academic center, and BGU as a Curie Institute and to a second postdoc- water and nicotine, and you cool that mix- whole is the strongest place in Israel in torate with Prof. Pierre Gilles DeGennes, ture at a low enough temperature, the two research in my field of soft matter phys- a Nobel laureate in physics. elements will separate. What I claim is that ics.” Along the way, Tsori won a Cha- you don’t need to change the temperature The discoveries he made about the sep- teaubriand Fellowship, the Krill Prize, of the mixture to achieve this separation – aration of liquids and polymers with the and most recently a coveted European you can separate the water and nicotine by application of electrical fields came dur- Research Council – Starting Independent applying a certain type of electrical field to ing his postdoctoral work with Leibler. “I Researcher Grant, which includes a very the liquid. I’ve found a new type of phase came up with a basic theory, I proposed a substantial sum of money for the purpose transition (e.g. water changing into ice or series of experiments – and they worked,” of opening up new fields of science. into steam) in liquids and polymers. The he recalls. In the last several years, this And this is what Tsori, now in his fifth phase transitions we found have not been field has developed quickly. “I never antic- year at BGU, is doing – exploring a brand studied before and they call for a funda- ipated that the field was going to expand new scientific field that he describes as mental study in physics. In addition they like it has, but apparently this physical Tsori is not an inventor, nor an entre- His goal, for now: “I want to be able “chemistry without chemistry – apply- have implications on the very nature of phenomenon is complex enough to offer preneur. He doesn’t make things for to develop this new chemistry without ing physical phenomena to the chemical chemistry and biology.” numerous opportunities for research, and everyday use. Instead, he investigates basic chemistry, this idea of applying a physi- world to manipulate chemical and biolog- Tsori’s work involves microscopic is spinning off in many different direc- science – in his case, the why and the how cal principle to the chemical world. I want ical reactions.” elements – molecules and electrical fields tions, so it’s been very fortuitous for me. of a very tiny but hugely important part of to develop further the means of manipu- emanating from charged metals (elec- I’ve gotten a lot of mileage out of those first the physical universe, whose as yet undis- lating chemical and biological reactions trodes) the size of the head of a needle. experiments.” covered secrets are infinite. The practical because I think this will have very wide “I’m interested in doing chemistry on an uses of these discoveries are likewise infi- ramifications in science.” extremely small scale, not the sort of thing nite, but practical applications are not you do in a large container,” he continues. Tsori’s focus. Rather, he is exploring inner space – traveling metaphorically inside 20 the world of molecules. 21 33 from Beer-Sheva and not very far from the thriving center. An improved system will enable residents of these towns to reach Cities places of employment without using a car in a reasonable time.” And in the other direction, people in the coming from the center of the country Desert could travel to places of employment set up near the train stations. “Prices keep Historically, cities in the desert had going up in the center and upgraded mass and Lehavim in the Negev, and Ashdod, rather unique qualities: they were usu- transit will encourage people to move and Bat Yam and Shoham on the coastal plain. ally more compact, located close to water work in the south. Businesses could bene- “One of the things we discovered is that, sources and they had various defen- fit from lower taxation, lower land prices contrary to expectations that open spaces sive measures against dust storms and and lower prices for services.” in desert cities would be smaller, enclosed marauding nomadic populations – in Rofè, who before coming to BGU and more protected and shaded by build- other words, an expression of their his- worked for five years in the Ministry ings than in the coastal plain, it turns out tory. However, “In modern times many of Construction and Housing’s Chief to be the other way around. There are more things have changed,” says architect and Architect Department, explains that the open spaces in desert towns and many of urban designer Dr. Yodan Rofè, “and it’s concept of transit-oriented development is them are undefined and uncared for.” no longer clear what is unique about des- being adopted around the world. This is a The study found that residents in desert ert cities in the 21st century.” mixed-use residential or commercial area cities are less satisfied with the open spaces And what about the towns in the that maximizes access to public transport, in their neighborhoods than their coun- Negev, the home of BGU? “In discussions particularly railroad stations. terparts in the coastal plain, even though, of why the Negev is not developing and “By connecting these towns to the met- from the point of view of thermal com- why the cities here are lagging behind, you ropolitan area by rail, you improve the fort, the conditions are better in the open often hear the argument that people don’t quality of life and vitalize them. Trains Dr. Yodan Rofè spaces in the desert on late summer after- want to live in the desert,” he continues, are more benign than roads. They are city noons, when most people use these spaces. “But many of the fastest-growing urban builders whereas roads are city destroy- In Israel we “Despite ample open spaces, people prefer areas are in arid regions, like Phoenix and ers. Efficient mass transit,” he continues, have yet to walking in the streets of their neighbor- Las Vegas in the U.S. and Riyadh in Saudi “concentrates development around the hood, or meeting at the local commercial Arabia.” stations, whereas more roads create the understand that center to using their local parks, thus sug- A senior lecturer and researcher in suburban sprawl we see all around us.” the city is not gesting the need to re-think the planning the Department of Man in the Desert at Rofè and his colleagues at the Desert the problem; standards that allocate large areas to pub- the Jacob Blaustein Institutes for Des- Architecture and Urban Planning Unit density is not lic open spaces.” ert Research, Rofè has been trying to find have organized meetings and conferences Rofè is a founder and a member of the answers to this question, exploring ideas with area mayors and other officials from the problem, Board of Directors of the Movement for of how to make Israel’s desert cities more around the Negev to present these ideas of but the solution Israeli Urbanism, which, he explains, is attractive. connecting the towns, though he cautions: part of a global movement to develop the Efficient and adequate public transport, “We can only make recommendations.” ways and means to make cities attractive the railroad in particular, believes Rofè, is Rofè is involved in another project places to live in. “In Israel we have yet to one of the keys to making the towns in the with the Negev town of Yerucham, which, understand that the city is not the prob- Negev viable and attractive. The idea, he because of its small size and remoteness, is lem; density is not the problem, but the explains, is to develop employment and not a candidate for a train line. Answering solution,” he says. residential nodes around the new railway a call by the Ministry of Interior to come “Scattering small communities around line connecting the towns between Beer- up with ideas for renovating the city center, the country has been a terribly inefficient Sheva and Ashkelon, Sderot, Ofakim and the economic theory behind this planning became dormitories for low level agricul- this past summer he led a special hands-on town’s image, organizing local merchants, way to use our precious land reserves,” Netivot. was erroneous from the beginning, he tural workers at best, and, at worst, centers planning workshop that included profes- entrepreneurial projects and schemes for he continues. “Residents have to rely on Rofè explains that the planning con- says. “This was German geographer Wal- of unemployment.” sionals and local residents. “Yerucham making the place more attractive to resi- automobile transportation, increasing cept that drove the location of the so-called ter Christaller’s Central Place Theory of “Of course here,” he comments, “you is unique because it became emblematic dents as well as visitors. the demand for roads and worsening traf- development towns scattered around the cities as small market towns for their agri- can’t close down the towns because they of what went wrong with development Another ongoing research project Rofè fic congestion, air pollution and energy Negev was the strategy of creating a Jew- cultural hinterlands. Agriculture in Israel are unworkable. The existing rail lines towns,” he explains. In addition to phys- and his colleagues are involved in deals waste. If you want to retain open spaces ish presence throughout the region. But was never reliant on cities for anything but between Beer-Sheva and Tel Aviv can ical improvements, such as upgrading with the issue of public open spaces: how outside the city you have to use them fru- basic services and didn’t need the cities as create a real opportunity for these com- buildings and public spaces, the complex they are planned, utilized and valued by gally inside the city. This is perhaps one of markets, but had direct links to the cen- munities that are only a short distance program includes ideas for changing the local populations. Has planning of these the main lessons I draw from my research ter of the country. These small towns soon spaces taken climatic conditions into con- on public open space in Israeli cities.” 22 sideration? The study compared cities and 23 towns of various sizes: Beer-Sheva, Arad For Dr. Oren Rigbi, the In one research project during his doc- While at Stanford University, Rigbi middle man, and it takes path to his chosen field, toral studies, Rigbi explored the ability of conducted an original type of economic ten percent. “Why not cut economics, has always franchised chains to control the prices set analysis: a look into the extent that reli- out the middle man by allow- been clear. Asked how he at their franchised outlets. To do this, he gious activity responds to the presence ing people to interact without knew economics was his headed for the Golden Arches and ana- and activity of other religions. “People the bank?” asks Rigbi, stating the calling, his answer is short lyzed price patterns at franchised and often say that Hanukkah is so important principle behind “person to person” and to the point: “I have corporate-owned McDonald’s outlets in in the U.S. because it falls at the same time credit markets, in which customers always been interested in California in 1999 and then again in 2006. bid on interest rates over the internet. numbers,” he replies. And He found that franchises’ prices were Cheaper than banks for customers, these Rigbi’s linear course attests higher than those at corporate outlets. He web operations take only one to two per- to his words. He started at also discovered that the differences in price cent. the Hebrew University of decreased substantially after introduction In this context, Rigbi investigated Jerusalem, where he earned of the Dollar Menu in 2002. Initiated to issues surrounding the effect of interest a bachelor’s degree in com- boost sales, the Dollar Menu offered six to rate restrictions (usury laws), which cap puter