AFHU News Spring 2023

AFHU NEWS 

Vol. 30 / Spring 2023 

KNOWLEDGE 

MOVES 

US

PAGE 2 

AMERICAN FRIENDS OF THE HEBREW UNIVERSITY 

AFHU NEWS VOL. 30 PAGE 3 

AFHU National Leadership 

Letter from Leadership 

PRESIDENT 

TREASURER 

HONORARY DIRECTORS 

Dear Friends, 

Clive Kabatznik 

CHAIR OF THE BOARD 

Marc O. Mayer 

VICE CHAIR OF THE BOARD 

Richard S. Ziman 

VICE PRESIDENTS 

Kenneth L. Stein 

Ronald M. Zimmerman 

HONORARY PRESIDENTS 

Stanley M. Bogen 

Marc O. Mayer 

George A. Schieren 

Daniel I. Schlessinger 

Ira Lee Sorkin 

NATIONAL CAMPAIGN CHAIR 

James Matanky 

Joshua M. Olshin 

ASSISTANT TREASURER 

Michael S. Kurtz 

HONORARY VICE 

PRESIDENTS 

Ernest Bogen 

Rita Bogen 

Michael G. Jesselson 

Herbert L. Sachs 

Charles A. Stillman 

Stanley R. Zax 

SECRETARY 

Pamela N. Emmerich 

ASSISTANT SECRETARY 

Richard D. Weinberg 

Alan Fiske 

Charles H. Goodman 

Brindell Gottlieb 

Brad Karp 

Ellen Klersfeld Hechtman 

Marla Lerner Tanenbaum 

Mark Vidergauz 

HONORARY CHAIRS 

OF THE BOARD 

Stanley M. Bogen 

Michael S. Kurtz 

George A. Schieren 

Daniel I. Schlessinger 

Ira Lee Sorkin 

Whether it’s been cold and snowy or wet 

and windy, our long winter has now yielded 

to spring, and AFHU News reflects the 

upcoming season of new hopes and new 

beginnings. 

This issue includes news of AFHU’s future 

and its recent past, with an introduction 

to participants in the second cohort of our 

highly successful LEAD program and a recap 

of the Palm Beach Scopus Award Gala, where 

CEO Emerita Beth McCoy was fêted. News 

of alumni activities, recent missions to Paris 

and the UAE, new directions in dentistry, 

and the story of the struggles and progress 

of Iraqi Jews are included in our stories and 

donor profiles. Also included are introductions 

to some of AFHU’s newest staff and, of 

course, this issue brings you the latest 

updates on the innovations flowing from the 

Hebrew University of Jerusalem’s globally 

recognized research. 

Each issue of AFHU News reflects our 

commitment to the world-class academics 

and dynamic research found at HU, along 

with our support of the important role the 

university plays in Israeli society, a role that it 

has played since its founding nearly a century 

ago.We hope you enjoy this issue of AFHU 

News and invite you to share it with friends. 

Thank you for your support of AFHU and 

for sharing our commitment to the Hebrew 

University. By working together with our 

dedicated partners at HU, we can help build 

a brighter future for Israel and a better 

tomorrow for people around the world. 

With best wishes, 

Joshua W. Rednik 

Chief Executive Officer

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AFHU Names Senior Fundraising 

Executive Alison Freed as Chief 

Development Officer 

Wilhelmina Waldman Joins AFHU’s 

Northeast Region 

Prior to joining AFHU, Freed was Executive 

Director of Development at Penn Medicine, the 

University of Pennsylvania Health System, where 

she supervised a 10-person team. Before that, she 

served as Senior Director for Fund Development 

at the Westchester Medical Foundation. 

Previously, she served as Vice President at CCS 

Fundraising, a leading fundraising consulting firm 

based in New York City. 

“I am thrilled to join the AFHU team,” 

Freed says. “It is exciting to lead a talented 

fundraising team and partner with a dedicated 

board as we prepare to celebrate the Hebrew 

University’s 100th year.” 

American Friends of the Hebrew University 

(AFHU) has appointed fundraising management 

executive Alison (Ali) Freed as Chief Development 

Officer (CDO). She will report to AFHU Chief 

Executive Officer Joshua Rednik. 

“Ali is uniquely qualified for the new role of Chief 

Development Officer at AFHU with well over 20 

years of experience,” Rednik says. “Her skills as a 

major and principal gifts fundraiser coupled with 

her management expertise will be of great value 

in supporting the mission of Hebrew University.” 

