FINAL_AFHU_News_11.4.20

AFHU NEWS 

Vol. 25 / Fall 2020 

KNOWLEDGE 

MOVES 

US

PAGE 2 

Letter from

AMERICAN FRIENDS OF THE HEBREW UNIVERSITY 

AFHU NEWS VOL. 25 PAGE 3 

Leadership 

Dear Friend, 

We are happy to share with you this issue of AFHU 

News, which highlights the ways in which American 

Friends of the Hebrew University (AFHU) and the 

Hebrew University of Jerusalem (HU) have adapted 

to working through the challenges posed by the 

coronavirus pandemic as well as the university’s 

ongoing efforts to defeat COVID-19. 

Inside, you’ll find an update on the university’s 

adoption of distance learning, as well as news on 

the establishment of Israel’s first National Biosafety 

Level 3 lab (BSL3) at the Hebrew University, the 

only civilian facility of its kind in the country. HU’s 

BSL3 will allow researchers from across Israel to 

safely conduct experiments that will help to defeat 

COVID-19, while providing a home for future research 

on other contagious illnesses. 

As AFHU adapts to the changing landscape caused 

by the pandemic, we have partnered with our 

colleagues at the Hebrew University to offer an array 

of interesting webinars to keep American friends 

connected with Jerusalem. AFHU staff have been 

busy transforming traditional events like the Bel Air 

Affaire and the 50th Anniversary New York Torch 

of Learning Gala into virtual gatherings, and AFHU 

LEAD, our program designed to develop the next 

generation of community leaders, has also adapted 

to the changing circumstances, with much of their 

training and team-building events moving online. 

We have lots of interesting updates in this issue, 

so please be sure to share this digital issue of AFHU 

News with friends, and don’t forget to click on the 

links that will take you to videos and more information 

at www.afhu.org. 

Beth Asnien McCoy 

Chief Executive Officer 

Clive Kabatznik 

President

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AFHU National 

Leadership 

PRESIDENT 

Clive Kabatznik 

CHAIR OF THE BOARD 

Marc O. Mayer 

VICE CHAIRS OF THE BOARD 

Frances R. Katz 

Richard S. Ziman 

VICE PRESIDENTS 

Kenneth L. Stein 

Ronald M. Zimmerman 

TREASURER 

Joshua M. Olshin 

ASSISTANT TREASURER 

Frances R. Katz 

HONORARY VICE 

PRESIDENTS 

Ernest Bogen 

Rita Bogen 

Michael G. Jesselson 

Herbert L. Sachs 

Charles A. Stillman 

Stanley R. Zax 

HONORARY DIRECTORS 

Diane Belfer 

Charles H. Goodman 

Brindell Gottlieb 

Marvin Jubas 

Brad Karp 

HONORARY CHAIRS 

OF THE BOARD 

Stanley M. Bogen 

Michael S. Kurtz 

George A. Schieren 

Daniel I. Schlessinger 

Ira Lee Sorkin 

HONORARY PRESIDENTS 

Stanley M. Bogen 

Marc O. Mayer 

George A. Schieren 

Daniel I. Schlessinger 

Ira Lee Sorkin 

NATIONAL CAMPAIGN CHAIR 

James Matanky 

SECRETARY 

Pamela N. Emmerich 

ASSISTANT SECRETARY 

Richard D. Weinberg 

HONORARY VICE CHAIR 

OF THE BOARD 

Lawrence E. Glick

PAGE 6 

8 

Spotlights 

10 

COVID-19 Research 

11 

New Employee 

Spotlight: Jeremy 

Benjamin 

20 

Alumni Spotlights 

26 

Updates from HU 

28 

Research Updates 

Contents



12 

Webinar Recaps 

15 

Coronavirus Research 

Fund 

18 

Einstein Project 

32 

Planned Giving 

34 

Predictable Income in 

Difficult Times 

38 

Regional Offices

PAGE 8 

SPOTLIGH



TS

PAGE 10 

COVID-19 Research 

Since COVID-19’s appearance earlier this year, the 

Hebrew University has joined research institutions 

worldwide in a full-throttled, wide-ranging response to 

the coronavirus pandemic. Early on, HU researchers 

developed a more rapid testing regimen for the 

coronavirus by developing a diagnostic method 

proven to work 10 times faster than the current 

standard, making it possible to scan 10,000 samples 

simultaneously. Now, HU scientists are working to 

develop antibodies for diagnosis, treatment, and 

vaccination and investigating ways to harness the 

immune system to better combat viral infection. 

In order to determine the effectiveness of any 

treatment, experimental models for the infection 

and the disease are required, as are state-of-the-art 

experimental systems and facilities that allow safe 

research. To meet this urgent need, HU is currently 

constructing the only civilian Biosafety Level 3 lab 

(BSL3) in Israel, allowing researchers from across the 

country to conduct experiments on COVID-19, safely 

research other highly contagious illnesses, and help 

prevent future pandemics. 

The Hebrew University is in a unique position to 

continue providing innovative breakthroughs to 

current and future global health challenges. From 

the start of the pandemic, our interdisciplinary 

teams of computational scientists, cutting-edge 

experimentalists, and clinicians have been working 

on non-traditional approaches to treat COVID-19, 

leveraging their immediate access to patients, a 

newly established sample bank, and in-depth expertise 

in virus biology and genomic and computational 

technologies. Scientists at the Faculty of Medicine, 

the Rachel and Selim Benin School of Computer 

Science & Engineering, and the Edmond and Lily Safra 

Center for Brain Sciences (ELSC) are working with 

Hebrew University affiliated medical centers to meet 

patient and research needs surrounding COVID-19, 

and to build the infrastructure needed to help prevent 

future pandemics. 

While the BSL3 is under construction, HU scientists 

are investigating the possible use of an existing 

tuberculosis drug in limiting the spread of the 

coronavirus, reviewing the effectiveness of a 

cholesterol drug in lessening the deletous effects 

of COVID-19, and investigating whether a lockdown 

is effective in preventing the rapid spread of the 

coronavirus, to name just a few of the HU team’s 

pandemic-related research projects. Information about 

COVID-19 is constantly changing, and HU researchers 

are constantly seeking new insights and new 

treatments to end the pandemic. Be sure to check 

HU and COVID-19 regularly for the latest coronavirus 

research news from the Hebrew University.