science and economics eight items at a cost of one dollar. the interest rates that lenders can charge. and a master’s in economics, Rigbi offers two possible explanations Dr. Oren Rigbi He probed questions regarding whether proceeded to Stanford Univer- for why McDonald’s was able to induce these laws are good or bad for the con- sity, where he received a Ph.D. franchisees to adopt the Dollar Menu, as Christmas,” he says. “I wanted to quan- sumer. in economics, and went on to even though it ultimately lowered their tify this claim and see if Jews in Christian In two main findings, he concluded that BGU, where he is a currently a prices. First, the 1997 U.S. Supreme Court areas celebrate Hanukkah more inten- these laws restrict access to credit of risky lecturer in the Department of vs. Khan decision, which allowed chains sively.” borrowers, and hardly reduce the inter- Economics. to negotiate maximum prices with fran- Using expenditure data as a major est rate borrowers pay for credit. Thus, he An applied economist, Rigbi chisees, improved McDonald’s bargaining parameter, Rigbi found that Jews with chil- concludes that interest rate restrictions wants his work to be put to use. “I power vis-à-vis franchisees. Second, the dren at home are more likely to celebrate do not seem to deliver the outcomes for often use different economic theo- large advertising campaign that accompa- Hanukkah than Jews without children. which they were intended. ries as input for my research and try nied the introduction of the Dollar Menu In addition, he noted that the correlation Rigbi has received a European Union to verify or refute them,” he says. “If made it costly for franchisees not to par- between children at home and Hanuk- International Reintegration Grant, and I find they need to be contested, I try ticipate in this special promotion. kah celebration is higher for Reform than speaking of access to necessary funds, he to tell the theorist how to change his praises BGU. “The University very much or her theory accordingly.” I often use different economic theories as input helps me obtain the funds I need for All of Rigbi’s research comes under research. It has experienced profession- the umbrella of applied microeconom- for my research and try to verify or refute them als who know how to assist individual ics, a branch of economics that focuses researchers. Without these people, none Dollars on decision-making of individuals, Rigbi holds that these observations Orthodox Jews. In contrast, there was no of us could get the grants we need.” households or firms concerning the apply to franchises in general. McDon- such correlation for other Jewish holidays. Currently residing in central Israel allocation of limited resources. He looks ald’s was the first to introduce the Dollar Signficantly, Jewish-related expendi- with his wife and three-year-old daughter, at the aggregated effect of these deci- Menu and competing fast food chains tures at Hanukkah were higher in counties Rigbi entertains plans of moving south. & Sense sions and behaviors with an eye on how followed suit with other similar specials. with fewer Jews, and in counties with more “There are great communities near the they affect the marketplace. Specifically, “Initiating special campaigns like the Christians. Rigbi’s findings support the University, and this is a wonderful place this means examining how supply and Dollar Menu is one way for chains to get notion that celebration of religious holi- to build a home and raise children. I am demand for goods and services determine price uniformity,” he says. “McDonald’s days provides opportunities not only for very satisfied with the area, the University prices, and the inverse: how prices deter- undertook a very large advertising cam- worship and enjoyment, but also counter- and the Department of Economics, where mine the supply and demand for goods and paign so franchises wouldn’t want to not balances competing cultural influences. the doors are always open.” services. adopt the Dollar Menu. This gives ulti- Not limited to Jewish celebrants, these Microeconomics’ stress on the individual mate control to the outlet.” Regarding findings, claims Rigbi, can be applied to contrasts with macroeconomics, where the consumers, he continues, “franchises religious minorities across the board. unit of measurement is the state, and issues can go either way – for or against the In a different line of research, Rigbi like growth, inflation and unemployment are customer, a point that regulators must has worked on credit models. Generally, examined. consider.” when people need money, they go to the bank and the bank lends them the money. In this interaction, the bank serves as the 25 The “Old Man” David Ben-Gurion and His Legacy in the Mirror of Israeli Art

As part of the events celebrating the 40th anniversary of the University that bears his name, an exhibition was mounted of works solely representing David Ben-Gurion, curated by Prof. Haim Maor and the students in the Curatorship Course in the Department of Arts. The exhibition displayed cre- ations by 60 Israeli artists in various media, including photographs, paintings, illustra- tions, sculptures, caricatures and cinematic footage, reflecting the artists’ links to the leader, whether through his iconicity, from childhood stories or through personal rela- Haim Finkelstein, Untitled, 2009 Shlomo Cohen, Super B.G., 1999 tionships with him. Acrylic on canvas, 70x130, the artist’s collection Airbrush, 29.5x42, the artist’s collection Each of the artists whose works were displayed has his or her own biographi- cal details that influence the way they see Ben-Gurion. While some pieces may flatter and others criticize the man, they all reveal “his human parts.” The items exhibited reaf- firm the power of Ben-Gurion as a man who changed Israel’s history in major ways – whether he is praised or harshly criticized, he is always “deeply encrusted in memory.” Reuven Rubin, Ben-Gurion, 1960 Pencil on paper, 20x15, courtesy of Rubin Museum Some of the photographs caught major moments that went unpublished in news- papers. Other works reflected upon the way that older generations glorified Ben-Gur- ion, regardless of the historical setbacks that resulted from his actions. The works can also be viewed as a portrait of Israeli society: how the people saw him as a leader and a man of the people at different points in time. Uri Lifshitz, David Ben-Gurion, 2002 Dan Reisner, Memento Mori, 2010 David Ben-Gurion can be seen as a reflec- Mixed media on paper, 70x50, Digital print, 40x60, the artist’s collection tive staple of past events, both major and courtesy of Amos Aharoni, Israeli Prime minor, a mirror image of the country’s pres- Ministers Collection Hanoch Piven, ent political situation in the broad public David Ben-Gurion, 1997 sphere, and as an illustration of the stuff of Digitally printed childhood stories in the private sphere. The Eliahu Eric Boucobza, collage, 50x45, exhibition can be regarded as an elaborately Self Portrait as a Cultural Icon, the artist’s collection detailed diary full of pages written by artists triptych, 2010 who knew him, who knew about him, and Oil on canvas, each section 50x40, the artist’s collection those who knew only that he represented something huge. Adapted from an article in the 4026 Jerusalem Post by Alana Sobelman. 27 Innovating Energy Among the top researchers at LBNL was then-lab director and now Nobel Prize laureate and Secretary of Energy for the Dr. Taleb Mokari Transforming Society Obama administration Steven Chu. Chu, says Mokari, “has big ideas, and because I I want to help create a “culture of energy,” which means not was one of the people in the lab working on only talking about it but making it a part of our daily lives energy issues, it was great to be witness to the energy revolution coming from a per- son who’s now the US president’s adviser this “culture of energy” before the prob- materials, we can convert the mixture into on energy.” lem of energy resource shortage escalates. hydrocarbons to be used as liquid fuel.” With invaluable experience gained Although major energy problems may Proud to be working at such an working in nanotechnology at Berke- be foreseeable to scientists in the field, advanced center for research as the Ilse ley, Mokari returned to Israel to teach in the good news is that “the sunlight here Katz Institute, Mokari says that he is BGU’s Department of Chemistry and pur- in Israel is more than enough to provide “happy to be at a university that values sue his research at the Ilse Katz Institute for energy.” Good news, indeed, but not quite finding new resources of energy and is Nanoscale Science and Technology. With good enough to deal with the energy crisis focused on researching the ways that solar the help of a Marie Curie International alone. Citizens and the choices they make energy can be converted to electricity and Reintegration Grant of the European 7th equally determine the energy situation, liquid fuel.” Framework Program, his goal is to push now and in the future. Mokari believes the field would bene- the subject of energy out of the confines Mokari’s take on the average Israeli cit- fit greatly from the construction of more of university labs and research institutes izen’s awareness of the global energy crisis centers like the Ilse Katz Institute. The and into the consciousness of the general and its manifestation on the local scale expanding presence of innovative research public. “I want to help make energy one involves the simple decisions people make technology in the world, with the help of of the most important fields in Israel,” he with regard to energy, which, if altered, local government support, is pushing sci- explains. “That is, I want to help create a have the potential to drastically improve entists like Mokari to plan the erection of ‘culture of energy,’ which means not only everyday life while preventing further more institutes to better accommodate the talking about it but making it a part of our damage to the environment. “If you go out needs of researchers. “The government is daily lives. on the street, you don’t really see a culture moving towards thinking about energy,” “When it comes to solar energy, Israel of care for the environment. Many more he explains. “We are happy to see that they is a special case,” the chemist says, stress- people could ride their bicycles to cam- support the construction of excellence ing that Israel has an advantage over other pus or walk to their work place instead of centers in academic institutions around countries researching solar energy because driving their cars. People don’t realize that the country.” sunlight is available here most days of the they are part of the larger problem; they The centers he hopes to take part in cre- year. This means that research can be con- don’t see that each one of us contributes a ating, Mokari explains, “will become hubs ducted locally and applied directly. little bit,” he says. of crucial information about energy and Aside from the scientific challenges Mokari’s work involves tackling these alternative energy use. They will focus on About 15 years ago, researchers around faced by Mokari is the lack of public inter- societal and environmental issues with trying to solve energy problems. We will the world began to explore nanoscience est in energy use. The energy situation in the understanding that such changes don’t hire the most experienced scientists in the as a way to understand excessive energy Israel, he reveals, is heading in the direc- happen overnight. He is currently using field and will construct the best facilities use and energy conservation. Dr. Taleb tion of a crisis. “Because we don’t have the tools he picked up throughout his in which we can