Feb. 1, 2002

January 2002

IN ISRAEL

Former US President William J. Clinton was awarded an honorary doctorate at a gala dinner in Tel Aviv. Prime Minister Ariel Sharon gave an address following the academic procession and TAU President Itamar Rabinovich delivered opening remarks. The Saban Institute for the Study of the American Political System, operating within the TAU School of Government and Policy, was inaugurated at the gala. Remarks were delivered by donor Haim Saban. Doctor (hon.) Clinton delivered the inaugural address, calling upon Arafat to end terrorism and upon Israel to never give up the dream of peace. Among the guests were Minister of Foreign Affairs Shimon Peres; Minister of Defense Binyamin Ben-Eliezer; Minister of Finance Silvan Shalom; other ministers and top officials; and US Ambassador Dan Kurtzer. The dinner proceeds were dedicated to the TAU Clinton Program for American Studies at the Entin Faculty of Humanities. TAU Board Member Alfred Akirov chaired the organizing committee.

The TAU Buchmann Faculty of Law held an inaugural ceremony for the Cegla Super-Center for Comparative and Private International Law. Prof. Daniel Friedmann spoke in memory of Dr. Wolf Cegla. Greetings: President Rabinovich; Dean Menachem Mautner; and Director of the Super-Center Prof. Ariel Porat, who moderated a panel discussion entitled "The Struggle against Terror in a Democratic State." The Elga Cegla Scholarships were awarded to Yaron Bar-Nathan, Ori Goldberg, Mohanad Zeed, and Dalit Zamir.

The Israeli Postal Authority issued a stamp honoring the first Israeli astronaut to be sent into space. The astronaut, Col. Ilan Ramon, a TAU alumnus, will conduct several experiments, including one designed by TAU Geophysics and Planetary Sciences researchers Profs. Zev Levin and Joachim Joseph. The project, MEIDEX (Mediterranean Israeli Dust Experiment), will measure aerosols from African dust storms over the Mediterranean and their relation to rainfall.

CONFERENCES

Prof. Charles Salmon of Michigan State University delivered a lecture at the Department of Communication seminar, entitled "Communication Campaigns and the Law of Unintended Consequences."

Governor of the Bank of Israel Dr. David Klein delivered the Amnon Ben Nathan Annual Lecture, on "The Economic Policy Given the Security Situation and the World Recession," moderated by Prof. Chaim Fershtman. Responding: Prof. Alex Cukierman, incumbent of the Amnon Ben Nathan Chair of Economics. The lecture is organized by the Ben Nathan Chair and the Pinhas Sapir Center for Development.

The Pinhas Sapir Center for Development held a conference on "Inequality and Growth - And the Israeli Education System," moderated by Prof. Elhanan Helpman of the Berglas School of Economics. Dr. Dan Ben-David of the Public Policy Program, School of Government and Policy, delivered a lecture on "The Educational System from a Socioeconomic Perspective in the Era of Globalization," followed by a panel discussion on "Education's Contribution to Reducing Gaps and Increasing Growth."

Prof. Edward Lazear of Stanford University delivered a lecture entitled "The Importance of Sorting and Incentives in Business" at the memorial evening for the late Prof. Gideon Fishelson of the Eitan Berglas School of Economics. Opening remarks: Prof. Yoram Weiss. The Prof. Gideon Fishelson Scholarships were awarded to graduate students Sharon Beilinson and David Messika.

Dr. James Green of California State University, Long Beach, was a guest lecturer of the Institute for Latin American History and Culture and the NCJW Women and Gender Studies Program. He spoke on "New Trends in Gender Studies in Latin America."

The Institute for Latin American History and Culture, the Entin Faculty of Humanities, held a conference entitled "The Crisis in Argentina," moderated by Prof. Raanan Rein, institute Head.

The International Forum of the Gershon Gordon Faculty of Social Sciences, Department of Political Science; the Israeli English Speaking Friends; and the Nahum Goldman Chair in Diplomacy featured Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister Rabbi Michael Melchior at its monthly lecture. He spoke on "Israel's World: Diplomatic Arenas and Agendas." Chairman: Prof. Aharon Klieman.

The Mortimer and Raymond Sackler Institute of Advanced Studies hosted Prof. Morteza Gharib, Professor of Aeronautics and Biomedical Engineering, California Institute of Technology. His lecture was entitled, "Cardiac Mechanics: New Views and New Challenges."

"Happylog," a screening of short films, was an event of the Department of Film and Television.

