AFHU_News_Vol.21_9.13.18 Spreads (1)

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AMERICAN FRIENDS OF THE HEBREW UNIVERSITY
AFHU NEWS VOL. 21 PAGE 23
HU Spotlight: Yishai Fraenkel
“Hebrew University is a combination of old and
new. There is a tradition here - HU was founded by
some amazing minds, and we uphold their pursuit
of education. We are continuously at the edge of
knowledge, innovation, and societal changes,” said
Yishai Fraenkel, HU’s recently appointed Director
General.
Yishai recently joined the university’s management
team as Director General, overseeing finance,
administration, and infrastructure.
A special moment at HU for Yishai was when he
sat at his desk, which formerly belonged to Dr. Judah
Magnes, HU’s first Chancellor and President, to help
launch HU’s Center for Entrepreneurship. For him,
it was interesting to sit at a 100-year-old desk while
launching a new, innovative program, and he believes
that this is at the core of what makes Hebrew University
unique.
Looking forward, Yishai hopes for Hebrew
University to be a dominant global university known
as a thought leader in science and society, driven by
knowledge and innovation.
Prior to joining HU, Yishai spent 23 years in the
high-tech industry, where he most recently served as
the Vice President of Intel International. From 2007-
2014, he served as the CEO of Intel Jerusalem.
A Hebrew University alumnus, Yishai graduated
with a degree in Mathematics and Computer Science,
and completed his M.B.A. at HU, as well. In addition
to his math, science, and business studies, Yishai
holds an undergraduate degree in Social Sciences
and Humanities with a specialization in the history of
the Jewish people in the modern era.
Professor Yuval Shany:
Chairing the UN Human Rights Committee
In July, Professor Yuval Shany was selected to
serve a one-year term as chair of the United Nations
Human Rights Committee. He is the first Israeli to
chair the committee, of which he has been a member
since 2012. Shany is the Hersch Lauterpacht Chair in
International Law, former dean of the Faculty of Law,
and Co-Head of the Fried Gal Transitional Justice
Program at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.
The UN Human Rights Committee consists of
18 independent experts who monitor implementation
of the International Covenant on Civil and Political
Rights by its State parties. Shany is aware of the
many issues the committee faces. “Currently, the
UN’s Human Rights Committee faces several challenges,
chiefly that we live in an international climate
that no longer supports human rights. As head of the
committee, I hope to harness its positive and apolitical
influence to secure human rights for all citizens of
the world.”
Over the years, he has been active in various
public organizations related to the high-tech industry
and higher education. Since 2013, Yishai has served
as a member of Israel’s Planning and Budgeting
Committee for Higher Education.
Yishai Fraenkel
Yuval Shany at the UN Human Rights Committee
Watch the video of AFHU’s
interview with Yishai