New Employee Spotlight: 

Jeremy Benjamin 

American Friends of the Hebrew University recently 

welcomed Mr. Jeremy Benjamin as the Pacific 

Northwest Region’s new Executive Director. With 

more than 20 years of non-profit experience, 

Jeremy’s background mirrors the Hebrew University’s 

breadth of interests. He has supported academic 

and community institutions covering topics from 

archaeology, classics, and Jewish studies to addiction 

medicine, social determinants of health, traumatic 

brain injury, stem cell research, and nearly everything 

in between. Jeremy is looking forward to bringing 

his creativity and the skills he has honed over the 

years at Stanford University Medical Center, San 

Francisco General Hospital Foundation, Sutter Health, 

San Francisco State University, and the Jewish 

Community Federation of San Francisco to his work 

at AFHU. Jeremy received dual graduate degrees 

from the Hornstein Program at Brandeis University in 

Jewish Community Service and Management and has 

a degree in Geography (he used to be a cartographer) 

from University of Delaware. 

A San Franciscan since 2001, you can often find 

Jeremy with his wife Jenny and two teenage children 

Sylvia and Gabriel walking along Ocean Beach or in 

Golden Gate Park, just a few blocks from their home 

in San Francisco’s Sunset neighborhood.

PAGE 12 

Webinar Recaps 

New challenges demand new solutions. As the United 

States and the world have adapted to living and 

working during a pandemic, the Hebrew University of 

Jerusalem has adopted new ways to teach remotely, 

and American Friends of the Hebrew University 

has adopted new ways to stay connected with 

American friends. 

AFHU staff across the country have acclimated 

to the new circumstances, maintaining office 

functions remotely, creating online Zoom meetings 

with supporters, coordinating one-on-one meetings 

between major donors and HU professors, planning 

virtual parlor meetings, and creating content to inform 

and engage our physically-distancing AFHU family. 

Webinars have proven to be an engaging way to 

connect American Friends with the Hebrew University. 

AFHU/HU webinars have covered a wide variety of 

topics, including: 

Jewish Life in Germany: Then and Now: An 

exploration of how the Holocaust experience colors 

our world: the past, through German Jewish life; 

and the present, through the experience of Israeli 

scientists in Germany. 

Coronavirus and the Future of Immunotherapy 

with Professor Isaiah T. (Shy) Arkin, Arthur Lejwa 

Professor of Structural Biochemistry at the Hebrew 

University of Jerusalem and the former Vice-President 

for Research and Development at the University. 

AFHU offers webinar topics as varied as the 

academic disciplines found at the Hebrew University 

of Jerusalem. There’s always something entertaining 

and informative on the AFHU YouTube channel, so 

be sure to subscribe to stay informed of the latest 

research and insights from the Hebrew University of 

Jerusalem and check out our events page. 

What Does it Take to be a Champion? An 

orthopedic surgeon and acclaimed author, an Olympic 

athlete, and a successful entrepreneur discuss how 

they came to be leaders in their respective fields. 

Developing New Diagnostic Tests for COVID-19: 

Technological Innovation in Times of Crisis: A 

discussion on the development of new diagnostic 

tests for COVID-19 with Dr. Naomi Habib, Assistant 

Professor at the Edmond and Lily Safra Center for 

Brain Sciences at the Hebrew University and the 

Goren-Kasam Lecturer in Brain Sciences.



LEAD 

Despite the many obstacles posed by the COVID-19 

pandemic, AFHU’s leadership empowerment and 

development program, LEAD, continues to thrive. 

AFHU LEAD was developed to identify, cultivate, 

and mentor the next generation of leaders for 

American Friends of the Hebrew University 

by engaging with seasoned facilitators and 

brilliant Hebrew University researchers. 

Currently, the first LEAD cohort is scheduled to 

travel to the Hebrew University in May 2021 for the 

Board of Governors meeting, where they will have 

the opportunity to experience Israel’s dynamism and 

innovative spirit. When their program participation 

concludes, the cohort will participate in a “graduation” 

celebration during AFHU’s September 2021 Board of 

Directors meeting in Washington, D.C. 

When the program launched in January 2020, 

COVID-19 was a small cloud on the horizon. While 

original plans included in-person gatherings and a 

week-long group sojourn to Israel, AFHU Leadership 

Development Director Laura Abrams along with 

program mentors quickly adapted programming to 

virtual experiences. LEAD’s 15 dedicated participants 

have remained active and engaged during these 

challenging times. 

Webinars focusing on change management, 

innovation, and nurturing vision have prepared 

participants to become future AFHU leaders, and 

events like online happy hours have helped to continue 

building the comradery. Although focused on longerterm 

leadership development, the program has 

already proven a success, with members of the next 

generation of AFHU leaders already engaged with 

regional boards.

PAGE 14 

Bel Air Affaire 

2020 Bel Air Affaire Scholarship Campaign 

COVID-19 upended many things in 2020, but it could 

not stop the Bel Air Affaire. While the pandemic 

prevented the celebration from occurring in-person, 

the Bel Air Affaire continued as a virtual event, 

raising money to support COVID-19 research 

scholarships. 

Hebrew University President Professor Asher Cohen 

opened the program with an overview of HU’s 

evolution from its early days as a pioneering project 

of 20th century Zionists into a globally revered 21st 

century university equipped to meet modern-day 

challenges, including the coronavirus pandemic. 

Professor Isaiah T. (Shy) Arkin, the Arthur Lejwa 

Professor of Structural Biochemistry at the Hebrew 

University of Jerusalem, and the former Vice- 

President for Research and Development at the 

University, followed President Cohen with comments 

focused on the university’s work in detecting 

viral infection. 

The Hebrew University has mobilized its expertise 

and resources in the global fight against COVID-19. 