conduct the fundamen- Mokari, who published his Ph.D. thesis on wind or water for hydropower and we career in order to initiate a break in the tal science and advanced applications for nanoscience and nanotechnology in 2006, don’t use nuclear power for civil pur- pattern of non-interest and energy waste. energy use and preservation. was at that time one of the first university poses,” he explains, “we have to find new On the scientific level, Mokari’s plans “More and more researchers under- students in Israel to address the topic. sources of energy.” And while Israel may come from highly practical thinking stand the potential of nanoscience for Born and raised in the village of Kafr not “be in that stage where people must about a complex problem. In his research, addressing the world’s major energy prob- Kana in the Galilee, he completed his choose between food and gasoline,” if he explains, “We’re trying to take most of lems,” says Mokari, “and I want to be a bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees Israelis do find themselves in such a sit- the carbon dioxide emissions from the fac- part of expanding this knowledge, espe- in chemistry at the Hebrew University of uation, “they’ll have to think twice about tories and to find a way to recycle them so cially on the local level here in Israel.” Jerusalem. He followed this with one year their decisions, including buying gaso- that they will react with other material, in of postdoctoral training at the University line.” Mokari is determined to help create this case hydrogen, which we plan to pro- of California, Berkeley, and subsequently duce from water. And by combining the spent two years as an independent resea- two gases – carbon dioxide and hydrogen rcher at the Lawrence Berkeley National – with sunlight in the presence of nano- 29 Laboratory (LBNL). Centered Dr. Lynn Schler on Africa Ben-Gurion University of the Negev has changes also took place,” recalls Schler. doorstep. In Beer-Sheva we see Africans led Israeli universities in a quiet revolu- Two African scholars were hired and arriving on foot seeking refuge from polit- tion, putting African history back on the this year a minor in African studies – the ical and economic crises. Israelis need to academic map. Dr. Lynn Schler, a lecturer only program of its kind in Israel – is now learn more about Africans and their his- in the Department of Politics and Gov- being offered. In addition, the University tories in order to understand where these ernment, has been a key figure in this has joined a pioneering inter-university people are coming from.” peaceful upheaval. Her “weapons”: teach- undergraduate program in African stud- Schler’s first book about Africa was ing, researching and writing on different ies, which is run through four of Israel’s on Cameroon, specifically on the cul- aspects of African history. major universities and will allow students turally diverse immigrant community In the 1970s, explains Schler, the dis- to take courses at different universities. of Doula, the country’s commercial cap- cipline of African studies was thriving Supported by the Israel Council for Higher ital. (See page 39) Why Cameroon? “The in Israel and many leading scholars were Education and the Yad Hanadiv Foun- study of central Africa was especially lack- involved in the field. But during the fol- dation, the program is headquartered at ing in Israeli academia, and Douala was a lowing two decades all related programs BGU. fascinating place,” replies Lynn, adding, were shut down. There was, she says, “an Thus, according to Schler, other Israeli “Douala demonstrated different models of institutional demise of the subject. The universities have followed suit and the community-building beyond the nation- situation was intolerable, as study of an country is returning Africa to its right- state model. It allowed me to examine entire continent was eliminated.” ful place as a subject for academic study. ways in which people create community In the subsequent movement to bring “Israeli society cannot allow itself to and how neighborhoods served as a basis African studies back, BGU was at the fore- remain ignorant of African-related for identity that cut across religious, eth- front. The University recruited Dr. Tamar issues,” she says. “We can’t afford that our nic and class boundaries. Golan, the former Israeli ambassador to only concerns about the continent will be “You cannot assume that the nation- Angola and an expert on the African con- generated by business and military inter- state is primary in people’s experiences,” witnessed firsthand the transformation tinent, who began to teach a number of ests. We must face the 21st century with a Schler elaborates. “I look beyond the from colonialism to postcolonialism, courses, stimulating fresh interest in the greater understanding of African politics, nation-state to understand different ways which was illustrated by their own life subject. Through Golan’s initiative, the societies and cultures.” people come to identify with a commu- experience. “Very excited” about this sub- University established the African Initia- Altogether enthusiastic about her field, nal identity, to build public spaces. I have ject, she plans at some point to return to tive Program and the Africa Centre, an Lynn graduated with a bachelor’s degree come to view shared spaces as means of We must face the 21st century with Lagos and interview the sailors’ wives. interdisciplinary body based in the Fac- in general history from the University of circumventing national identities.” Dur- a greater understanding of African Schler feels she is planting the seeds ulty of Humanities and Social Sciences, the Michigan. During her studies she spent ing her year of research, Schler, along with politics, societies and cultures for a fundamental change in the place of Faculty of Health Sciences and the Jacob a year at the Hebrew University of Jeru- her husband, also an American immigrant Africa in Israeli academia. Further, she Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research in salem, where she studied under Prof. to Israel, lived for a year in Cameroon. “It is convinced that this type of program Sede Boqer. In addition, Golan, through Naomi Chazan, an expert on African pol- was a never-ending adventure: a fascinat- is especially well-suited to BGU, with its the Africa Centre, established a student itics. Lynn was immediately, in her words, ing, incredible and difficult experience.” British shipping companies. These men, needed to run this kind of enterprise, and politically active, curious and engaged volunteer program to Africa that has “totally hooked.” After graduating, she Currently, she is working on a history she explains, “travelled all over the world it ultimately went bankrupt. Thousands of students. operated for a number of years and orga- moved to Israel with her mother and sister of Nigerian sailors, a subject she discov- and enjoyed a very cosmopolitan lifestyle. seamen were let go, losing both their live- “BGU students are seeking real solu- nizes cultural events about the continent. and went on to earn her master’s degree in ered during her Douala research. “In They were strongly influenced by Black lihoods and their identities. tions to real issues outside the University “In two departments, Politics and African studies at the Hebrew University. Douala these seamen were always getting protest movements of the 1960s and ‘70s.” “Interviewing these people was a very walls, such as those involving foreign Government and General History, great “I felt that by studying about Africa I into trouble, and I started to wonder just With Nigerian independence in 1960, humbling experience,” says Schler, who workers and refugees,” notes Schler. “We could make an important contribution to who they were,” says Schler, who began Nigeria established its own shipping line conducted her interviews in the slums are trying, and apparently succeeding, in Israeli society,” says Schler. “There is not to study the sailors who were recruited by and most Nigerian seamen went to work of Lagos. There, she conversed with peo- instilling our students with a deep knowl- enough openness about the different cul- for the national line. But the Nigerian ple who, she says, “have been through so edge and sensitivity to cultures different 30 tures that are found right here, on our own state did not have the capital or experience much in their lifetimes, have seen a whole from our own.” historical era pass.” These interviewees How we build and organize our sur- roundings says a lot about who we are as individuals, families, societies and nations. Dr. Kobi Peled, a historian with a bachelor’s degree in architecture and a member of the Ben-Gurion Research Institute for the Study of Israel and Zion- ism, believes there is much to be learned from the spaces we build around us, and he aims to research and interpret living Knowing our spaces and apply his findings as historical reference. Peled relocated with his wife and three Neighbors children to the University’s Sede Boqer campus this summer, where the Institute is situated. “It’s a wonderful opportunity for change after living in Jerusalem for almost 40 years,” he comments. “I look forward to working minutes from home and enjoying the outdoors.” I talk to people who Peled views himself as a historian Dr. Kobi Peled are in their 80s and 90s and drawing insights from sociology and I get histories from them anthropology. He focuses on the social and cultural history of the modern Mid- as living testimony dle East and his work specifically looks at Palestinians and Israeli Arabs. “The cultural history that I write In studying how Arab populations emphasizes political and economic build and live, Peled hopes to build under- dimensions based on a historical synthesis standing with the people he refers to as in which culture, conceived of as a texture “our partners. Getting to know the people saturated with meaning, plays the major is what interested me,” he explains. role,” he explains. Peled is fluent in spoken Peled’s career began with a focus on and written Arabic and he uses his skills language. Having always been interested living testimony,” he explains. Oral his- to interpret the culture around him. in Arabic language and literature, while tory passed down through generations, he “I was particularly intrigued by the he studied for a degree in architecture at notes, holds a crucial place in Arab soci- Arab extended and nuclear family’s living the Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design, Peled intensified his Arab history stud- ety. “The oral narrative is key,” he says. Peled plans to teach a course on the his- the moment he is focused on the environs structures and how, throughout history, he also studied Arabic literature and Mid- ies and one aspect he discovered was Peled’s work also includes examinations tory of the Arab village and the process of close at hand. His passion for Arab culture we’re seeing extended family structures dle East history at the Hebrew University that during the British mandate period, of the correlation between war trauma and its urbanization from the British Mandate is sparked not only by a desire to under- being dismantled,” Peled explains. “My of Jerusalem, which enabled him to under- whereas the Jews in Palestine documented national memory, the disintegration of the period to the present and his continued stand them but, he admits, may contain work strives to study society in a spa- stand classic texts, religion, the Koran and much of daily goings-on and significant Palestinian Arab extended family when research will look at how semi-nomadic “genetic” components. tial perspective; to understand culture by literature. events, the Arabs relayed history