Freed has prior experience in the Jewish 

community having worked at United Jewish 

Communities (now the Jewish Federations of 

North America) earlier in her career. 

She graduated from Columbia University with 

a Master’s Degree in Social Work in 2004 

and earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Human 

Development and Family Studies from Penn State 

University in 1999. 

Veteran fundraising executive Wilhelmina Waldman 

was appointed philanthropic officer of American 

Friends of the Hebrew University’s Northeast 

Region. She is located in the New York office. 

Waldman has more than 20 years of management 

experience specializing in philanthropy and strategic 

planning. She works with the existing Northeast 

team, reporting to regional executive director Maura 

Milles. 

“Wilhelmina is a seasoned philanthropic 

executive who is an excellent addition to our 

Northeast Region team,” says Milles. “We 

welcome her to AFHU and look forward to her 

significant contributions to our organization.” 

Prior to joining AFHU, Wilhelmina served as the 

founding executive director of Well/Beings, a next- 

gen nonprofit focused on climate change. Prior 

to that, she was Vice President of Philanthropy 

for the ASPCA. In addition, Waldman has worked 

for a variety of Jewish and Israeli organizations 

throughout her career and currently serves on 

the advisory board of JIFA (Jewish Initiative for 

Animals). 

Waldman earned an MBA from New York 

University’s Wagner School of Public Service and 

a B.A. in International Relations with a focus on 

Middle Eastern and Judaic studies from The George 

Washington University. She lives with her family in 

Glen Ridge, N.J.

PAGE 8 



Anonymous, but Not Silent: A Savvy 

Philanthropist Discusses the Hebrew 

University and Israel 

A supporter for more than four decades, a 

special, anonymous donor to AFHU enjoys a 

hands-on approach to philanthropy. “Support 

for HU and Israel is a very personal issue for 

me. Some may be content to provide financial 

support alone, while others may be content with 

direct involvement in the university’s work—I 

prefer both.” 

Our donor began his philanthropic relationship 

with the Hebrew University through scholarship 

support 40 years ago and recently made 

a $1 million donation to Agrinnovation, the 

underlying investment fund focused on 

agricultural innovations. Launched in 2015 by 

Yissum, the university’s technology-transfer 

company, Agrinnovation invests in the research 

breakthroughs developed at HU’s Robert H. Smith 

Faculty of Agriculture, Food, and Environment, 

working closely with university scientists and 

researchers to thoroughly test the applicability 

and scalability of each new discovery. 

Over the years, this donor has funded innovative 

work beyond agriculture and the environment, 

including the medical research of Prof. Nataly 

Kravchenko-Balasha, Chief Investigator in the 

Laboratory of Biophysics and Cancer Research. 

Prof. Kravchenko-Balasha analyzes the molecular 

variations between cancerous tumors. Each 

person’s cancer grows in its own way; exploring 

the individual variations in cell growth can aid 

in the development of tumor-specific drug 

combinations tailored to fighting specific 

malignancies. 

Prof. Nataly Kravchenko-Balasha 

Our donor has also supported the research 

of Prof. Ofra Benny, Head of the Lab for 

Nanomedicine and Tumor Microenvironment in 

Hebrew University’s Faculty of Medicine. As the 

Harry W. and Charlotte Ullman Labov Chair in 

Cancer Studies and Director of the Fraunhofer 

Project Center for Drug Discovery and Delivery, 

Prof. Benny’s research focuses on novel therapies 

and drug-delivery systems. By using an approach 

which combines bioengineering, nanomedicine, 

and theoretical models, her lab designs selective 

nano-therapies for cancer targeting, including a 

unique “tumor on a chip” for the development of 

personalized cancer therapies. This technology 

is the basis for a new start-up that will enable 

healthcare professionals to select the optimal 

medication for each patient. 

Prof. Ofra Benny 

Prof. Isaiah (Shy) Arkin’s research has also 

benefited from our donor’s support. Prof. Arkin 

is the Arthur Lejwa Professor of Structural 

Biochemistry at the Hebrew University of 

Jerusalem Institute of Life Sciences, Department 

of Biological Chemistry, as well as HU’s former 

Vice President for Research and Development. He 

is the Founder and CEO of ViroBlock, a healthcare 

solutions company developed with the support of 

Yissum. ViroBlock targets and exploits a particular 

vulnerability in viruses: ion channels. Channels 

are critical components that enable viruses 

to regulate salinity and acidity, so inhibiting 

ion channels is a promising route to curbing a 

virus’s ability to spread infection. ViroBlock has 

used their findings to 

develop rapid screening 

approaches that can 

identify inhibitors from 

thousands of chemicals 

in a matter of weeks 

and has already shown 

promising results in several 

disease such as COVID-19, 

Influenza, Zika, and others. 

