2019 Alumni Annual Report

2019 ALUMNI ANNUAL REPORT
AMERICAN FRIENDS OF THE HEBREW UNIVERSITY
KNOWLEDGE
MOVES
US

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AMERICAN FRIENDS OF THE HEBREW UNIVERSITY
ALUMNI ANNUAL REPORT PAGE 2
As an alumna of the Rothberg International School at the Hebrew University of
Jerusalem (HU), it is a privilege to lead the Alumni Association in the U.S. The past
year has seen new developments and growth for alumni as we’ve held alumni events
across the country, launched the new
webinar series, Torch Talks, expanded the
alumni website, and continued to support
Hebrew University student scholarships
through the HU Alumni Annual Fund.
HU Alumni Association
BY THE NUMBERS (Fiscal Years 2017-2019)
TOTAL ALUMNI
IN AFHU’S
DATABASE
NEW
ALUMNI
DONORS
TOTAL
ALUMNI
DONORS
TOTAL
NUMBER
OF GIFTS
TOTAL
GIVING
While this publication offers us an opportunity
to reflect on the past year, it also
encourages us to look toward the future.
Be on the lookout for “Alumni and Friends”
events in your region, a Winter/Spring Torch
Talks lineup and be sure to mark your calendar
for May 2021 when we will celebrate 50
years of study abroad at Hebrew University
in Jerusalem.
16,116
FY19
80
FY19
390
FY19
491
FY19
$2,233,128
As we continue building and strengthening our alumni community, we invite you to connect
with us. Share your Hebrew University story and memories with us and, if you haven’t
already, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.
AFHU is grateful to partner with alumni like you who care so deeply for Hebrew University.
We look forward to seeing you at an upcoming alumni event this year!
15,405
FY18
62
383
FY18
496
FY18
FY19
$844,166
FY18
FY18
Miryam Greene '05
Director, Marketing & Alumni Affairs
15,261
FY17
32
FY17
291
FY17
394
FY17
$1,166,931
FY17
Now in its third year, the Alumni Annual Fund (AAF) continues to see growth and increased
engagement from Hebrew University alumni supporting student scholarships at HU.

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AMERICAN FRIENDS OF THE HEBREW UNIVERSITY ALUMNI ANNUAL REPORT
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Scholarship Profile: Ruth Lorisso
HU Alumni Association Highlights
Scholarship gifts can have a long-lasting
impact on many of the Hebrew University
student recipients. Ruth Lorisso, a student
at Hebrew University of Jerusalem’s Faculty
of Medicine, considers studying at HU to be
a life-changing opportunity. She enjoys access
to patients through her teachers, who are
practicing doctors at Hadassah Hospital, while
also experiencing the diversity and cultural
experiences the city of Jerusalem offers.
In addition to becoming the best doctor
she can be, Ruth wants to help the Ethiopian
community in Israel to gain better access to
healthcare and overcome language barriers
they may encounter.
It is because of a generous scholarship that
Ruth can pursue her education to “...learn
and study in the best school and to have the
best opportunities to help as many people as
possible.”
Help support students like Ruth here.
Alumni Website
This year we debuted an expanded alumni section
on AFHU.org. The new section has additional capabilities
and features, providing a more dynamic
online experience for the alumni community.
Event listings, promotional campaign spotlights,
digitized yearbooks, a photo gallery with usergenerated
content, and the job board are just a
few of the new features.
Have something to share on the alumni website?
Let us know!
Rothberg Parent and Student Outreach
The HU Alumni Association continues to engage
with current Rothberg International School
(RIS) students. We introduce the HU Alumni
Association to students with a welcome letter
before they depart for Israel and we encourage
them to take part in alumni activities when they
return. Additionally, families of students receive
communications from us throughout the year
and are invited to learn more about HU and
connect with AFHU in their local regions.
Torch Talks: A Webinar Series for HU Alumni
The Hebrew University Alumni Association launched
our Torch Talks webinar series exclusively for
HU alumni. The first webinar, “Heading to the Polls,”
took place on Tuesday, February 26. Following a
special introduction by alumna Ambassador Miriam
Sapiro ’81, HU political science expert Professor
Reuven Hazan compared the Israeli and the U.S.
electoral systems and discussed Israel’s elaborate
geopolitical landscape.
The second webinar took place June 11, when
alumni tuned in to hear from computer science
expert Dr. Katrina Ligett, Associate Professor
at HU’s Benin School of Computer Science and
Engineering. After an introduction by HU alumna
Olga Rubanov ’95, Customer Engagement Manager
at Amdocs, Professor Ligett examined the growing
threats to data privacy and discussed privacy
friendly solutions.