by word viewed through home building practices Bedouin and Fellahs in the Upper Galilee “My grandfather, who was killed in the means of architecture; to grasp the Zeit- After becoming acquainted with the of mouth. “That’s what I’m focusing on and changes in home building styles and and Golan get along, migrate and change 1948 war, was a musician. He collected geist in light of the built environment. I history, he felt the next important step was now – archival history versus oral his- materials, and a focus on the study of Arab throughout history. Arabic music and was friends with Arab believe it has broader meaning and points to get to know the people in their envi- tory. I talk to people who are in their 80s Israeli society in light of its attitude toward He also plans to build upon his pre- musicians, so there is actually a very per- specifically to breakpoints in Arab society ronment. “Until I started my doctorate, I and 90s and I get histories from them as the past. vious research by studying relations sonal side to all of this when viewed from in modern history.” understood the language and literature, between Jews and Arabs in the Upper Gal- that angle.” but was not personally acquainted with ilee during the British mandate as a means the people,” he explains. of drawing a cultural portrait of interac- tion between the two communities. But at 33 Building Green: Promoting the interest of syntacticians and phonol- in southern Italy and Sicily, Abulafia Energy Efficiency in Israel ogists: the connections between sound believed the End of Days was approach- and structure have played a key role in ing and saw himself as chosen by God to Yael Bar Ilan, David Pearlmutter generative grammar from its inception, reveal the Divine truth. He appropriated and Alon Tal initially relating to focus and the prosodic Joachite ideas, fusing them with his own Technion – Israel Institute of Technology marking of constituent structure, and revelations, to create an apocalyptic and Press, 2010 more recently to word order constraints. messianic scenario that he was certain Based on research conducted by Ph.D. Edited by Prof. Nomi Shir of the Conrad would attract his Jewish contemporaries student Yael Bar Ilan and architect Prof. and Chinita Abrahams-Curiel Department and hoped would also convince Chris- David Pearlmutter of the Department of of Foreign Literatures and Linguistics and tians. Though his messianic claims were Man in the Desert, and Prof. Alon Tal of Lisa Rochman, a Ph.D. student in the same a result of his revelatory experiences and the Mitrani Department of Dryland Ecol- department, leading scholars address the hermeneutical reading of the Torah, they On the ogy at the Jacob Blaustein Institutes for issues surrounding the syntax-phonol- were, to no small extent, dependent on Desert Research, the book offers the first ogy interface. These principally concern his historical circumstances and accultur- comprehensive look at Israel’s experience whether the phonological component ation. can influence syntax and if so how far and in “green building” and suggests policy The Desert Experience in Israel: mechanisms to move the country towards in what ways. Such questions are a prom- a more sustainable path. The authors con- inent component of current work on the Communities, Arts, Science, and trast Israel’s green building standard with biolinguistics of speech production and Education in the Negev comparable programs implemented in reception. A. Paul Hare and other countries and examine the different The Christian Hebraism of John Gideon M. Kressel (eds.) approaches with respect to the local con- University Press of America, 2009 texts in which they evolved. With lessons Donne: Written with the Fingers drawn from these experiences, they eval- of Man’s Hand Showcasing the responses of settlers, art- uate the efficacy of different policy tools Chanita Goodblatt ists, poets, scientists and educators who live near BGU’s Jacob Blaustein Institutes for promoting energy-efficient building Duquesne University Press, 2010 in Israel, hoping to evoke greater pub- for Desert Research in Sede Boqer, this lic awareness and instigate necessary The complex relationship between the book attempts to address the question: change. nation, Church of England and the Jews What difference has living in the desert reached an important culmination dur- year round made in your work? The edi- The Political Right in Israel: ing the Reformation as Christian scholars tors, the late Prof. Paul Hare, together with Different Faces of Jewish became more interested in Hebrew lan- Prof. Gideon Kressel of the Blaustein Insti- Populism guage and the Jewish roots of European tutes, present a collection of articles on civilization. Christian Hebraism’s influ- different aspects of recent history and Dani Filc ence spread as a central focus in theology society in the Negev desert. They present Routledge, 2010 and politics, spurring the Geneva (1560) a comprehensive view of life in the Negev Prof. Dani Filc of the Department of Politics and the King James (1611) Bibles in par- over the past decades and specifically of and Government examines the trajecto- ticular. Within this context, Prof. Chanita the people of the Sede Boqer campus ries of Israeli politics since the election of Goodblatt of the Conrad and Chinita who have endeavored to make it thrive Likud in 1977 and how right wing parties Abrahams-Curiel Department of Foreign by choosing to contribute to the region’s have adopted populist policies in order Literatures and Linguistics examines welfare and development. This pioneer- to carve out an identity and win sup- the exegetical strategies and language ing ethos lives on in the artistic, scientific port at the polls. He demonstrates how in Donne’s psalms and sermons. While and ecological endeavors of the Negev’s populism – the appeal to the “common Donne shows only a basic grasp of the residents and their communities. citizen”– has become a hugely significant Hebrew language, his sermons reveal the factor in shaping Israeli politics and soci- many semantic nuances taken from Latin Progressive Development: To ety. Filc provides an analysis of the ways and vernacular translations of Jewish bib- Mitigate the Negative Impact of in which populism contributes to the con- lical scholarship. Goodblatt lays out the Global Warming on the Semi-arid solidation of governing political forces in intellectual context of Donne’s work and Regions ties specific lexical, rhetorical and the- Israel and combines the theoretical elab- Arie S. Issar (ed.) oration of the concept with its application matic strategies to Hebrew traditions. Springer, 2010 in the analysis of a specific test-case. This Like Angels on Jacob’s Ladder: approach is useful for understanding Edited by Arie Issar, Professor Emeritus of many issues in the study of comparative Abraham Abulafia, the BGU’s Jacob Blaustein Institutes for Des- politics and the Middle East. Franciscans, and Joachinism ert Research, this book is based on the Harvey J. Hames results of the investigations of the authors The Sound Patterns of Syntax State University of New York Press, 2009 in the semi-arid and arid regions (ASAR) of the globe. Their findings show that the Nomi Erteshik-Shir and Prof. Harvey (Chaim) Hames of the Depart- Lisa Rochman (eds.) warming climate will cause the drying up ment of Jewish History explores the career of the water resources in these regions. Oxford University Press, 2010 of Abraham Abulafia (ca. 1240-1291), self- In this event, the principles of sustain- 34 The problematic relationship between proclaimed Messiah and founder of able development will not be able to avert syntax and phonology has long piqued the school of ecstatic Kabbalah. Active forthcoming catastrophes. These conclusions led to the policy of “progres- Cellular and Biomolecular ing associated with immigration policy sive development,” which emphasizes Recognition: Synthetic and and its impact on the education system investment in the development of new Non-Biological Molecules in the UK. The authors – Dr. Halleli Pin- water resources and changing the natural son from the Department of Education, environments while educating the local Raz Jelinek (ed.) Prof. Madeleine Arnot of the University of populations. Topics include Malthusian Wiley-VCH, 2009 Cambridge, UK, and Mano Cadappa of the and Neo-Malthusian prophecies of calam- With its exploration of the scientific and University of London, UK, expose major ity; principles of sustainable development technological characteristics of systems tensions between restrictive asylum pol- as a result of the neo-Malthusian concep- exploiting molecular recognition between icies and responses by schools and local tual model; and progressive development synthetic materials, such as polymers and government to the presence of asylum of groundwater resources of Israel. nanoparticles and biological entities, this seeking and refugee children. They reveal a compassionate professionalism amongst The Challenge of Sustaining multidisciplinary book edited by Prof. Raz Jelinek of the Department of Chemistry teachers and an emergent “new politics” Democracy in Deeply Divided and the Ilse Katz Institute for Nanoscale that challenges the forcible removal by Societies: Citizenship, Rights, Science and Technology bridges chem- government of children to detention cen- and Ethnic Conflicts in India and istry, life sciences, pharmacology and ters and the deportation of families. Israel medicine. The authors introduce inno- Community Genetics and Ayelet Harel-Shalev vative biomimetic chemical assemblies that constitute platforms for recruitment Genetic Alliances: Eugenics, Lexington Books, 2010 of cellular components or biological mol- Carrier Testing, and Networks Dr. Ayelet Harel-Shalev, a postdoctoral ecules, while also focusing on physical, of Risk Fellow in the Department of Politics and chemical and biological aspects of bio- Aviad E. Raz Government and the Centre for the Study molecular recognition. Routledge, 2009 of European Politics and Society, explores the inherent tension between the conflict- Sarajevo: A Bosnian Carrier testing of adults provides informa- ing logics of democracy, citizenship and Kaleidoscope tion about the risk of passing a genetic nation-state. Majority-minority relations Fran Markowitz mutation to one’s children, leading to are comparatively explicated by analyz- reproductive (and some say, eugenic) University of Illinois Press, 2010 ing and theorizing the practices used by decisions. Prof. Aviad Raz from the Depart- democracies to allocate legal rights to This urban anthropological analysis of ment of Sociology and Anthropology minorities while limiting their share in Sarajevo and its cultural complexities focuses on the interplay of community power. This discourse also functions as a examines contemporary issues of social genetics (the medical organization of political formula that enables such states divisiveness, pluralism and intergroup carrier screening) and genetic alliances to survive while sustaining a democratic dynamics in the context of national iden- (networks of individuals at risk), exploring process in the face of ethno-religious con- tity and state formation. Rather than how “genetic communities” are emerging flicts. seeing Bosnia-Herzegovina as a volatile within existing ethnic groups and around post-socialist society, Prof. Fran Markow- patients’ organizations. While carrier Helping Professional Practice itz of the Department of Sociology and screening emerges as ultimately a mor- with Indigenous Peoples: The Anthropology presents its capital city as ally justified pronatalist endeavor for the Bedouin-Arab Case a vibrant yet wounded center of multi- reduction of suffering, thus being differ- Alean Al-Krenawi