The Department of Communication in conjunction with the Cable and Satellite Broadcasting Council held a conference on "Children and Youth in a Changing Media Environment: What Is New in Research, Broadcasting Policy, and Consumption?" Greetings: Zevulun Orlev, Chairman of the Knesset Education Committee, and Prof. Moshe Semyonov, Dean of the Gordon Faculty of Social Sciences. Dr. Dafna Lemish, Chairperson of the Department, presented a recent comparative study on children and youth in 12 European countries, including Israel.

The English Speaking Friends of TAU hosted the Yale Club of Israel on the occasion of the 300th Anniversary of Yale University. Greetings were delivered by Yemmy Strum, Chairperson of the TAU English Speaking Friends, and Aaron Levin, President of the Yale Club of Israel.

The Department of English and the Cohen-Porter Fund, Entin Faculty of Humanities, hosted Jonathan Dollimore of the University of York, England. He delivered two lectures on "Art in Time of War: Towards a Contemporary Aesthetic" and "Decadence and the Death Drive: Early Modern to Modern.

The Cymbalista Jewish Heritage Center in conjunction with the Faculty of Management's Recanati Alumni Association held a dialogue on "Wall Street and the Jewish World," marking the publication of the book No Bull: My Life in and out of Markets by Michael Steinhardt, Chairman of the TAU Board of Governors. The dialogue was held between Mr. Steinhardt and President Itamar Rabinovich. Opening remarks: Aharon Dovrat.

The Eitan Berglas School of Economics in conjunction with the School Friends held the annual conference in memory of Prof. Eitan Berglas. Prof. Nicholas H. Stern, Senior Vice President and Chief Economist, the World Bank, delivered a lecture entitled "Public Policy for Growth and Poverty Reduction," chaired by Amiram Sivan, Chairman of Bank Hapoalim. Opening remarks: Prof. Manuel Trajtenberg, Head of the School.

"Society and Culture in Eretz Israel under the British Mandate" was the title of the conference of the Chaim Weizmann Institute for the Study of Zionism and Israel held in memory of David Smilansky, which marked the publication of the book Citrus Blossom by Nahum Karlinsky. Opening remarks at the conference, chaired by Prof. Yair Hoffman, Head of the Chaim Rosenberg School of Jewish Studies, were delivered by Dean of the Entin Faculty of Humanities Dan Laor. Head of the Weizmann Institute Prof. Anita Shapira chaired a symposium on "'Jewish Labor,' 'Arabic Labor': Relationships between Jews and Arabs - Living Together, or Separately?"

The Department of Political Science, Gordon Faculty of Social Sciences, held a conference on "Planning Policy and Politics in Israel: Reality and Vision," marking the retirement of Prof. Efraim Torgovnik. Guest of Honor: Minister of Regional Cooperation Roni Milo.

"Femininist Perspectives on War and Peace" was the title of the 10th annual conference of the University's NCJW Women and Gender Studies Program and Women Studies Forum, in conjunction with the fourth annual conference of the Israeli Association for Feminist and Gender Studies, held under the auspices of the Porter Institute for Poetics and Semiotics and the Porter School of Cultural Studies, Entin Faculty of Humanities. Keynote speaker at the opening session was Frances Olsen of UCLA Law School, on "A Feminist Approach to Peace: The Potential Roles of Anti-Discrimination Law and Civil Disobedience."

The Sackler Faculty of Medicine inaugurated the Aryeh-Yehudah Wysenbeek Prize for the Outstanding Teacher in Medicine, at a special gathering of the Faculty Council. Dean Menahem Fainaru delivered a memorial address. The 2002 prize was awarded to Prof. Ehud Grossman of the Department of Internal Medicine, the TAU-affiliated Chaim Sheba Medical Center.

The project, "Klal Israel: A Dialogue between Israel and the Diaspora," held its first international conference on "The Meaning of Jewry Today." Opening remarks at the first session: Prof. Yosef Gorny of the Department of Jewish History and Prof. Aron Dotan, Director of the Cymbalista Jewish Heritage Center.

The Mortimer and Raymond Sackler Institute of Advanced Studies hosted Prof. Bernard Lewis of Princeton University, who lectured on "The Middle East and the West After All."

APPOINTMENTS AND AWARDS

Prof. Ruth Ben Israel of the Buchmann Faculty of Law was presented with a book on labor law published in her honor by the participants of the conference "Labor Law and Social Security" which took place in the Philippines.