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AMERICAN FRIENDS OF THE HEBREW UNIVERSITY
ALUMNI ANNUAL REPORT PAGE 6
Alumni Profiles
Check out some of the alumni profiles shared last year, as part of our
‘100 Alumni We Love’ Campaign.
SAVE THE DATE
Join us in celebrating
the 50th Anniversary of the
Rothberg International School
Amir Goldman '93
Spending the 1992-1993 academic year at Hebrew
University’s Rothberg International School was a
transformative experience for Amir Goldman. As he
recalls, “I met my wife! I
learned Hebrew. I made
lifelong friends. It really
opened my eyes to the
depth and breadth of
Jewish history, philosophy,
and culture.” Read
more about Amir here.
Keenan Davis '11
Keenan Davis ‘11 is currently a candidate for his
M.D. at Emory’s School of Medicine. He is also
a Ph.D. candidate as a fellow at the Tam Institute
for Jewish Studies in
Emory’s Graduate Division
of Religion. His
work involves bioethics,
theology, and ethnography.
Read more about
Keenan here.
May 20-26, 2021
The Hebrew University of Jerusalem
Mount Scopus Campus
For the full week-long program visit:
http://overseas.huji.ac.il/RIS50
Liron David '10
Since graduating in 2010, HU alumna Liron David has
dedicated her career to social justice and helping
marginalized communities in Israel. Currently residing
in Illinois, David serves as Director of International
Relations at Enosh—
The Israeli Mental Health
Association. As director,
she advocates for legal
reform efforts in Israel,
social innovations, and
global mental health policies.
Read more about
Liron here.
Jing Song '10
This HU alumna and immunologist has pioneered
innovative autoimmune disease drugs and treatment
since graduating from HU in 2010. Currently residing
in Seattle, Washington, Jing is a postdoctoral research
associate at Benaroya
Research Institute (BRI),
where she has discovered
potential causes
for rheumatoid arthritis.
Read more about Jing
here.