and cultural diversity, where citizens live in ent in principle from the “old” eugenics, it mutual recognition of difference while can also have unintended adverse conse- John R. Graham asserting a lifestyle that transcends quences if left unattended to consumers, Nova Science Publishers, 2009 boundaries of ethnicity and religion. It fur- communities or health professionals. ther illuminates how Sarajevans negotiate Prof. Alean Al-Krenawi of the Charlotte B. Techniques and People: and Jack J. Spitzer Department of Social group identity in the tumultuous context Work and Prof. John Graham of the Uni- of history, authoritarian rule and interac- Anthropological Perspectives on versity of Calgary, Canada, discuss issues tions with the built environment and one Technology in the Archaeology helping professionals must confront when another. As she navigates the city, Mar- of the Proto-Historic and Early working with indigenous peoples, par- kowitz shares narratives of local citizenry Historic Periods in the Southern ticularly the Bedouin. The authors claim played out against the larger dramas of Levant nation and state building. that it is essential for social welfare prac- Steven A. Rosen and titioners and Bedouin communities to integrate paradigms that the helping pro- Education, Asylum and the ‘Non- Valentine Roux (eds.) fessional carries out in practice methods Citizen’ Child: The Politics of De Boccard, Paris, 2009 and can lead to the emergence of a newer Compassion and Belonging Prof. Steven Rosen from the Department of social work epistemology better anchored Halleli Pinson, Madeleine Arnot Bible, Archeology and Ancient Near East- to the needs and realities of the Bedouin. and Mano Candappa ern Studies and Valentine Roux, Director They provide important insights into how Palgrave Macmillan, 2010 of Research at the National Center for Sci- intervention needs to be culturally situ- entific Research (CNRS) in the Prehistory ated through the unique time and person This book draws on ten years of empir- and Technology Laboratory in Nanterre, 36 centered prisms of individual, community ical research to assess for the first time France, have assembled a collection and place. the politics of compassion and belong- of studies documenting the embedded- colonial economic and political agen- in the region and identify areas of agree- ness of technology in the cultures of the das, this vastly diverse and sometimes ment and disagreement and options for late prehistoric and early historic peri- strife-ridden community forged alliances, resolution. ods of the southern Levant, with one solidarities and common experiences in comparative study from France. This col- response to their immediate needs and Adaptation in Heterogeneous lection includes analyses of a wide range long-terms goals. Schler focuses on the Environments: Evidence of of techniques and materials – ceramics, ability of Africans to bridge their differ- Different Plant Strategies in metallurgy, chipped stone, bone work- ences and live as neighbors in cultural and Populations of Hordeum ing, lapidary, ground stone – and thus political spaces transcending postcolonial spontaneum traces social and cultural patterns across political boundaries. (See page 30). technologies. These analyses demon- Sergei Volis strate how the structures of technology Causality, Measurement Theory VDM Verlag, 2009 and society are integrated, thereby pro- and the Differentiable Structure Dr. Sergei Volis of the Department of Life viding insights into structural relations of Space-Time Sciences analyzes the subject of adap- within and between societies and into the Rathindra N. Sen tation by applying two approaches: dynamics of social evolutionary change. generalist-specialist and plant strategy Cambridge University Press, 2010 theory, and by using several populations The Jewish-Arab City: Spatio- This book by Professor Emeritus of the of a single species – wild barley (Hordeum politics in a Mixed Community Department of Mathematics Rathindra spontaneum Koch). Four environments Haim Yacobi Sen discusses two recent developments: were specifically chosen to represent a Routledge Studies on the Arab-Israeli the demonstration that causality can be gradient of environmental productiv- defined on discrete space-times; and Prof. Conflict, 2009 ity (annual rainfall) and unpredictability Granville Sewell’s measurement theory, in (inter-annual variation in rainfall). Plants “Mixed city” is a term widely used in Israel which the wave packet is reduced, with- originating in the four distinct environ- to describe areas occupied by both Jewish out recourse to the observer’s conscious ments were tested for local adaptation and Arab communities. Dr. Haim Yacobi ego, nonlinearities or interaction with the and analyzed for the possible mechanisms of the Department of Politics and Gov- rest of the universe. The definition of cau- by which the adaptation was achieved. ernment shows how a clear spatial and sality on a discrete space-time assumes The author reveals that the specialist- mental division exists between Arabs and that space-time is made up of geometrical generalist approach was not efficient in Jews in Israel, and how the occurrence of points. Using Sewell’s measurement the- analyzing the selection process at large- such communities is both exceptional and ory, the author concludes that the notion scale (regional-scale) heterogeneity. On involuntary. Yacobi argues that there are of geometrical points is as meaningful the other hand, the life history traits, phe- complex links between socio-political in quantum mechanics as it is in classical notypic plasticity and competitive ability relations and the production of contested mechanics, and that it is impossible to tell of plants originating in the four studied urban space. The case study of the city whether the differential calculus is a dis- environments were in partial correspon- of Lod is used as the platform for wider covery or an invention. dence with those predicted by Grime’s theoretical discussion and political analy- C-S-R model. sis. This city has great significance in the Water Wisdom: Preparing the present global context, as more and more Groundwork for Cooperative and Stilbenes: Application in cities are becoming polarized, ghettoized Sustainable Water Management Chemistry, Life Sciences and and fragmented in surprisingly similar in the Middle East Materials Science ways. Alon Tal and Alfred Abed Rabbo Gertz I. Likhtenshtein The Strangers of New Bell: (eds.) Wiley-VCH, 2010 Immigration, Public Space and Rutgers University Press, 2010 This monograph by Gertz Likhtenstein, Community in Colonial Douala, Israel and Palestine are, by international Professor Emeritus in the Department Cameroon, 1914-1960 criteria, water scarce. As the peace process of Chemistry, covers several aspects of Lynn Schler continues amidst ongoing violence, water stilbenes – their chemical reactions, pho- remains a political and environmental tochemistry and applications in industry UNISA Press, 2009 issue. Thirty leading Palestinian and Israeli and biomedicine. Topics include basic Dr. Lynn Schler from the Department of activists, water scientists, politicians, chemical properties of stilbenes; using Politics and Government and BGU’s Africa and others met and worked together to stilbenes as probes for investigating Centre studies a community of African develop a future vision for the sustainable molecular structure, dynamics and func- immigrants – or “strangers” – designated shared management of water resources tional activity of proteins, enzymes and to quarters in New Bell, Douala, in Cam- that is presented in this volume edited biomembranes; real-time analysis of bio- eroon, during the colonial era. New Bell by Prof. Alon Tal from the Mitrani Depart- logically active compounds; and recent was created in 1914 as part of an exten- ment of Dryland Ecology at the Institute advances in modern absorption, fluo- sive urbanization and relocation plan for Dryland Environmental Research of rescence and vibration techniques and intended to reserve the Douala city cen- the Jacob Blaustein Institutes for Desert related areas that were stimulated by the ter for Europeans. It housed thousands Research and Prof. Alfred Abed Rabbo of growing requirements of stilbene applica- of migrants converging on Douala from Bethlehem University. The essays explore tions. 38 Cameroon and the entire west coast of the full range of scientific, political, social Africa. Though never completely evading and economic issues related to water use A Collaborative

Effort By better understanding the processes of growth retardation in children with CKD, we can design novel strategies for intervention

Our basic concept was collaboration between physicians interested in experimental research and Ph.D. students

Collaborative efforts between academics from the Faculty of Health Sciences at the and medical professionals are not uncom- University into the world of clinical med- mon in university institutions that are ical research generally conducted at the tied to hospitals. Pioneering educational hospital. organizations often merge with medi- Prof. Daniel Landau, a pediatrician and cal centers to conduct groundbreaking director of the Division of Pediatrics at studies and use innovative medical tech- Soroka explains, “Soroka is a classic exam- nology. The close and long-standing bond ple of a university medical center that looks was. Although Philip has left the team, she studied abroad for some time, she says, laboratory medicine students and phar- between Ben-Gurion University of the for people who have an interest not just Landau and Segev have continued their “I always planned to come back. I’m fully macology students.” Segev is also the head Negev and the Soroka University Medi- in service and people, but also in teach- he took an internship position there in undertaking, says Segev, “of blending committed to the Negev – I feel like we of the Supervising Committee for sec- cal Center would perhaps appear to be like ing – not only medical students, but all 1986. In 1994 he returned from complet- basic and clinical subjects in biology, spe- have a mission here to build up the area.” ond-year students at the Joyce and Irving many others. students interested in asking deeper ques- ing a fellowship in pediatric nephrology cifically related to kidney disease.” She continues, “I’m involved in a variety Goldman Medical School and second- What is rare in the case of the Negev- tions about the reasons for the phenomena at Children’s Hospital National Medical Segev, who was born and raised in of academic activities at BGU. I coordinate year students of laboratory medicine in based alliance, however, is the presence that they encounter in their clinical work. Center in Washington D.C. and discov- Beer-Sheva and received her master’s and and teach cell biology; I teach immu- the Faculty of Health Sciences. She is also of two doctors who have made it their A Ph.D. student may do research, but this ered that Prof. Yael Segev from the Shraga doctoral degrees at BGU, says “my family nology and microbiology in different the head of the Curriculum Committee primary mission to bring Ph.D. students research is often totally disconnected from Segal Department of Microbiology and is here, I married someone from here who settings; and I coordinate an immunology the clinical community.” Immunology in the Faculty of Health Sci- also studied at BGU. I like Beer-Sheva; not laboratory course for medical students, The Argentinean-born professor first ences, along with Prof. Moshe Philip, was only the city, but the University especially, became acquainted with the hospital when working on tackling similar issues as he which connects us to the city.” Although 41 at the