Prof. Isaiah (Shy) Arkin 

Whether supporting start-up companies or 

university-based research, our donor feels 

that universities must look towards the future: 

“My work with AFHU and HU is just one of 

my charitable concerns. I like to be personally 

involved, actively participating in promising projects. 

Nonprofits need to think like—and act like—a 

business in order to prosper. They can no longer rely 

on annual contributions, but must engage in short-, 

mid-, and long-term planning. Israel lacks natural 

resources, except for the most important natural 

resource: her people. HU and Israel must encourage 

creativity, innovation, and the development of talent. 

They need these skills to survive and thrive.” 

Advantageous tax planning helps our donor 

achieve charitable goals. Donations are made to 

a tax deductible Donor Advised Fund (DAF), from 

which distributions are directed to causes that 

demonstrate a business mindset. It is important that 

recipients operate with the goal of becoming selfsufficient 

and self-perpetuating. “My philanthropy is 

not limited to donating dollars but includes sharing 

my business expertise.” While not every financial 

need at the Hebrew University is suited for this type 

of benefactor/recipient relationship, those that are 

provide a win-win situation for this donor. 

For those considering support for Hebrew 

University, our donor shares: “Giving to HU 

through American Friends of the Hebrew 

University enables me to pursue my interests in 

innovative agriculture, cancer diagnostics, and 

cancer prevention. HU not only offers causes 

worthy of support, but encourages a business 

mindset that helps a good cause develop into a 

self-sufficient and self-perpetuating business. 

That’s a must—researchers must become 

entrepreneurs and launch successful enterprises.”

PAGE 10 



Susan Lawi: A Family History of 

Supporting Disadvantaged Students 

wanted to find the best university to support, 

and he was told that HU was the best university 

in Israel.” 

Susan is deeply satisfied with the good things 

that her family’s tradition of generous support 

has brought forth. She said: “I am delighted to 

meet the scholarship recipients and I am always 

touched by the graduation ceremony for the 

Ph.D. candidates, held during the annual Board 

of Governors meeting in Jerusalem. The young 

people are inspiring—especially the many young 

women who are graduating with doctorates. It is 

very gratifying.” 

Region Board of Directors. On her board 

experience, Susan said, “You get to meet other 

board members, plan events, suggest worthy 

honorees, review HU progress and AFHU financial 

reports. It’s interesting and rewarding—a great 

way to meet interesting, important people and a 

great way to help HU and Israel.” 

For her service to the university and to Israeli 

higher education, HU awarded Susan with an 

Honorary Fellowship. Unfortunately, she was 

unable to visit Jerusalem to receive the honor 

at the Mount Scopus campus. Undaunted 

by the challenge, Hebrew University and the 


held a presentation event in September 2022 at 

Susan’s home. “(Hebrew University of Jerusalem 

Vice President for University Advancement and 

External Relations) Amb. Yossi Gal came. My 

children were there, and Prof. Magdassi attended 

via Zoom, as did a student I help support. It was a 

special moment. I felt I shared the award with my 

father, and I hope to pass the torch of generosity 

to my children.” 

Susan is not planning to rest on her laurels, 

however. She said, “You see, my father really 

believed in the power of education to improve 

people’s lives. In the future, I’d like to support 

students from Ethiopia—there’s a real need 

there. Supporting education for disadvantaged 

people is just the way I was raised.” 

Susan Lawi’s father left her with an important 

legacy, one she hopes to pass down to her 

children: support for those who are struggling 

to better themselves through education. Susan 

shared: “My father, Saleh Masri (z”l), was born 

in Iraq, and he knew that many of his Jewish 

contemporaries had been uprooted from their 

homes in Arab countries. He also knew that 

those who sought to build new lives in Israel often 

faced discrimination. To fight this discrimination 

and help them build better futures, my father 

started a Hebrew University scholarship fund for 

disadvantaged students of Iraqi descent in 1970. 

I was proud of my father’s contribution to Israeli 

education and, in 2005, decided to continue 

his legacy of providing support to students of 

Iraqi descent.” As for why Saleh Masri chose 

to support HU, Susan commented, “My father 

One particularly significant event occurred at a 

Board of Governors meeting when Susan asked 

to meet a professor of Iraqi descent. She was 

introduced to Prof. Shlomo Magdassi. Prof. 

