cover 2006

The 36th Annual Board of Governors Meeting
2 BGU NOW
Members of the Board, friends and guests from
Israel and around the world came to Ben-Gurion
University of the Negev for the 36th Annual Board
of Governors Meeting and to celebrate the 100th
anniversary of David Ben-Gurion’s aliyah to Israel.
At various opportunities throughout the week, guests
and University staff bade farewell to outgoing
President, Prof. Avishay Braverman, who concluded
16 years in office, and welcomed the new President,
Prof. Rivka Carmi.
The visitors took part in the numerous events,
including the committee meetings, which covered
the spectrum of University activities in the financial,
student, academic and Associates arenas. At these
meetings, participants heard the reports of the
students, academic faculty and
administrative staff members and discussed
the future development of the University.
Inscriptions of the names of new Founders
and new members of the Ben-
Gurion Society were unveiled on
the Founders Wall and the Ben-
Gurion Wall in the presence of
supporters from around the world.
At the Student Evening, sponsored by the
American Associates of BGU, visitors and students
became acquainted with one another on a more
personal level. During the evening, the Zlotowski
Dance Troupe, supported by Suzanne Zlotowski of
Geneva, Switzerland and her daughter, Adelene of
London, England, gave a memorable performance.
Departing from their customary repertoire of Israeli
folk dances, they presented a breathtaking rendition
of more contemporary Israeli dance. The traditional
student auction was led by co-auctioneers Eric
Charles of London and Zvi Alon of California, the
proceeds from which are dedicated to student
activities.
At the Opening Plenary Session, Chairman of the
the Board of Governors Roy J. Zuckerberg, outgoing
President MK Avishay Braverman and Rector Prof.
Jimmy Weinblatt addressed the audience. The
appointment of Prof. Rivka Carmi as the sixth
President of BGU was officially ratified by the
members of the Board.
During the Session, awards marking the centennial
of David Ben-Gurion’s aliyah to Israel were presented
to friends of BGU who have devoted their time and
efforts to furthering the development of the
University and the Negev. The recipients were Lord
Weidenfeld of Chelsea, UK; Edgard D. de Picciotto,
Switzerland; Prof. Sir Aaron Klug OM FRS, UK;
President Rivka Carmi presents a Founders Scroll to Mariko
Tsujita and Kyoji Tsujita, Chairman of the Beit Shalom
Mizra Association, at the unveiling ceremony of the plaque
on the Founders Wall
Dr. Heinz-Horst Deichmann, Germany; Suzanne
Zlotowski, Switzerland; Ellen Marcus, USA, who
received the award on her own behalf as well as
that of her parents, Dr. Howard W. and Lottie R.
Marcus; and Prof. Avishay Braverman. Prof. Ya’akov
Blidstein from the Goldstein-Goren Department of
Jewish Thought was heartily congratulated on his
receipt of the 2006 Israel Prize in Jewish Law – the
first such academic recognition at BGU.
The Plenary Session concluded with a panel
discussion: “From The Casablanca Conference Until
Today: Where Are We Now?” chaired by Honorary
Chairman of the Board of Governors Lord Weidenfeld
of Chelsea of the Orion Publishing Group of London.
Participants were Counsellor to His Majesty King
Mohammed VI of Morocco and initiator of the
Casablanca Conference in 1994, André Azoulay;