Leon and Mathilde Recanati School for Community Health Professions. She is dedicated not only to her research, but we’ll be able to find new strategies to treat also to creating an environment in which this complication of chronic kidney dis- Breaking the Silence students in the Faculty of Health Sciences ease; finding this resistance will also be can integrate comfortably and effectively of importance in treating adults, in whom The story of her grandmother’s escape from email. For the two years that followed, she into Soroka’s research setting. it is thought to cause debilitating mus- students making a difference Lithuania to Canada in 1933 factored into made home visits. “I visited a couple, both Their research is centered on the sub- cle wasting and an increase in the risk Prof. Yael Segev Hadas Goldstein’s interest in Amcha, an over 90 years old and living by themselves.” ject of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in of complications. By better understand- organization devoted to providing mental Goldstein recalls how the elderly man in the children. When the two began working ing the processes of growth retardation in Although the scientific and medical and social support to the nearly 200,000 house “used to put books out for me when I together, Landau explains, their focus children with CKD, we can design novel details stemming from their subject are Holocaust survivors and their families living came to visit. We would read together, one was the effects of Types 1 and 2 diabetes strategies for intervention.” highly complex, Landau and Segev face in Israel today. Of her grandmother, she says, book per month.” For the elderly woman, on the kidneys. Although many of their As clinical studies related to their par- sometimes greater challenges when it “she and her brother were the only survivors she says, who eventually lost her eyesight, experiments yielded important conclu- ticular research have yet to be conducted, comes to dealing with the financial and in the family. She never talked about what “it wasn’t just about reading.” sions, Landau says, “Our research did not Landau and Segev are working tirelessly, bureaucratic issues involved in bringing happened, ever.” This year Goldstein is involved in a crystallize into a clinical study.” Their case with the help of a collaborative team effort together what are all too often assumed to Three years ago Goldstein – a student program geared towards helping people study findings brought about offers from of Ph.D. students in the Faculty of Health be independent fields of research. of Sociology, Anthropology and General understand their rights as both survivors pharmaceutical companies, but their sub- Sciences, to bring such studies to fruition. Landau explains: “There’s a threat in History who works part time as an assistant and Israeli citizens. “This year they were told ject of research nonetheless shifted into And while their research relates specifi- this type of collaboration because, in the to the press officer in BGU’s Department that they could get money back for their CKD. Landau explains, “We have moved cally to CKD, the two are confident that past, hospitals were willing to recruit of Publications and Media Relations – was medicine,” she explains, “but they don’t recently into the field of CKD, which their findings will also be of great impor- Ph.D. scientists based on the former’s abil- looking to do meaningful volunteer work. know where to send all of their paperwork, affects one of ten Americans. In pediat- tance to research of other chronic health ity to pay a salary for the work, and these When she heard about Amcha through so if it’s too much trouble, they just drop rics, a major result of CKD is the fact that conditions. scientists would run some service labora- a friend, she says, she thought about her it.” Goldstein is there to help them get the it affects children’s ability to grow.” Their extensive investigation and its tory in the hospital and at the same time other grandmother, who had passed benefits that they otherwise would have Landau continues, “Administration international interest has thus far earned perform collaborative research with hos- away one year before in a home for the ignored. “I made sure that they sent in all of of high doses of Growth Hormone (GH) Segev, Landau and their team of student pital physicians and others. But because elderly and from whom Goldstein learned the paperwork and offered to call them two has been used for years to treat children researchers several grants, including an of lack of pay and appropriate placement “how important it is for older people to weeks later to remind them.” Israeli Ministry of Health Chief Scientist in the hospital, these scientists are in dan- have support around.” The University’s Goldstein’s volunteer work reaches grant and a US-Israel Binational Science ger of extinction. It is often the case that Community Action Unit provided her with beyond Amcha’s mission and into the Foundation (BSF) grant. Funding, they as soon as one of them leaves, no replace- important details about the work and set personal lives of the survivors. One bingo agree, is essential to transforming their ment is hired.” The main question, says her up at the local branch in Beer-Sheva, night at the center, she recalls, “we ran out case studies into clinical trials. Landau, and one that administrators have one of 14 around the country. of prizes because we miscalculated and too “Because our scientific research is not yet answered sufficiently, is, “Where According to Amcha’s mission statement, many people were winning. So my friends Prof. Daniel Landau characterized by blending basic and clin- should these scientists really be – on cam- the devastating events of the Holocaust and I said to the group, ‘whoever wins, you ical subjects,” says Segev, collaboration pus or in the hospital?” led to the trickling down of emotional and get a hug.’ So every few seconds, someone with CKD and short stature. This natu- between students in the health sciences Landau and Segev are positive that too mental instability from survivors – many won and they got a hug.” It is in instances rally occurring hormone is not deficient in with individuals from the medical field much of a distinction between medical of whom remained silent for decades such as this when Goldstein is reminded CKD, hinting at a state of resistance. We is crucial. “Our basic concept was col- and health science research only hinders following the events – to their offspring, of the power of basic contact. “You feel wanted to investigate this resistance to the laboration between physicians interested potential progress in fields such as chronic and subsequently to generations that like family there,” she says. “Every Thursday actions of this hormone in children with in experimental research and Ph.D. stu- kidney disease. As they have witnessed have followed. In order to restore mental I come and they give me hugs and kisses kidney disease. So we thought that we dents,” says Landau, “the latter of whom the positive results of collaboration, they health and family ties and to encourage – one woman even made me a bracelet.” could now apply methods we have devel- are much better equipped with inves- firmly believe that BGU students deserve the breaking of this silence, Amcha Goldstein’s devotion to the survivors is oped for other disease models to the field tigative tools to apply and conduct the a specific place in hospital labs and use of provides several types of services, from rooted in her strong sense of compassion of CKD and find the basis of this resis- experiments and research.” other medical resources for the general psychotherapy to social casework for and sensitivity towards a subject and a tance.” Segev and Landau recently opened a lab advancement of medical research. Hadas Goldstein survivors with problems of mobility, to population that is often said to go under In the last two years, says Segev, “we at the Soroka Medical Center to be occu- Despite any setbacks they may encoun- social clubs, intergenerational projects, the radar in Israel’s larger society. “I think have been investigating specifically the pied by students from the Departments of ter, Segev and Landau plan to continue and a volunteer service that provides it’s a population that gets forgotten,” she effects of GH on the bone. We are trying Biology and Laboratory Medicine. “The participation in the overlapping of scien- homebound survivors with the company explains. “At Amcha, they remind me that to understand the type of resistance to lab is very active and student-oriented,” tific and medical investigations for many and attention of carefully chosen and highly they’re here and that they have a big part in GH on the bone and to design novel inter- says Segev. “Danny and I train the students years to come and are fully committed to committed volunteers. our history and society. This is something I’ll ventions to overcome it. The hope is that together and we do a joint mentorship for further pushing BGU to the forefront of In her first eary with the program, always take with me.” them,” she remarks. Several physicians cutting edge research – in the world, in Goldstein taught a computer course that outside the cooperation have also utilized Israel, and right here in the Negev. included the basics of the Internet and 42 the lab for their own projects. It’s Music to their Ears Making Children Feel At Home

Yaniv Evgi takes nothing for granted. says, “We speak with one another through “As a regular girl from Jerusalem, when I After passing a number of qualification students making a difference Nearing the completion of a bachelor’s music – this is our connection.” students making a difference began volunteering at the Mercaz Gil Harach tests, Mehlem was accepted into the degree in the Department of Mechanical While the larger society may not view – a ‘safe center’ for small children – my program and paired up with Esther, a five- Engineering, he maintains his enthusiasm the youths as “normal,” Evgi sees them as whole vision of the world changed,” says year-old girl whose mother suffers from for extra-curricular social activity. Deeply nothing but: “These children may not have Eden Mehlem, a student in the Departments mental illness. “I give Esther four hours of involved in three Keren Moshe programs, normal experiences, but they do have the of Middle East Studies and Communications, fun every week that are only for her. The all of which are part of the University’s same dislikes and likes as all other kids. For who has learned far more during her studies kids – who are all between the ages of two- Community Action Unit, Evgi has taken instance, the young kids love playing games than she ever expected. and-a-half and five – are often in regular on volunteering with full dedication and – this is simply the age where kids love The Center is one of the several pre-school from two in the afternoon until sheer compassion. His support, care and playing games.” community centers of Paele Tzibur, or “social eight o’clock in the evening, and if their unwavering commitment to helping During the week, professional volunteer activists” – a leadership program run by parents don’t pick them up, they’re taken underprivileged populations in Beer-Sheva cooks teach groups of ten to fifteen the University’s Community Action Unit home in a mini-bus.” have changed many lives, including his own. children how to prepare meals. “By cooking that aims to connect student volunteers The unfortunate fact that “many parents Evgi’s academic interests can be traced together,” he says, “the kids learn that if they to various underprivileged populations probably don’t even know that their kids are to the countless hours spent with his father want