Dr. Hannes Androsch, former Vice Chancellor and Minister of Finance of Austria, was elected President of the Austrian Friends of TAU at their Annual Meeting. Dr. (hon.) Hella Gertner was elected Lifetime Honorary President. TAU Vice President Yehiel Ben-Zvi presented a survey of recent TAU developments at the meeting, which was held at the Bank of Austria in Vienna. Dr. Androsch, a leading figure in the Austrian business world and government circles, has published extensively in economics and in Austrian history.

Judge Barbara Seal, CM, of Montreal, has been elected National President of the Canadian Friends of TAU, succeeding Prof. Lawrence Bessner. Judge Seal is a member of the TAU Board of Governors.

Prof. Arthur Siegel of York University's Division of Social Science has been elected President of the Toronto Chapter of the Canadian Friends of TAU. He succeeds Dr. Ira Schecter, who completed his term.

VISITS

A mission from the US came to Israel to participate in the conferment of a TAU honorary doctorate upon President Clinton. The mission members visited TAU and were briefed on the Middle East, economics and high-tech. They spent a day in Jerusalem, where they met with Foreign Minister Shimon Peres; attended a lunch hosted by AFTAU Chairman Alan Aufzien and TAU Vice President Yehiel Ben-Zvi, with the participation of Minister Tzipy Livni; visited the Israeli Supreme Court; and paid a visit to the grave of Yitzhak Rabin. They were hosted to dinner at the home of President Rabinovich and Dr. Efrat Rabinovich and to dinner by Alfred Akirov and Mrs. Akirov. A private reception with former President Clinton was held for them prior to the conferment ceremony.

A group of university heads from Africa, the Far East and South America visited TAU. They met with Prof. Yossi Shavit, Chairman of the Department of Sociology and Anthropology, who delivered a lecture on "Higher Education in Israel - Trends, Policy and Organization."

ABROAD

The 11th European Regional Conference of TAU was held in conjunction with the Howard Gilman Conference entitled "History, Film and Politics," in St. Moritz, Switzerland, in cooperation with the Goethe Institute.

Greetings at the opening session, chaired by Vice President Yehiel Ben-Zvi, were delivered by President Itamar Rabinovich and Rector Shimon Yankielowicz. TAU professor Eli Barnavi, Israeli Ambassador to France, delivered a lecture on "The Presentation of the French Revolution in Film" followed by a screening of the film, Taking Sides, produced by Istvan Szabo in a session entitled "European History in Films." Prof. Hilmar Hoffmann of the Goethe Institute and Prof. Raanan Rein of TAU delivered lectures in the session entitled "Twentieth Century Politics in Film." Other sessions were "Shaping a Memory: Holocaust Images" chaired by Prof. Anita Shapira, Head of TAU's Chaim Weizmann Institute for the Study of Zionism and Israel and the conference academic chairperson; and "Israel in Film" chaired by Dr. Aviad Kleinberg.

Social and cultural highlights included an opening dinner hosted by Dr. h.c. Karl-Heinz and Mrs. Hannelore Kipp; a Kabbalat Shabbat dinner hosted by the TAU Swiss Friends; a festive dinner sponsored by Credit Suisse Private Banking; a farewell dinner held by Dr. Wilfried and Mrs. Ursula Bechtolsheimer; an open house hosted by Dr. h.c. Norbert and Mrs. Paulette Cymbalista; and a performance by Ola Binder (soprano) and Shai Rosenboim (piano) of TAU's Samuel Rubin Israeli Academy of Music.

Dr. Colin Price of the Department of Geophysics and Planetary Sciences was the keynote speaker at the Toronto Friends Annual Meeting. His talk was entitled, "Space Mission: The Israeli/TAU Contribution."

The Tel Aviv University Trust of Great Britain held a Gala Dinner in London in support of a joint project between TAU's Department of Theater Arts and the Cameri Theater of Tel Aviv. The guest of honor was renowned British playwright Ronald Harwood CBE. The event was held at the home of Dr. Zvi Shtauber, Israeli Ambassador to the United Kingdom. Trust Chairman Alec Marmot and TAU Governor Nick Tarsh thanked the Cameri Theater, its Director Noam Semel, and its International Chairperson Amina Harris for their help and cooperation in organizing the successful event.

OBITUARIES

TAU mourns the passing of Camilo Jose Cela, laureate of the 1989 Nobel Prize for Literature, Doctor Philosophiae Honoris Causa of Tel Aviv University.

TAU mourns the passing of Yekutiel Federman, Honorary Member of the Board of Governors, in Israel.

TAU mourns the passing of John Furman CBE, Honorary Fellow of TAU and Honorary Member of the Board of Governors, in Israel.

COMING EVENTS

The 2002 Annual Board Meeting will take place in Tel Aviv from May 24-31, 2002.