HU students from multiple disciplines are playing 

an important role in the university’s commitment 

to defeat the coronavirus. These students need 

your help to continue their efforts to defeat the 

coronavirus and forestall future pandemics. 

Thanks to Bel Air Affaire Co-Chairs Joyce Brandman, 

Renae Jacobs-Anson, and Helen Jacobs-Lepor for 

this successful virtual event, and thanks to AFHU 

Western Region officers: President Mark R. Genender; 

Chairman Richard S. Ziman; and Vice-Chairs Patricia 

L. Glaser and Mark S. Vidergauz, for their work in 

helping to make the event a success. 

Professor Dina Ben-Yehuda — the first woman to 

head the Hebrew University Faculty of Medicine — 

discussed the multi-pronged attack HU researchers 

have taken against the virus and shared information 

on the vital role HU medical students played in 

visiting kidney dialysis patients during lockdown, 

helping with medication deliveries to housebound 

seniors, and working with the IDF to gather statistics 

on the effects of the pandemic in Israel. Finally, 

medical graduate students Roni Ben-Ami and Josh 

Moss shared their experiences during the pandemic 

and spoke of the importance of scholarships in their 

continuing education. A full video of the event is 

available here.



Coronavirus Research Fund 

Anonymous Donor Pledges $6.9M to the Coronavirus Research Fund 

A $6.9 million pledge to the Coronavirus Research 

Fund from an anonymous donor, provided through 

AFHU and secured by Los Angeles-based board 

member Patricia Glaser, will assist the massive, 

multidisciplinary response to COVID-19 at the Hebrew 

University. The generous gift will enable the purchase 

of essential equipment, including a high-resolution 

microscope, mass spectrometer, and a robotic 

drug screening system, funding a project aimed at 

investigating the full structure of the virus. 

The research project facilitated by Ms. Glaser focuses 

on identifying parts of the SARS-CoV-2 structure that 

can trigger an immune response that will stop the 

viral infection. “While most labs around the world 

are focusing on the ‘spike’ protein of the virus, our 

scientists are taking a broader, and more innovative 

approach,” said Asher Cohen, president of the Hebrew 

University of Jerusalem. “They are investigating the 

full structure of the virus. To do that we need a stateof-the-art 

computational facility, advanced imaging 

systems, and robotic systems to handle many samples 

in parallel. We are grateful to our U.S. partners who 

are helping equip our researchers. This much-needed 

infrastructure will greatly advance computational 

medicine in the post-coronavirus era.” 

Deconstructing the virus employs researchers at 

the university’s Faculty of Medicine, the Rachel 

and Selim Benin School of Computer Science and 

Engineering, the Edmond and Lily Safra Center for 

Brain Sciences, the Faculty of Sciences, and Hebrew 

University’s affiliated medical centers. It is a part 

of HU’s broad program response to the pandemic, 

which also includes academics in microbiology, 

immunology, epidemiology, nanotechnology, computer 

science, chemistry, and physics in ongoing efforts to 

defeat the virus, along with academics in the social 

sciences, who are studying the impact of social 

isolation and addressing the economic effects of the 

crisis. “Hebrew University researchers — faculty and 

students alike — are working relentlessly in this fight 

and have already produced significant breakthroughs, 

such as a new testing model, new delivery methods 

for medicine, and diagnostic insights,” said Clive 

Kabatznik, AFHU’s Board President. “These 

magnanimous gifts, which we hope to increase via 

matching funds, present a promising start. However, 

much more support is needed to fully mobilize our 

scientific resources to control the virus and to meet 

the future challenges we will undoubtedly face.” 

To date, donors in the United States have pledged 

more than $10 million to support HU scientists in their 

fight against the coronavirus pandemic, which has 

infected more than 29 million people worldwide.

PAGE 16 

An Important Tool in 

Educating Israeli Dentists 

Renowned throughout Israel and proud of its global 

reputation for achievement, excellence, and innovative 

oral health research, the Hebrew University-Hadassah 

Faculty of Dental Medicine was founded in 1953 as 

a joint initiative of the Hebrew University, Hadassah, 

and the Alpha Omega International Dental Fraternity. 

Located on the university’s Ein Kerem campus, 

the Faculty offers a comprehensive approach to 

dentistry, involving the training of dentists and dental 

auxiliary professionals, extensive community outreach 

programs, and innovative research into dental diseases, 

application of new dental technologies, and craniofacial 

research. The new equipment is an important tool in 

furthering the faculty’s efforts to provide the highest 

standard of training for students. 

Smiles abounded when the Robert I. Schattner 

Foundation made a recent gift of $ 1 million in support 

of the Hebrew University-Hadassah Faculty of Dental 

Medicine. The generous gift will support the annual 

purchase of six new dental chairs over the next five 

years, providing the dental facility with state -of-theart 

equipment and enabling the Faculty of Dental 

Medicine to maintain the highest standards of dental 

education in Israel. 

Established in 1992 by Dr. Robert I. Schattner (z”l) 

(pictured, above), inventor of the OTC oral analgesic 

Chloraseptic, and headed by President and Chairman 

Mr. Sidney Bresler (pictured, right), the Robert I. 

Schattner Foundation continues Dr. Schattner’s 

lifelong commitment to education, access to dental 

health, and building a better world. As the Foundation’s 

website states: The overriding goal of the foundation 

is simple and straightforward – “to make grants where 

they will do the most good and where our gifts will 

make a real difference.”



Brad and Sheryl Schwartz Donate $1 

Million to Fund High-Level Safety Lab for 

Coronavirus Research 

Brad and Sheryl Schwartz of Great Falls, Virginia, have 

donated $1 million to help build a top-level bio-safety 

lab, the first of its kind dedicated to non-governmental 

research in Israel. The lab will assist researchers at 

the Hebrew University of Jerusalem in deconstructing 

the virus that causes COVID-19. 

The $1 million gift from the Schwartzes is a major 

first step toward funding a biocontainment level 3 

(BSL3) national laboratory, which will enable directcontact 

research with the live virus, rather than virus 

components used in current labs. The projected 

cost for this lab, which will feature low air pressure, 

filtration systems, custom protective gear and an 

animal research wing is over $5 million. 