to eat, they can cook for themselves.” living in and around Beer-Sheva. Volunteers in the program,” says Mehlem, “makes it all in his garage, learning the ins and outs of All in all, explains Evgi, “the children participate for four hours a week in a the more important for children like Esther restoring cars. “This is where I learned to are taught the value of leadership and can range of organized projects, as well as to know that they are in a safe place where love mechanics,” he says. begin to bring out their true character and in preparatory training, which includes they really can feel at home.” The soon-to-be mechanical engineer, ways to deal with their limitations.” lectures and workshops. In only one year, Mehlem and Esther whose goal after graduation is to gain The time Evgi spent at the “House of Although Mehlem participated in have built an important bond that has work experience and subsequently begin Wheels” was followed by yet another year different Paele Tzibur activities during her changed Mehlem’s world perceptions a master’s degree in the same field, has of volunteer work at MANOF, an acronym first and second years at BGU, it was her indefinitely, and has no doubt made an throughout his studies set volunteering translated as: “Youth Leadership and Active most recent involvement at the children’s impact on the young girl. “Esther and I play high on his list of priorities. Citizenship.” MANOF activities take place in center that most drastically challenged together,” she says. “I make sure she knows The first organization with which he Beer-Sheva high schools, where volunteers her previous notions of societal problems. that I care about her by doing things like worked, “People’s Music Therapy,” he like Evgi come and talk to the students The Center’s main objective is to connect making up games with her and teaching her explained, “provides music therapy to about university life and leadership. By volunteers with children on the verge of the alphabet. Normally, kids are taught the special needs people who work in a factory illustrating the importance – as well as fun displacement from troubled homes in and alphabet at home, but Esther hasn’t had this in Beer-Sheva.” Under the manager’s – of a university education, and by stressing around Beer-Sheva. opportunity.” supervision, Evgi’s 18 months at the factory the extra-academic possibilities that come The children with whom volunteers Although Mehlem does not know were devoted to teaching music to the along with such an education, the students, work, she says, are “one step from being whether Esther will be put back into her employees there, many of whom otherwise he remarks, “are taught how to connect with taken from their homes” and are “often with parent’s care or under state guardianship, have no creative outlets. “We played and their city, to initiate social activities and to parents who are not suitable for the job.” what she does know is that her time sang together,” he says. “This was very aim high in their post-high school lives.” Although the state ultimately makes the with the young girl has taught her the significant work that had a major impact on Evgi has taken full advantage of the final decision regarding parental fitness, importance of community outreach and my life.” community action programs offered at BGU, explains Mehlem, “the kids may live for has, she says, “opened my eyes to the reality Music is also central to the work he is all of which have changed his life in major a long time in these dire situations until of people’s problems and the absolute need now doing at the “House of Wheels.” Here he ways. “I studied here for four years and a judgment is made about whether they for volunteering.” Ya n i v E v g i works with youth between the ages of nine have achieved an academic degree, but I Eden Mehlem should be removed and placed under state and 22 who come to the club to participate also enjoyed the student life and activities. care. This is a very difficult time for the in different activities, including music In fact,” he says, “I think the many social children, even if they don’t fully realize what therapy and cooking classes. “The first goal activities were more important than my is going on,” she explains. of ‘House of Wheels’,” says Evgi, “is to create studies for my life experience and I’m glad “While their parents are given a last a community of special needs children who I was given the opportunity to take part in chance to improve themselves and prove have mobility issues. Although most of them.” their parenting skills,” she says, “we make them cannot walk, we show them how to be sure that the kids get the attention they independent. Until they come, the children deserve and have a chance to spend some have everything done for them.” Of the time in a fun environment.” 44 music lessons Evgi leads with the youths, he 45 Bacteria get a bad rap. At least that’s what Gur set out to answer that question at This finding was significant because if Dr. Eyal Gur thinks. A microbiologist, bio- Massachusetts Institute of Technology knowledge about pathogenic material and chemist and member of the Department (MIT) labs where he went for his post- how it uses Lon is applied, antibiotics can of Life Sciences, Gur is a bacteria fan, and doctoral training. He spent four years at be produced for disease treatment. This is if he can, he’ll make bacteria his research MIT looking at a protease called Lon – what part of his current research at BGU is focus for the remainder of his professional the major protease in bacterial cells that based upon – developing novel antibiotics. career. destroys misfolded proteins. “I studied the Combining basic and applied research, Gur is also affiliated with the National Institute for Biotechnology in the Negev (NIBN) – an institute that advances and The Beauty of supports the exploitation of academic and

Gur’s affinity for bacteria began when he was in high school in Bat Yam. He focused on biology studies as a teen and Bacteria went on to get his bachelor’s degree in biol- ogy from Tel Aviv University. Responding intellectual knowledge for biotechnologi- to a program option offered at the time to cal purposes. qualified students, he skipped his master’s Gur is also studying the protease sys- and went straight to doctoral studies in tem in tuberculosis. “There is very little microbiology. known about it and it is very different It was while earning his doctorate that Dr. Eyal Gur from Lon,” he explains. Gur began using bacteria to study proteins Which brings him to his current posi- and their quality control systems. “Each tion. While in his fourth year at MIT, cell has numerous components responsi- recognition principles of Lon and how it he was contacted about a microbiolo- ble for the homeostasis of protein folding determines which protein to degrade,” gist opening at BGU. “They didn’t know – a routine outcome of protein biosynthe- says Gur. I wanted to go to Ben-Gurion University Bacteria are fantastic What he discovered was that Lon rec- sis. But sometimes, when under stress, more than anywhere else,” Gur relates. models for predictive proteins lose their conformation and start ognizes patterns mainly found at the “I love the desert and I had heard very causing problems within the cell.” hydrophobic (water repellant) core of good things about BGU’s outstanding and behavior. They’re not This folding problem became the focus folded proteins and that in this way, Lon young faculty so I jumped at the opportu- complicated. Many of Gur’s research. And as he delved deeper recognizes and activates the mechanism nity.” modern biological for distinguishing healthy from unhealthy into cell proteins and protein quality con- Gur, his wife and two children came to findings are derived from trol, he realized that it was unclear how proteins, in molecular terms. the Negev last year, and since, he has been proteases – enzymes that degrade irrep- Gur’s study of Lon and proteins in bac- getting his lab up and running with the work with bacteria arable proteins – recognize misfolded, teria were for scientific research purposes: help of a European Union Reintegration damaged proteins. to understand the nature of how cell pro- Grant. “I became interested in the decision a teins and proteases function rather than “I believe I’ll be researching this field protease makes to destroy a protein,” Gur searching for curative end-results. “My for the next seven to eight years and main focus is on basic research – I’m try- explains. “It’s important because proteases depending on how things develop, it could Why bacteria? Because, as Gur puts it, For Gur, the move to BGU is a tri- entirely different direction. Getting to ing to understand nature and what life is,” can cause a catastrophe in the cell unless continue for more than 10 years. If we bacteria are fantastic models for predictive ple win deal: He will research his area of teach gives me a tremendous amount of Gur admits. they can accurately and selectively decide reach conclusions and get quick results, behavior. “Bacteria demand a relatively interest, he is living in the Negev and he is satisfaction. I’m working with people who But his research, it turns out, is highly whether to degrade a protein. And I real- I’ll continue researching other microbiol- simple environment and they contain imparting wisdom. want to understand and know more. It’s a significant to the biotech world. Lon is ized the answer to that question – how ogy avenues. But I see myself continuing nearly all basic cell elements. They’re not “I love teaching students, giving them huge bonus.” important to numerous cell processes, they decide – was unknown.” to follow the path of basic bacterial life,” complicated. Many modern biological the information and knowledge I have and including bacterial virulence or infectious he says. findings are derived from work with bac- conveying what I learned in the U.S. I feel disease-causing material. Disease needs teria.” so lucky that I have been able to do what Lon to affect human cells; without it, dis- I’ve done – life could have taken me in an 46 ease can’t make people sick. 47 33 I could feel what he described. Scientifi- number of independent analyses were cally, personally and philosophically the happening concurrently for each meta- desert is my dimension.” bolic group,” Fait explains. Fait’s interests go beyond the laboratory. Today, seed metabolic researchers look He is also fascinated by Jewish bioeth- at the larger picture all at once, access- ics and Halacha (Jewish law). During his ing more information faster. “These days, doctoral studies he met regularly with a when we study a mutant or transgenic rabbi and good friend to discuss issues plant that has been altered in a specific such as genetic engineering in plants and pathway,” Fait notes, “we look at the whole the cloning of animals. The three of them effect of the genetic alteration on the cel- Dr. Aaron Fait subsequently wrote and published a book lular network. Imagine a note played on a We look at the whole effect string of a violin – you can listen to that single note over and over again, but you of the genetic alteration on will not be able to understand much of the the cellular network symphonic aria. Any alteration – genetic or environmental – affecting one part of olism during development in preparation the network will create a perturbation for future germination in the environment that will flow through the web via defined where it is dispersed,” he explains. routes. Once we identify those routes, we This is crucial in arid or semi-arid envi- can understand how the metabolic web ronments because if, for example, a seed is regulated, what are the hubs of the web germinates at first rainfall and is then sub- and what are its