Magdassi’s research group focuses on applied 

research, with a focus on nanotechnology. 

The group formulates inorganic and organic 

nanomaterials for application in a variety of 

fields including 3D printing, solar energy, and 

bio-medical systems, with current projects 

including transparent conductive electrodes, 

coatings and inks for solar energy applications, 

and nanoparticles for bio-imaging and drug 

delivery. Speaking of Prof. Magdassi, Susan 

added, “I was very impressed and began 

supporting his lab—and was delighted to discover 

that support from my father had helped Prof. 

Magdassi to pursue his studies when he was a 

student at HU!” 

In addition to her generosity, Susan has served 

the university through her membership on the 

AFHU Board of Regents and the AFHU Northeast 

Amb. Yossi Gal, Vice President for University Advancement 

and External Relations together with Susan Lawi during 

the presentation of her Honorary Fellowship.

PAGE 12 



Dr. Allen Finkelstein: A Commitment 

to Compassionate, First-Rate Dental 

Healthcare for All People 

From his days as a dental student at Philadelphia’s 

Temple University, Dr. Allen Finkelstein has been 

committed to serving others by providing quality 

dental care that respects the patient’s dignity 

while meeting their medical needs. As president 

of Temple’s chapter of the Alpha Omega 

International Dental Society in the late 1960s, Dr. 

Finkelstein became acquainted with the Hebrew 

University-Hadassah Faculty of Dental Medicine 

through his relationship with Dr. D. Walter Cohen 

(z”l), a longtime advocate for HU’s dental faculty. 

“Dr. Cohen was my mentor and one of the most 

incredible and influential people in my life,” Dr. 

Finkelstein shared. 

Dr. Cohen was the driving force behind the 

creation of the D. Walter Cohen Middle East 

Center for Dental Education at the Hebrew 

University in Jerusalem. Established in 1997, 

the Center offers an exchange program 

between HU dental students and students 

from other universities. Dr. Finkelstein’s 

commitment to dignified, compassionate care 

is evident in his support for the new Robert 

I. Schattner Oral Health Center for People 

with Disabilities, a state-of-the-art facility 

that will provide accessible, optimal care to 

patients with special needs. At present, a 

single location with specially designed dental 

facilities, adaptive equipment, and trained 

dental care providers does not exist to serve 

the more than 1.5 million Israelis who live 

with physical, cognitive, and developmental 

disabilities. “This is an area of really desperate 

need throughout the Middle East, including our 

beloved Israel,” Dr. Finkelstein shared. 

Situated on the ground floor to ensure 

accessibility, the multi-disciplinary, holistic 

care center is part of an overall planned five 

floor renovation, construction, and equipment 

upgrade for the Hebrew University-Hadassah 

Faculty of Dental Medicine. The new center 

will include six operation rooms that are 

designed to accommodate wheelchairs and 

gurneys and can also function as operating 

room-style sedation suites. The facility will also 

house an advanced dental simulator room, a 

recovery room, and a spacious family reception 

area. 

In addition, the new facility will provide 

customized treatment to meet a wide 

variety of needs and offer people with 

disabilities specialized training for work in 

dental care services, enabling them to become 

economically independent. The Center will house 

groundbreaking research by scientists from the 

school’s seven clinical departments specializing in 

dental medicine. American Friends of the Hebrew 

University is leading the $4.5 million fundraising 

campaign to construct and fully equip the center, 

with a planned opening in 2025. 

Dr. Finkelstein shared, “At the plaza in 

front of the dental faculty, you will find the 

Tree of Peace donated in honor of my parents. 

It is a vivid example of l’dor v’dor, the passing 

of my parents’ values of compassion and helping 

others to me, and then to my children and 

grandchildren.” He added, “There is a quote 

there from Elie Wiesel, ‘It only takes a moment 

to tell your fellow man you love them, and by 

doing so you’ve won a certain victory over 

destiny.’ That is what the Robert I. Schattner 

Oral Health Center for People with Disabilities 

is all about: winning a victory over destiny 

by showing this vulnerable population the utmost 

respect and treating them with the finest 

quality dental care in the world.” 

Learn about the Hebrew University-Hadassah School Of Dental Medicine’s 

Robert I. Schattner Oral Health Center For People With Disabilities

PAGE 14 



The “Father of Cannabis Research” 

Prof. Raphael Mechoulam Dies at 92 

Professor Raphael Mechoulam, known as the 

“Father of Cannabis Research,” died in Israel at 

age 92 in March. 