PAGE 7 AMERICAN FRIENDS OF THE HEBREW UNIVERSITY
ALUMNI ANNUAL REPORT PAGE 8
Alumni Events
Hebrew University alumni gathered at events across the U.S.
to share old memories and make new ones.
THE ROTHBERG INTERNATIONAL
SCHOOL ANNOUNCES
THE LEGACY
SCHOLARSHIP
1. 2.
3.
1. Social Media and Cyber Security - On Wednesday, October 17, 2018,
Hebrew University alumni gathered in Chicago to learn about “Cyber
Security and Social Media: Lessons of the 2016 U.S. Election” from HU
alumna Dr. Efrat Daskal.
2. Yad Vashem’s Spots of Light Exhibition - On Sunday, February 3, 2019,
members of the Dallas HU Alumni Association took a tour of Yad Vashem’s
traveling exhibit, “Spots of Light: To be a Woman in the Holocaust.”
The tour was hosted by HU alumna Amira Shaham-Albalancy
and led by Collin College history professor and extremism expert, Alon
Milwicki. The exhibition featured nine aspects of a Jewish woman’s daily
life during the Holocaust: love, motherhood, caring for others, womanhood,
resistance and rescue, friendship, faith, food, and the arts. Each
aspect was accompanied by a personal story, relayed in the first person.
3. The Entrepreneurial Mindset: Developing NOBEL Ideas into a
HOUZZhold Name - On Monday, May 20, 2019, AFHU’s Pacific Northwest
region hosted its first Alumni Association event, a dynamic fireside
chat with Houzz CEO/Cofounder and HU alumna, Adi Tatarko,
and Nobel Laureate Professor Roger Kornberg in Palo Alto. HU Pacific
Northwest Alumni Association Chair Erez Podoly welcomed Roger Kornberg
to the chat.
4. Medicine in the Era of Artificial Intelligence - On June 18, 2019, the
HU Alumni Association invited Boston-area alumni and friends to hear
Hebrew University Professor Dina Ben-Yehuda, Dean of HU’s Faculty of
Medicine, and gain insight into the university’s pioneering efforts in the
field of computational medicine.
5. Relatively Speaking: Einstein and Black Holes - Hebrew University
alumni and friends gathered on September 11, 2019, to hear Harvard
University Professor Avi Loeb, an HU alumnus, Director of the Black
Hole Initiative, and Chair of Harvard’s Department of Astronomy, in
conversation with HU Professor Hanoch Gutfreund. Professor Loeb
shared his journey from growing up on a kibbutz to Talpiot, the elite
military program at Hebrew University. Together, the two discussed the
impact of HU founder Albert Einstein on their shared field of study, as
well as Einstein’s ongoing popularity at Harvard University.
6. Rooftop Rendezvous with Hebrew U - On September 17, 2019, alumni
in NYC gathered at the Empire Hotel Rooftop to meet, network, and
socialize. Alumni heard special remarks from Joan Johnson ’63 and
Harley Frank ’75 while enjoying incredible views of the Manhattan skyline.
Every family has traditions.
Make Hebrew University yours.
Children, grandchildren and siblings of
RIS and HebrewU alumni are welcome to
celebrate their family legacy by returning to
Hebrew University’s Rothberg International
School and receiving a $3,000 scholarship!
LEARN MORE
4.
5. 6.

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Hebrew University Alumni Association
ALBERT EINSTEIN
One of the original
founders of the
Hebrew University.
SUPPORT THE HEBREW UNIVERSITY.
A GENIUS IDEA.
By establishing a secure American Friends of the Hebrew University Gift Annuity you’ll receive great
rates, an income tax charitable deduction (if you itemize), and you’ll advance revolutionary research.
AFHU HEBREW UNIVERSITY
GIFT ANNUITY RETURNS
AGE
RATE
65 6.0%
70 6.5%
75 7.1%
80 8.0%
Get Involved and Reconnect!
85 9.5%
90+ 11.3%
• Host an alumni event
• Introduce other Hebrew University alumni
to the HU Alumni Association in the U.S.
• Support AFHU’s Alumni Annual Fund
• Follow us on Facebook, Twitter,
and LinkedIn
• Volunteer to share your expertise via an
online webinar or live event
• Provide a scholarship to a deserving
Hebrew University Student
• Become a social media ambassador
Miryam Greene ’05
Director, Marketing & Alumni Affairs
T: 212.607.8531
E: mgreene@afhu.org
Rates are based on single life. Cash contributions produce annuity payments that are substantially tax-free.
MAKE YOUR CHARITABLE GIFT TODAY
WWW.AFHU.ORG/PLANNEDGIVING
T: 212.607.8576
E: plannedgiving@afhu.org

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AFHU Alumni Relations Office
One Battery Park Plaza, 25th Floor
New York, NY 10004
Telephone: 212.607.8531
Email: alumni@afhu.org
facebook.com/HebrewUniversityAlumni
twitter.com/HebrewUAlum
linkedin.com/company/hebrewualum/
WWW.AFHU.ORG/ALUMNI