Brad and Sheryl Schwartz are longtime supporters 

of AFHU’s mission on behalf of Hebrew University 

and leaders in technology and innovation. They are 

founders of Blue Canopy, a large data analytics 

and cybersecurity services firm, which in 2017 was 

acquired by Jacobs Engineering. A former U.S. Air 

Force officer, Brad served as group Executive Vice 

President/COO for BearingPoint and regional Vice 

President with Oracle Corporation and both Brad and 

Sheryl held top-level positions at KPMG Consulting. 

Sheryl began her career as a CPA for KPMG where 

she supported a variety of publicly and privately held 

companies both in an audit capacity as well as due 

diligence and advisory roles in acquisition and public 

offerings. She serves as the Vice President of the 

Mid-Atlantic Region of AFHU and is a member of its 

national Board of Directors. 

“In addition to its world-class learning environment, 

Hebrew University is one of the world’s leading 

institutions in converting scientific research into 

practical applications for the world,” said Brad. 

Sheryl adds, “By building a BSL3 facility, Hebrew 

University will be able to continue engaging in 

cutting-edge research to develop solutions to 

lethal or infectious diseases such as SARS-CoV-2. 

This is important for the biotech industry, Israel, and 

the world.” 

The Hebrew University’s broad program in response 

to the pandemic marshals academics in microbiology, 

immunology, epidemiology, nanotechnology, computer 

science, chemistry and physics in the race for a 

vaccine, treatments and knowledge to stem the 

disease, which has already infected more than 24 

million people worldwide.

PAGE 18 

Einstein: Visualize the Impossible 

Brings Genius to Life 

“We see ourselves failing at critical challenges. And we 

come from a line of ancestors that stretch back FOUR 

BILLION - with a B - years. Every link in that chain 

of life did what they had to do to endure and flourish 

against hardship we couldn’t possibly even imagine. …I 

look to Einstein, and I see the strength, the imagination, 

and the conviction that is called for now.” — Anne 

Druyan, Writer/Director/Producer, Cosmos television 

series, and Advisory Board member to Einstein: 

Visualize the Impossible. 

We live in a moment of extraordinary challenges — 

requiring vision, creativity, and leadership to tackle the 

urgent global challenges that face us. From science 

and technology to culture and humanitarianism, there 

is no more inspirational symbol of transformational 

thinking than Albert Einstein. 

As we commemorate the 100th anniversary of Albert 

Einstein’s Nobel Prize in physics, a coalition led by 

the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, owner of the 

Einstein Archive and brand, is producing Einstein: 

Visualize the Impossible, a digital engagement platform 

celebrating the life, genius, and impact of Albert 

Einstein. The project is designed to inspire the next 

generation of scientific innovators and celebrate radical 

thinking and vision to uncover answers to the world’s 

greatest mysteries. 

The digital platform will launch in 2021 with immersive 

experiences built to connect Einstein’s scientific 

achievements and humanitarian values with the technological 

applications defining the twenty-first century and beyond.



Platform features include: 

• Einstein’s Chalkboard: The Einstein Archive will come 

to life as digital experiences visualizing stories and 

artifacts related to the world’s most famous scientist. 

• Thought Leadership Hub: A series of conversations, 

podcasts, webcasts, livestream interviews, and written 

content will engage students, teachers, parents, 

business professionals, and broad audiences with 

leading thinkers and innovators on subjects ranging 

from the future of scientific discovery, technological 

innovation, culture, the humanities, and world peace. 

• Interactive Theories: AI-driven technologies will 

enable direct conversations and engagement with 

the avatar of Albert Einstein through the lens of his 

most famous theories (Relativity, Photoelectric Effect, 

and beyond). 

• Learning Center: Learning capsules (gamification, 

science experiments, equation solving, and customized 

lessons for all ages from Einstein himself) will engage 

students with Einstein’s theories in the context of 

twenty-first century STEM education. 

The Hebrew University is proud to share the life and 

legacy of Albert Einstein on the anniversary of his 

Nobel Prize. Einstein was a founder of the Hebrew 

University, and he delivered the first scientific 

lecture there on Mount Scopus in 1923. He willed 

his personal archives and rights to his works to the 

university following his death in 1955. The Einstein 

Archives, located in Jerusalem, includes Einstein’s 

scientific and nonscientific writings, the famous E=mc 2 

formula, books from his various libraries, photographs, 

and volumes of essays and papers that illuminate 

the life, work, and universe of the world’s most 

famous scientist. 

Be sure to follow Einstein: Visualize the Impossible 

to find out the latest on the exhibit, view Victoria 

Taylor’s LinkedIn interview with Anne Druyan, and 

read Keith A. Spencer’s Salon article with Avi Loeb.

PAGE 20 

Alumni Spotlight: Sarah Siegel 

When you meet Sarah Siegel, even virtually, you 

immediately feel her enthusiasm for the Hebrew 

University of Jerusalem (HU). Her excitement 

penetrates the screen as she shares how a year at 

HU changed her life. 

Studying at HU always intrigued Sarah. Her mother 

of blessed memory studied at the university in 1950, 

and while growing up, Sarah remembers hearing 

her mother’s stories of her time in Jerusalem. Sarah 

gained her own affinity for Israel through visits to the 

country as a child and teen to see her father’s (z”l) 

family, a number of whom had made aliyah in 1947. 

Spending the year at HU cemented her adoration. 

In July 1985, Sarah set off for the most memorable 

experience of her life. Even on her way from the 

airport to Hebrew University, Sarah knew, “It was 

the start of the most marvelous year.” Her time in 

Israel allowed her to explore and discover the person 

she would become. At age 20, she was considering 

life as an observant Jew while trying to define her 

sexual orientation. Going to Shabbat dinners with her 

friend Cathy Milch provided the chance to engage in 

dialogue about Judaism. Being at HU also encouraged 

Sarah to partake in an HU-sponsored Sea to Sea hike 

(from the Mediterranean Sea to the Sea of Galilee) 

and to taste strong Turkish coffee, once. As Sarah 

recalls, “I also learned life skills and thought if I can 

survive here in a foreign country, why not move to 

Chicago after I graduate from Ann Arbor, even though 

I don’t have any family or know anybody there? The 

year abroad at Hebrew U. really provided me with a lot 

of self-confidence.”