A professor in the Hebrew University School of 

Pharmacy, Mechoulam began his cannabinoid 

experiments in the 1960s in Israel. His research 

team was the first to isolate delta9-THC (THC), 

the psychoactive component of cannabis, 

which affects the brain, consciousness, and 

creativity as well as Cannabidiol (CBD), the most 

important substance in the plant with medical 

benefits. Among Mechoulam’s many other 

achievements are the design and synthesis of 

numerous important novel cannabinoids that have 

therapeutic potential as pharmaceutical drugs. 

Mechoulam also helped form The Hebrew 

University Multidisciplinary Center for Cannabinoid 

Research (MCCR) in 2017 based on his significant 

discoveries in this field over the past 55 years. 

Hebrew University President Asher Cohen said, 

“Most of the human and scientific knowledge 

about cannabis was accumulated thanks 

to Prof. Mechoulam. He paved the way for 

groundbreaking studies and initiated scientific 

cooperation between researchers around the 

world. Mechoulam was a sharp-minded and 

charismatic pioneer. This is a sad day for the 

academic community and for the university. I send 

my sincere condolences to his family.” 

“The world has lost a giant in the scientific 

research community and a pioneer in the medical 

cannabis field,” says Joshua Rednik, American 

Friends of the Hebrew University CEO. “We send 

our condolences to Prof. Mechoulam’s family. 

The Hebrew University has become a global 

leader in cannabis research thanks to his efforts; 

his significant contributions will live on in future 

research and exciting new discoveries in Israel 

and beyond.” 

Since the inception of his research in the 1960s, 

Professor Mechoulam has been nominated for 

over 25 academic awards, including the Heinrich 

Wieland Prize (2004), an honorary doctorate from 

Complutense University (2006), the Israel Prize 

in Exact Sciences – Chemistry (2000), the Israel 

Chemical Society Prize for excellence in research 

(2009) and EMET Prize in Exact Sciences – 

Chemistry (2012). Mechoulam is one of the 

founding members of the International Association 

for Cannabinoid Medicines and the International 

Cannabinoid Research Society. In 1994, he was 

elected as a member of the Israel Academy of 

Sciences and Humanities. 

Mechoulam was born in Bulgaria in 1930 and 

immigrated with his family to Israel in 1949, 

where he later studied chemistry. He received his 

Ph.D. at the Weizmann Institute, Rehovot (1958), 

with a thesis on the chemistry of steroids. After 

postdoctoral studies at the Rockefeller Institute, 

New York (1959–60), he was on the scientific 

staff of the Weizmann Institute (1960–65), 

focusing on the isolation, structure elucidation 

and total synthesis of the main active principles 

of cannabis. 

Mechoulam moved to the Hebrew University of 

Jerusalem and became a full professor (1972) and 

then the Lionel Jacobson Professor of Medicinal 

Chemistry (1975). Between the years 1979-1982 

he served as the University’s Rector.

PAGE 16 



Marvin Jubas (z”l) 

Marvin Jubas was born and raised in Los Angeles 

by parents who were devoted supporters of the 

Jewish community and the State of Israel. They 

instilled in him the importance of tzedakah and 

tikun olam. Marvin received his B.S. degree from 

UC Berkeley and his JD from UCLA. 

After service in the U.S. Army, he co-founded the 

law firm of Spensley, Horn & Jubas, and served as 

its managing partner for nearly 40 years. Marvin 

served as the managing partner of a mobile home 

park business. 

In addition to Marvin’s distinguished service as 

a member of the regional and national boards 

for American Friends of the Hebrew University, 

his vast community involvement has included 

leadership positions at the Jewish Federation, 

United Jewish Fund, Cedars Sinai Medical 

Center, LACMA, American Friends of the Israel 

Philharmonic Orchestra, Jewish Home for the 

Aging, The Guardians, Israel Bonds and the UCLA 

Foundation. In 2010, Marvin became a Benefactor 

of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. 

First married to the late Fern Jubas, Marvin is the 

proud father of two children, Howard and Andrea, 

and three grandchildren. He was predeceased by 

his second wife, Jacqueline Davis Jubas, and is 

survived by his beloved wife of nine years, Janet 

Wald Jubas.

PAGE 18 



Award-Winning HU Professor Shares 

News on Autism and Alzheimer’s 

Research 

Golda Meir Lectureship Award, and the Brettle 

Center for Research Award, as well as funding 

grants from the U.S. Department of Defense and 

the Israel Science Foundation. 

