The New York Times recently published a letter from President Robin discussing the importance of expanding leadership programs at institutions of higher learning that bring together diverse populations. According to President Robin, university campuses are well positioned to cultivate an environment of "safe spaces" for Jews and Arabs to discuss difficult issues. President Robin wrote in response to an article entitled, "Riots Shatter Illusion of Coexistence in Israel," that highlighted protests across Israel following the 11-day Gaza conflict earlier this year. "At the University of Haifa, where Arabs account for 32 percent of the student body, we have programs that encourage multicultural encounters between students to create leadership groups within the University and the local community," he noted.

The Ruderman Program for American Jewish Studies group in Sutton Place New York, with Rabbi Rachel Ain. | Credit: Barak Sela

A group of 22 students from the Ruderman MA Program for American Jewish Studies recently returned from the annual field trip to the US where they met with prominent leaders of the American Jewish community. The US trip was launched in 2013 with the support of the Ruderman Family Foundation and is the centerpiece of the MA Program. The Ruderman Program is the only one of its kind in Israel and covers a range of issues pertaining to American Jewish life; American society; and the bonds between the Jews of America and Israel. “After in-depth study of American Jewish life, the academic tour lets students speak with and hear from members of the Jewish community in North America first-hand," noted Rector Gur Alroey, who is the founder and immediate former Director of the Program. In the upcoming 2021-22 academic year, the Ruderman Program will be enrolling its tenth cohort. More on this story in JNS.

Longstanding members of the Haifa Center for German and European Studies (HCGES) are the recipients of The Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany (Bundesverdienstkreuz). Professors Eli Salzberger and Fania Oz-Salzberger are being recognized for their contributions to enhancing Germany's standing in Israel and its relations with Israel. Prof. Eli Salzberger, immediate past HCGES Director, is Head of the Minerva Center for the Study of the Rule of Law under Extreme Conditions, President of the European Association for Law and Economics, and a former Dean of the Faculty of Law. Fania Oz- Salzberger is Professor Emerita of History at HCGES and the Faculty of Law. The German Embassy in Israel is planning to host a festive ceremony in their honor.

(l-r) Yahel Manor, Yanir Edri, Prof. Gad Landau, President Ron Robin and Prof. Daphna Canetti.

Congratulations to Yahel Manor and Yanir Edri, students enrolled in the ETGAR computer science program for gifted high school students on their gold and silver medals. The students were members of the Israeli delegation which placed seventh worldwide. President Robin, Prof. Daphna Canetti (Dean of the Faculty of the Herta and Paul Amir Faculty of Social Sciences) and Prof. Gad Landau (Head of the ETGAR Program) personally congratulated the students upon their return.

The University of Haifa welcomed Mrs. Herta Amir (2016 Honorary Doctorate Recipient) to the campus and was honored to grant her with an Honorary Life Membership to the Board of Governors. Together with her late husband, Paul Amir z"l, the couple have been staunch supporters of the University of Haifa and Israel.  Their generosity made possible a major renovation to the Herta and Paul Amir Faculty of Social Sciences building. During her visit, Mrs. Amir toured the construction of the faculty building and met with several faculty members to discuss their research.

Photo Credit: Rilov Lab

A new study led by Prof. Gil Rilov (Department of Marine Biology) has found that rocky reefs may disappear in the coming decades due to rising sea levels caused by climate change. The reefs constitute a unique and rare marine ecosystem on the northern shores of Israel. Prof. Rilov's team used 3D topographic mapping and SLR (sea level rise) simulations to reach his conclusions, which were published in Science of the Total Environment. 

Credit: Hagai Nativ, Morris Kahn Marine Research Station

The Science Magazine article features the novel underwater microscopes and cameras developed by Dr. Tali Treibitz (Hatter Department of Marine Technologies), as well as Prof. Dan Tchernov (Department of Marine Biology) and Dr. Roee Diamant's (Hatter Department of Marine Technologies) participation in the Cetacean Translation Initiative (CETI) – a groundbreaking research project that aims to decode whale communication.