Learning at Hebrew University had left such an 

impression on Sarah’s mother that Sarah remembers 

how her mother, who wasn’t fluent in Hebrew, 

“wanted her children someday to be able to study 

in Hebrew at HU, rather than in the English version 

of a class taught by Martin Buber as she had had to 

do.” Having attended a Jewish Day School and taken 

Hebrew in college, Sarah found Hebrew University’s 

Ulpan challenging even so. Ultimately, the program 

enabled her to fulfill her mother’s wish: Sarah took 

several classes in Hebrew. A Comparative Literature 

major, Sarah loved studying Hebrew short stories with 

native Hebrew speakers and fondly remembers an 

English Department class, “Jerusalem in Literature.” 

“We read Mark Twain’s Innocents Abroad and William 

Blake’s poetry, and viewed his artwork. I get emotional 

just thinking about it. Blake was a beautiful pick.” 

While at HU, Sarah also joined the editorial committee 

of the English Department’s literary magazine at the 

time, “Omphalos.” 

Sarah claims she wasn’t a top student while at HU, 

not being a native Hebrew speaker and being busy, 

cementing her identity. She spoke of failed romances 

with men and unrequited crushes on women that 

distracted her from her studies, but now understands 

that it was all part of the experience. Despite language 

and love struggles, Sarah’s time at HU enabled her to 

determine her senior thesis topic, featuring four Israeli 

and American authors Amos Oz, Shulamith Haraven, 

Flannery O’Connor, and Ann Beattie. HU’s library had 

ample materials permitting Sarah to research them. 

A year later, she would graduate from the University 

of Michigan (UM) with High Honors based on the 

quality of her honors thesis, and open about her 

lesbian identity. 

Sarah’s connection to Hebrew University has 

continued throughout the years. She remains in touch 

with dear friends who attended HU with her and, in 

2002, she joined an alumni trip to the university with 

her mother. The trip enabled Sarah and her mother to 

experience HU together as students. The pair learned 

from honeybee researchers at the Robert H. Smith 

Faculty of Agriculture, Food, and Environment, met 

IDF students in elite programs, and saw lectures on 

myriad topics from leading faculty. The trip further 

deepened Sarah’s love for the university. 

While Sarah is a proud alumna of UM, she feels 

a stronger emotional relationship with Hebrew 

University. Earlier this year, Sarah and her wife Pat 

Hewitt, both of whom are actively Jewish, donated to 

support LGBTQ student scholarships at HU. They said 

they felt compelled to give to HU because “We care 

about Israel....And at Hebrew U., for Sarah, everything 

was so vivid and poignant.” 

Sarah further explained, “Students of any nationality 

ought to be rewarded at Hebrew U. for being openly 

lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or queer. Students 

should just be able to focus on their studies. As a 

college student, I didn’t have a lot of money and I 

want these students not to have worry about money 

for tuition.” 

Giving to Hebrew University provided Sarah and 

her wife Pat the unique opportunity to support 

a meaningful cause at a beloved institution. 

Reflecting on the “most memorable year of my life,” 

Sarah also encourages college students to study 

abroad at Hebrew University to have a marvelous 

experience, too.

PAGE 22 

Sarah recently retired from IBM as the manager 

of Learning Design, where she led a team that 

designs courses to help IBM employees gain skills 

in Leadership Development, Diversity & Inclusion, 

and more. One course Sarah is particularly proud 

of focused on global religion and culture. As she 

explained, “We [at IBM] were the first corporation to 

develop digital learning on the topic. Perhaps HU in 

Jerusalem was somewhere in my mind inspiring me. I 

wanted to ensure that IBM fostered an environment 

where everyone could be proud and comfortable with 

who they are. The knowledge that this program and 

the others we designed are experienced by up to 

350,000 IBMers around the world is really powerful.” 

Sarah looks forward to helping global HU students 

succeed, too: “We are committed to future generations’ 

opportunities for academic- and self-discovery at 

Hebrew University, just like my alumna mom was 

committed to my experience. This is our version of l’dor 

v’dor [from generation to generation].” 

Sarah Siegel’s mom in 1950, sitting on a ruin



Alumni Spotlight: Vlady Cornateanu 

homeland) he and his family eventually settled in Los 

Angeles, where he honed his business skills and built a 

successful career in the apparel industry as President 

and CEO of Addiction, a sourcing and manufacturing 

company for private label companies. His extensive 

business dealings in China led Vlady to become a 

facilitator for U.S. companies working in China and 

Chinese businesses in the U.S. 

For Vlady Cornateanu, it’s all about giving back. “I was 

born in Romania and, in those days, being pro-Israel 

was a crime. I was forced to leave the land of my 

birth, my family, and my friends. I arrived in Israel, 

young and alone. After serving in the army, including 

the Yom Kippur war, the Hebrew University welcomed 

me: I received a scholarship, made new friends, and 

received a quality and unforgettable education,” 

Vlady said. 

That is why Vlady sponsors individual scholarships at 

the Hebrew University of Jerusalem (HU)’s Faculty 

of Medicine. “Two of my sons are doctors/surgeons 

who have spent time studying in Israel. My third son 

is a cyber security research/scientist. I am proud of 

them and the good that they do in the world,” he said. 

“The scholarships help promising medical students 

who need financial support to fulfill their potential. It’s 

a way for me to give back to the Hebrew University, 

which made me feel part of the family and provided 

the scholarship I needed to pursue my studies,” 

he added. 

Vlady studied for his MA in archaeology at Hebrew 

University. After a brief time in Iran (his wife’s 

Even as he built his business career, Vlady’s passion 

for archaeology remained an important part of his 

life. Working in China allowed him to explore some 

fascinating sites, including a Buddhist cave in China’s 

Gobi Desert. The cave yielded an 8th century CE 

Hebrew scroll that highlights the little-known history 

of the Jewish presence on the famous Silk Road trade 

route. “I want to learn more about this merchant/ 

explorer—this ‘Jewish Marco Polo’—and share his 

story,” Vlady said. 