His research team has made significant progress 

in identifying genetically based autism—estimated 

to be 20% of all cases—but the causes of most 

autism cases remain a mystery. Prof. Amal’s lab 

is conducting research into possible pre-natal 

and environmental factors and working on new 

diagnostic tools to provide earlier identification 

and diagnosis of the illness. With the number of 

autism cases now standing at one in 30 births in 

the U.S. and one in 50 in Israel, hope for further 

progress is strong. Prof. Amal also spoke of his 

team’s success with Alzheimer’s disease. Recently, 

the Amal Lab found novel shared mechanisms 

between autism and Alzheimer’s, and Prof. 

Amal believes these findings may lead to new 

treatments for autism and Alzheimer’s patients. 

Einstein: The 

Man and His Mind 

An unprecedented visual biography of the 

iconic pioneer of modern physics, with signed 

photographs, letters, manuscripts, and more. 

The contributors to the book include Gary 

Berger, who assembled the collection over 

the past three decades; Michael DiRuggiero, 

owner of the Manhattan Rare Book Company, 

who specializes in the history of science with 

an emphasis on Einstein materials; and Hanoch 

Gutfreund, professor emeritus of theoretical 

physics at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, 

where he is also the academic director of the 

Albert Einstein Archives. 

Prof. Haitham Amal is the recent recipient of a 

$400,000 research grant from the Philadelphia 

Eagles Autism Foundation. The grant was 

awarded to Prof. Amal for his groundbreaking 

research on the role of nitric oxide (NO) in 

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) pathology. 

NO is a multifunctional signaling molecule and a 

neurotransmitter that plays an important role in 

physiological and pathophysiological processes, 

and Prof. Amal published the first research paper 

linking nitric oxide to ASD, a key step towards 

identifying a drug target for the disorder. Prof. 

Amal is the first researcher outside the U.S. to 

be awarded the prestigious grant and one of only 

nine grant recipients selected by a distinguished 

panel of nationally recognized U.S. researchers. 

In addition to the Philadelphia Eagles research 

grant, Prof. Amal is the recipient of the Wolf 

Foundation’s prestigious Krill Prize, the Prusiner- 

Abramsky Research Award in Clinical and Basic 

Neuroscience, the Kaye Innovation Award, the 

On Tuesday, January 31 Prof. Amal gave an update 

on his research during a dinner event hosted by 

American Friends of the Hebrew University and 

Cyma and Ed Satell at the Satell’s home in Jupiter, 

FL. In his presentation, the professor pointed out 

that little is understood about autism’s origins, 

triggers, or its location in the brain. 

Prof. Haitham Amal and Ed Satell 

Ph.D. students Shashank Kumar Ojha and Maryam Kartawy 

With his recognition from the Philadelphia Eagles 

Autism Foundation and his team’s impressive 

record of research breakthroughs, Prof. Amal 

remains optimistic, believing that further 

advances may be within our grasp. 

“Imagination is more 

important than knowledge. 

Knowledge is limited. 

Imagination encircles the 

world.” -Albert Einstein

PAGE 20 



Awards and Prizes 

Prof. Nir Friedman 

Congratulations to Professor Nir Friedman of the Lautenberg 

Center for Immunology and Cancer Research for receiving 

the prestigious Landau Prize from the Mifal HaPais Council 

for Culture and the Arts. 

This award recognizes Professor Friedman’s exceptional contributions 

to the field of computational biology, particularly in the development 

of machine-learning techniques for analyzing human genomes in 

the medical field. His pioneering work, which has allowed for highly 

sensitive measurements of DNA fragments in blood samples and has 

been widely cited in scientific research, has helped pave the way in 

the emerging field of personalized medicine. 

Congratulations to Dr. Yotam Drier of the Lautenberg Center for Immunology and Cancer 

Research on receiving the prestigious Krill Prize for his outstanding contributions to 

scientific research. 

The Krill Prize is awarded to outstanding academic faculty members and promising researchers from 

research universities in Israel who have demonstrated significant research breakthroughs and who 

are expected to lead research and academia in Israel in the future in the fields of exact sciences, life 

sciences, and medicine, engineering, and agriculture. 

Meet the Professor: 

Dr. Avigail Manekin-Bamberger 

Dr. Avigail Manekin- 

Bamberger is a historian 

of Jews in antiquity, 

focusing on social 

and cultural history 

and on the study of 

ancient Jewish magic. 