vital routes. Eventually we jected to three months of dry conditions, it will be able to predict how it will respond will die. Therefore it must tightly regulate to this or that genetic alteration or climate its germination, “knowing” how to read condition.” environmental cues to keep from drying Combining this new scientific field out and dying. with complimentary global analysis The exciting part, Fait explains, is that in Italian, bringing Jewish philosophy and methods, says Fait, can give the most com- “it doesn’t only read conditions at that its vision regarding science to the Italian prehensive possible description of cellular very moment, but it integrates this with public. activity at any given time. “This is cru- its memories of environmental conditions Seeds of the Research-wise, Fait’s concentration cial to understanding genetic alteration experienced by the mother plant.” on plant seeds centers around observ- and environmental effects on our plants, From a practical vantage point, Fait’s ing metabolic processes to understand because we can develop more accurate vision is to predict seed germination, I lived on Kibbutz Hazorea milking cows,” how the seed operates genetically while breeding strategies for stressful environ- establishment or seed/fruit quality traits Future he recalls, noting that he returned to Italy under stress and how the environment ments,” he notes. based on a metabolic or molecular sig- after seven months but felt a pull back to affects seed quality, including nutrition- Funded primarily by the United States- nature. Establishment is a major factor Israel. “Within three months I was back ally important proteins and amino acids, Israel Binational Science Foundation and affecting plant yield so, potentially, Fait “The main aim of my research is to pre- Fait has been researching seeds and in Tel Aviv studying at the Mechinat Olim starch or oil, in staple crops such as wheat the Binational Agricultural Research and and his colleagues could foresee the plant dict and eventually improve crop quality. their metabolism for the past six years. program that prepares new immigrants and tomato, or biofuel crops such as bras- Development Fund, Fait and his team yield of a seed or of a seed grown under the It’s a broad, long distance kind of thing He earned his bachelor’s and master’s for academic studies.” sica napus (rapeseed). recently showed that seeds accumulate same conditions as another. And this, he but I focus on seed crops and seed quality degrees in ecology and environmental Fait’s love of the environment, fond Research into plant metabolism, says unbound molecules during their devel- says, could revolutionize breeding strate- traits, observing biological and physiolog- quality from Tel Aviv University and his memories of Sede Boqer and an appre- Fait, has undergone a revolutionary opment while on the mother plant, which gies. ical aspects,” explains Dr. Aaron Fait, a Ph.D. in biochemistry and plant science ciation for the Blaustein Institutes’ process during the past decade, both con- affect the seed behavior once shed. This The next step is to determine whether member of the French Associates Institute at the Weizmann Institute of Science. He multi-disciplinary approach to desert and ceptually and technologically. Scientists means that stored in a seed’s molecu- a meaningful and reliable correlation can for Agriculture and Biotechnology of Dry- went on to postdoctoral studies in plant environmental solutions motivated his are able to follow simultaneously many lar memory is information regarding the be drawn between molecular signature in lands at the Jacob Blaustein Institutes for molecular physiology at the Max Planck decision to build his future there. He also processes taking place within a cell at any environment the seed was “raised in.” The the seed and a plant yield trait. Fait is con- Desert Research on the University’s Sede Institute in Germany. had romantic visions. given time and under any conditions. memory stays with the seed so that once fident about the future. Boqer campus. The Italian-born 38-year-old married “The Negev drew me in because of “Formerly, we would concentrate on it falls and is dispersed, information for “It sounds like science fiction but it’s “If you have a crop that can germi- father of three children always had a deep what I had read in the Israeli author Meir one particular pathway as if it fluctuated in successful germination in a specific area is not,” he suggests. “Yet the difficult part nate easily, at the right time, and sustain affinity for Israel. “I’m originally from a Shalev’s books. He used sensual adjectives a sort of vacuum. At the same time, tech- embedded within the seed. is ahead of us: to identify the multiple seedling development under adverse con- small Italian town on the Austrian bor- to describe the desert environment, and nological constraints limited our analysis “We proved that the seed is not simply a molecular signatures potentially existing ditions, that’s a good trait for growers and der,” he explains. “At the age of 19 I came to a few metabolites and made compara- passive sink of protein and lipids or starch for trait development and/or stress toler- for the crop itself,” he says. here to check out what Israel was all about. tive studies difficult, as a relatively large but is actually actively changing its metab- ance.” 49 their parents’ ways weren’t right, weren’t modern and in some cases weren’t even hygienic. These were cultural differences that the Israeli establishment didn’t appre- ciate. Prof. Ilana Rosen “An interesting thing I found is that not only do the Middle Eastern immi- These communities want to explain that they grants make these sorts of claims, but so do the Holocaust survivors. Their nar- overcame hardships and made accomplishments ratives show that they weren’t ready for socialism when they came here and some from Europe and from Muslim coun- was like a tragic love story. They believed of them were unfamiliar with even basic tries who had moved into the cities, towns they’d become true Hungarians, only of ideas of Zionism. They came from the and agricultural settlements of the South. the Jewish faith, very much like the Ger- Jewish bourgeoisie and Israel was trying Currently she is working on a study of man Jews. But in the 1920s and 1930s, to indoctrinate them to become social- the narrative of Egyptian immigrants to Hungarians gradually adopted the fascist ists.” Israel. and racist view of the ‘Jewish problem’ – Meeting women in the South from the “The stories tell about day to day life, those who identified themselves openly as Middle East, she developed an interest in whether it’s in their countries of origin or Jews were seen as alien and corruptive to belly dancing, and during a recent rehabil- in Israel. They describe their past almost society, while those who tried to assimi- itation from breast cancer, she combined like anthropologists – how they lived, late were a threat to Hungary’s economy belly dancing with Japanese Reiki heal- where they lived, what it was like to be and ‘breathing space.’ Of the country’s ing, which she’s been practicing for years. a child in school, the relations of Jews to 800,000 Jews, half were wiped out.” She now teaches this therapeutic dance gentiles, the attitude toward Zionism, the The life of Jews in Egypt changed to women as a volunteer at the Ma’agan experience of surviving the Holocaust, or radically for the worst with Israeli inde- Community Cancer Care Center run by fleeing Muslim countries,” she says. pendence in 1948. This was followed by BGU and the Soroka University Medical “These communities – of Holocaust the rise of nationalist leader Gamal Abdel Center with the generous support of Sol survivors, of Middle Eastern immigrants Nasser in 1952 and the 1956 Sinai Oper- and Edy Freedman of New York through – want to be heard. They want to explain ation, explains Rosen. From the history the Benjamin and Seema Pulier Charitable that they had important experiences, and narratives she’s read of Egyptian Jews, Foundation. “The movements of Eastern overcame hardships and made accom- she finds that “about two-thirds of them dance are healthy; they balance the body plishments, although in the past they were wealthy, and they had a colonialist and soul; they put you in touch with your were looked down upon as inadequate, attitude toward the Muslims. The Mus- environment. Belly dancing emphasizes as ‘primitive’ orientals. These are people lims were their servants and gate-keepers. the body’s femininity, the dancer shows who settled in Israel in the early years of The remaining third lived in poor Jewish her happiness with her motions and facial the state, and they are reaching the age neighborhoods adjacent to poor Muslim expressions, and all this helps to give joy when if we don’t document their stories neighborhoods where they lived on equal back to the sick or recovering women.” now, we will not get another chance. It’s terms. Between 1948 and 1956, the great In addition to teaching belly danc- no accident that many of the academics majority of Egyptians Jews – 70,000 to ing at the Ma’agan Center, Rosen and her who are doing this research are the chil- 80,000 of them – left the country. About family are active in the Magen Avraham dren of these immigrants. I’m part of this half came to Israel.” Conservative Synagogue in nearby Omer, phenomenon,” Rosen says. The narratives from both groups of an egalitarian synagogue – which is still Asked what the Holocaust survivors immigrants are laced with tales of hard- unusual in Israel. Here she volunteers as a What’s the Story said about their relations with their gen- ship – not only in the old country, but in Torah reader (bealat kria), preparing boys tile neighbors, Rosen notes that before the Israel as well, and include not a few com- and girls for the bar or bat mitzvah. Prof. Ilana Rosen of BGU’s Department Rosen’s field of literature is para-histor- Folklore Society’s women’s studies prize. Holocaust, the Jews of Hungary had “a plaints about how they were received here As she says, no one is alone. “I came of Hebrew Literature isn’t your typical ical or documentary personal narratives. After joining the faculty at BGU in prodigious history, and a largely positive by the young, ideological, conformity- here to be part of the South – to hear academic. “No person is alone. Every- Her work began with her own community. 1997, she, her husband and two children one,” notably after the Jews won eman- minded state. “Many of those from Arab the stories of the people who live here, to one is a part of a community, and when The daughter of Hungarian Holocaust sur- (the third is a born “southerner”) moved cipation in the 1860s. The change began countries say the Israeli establishment did teach, to write and to be a part of the com- we academics research society, we need to vivors, Rosen wrote her first book,Sister in from Hod HaSharon to Lehavim, close to with the rise of fascism in Hungary in not show enough respect for their heri- munity.” acknowledge our part in it. Only then can Sorrow, based on interviews with women Beer-Sheva, and she began to seek out the the 1920s. “The fate of Hungarian Jewry tage and values and tried to change them we understand and convey in depth the Holocaust survivors from Hungary who’d personal narratives of the new communi- from traditional, religious Jews into sec- people we are studying,” she says. immigrated to Israel or remained in Hun- ties that surrounded her – the immigrants ular, socialist and Western ones. Some gary. The ground breaking work won the recall how in school they were taught that 2009 Elli Köngäs Maranda American 2351 Ben-Gurion ASSOCIATES ORGANIZATIONS

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