The 86th Hebrew University of Jerusalem Board of Governors’ (BOG) meeting took place mid-June in Jerusalem. It was a fun-filled and informative 4 days filled with formal and informal gatherings, fascinating lectures, moving ceremonies, and entertaining events. The BOG is not only a time for the university to conduct important business, but it also serves as a meeting place where board members, dedicated partners, and philanthropic supporters from around the world gather to reconnect with old friends and meet new ones.
With this year’s theme of Sustainable Planet, the 2023 BOG focused on the Hebrew University’s (HU) commitment to a sustainable university and spotlighted the many HU research breakthroughs that are helping to build a more sustainable future. Highlights included Sunday’s trip to the Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food, and Environment on the university’s Rehovot campus, which included a visit to HUJI Market, where BOG attendees were able to enjoy some of the ways the Smith Faculty is helping Israel and the world grow tasty, nourishing, and sustainable food. The day’s presentation of the President’s Report highlighted the university’s academic achievements and featured a delicious, sustainability-themed lunch for attendees. The day concluded with a festive cocktail reception where partygoers enjoyed a range of tempting morsels that were developed, grown, and harvested at Smith Faculty facilities.
Monday featured a celebration that honoured HU Benefactors, as well as ceremonies where honorary fellowships and doctorates were conferred. The Australian Friends were proud that our own Professor Leon Mann AO from Melbourne was awarded an Honorary Doctorate for his many years of dedicated commitment to the Hebrew University and for his myriad of achievements to society in so many areas both in Australia and in Israel.
That evening, the Australian Friends hosted a supper in honour of Professor Mann and the Australians who had travelled to Israel for the BOG.
Professor Leon Mann AO receiving his Honorary Doctorate Citation from left HU President Professor Asher Cohen and right HU Rector Professor Tamir Sheafer
On Tuesday, HU honoured the generosity of its many friends through Wall of Life, Legacy Tree, and Wall of Founders dedications. Australian benefactor, the late Deborah Joselson of Victoria had her name inscribed on the Wall of Life in recognition of her generous bequest to the HU.
Australian Friends President Michael Dunkel at the Wall of Life Ceremony honouring the late Deborah Joselson
After a morning of beautiful and moving ceremonies on the Mt. Scopus campus, BOG attendees travelled to the Edmond J. Safra Campus to witness the presentation of this year’s highly competitive Asper Prize startup award to Avertto, a startup in the health field.
Finally, the BOG closing ceremony was held that evening on the Safra Campus in the presence of the President of the State of Israel, Isaac Herzog and his wife Michal. The President participated in the laying of the cornerstone for the new Einstein House – a remarkable structure scheduled to open in 2025 that will share Einstein’s legacy and achievements with the world. The distinctive building, designed by the world-renowned architect Daniel Libeskind, will highlight the impact of Einstein’s discoveries, his involvement in humanitarian and civil rights issues, as well as his deep commitment to Hebrew University, the State of Israel, and the global Jewish community.
President Isaac Herzog at the closing ceremony of the HU BOG which included the laying of the cornerstone of the new Einstein House to be built on the Safra Campus of the HU in Jerusalem.
The Einstein House will house exhibits of the legacy, work, and research of Nobel laureate Albert Einstein, one of the founders of the Hebrew University, who bequeathed all his writings and intellectual property to it. The House will serve as a centre for scientific and technological education and employ modern display techniques, scientific demonstrations, and original documents to showcase Einstein’s immense contribution to science. Visitors will be able to tour a reconstruction of his personal library, his office, and view original documents, including on the general theory of relativity and the manuscript containing the famous equation E=mc².
HU President Prof. Asher Cohen, President of Israel Isaac Herzog and Moshe Lion, Mayor of Jerusalem at the laying of the cornerstone of the new Einstein House on the Safra Campus of the Hebrew University in Jerusalem