By integrating rabbinic 

sources, non-Jewish 

sources and material 

Dr. Avigail Manekin-Bamberger evidence, she attempts 

to reconstruct the everyday lives of Jews beyond 

the rabbinic class. 

An important source for her study is 

archaeological findings of Jewish magical texts 

and artifacts from antiquity. Early scholarship on 

the subject often disregarded Jewish magical 

sources, preferring to paint ancient Judaism as 

rational and non-superstitious, and magical acts 

as a marginal practice limited to the uneducated. 

However, in the last few decades, as more texts 

and artifacts have been discovered, scholars 

have rejected these apologetic tendencies and 

recognized the central role that magic played 

in the ancient Jewish world. For example, a 

discovery of hundreds of magical texts from 

the time of the Babylonian Talmud inscribed on 

ceramic bowls demonstrates how Jews protected 

their households from demons, curses, and 

malice. A Jewish scribe wrote incantations, divine 

names, curses and spells in ink, on the surface of 

an earthenware bowl, usually in a spiral fashion, 

and later the bowl was buried. In her research, 

Manekin-Bamberger demonstrates how careful 

study of these “bowl texts”, alongside rabbinic 

literature and other non-Jewish sources, can 

reshape our understanding of ancient Jewish 

society, such as the daily lives of Jewish men 

and women, their rituals and institutions, the 

boundaries between Jewish communities and 

non-Jews and much more. 

Click here for her recent blog post on the 

subject. 

Prof. Yotam Drier

PAGE 22 



News & Updates 

HEBREW UNIVERSITY AND META AI LAUNCH 

JOINT AI PH.D. PROGRAM 

The Hebrew University of Jerusalem (HU) School 

of Engineering and Computer Science and Yissum, 

HU’s technology transfer company, announced a 

new research partnership with Meta AI. 

Meta AI’s research advances state-of-the-art 

artificial intelligence through fundamental and 

applied research in open collaboration with the 

community. 

This partnership stems from Hebrew University’s 

initiatives to strengthen the ties between 

academia and the tech industry. Ph.D. students 

who are accepted into the program will have 

the opportunity to merge theory with actual 

work experience, gain a better understanding of 

emerging fields, and develop new technologies. 

ARCHAEOLOGISTS FIND CANAANITE COMB 

WITH ‘FULL SENTENCE’ 

The alphabet was invented around 1800 BCE 

and was used by the Canaanites and later by 

most other languages in the world. Until recently, 

no meaningful Canaanite inscriptions had been 

discovered in Israel, save only two or three 

occasional words. Now an amazing discovery 

presents an entire sentence in Canaanite, dating 

to about 1700 BCE. It is engraved on a small ivory 

comb and includes a spell against lice. 

A team from HU and Southern Adventist University 

in the United States, under the direction of 

Professors Yosef Garfinkel, Michael Hasel, and 

Martin Klingbeil unearthed the comb at Tel Lachish 

in Israel. The inscription was deciphered by Semitic 

epigraphist Dr. Daniel Vainstub at Ben Gurion 

University (BGU). The ivory was tested by HU Prof. 

Rivka Rabinovich and BGU Prof. Yuval Goren and 

was found to originate from an elephant tusk. Their 

findings were published in the Jerusalem Journal 

of Archaeology. 

OLDEST EVIDENCE OF FIRE FOR COOKING 

FOUND 

Researchers from the Hebrew University of 

Jerusalem, Tel Aviv University, and Bar-Ilan 

University, in collaboration with the Steinhardt 

Museum of Natural History, Oranim Academic 

College, the Israel Oceanographic and Limnological 

Research institution, the Natural History Museum 

in London, and the Johannes Gutenberg University 

in Mainz made a remarkable discovery. 

A close analysis of the remains of a carp-like fish 

found at the Gesher Benot Ya’aqov archaeological 

site in Israel shows that the fish was cooked 

roughly 780,000 years ago. Cooking is defined 

as the ability to process food by controlling the 

temperature at which it is heated and includes a 

wide range of methods and until now, the earliest 

evidence of cooking dates to approximately 

170,000 years ago. The question of when early 

man began using fire to cook food has been the 

subject of much scientific discussion for over a 

century. These findings shed new light on the 

matter and were published in Nature Ecology and 

Evolution. 