Another area of archaeological interest to him is 

Israel’s 1st century BCE through 7th century CE 

synagogues and Christian churches. “There may be 

hundreds of these sites throughout Israel,” Vlady 

shared, adding, “We can use LIDAR technology 

(Light Detection and Ranging is a remote sensing 

method that uses light in the form of a pulsed laser 

to generate precise, three-dimensional information) 

to locate these remains. This shared history will be 

of interest to Jews and Christians in America and 

beyond,” Vlady said. 

While archaeology is a passion, Vlady remains 

focused on medical scholarships at HU. “This is 

such a worthwhile program; it does good for people 

everywhere. I encourage friends of the Hebrew 

University—in America and around the world—to 

join with me in supporting this worthwhile program,” 

he added.

PAGE 24 

Torch Talks 

Alumni Events Recap 

The Hebrew University Alumni Association’s Torch 

Talks webinar series explored a variety of topics this 

year. Webinars featured HU faculty, a Ph.D. student, 

and HU alumni on the university’s history in the 

city of Jerusalem, the Holocaust, and the idea of 

collective memory. 

Two classes of alumni from the One-Year Program 

at Hebrew University (at what is now the Rothberg 

International School) didn’t let the pandemic stop them 

from reconnecting. The classes of ’85-’86 and ’73-’74 

held virtual reunions over the summer, where they had 

the opportunity to hear from Hebrew University faculty 

before reminiscing about their time on campus. 

Capping off the summer with trivia, alumni from 

across the country teamed up virtually with family and 

friends for a fun evening that tested their knowledge 

on subjects like Israel, current events, pop culture, 

and entertainment.



Legends of Tomorrow 

We all know it’s hard being a student during the 

COVID-19 pandemic. But imagine you’re a student at 

the Hebrew University, wondering if you’ll be able to 

return to your studies because you don’t know how you 

can afford to pay for your education. 

That’s why we created Legends of Tomorrow, a 

fundraising effort in support of HU students facing 

financial hardship during this time of economic 

uncertainty. Sara Abeba is one of those students. Sara 

is 28 years old, studying for a dual degree in social 

work and law. Her parents immigrated to Israel in the 

1991 Operation Solomon airlift of Ethiopian Jews, and 

her mother has worked as a janitor since her father’s 

death several years ago. Sara is the first among her six 

siblings to pursue a university degree which, she says, 

“pushes me to succeed and to be a role model.” 

Her scholarship has changed her life in two ways: “First 

is the understanding that there are people who feel 

it is important to give of themselves and contribute 

to society. This makes me aspire to reach a situation 

where I can help and give as much as possible. The 

second is economic: my family does not have the 

ability to support me financially and, undoubtedly, the 

scholarship has filled this void.” 

Bet on the students who’ve overcome the odds, 

the Hebrew University of Jerusalem students who 

give us all a reason to be hopeful for a better future. 

Learn more about how you can support HU’s 

Legends of Tomorrow.

PAGE 26 

UPDATES 

FROM HU


AFHU NEWS VOL. 25 PAGE 27

PAGE 28 

Research Updates 

HU Researchers Connect Antioxidant-Rich 

Foods with Colon Cancer 

It’s a fact that has long baffled doctors: Cancer in the 

small intestine is quite rare, whereas colorectal cancer, 

found in a smaller neighboring organ, is one of the 

leading causes of cancer death for people. What is it 

about the colon that seems to “attract” cancer? 

To answer this question, Professor Yinon Ben-Neriah 

at Hebrew University of Jerusalem (HU)’s Lautenberg 

Center for Immunology and Cancer Research and 

his team, led by Dr. Eliran Kadosh, found that cancer 

mutations are not necessarily bad actors. In fact, 

in certain micro-environments like the gut, these 

mutations can actually help the body to fight cancer. 

However, if the gut microbiome produces high levels 

of metabolites, like those found in certain bacteria and 

antioxidant-rich foods like black tea and hot cocoa, 

then it acts as a particularly hospitable environment to 

mutated genes and will accelerate the growth of bowel 

cancers. Their breakthrough findings were published in 

Nature magazine. 

Prof. Ben-Neriah and his team kept gut microbiomes 

in mind as they took a closer look at gastrointestinal 

cancers, and may have found the reason why only 2% 

of cancers take root in the small intestine, whereas 98% 

of cancers take place in the colon. One major difference 

between these two organs is their levels of gut bacteria: 

small intestines contain few, whereas colons contain 

multitudes. “Scientists are beginning to pay more and 

more attention to the role gut microbiomes play in our 

health: both their positive effects and, in this case, 

their sometimes-pernicious role in aiding and abetting 

disease,” explained Prof. Ben-Neriah. 

Click here to learn more.



Yissum Spinouts Raise $79 million in 

H1 2020 Despite Coronavirus Uncertainty 

Startups from Hebrew University raised $79 million in 

the first half of 2020, Yissum, the technology transfer 

company of HU, announced. Despite the continuing 

global uncertainty caused by the coronavirus, 14 Yissum 

spinouts raised tens of millions of dollars in early-stage 

funding rounds. 

Investments were made in companies in the 

cleantech, agriculture, and foodtech sectors as well 

as in life science, AI, and education. Even though 

VC investments in the U.S. and Europe were down, 

Memory Triggering Increases 

Chance of Drug Addiction Relapse 

Our brains are wired to retain information that relates to 

the context in which highly significant events occurred. 

This mechanism also underlies drug addiction and is 

the reason why hanging out in an environment or with 

people associated with memories of drug use often leads 

to relapse. 

How our brains create this strong association, however, 

is less clear. Now, new research by Professor Ami Citri 

and Ph.D. student Anna Terem at HU’s Edmond and 

Lily Safra Center for Brain Sciences and the Alexander 

Silberman Institute of Life Science shows that a 

relatively obscure brain region known as the claustrum 

plays a significant role in making these connections. 

They published their findings in a recent edition of 

Current Biology. 

the number of VC deals in Israel reached a record in 

the second quarter of 2020. The amount of money 

raised in Israel was done so by just 174 companies. 

“We’re proud that the innovative companies emerging 

from research at the Hebrew University are continuing 

to grow even during these challenging times,” said Dr. 

Itzik Goldwaser, CEO of Yissum. “The fact that $79 

million was raised by these early-stage companies 

across a number of different sectors illustrates that 

the technology developed and cultivated at the Hebrew 

University is having a global impact.” 

Click here to learn more. 

repeated associations with the rewarding treats that lie 

within. In time, children unconsciously learn to “want” 

to see the store stimulus, which is separate from their 

“liking” the actual candy reward. Taking a closer look 

at how context becomes associated with cocaine, 

the researchers found a group of neurons within the 

claustrum that lit up during cocaine use. Further, these 

neurons are pivotal in the formation of an incentive 

salience that links context with the pleasure of cocaine. 

Click here to learn more. 

The researchers’ findings fit the idea of “incentive 

salience,” the process that determines the desirability 

of an otherwise neutral stimulus. For example, a candy 

store façade becomes very attractive to kids after

PAGE 30 

HU Research Team Discovers 

Fruit Bat Signal System 

When wild Egyptian fruit bats set out at night to forage 

in Israel’s Hula Valley, they do so using advanced 

spatial memory and flexible cognitive mapping of the 

fruit trees and other goals scattered in their foraging 

area. They seldom search randomly, and their foraging 

patterns cannot be explained by simpler navigation 

mechanisms, a research team headed by Professor 

Ran Nathan of HU’s Movement Ecology Lab has found. 

The groundbreaking study, co-authored with Tel Aviv 

University’s Prof. Sivan Toledo, HU doctoral candidate 

David Shohami, and other members of Prof. Nathan’s 

group, was featured as the cover story for a recent 

issue of Science. It details the bats’ cognitive map – 

the animals’ mental representation of their own position 

relative to the surrounding environment – that helps 

them to move efficiently from any location to any of 

the many goals within their foraging area, even if the 

goal is out of their sight or smell range. 

“Up to now, the technologies we had could not be used 

to track small wild animals in their natural habitats with 

the detail required to test the existence of a cognitive 

map,” says Prof. Nathan. 

To solve the dilemma, Prof. Nathan teamed up with 

Prof. Toledo to develop an advanced “inverse-GPS” 

tracking system they called ATLAS. After a few years of 

development and refinement, Shohami used the system 

to collect a large dataset of 172 foraging Egyptian fruit 

bats comprising more than 18 million localizations 

collected over 3,449 bat-nights across 4 years. 




New Section of The Great Wall of China 

Mapped for First Time 

For the first time, researchers have fully mapped 

“Genghis Khan’s Wall,” a 737 km section of The Great 

Wall that resides outside of China along the Mongolian 

Steppe. HU archaeologist Professor Gideon Shelach- 

Lavi led the international research team and published 

their findings in a recent edition of Antiquity. 

The famous “Great Wall of China” consists of several 

fortifications, built piecemeal between the last millennia 

BC and the 17th century AD. Shelach-Lavi and his 

team studied the northern phase of this wall-building. 

Aptly named “The Northern Line,” this section spans 

737 km (458 miles) and is mostly located in Mongolia, 

with some sections in Russia and China, an area that 

used to be home to nomadic tribes that routinely 

raided Imperial China. The wall was built during the 

Medieval Period (11th-13th centuries), an era that saw 

the rise of Genghis Khan (more accurately translated as 

“Chinggis Khan”). 

Originally, researchers believed that this section of 

the wall was built to defend the local population from 

the Great Khan and his nomadic raiders. However, 

Shelach-Lavi’s findings suggest that defense was not 

the primary function of these fortifications. 

“Our analysis of the wall suggests that it was not 

built to defend against large invading armies or even 

against nomadic raids into sedentary lands. Rather that 

it was geared to monitor and control the movements of 

nomadic populations and their herds,” explained HU Prof. 

Shelach-Lavi. 


PAGE 32 

PLANNED 

GIVING

AMERICAN FRIENDS OF THE HEBREW UNIVERSITY AFHU NEWS VOL. 25 

PAGE 33

PAGE 34 

Predictable Income 

in Difficult Times 

Neal Myerberg 

Planned Giving Expert 

The Low Interest Rate Environment 

Interest rates for savings, money market, and 

checking accounts are nearly zero. Rates for short 

term CDs are similarly low. Recent rates for Treasury 

instruments range from 0.10 % to 0.14 % for T-bills 

that mature from four weeks to 52 weeks. 

In addition, the IRS discount rate is at a historic low 

(0.4 % for September and October). This affects a 

variety of calculations including rates for charitable 

gift annuities. It particularly impacts rates for 

individuals under age 70. 

With interest rates this low, it may not be prudent 

for individuals to seek alternative income producing 

investments in order to generate more return if risk 

is, as it should be, a significant factor in making 

investment decisions – particularly for older 

individuals and retirees. 

Fed Chair Powell stated in August, and reiterated it 

again more recently, that the central bank will not 

feel obliged to raise interest rates even in a fullemployment 

economy. While raising rates has been 

a way historically to deal with inflation, Powell’s 

statement suggests a present change in philosophy. 

Additionally, Goldman Sachs has recently issued its 

prediction that the Fed will not raise interest rates 

until 2025. 

How Can a Charitable Investment 

Help with Income Needs? 

A charitable gift annuity (CGA) is a contract between 

you and American Friends of the Hebrew University 

(AFHU) which sets out fixed payments for one or 

two lives. CGAs are regulated by the New York State 

Department of Financial Services. Fixed lifetime 

rates for CGAs have historically been higher than 

prevailing interest rates. CGA rates are based on life 

expectancy data and are filed and approved by New 

York and other state regulators. CGA rates are set 

out in tables based upon the age of the annuitant to 

the nearest birthday. In addition to the fixed lifetime 

rate (through one or two lives), a contribution to 

establish a CGA entitles the donor to an income tax 

charitable deduction. 

At the outset, the gift annuity calculation includes 

the determination of how the annual annuity amount 

will be taxed. For gifts of cash, the recipient of the 

annuity will pay tax at rates for ordinary income for a 

portion of the annuity and receive the balance of the 

annuity amount tax-free. 

Because the IRS discount is at a historic low, the 

percentage of the annual CGA payments that are 

received tax-free is at a historic high. Beginning at 

age 70, the tax-free portion will be at least 85% of the 

annual annuity amount. The older the annuitant when 

the CGA is established, the larger the tax-free portion. 

Factoring in the taxable equivalent for tax-free income 

and adding that to the annual payment amount 

suggests that the rate of return from a CGA is 

substantially higher than the already generous fixed 

lifetime rate.



How are the Details of a Charitable 

Life Income Plan Determined? 

Whether the appropriate vehicle is a CGA or a 

charitable remainder trust (CRT) is best determined 

by a review of the goal to be achieved. If the goal 

is to increase returns on cash investment to a level 

that will provide predictable income through years 

of retirement, a CGA may be the best choice. 

Providing the charity with date/dates of birth is 

the first step in obtaining an accurate calculation. 

The calculation will provide you with the fixed lifetime 

rate, the amount of the charitable deduction, and the 

portion of your annual annuity that will be paid to you 

tax-free. You can request and complete a Request for 

Information here. You may also contact AFHU directly 

to obtain the table of CGA rates and visit the planned 

giving section of the AFHU website here. 

A CRT may either be established to provide for fixed 

payments for life/lives or for adjustable payments at 

a fixed rate based upon the revaluation of the CRT at 

the end of each calendar year. For information about 

the tax benefits of a CRT, you may contact AFHU 

directly or first visit the planned giving section of the 

AFHU website here. 

For more information about charitable life income 

plan investments and to learn how to become a 

member of AFHU’s Einstein Visionaries Society, 

please contact Veronica Holquin at 212.607.8576 

or vholquin@afhu.org. 

If your planning may involve the use of appreciated 

capital gain property (e.g., stocks; mutual fund shares; 

works of art and other collectibles; investment real 

estate; secondary/vacation residences), a type of CRT 

may be the best choice. A contribution of capital gain 

property to a CRT enables you to avoid tax on the 

long-term capital gain at the time of contribution. 

Like a CGA, the rate for a CRT is fixed – but it is not 

based upon a table of rates. A customized calculation 

is required for a CRT to determine what rate may be 

set to enable the CRT to pass one or more IRS tests 

to qualify for tax-exemption. The rate for a CRT can 

never be lower than 5%.

PAGE 36 

ALBERT EINSTEIN 

One of the founders of 

the Hebrew University 

of Jerusalem. 

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. 

A F H U H E B R E W U N I V E R S I T Y 

G I F T A N NUI T Y R E T U R N S 

Age 

Rate 

Age 

Rate 

65 

66 

67 

68 

69 

70 

71 

72 

73 

74 

75 

76 

77 

4.7% 

4.7% 

4.8% 

4.9% 

% 

% 

% 

% 

% 

% 

% 

6.0% 

6.2% 

78 

79 

80 

81 

82 

83 

84 

85 

86 

87 

88 

89 

90+ 

6.4% 

6.6% 

6.9% 

7.2% 

7.4% 

7.6% 

7.8% 

8.0% 

8.2% 

8.4% 

8.6% 

8.8% 

9.0% 

* 

Single Life Rates 

MAKE YOUR CHARITABLE GIFT TODAY 

WWW.AFHU.ORG 

T: 212.607.8502 

E: mloebl@afhu.org 

MONICA LOEBL 

National Director of Development


AFHU NEWS VOL. 25 PAGE 37

PAGE 38 

Regional Offices 

Northeast Region 

199 Water Street, 11th Floor 

New York, NY 10038 

T: 212.607.8510 

E: northeast@afhu.org 

Mid-Atlantic Region 

5100 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Suite 250 

Washington, DC 20016 

T: 202.363.4600 

E: midatlantic@afhu.org 

Philadelphia Office 

2100 Arch Street 

Philadelphia, PA 19103 

T: 215.330.6722 

E: philadelphia@afhu.org 

Southeast Region 

100 West Cypress Creek Road, Suite 865 

Fort Lauderdale, FL 33309 

T: 561.750.8585 

E: southeast@afhu.org 

Midwest Region 

20 N. Wacker Drive, Suite 2020 

Chicago, IL 60606 

T: 312.329.0332 

E: midwest@afhu.org 

Pacific Northwest Region 

180 Grand Avenue, Suite 955 

Oakland, CA 94612 

T: 415.299.8691 

E: pacificnorthwest@afhu.org 

Western Region 

16633 Ventura Boulevard, Suite 715 

Encino, CA 91436 

T: 310.843.3100 

E: western@afhu.org 

Save the Date 

November 10, 2020 



January 16, 2021 

Spring 2021 

EINSTEIN VISIONARIES SOCIETY VIRTUAL GATHERING 

HU WEBINAR: THERE IS MORE TO MOSQUITOES THAN MEETS 

THE NOSE 

HU WEBINAR: NEGOTIATING ONE’S IDENTITY: ULTRA-ORTHODOX 

WOMEN INTEGRATE INTO ISRAELI SOCIETY 

PALM BEACH DRIVE-IN MOVIE AND DINNER 

2020 LEADERS OF DISTINCTION AWARD GALA



If our stories have moved you, 

help us move knowledge. 

DONATE NOW AT AFHU.ORG

The Hebrew University 

of Jerusalem 

Excellence starts with people 

Our researchers and students are at the 

heart of the race for scientific breakthroughs, 

seeking answers to the COVID-19 pandemic’s 

most pressing questions. 

Join our diverse community of 24,000 

students studying a wide range of academic 

disciplines in Hebrew and English, at one of 

the world’s leading universities in the vibrant 

city of Jerusalem. 

I Undergraduate Study Abroad 

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Scholarships Available 

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