FOLLOW-UP STUDY SHOWS SIGNIFICANT 

DECLINE IN GLOBAL SPERM COUNTS 

An international team led by Professor Hagai 

Levine of Hebrew University of Jerusalem’s 

Hadassah Braun School of Public Health, with Prof. 

Shanna Swan at the Icahn School of Medicine, 

Mount Sinai, New York, along with researchers 

in Denmark, Brazil, Spain, Israel, and the U.S., 

published the first meta-analysis to demonstrate 

declining sperm counts among men from South 

and Central America, Asia, and Africa. 

Alarmingly, this study also shows that the decline 

in sperm counts in North America, Europe, and 

Australia—reported by this team in 2017—has 

continued and even accelerated in the 21st 

century. Sperm count is not only an indicator of 

human fertility; it also is an indicator of men’s 

health, with low levels being associated with 

an increased risk of chronic disease, testicular 

cancer, and a decreased lifespan. The authors 

say the decline reflects a global crisis related to 

our modern environment and lifestyle, with broad 

implications for the survival of the human species. 

BIONIC TECHNOLOGY LEADS TO 

BREAKTHROUGH IN ANTIBIOTIC SAFETY 

Antibiotic resistance is a growing public health 

concern with global implications. Antibioticresistant 

infections affect over 2.8 million 

individuals each year in the United States alone, 

resulting in more than 35,000 annual deaths. New 

resistance mechanisms constantly emerge and 

spread globally, threatening our ability to treat 

common infectious diseases, such as pneumonia, 

tuberculosis, and sepsis. 

Gentamicin is a commonly used antibiotic, 

considered an essential medicine by the World 

Health Organization (WHO). Antibiotics of this kind 

(aminoglycosides) cause kidney damage in up to 

25% of hospitalized patients using the medicine. 

This is a major problem for more than 37 million 

Americans estimated to suffer from chronic kidney 

disease, according to the Centers for Disease 

Control (CDC). In fact, the American Federal Drug 

Administration (FDA) considers the development 

of antibiotics for patients with chronic kidney 

disease to be a national priority. 

A group of researchers, led by Professor Yaakov 

Nahmias, Director of the Grass Center for 

Bioengineering at the Hebrew University of 

Jerusalem, and founder of the biotechnology startup 

Tissue Dynamics, found a new mechanism of 

antibiotics-induced kidney damage, never previously 

identified.“This is a dramatic demonstration 

that bionic technology, which blends sensors 

with human tissue, could rapidly propel drug 

development forward,” shared Nahmias, whose 

company Tissue Dynamics was recently selected 

as one of the top five organ-on-chip companies 

in the world. 

MEDIEVAL REMAINS REVEAL ASHKENAZI 

JEWS HAVE BECOME MORE GENETICALLY 

SIMILAR OVER TIME 

Excavating ancient DNA from teeth, an 

international group of scientists peered into the 

lives of a once-thriving medieval Ashkenazi Jewish 

community in Erfurt, Germany. The findings, 

shared recently in the journal Cell, show that the 

Erfurt Jewish community was more genetically 

diverse than modern-day Ashkenazi Jews. 

About half of Jews today are identified as 

Ashkenazi, meaning that they originate from Jews 

living in Central or Eastern Europe. The term was 

initially used to define a distinct cultural group of 

Jews who settled in the 10th century in Germany’s 

Rhineland. Despite much speculation, many 

gaps exist in our understanding of their origins 

and demographic upheavals during the second 

millennium. 

“Today, if you compare Ashkenazi Jews from 

the United States and Israel, they’re very similar 

genetically, almost like the same population 

regardless of where they live,” shared geneticist 

and co-author HU Professor Shai Carmi. But unlike 

today’s genetic uniformity, it turns out that the 

community was more diverse 600 years ago. 

Digging into the ancient DNA of 33 Ashkenazi Jews 

from medieval Erfurt, the team discovered that the 

community can be categorized into what seems 

like two groups. One relates more to individuals 

from Middle Eastern populations and the other to 

European populations, possibly including migrants 

to Erfurt from the East. The findings suggest that 

there were at least two genetically distinct groups

PAGE 24 



in medieval Erfurt. However, that genetic variability 

no longer exists in modern Ashkenazi Jews. 

HEBREW UNIVERSITY ANNOUNCES 

GROUNDBREAKING MEDICAL 

CANNABIS COURSE FOR HEALTHCARE 

PROFESSIONALS 

The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, a world 

leader in cannabis research and development, is 

launching a 13-session medical cannabis course to 

better educate doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and 

other medical professionals about new cannabinoid 

treatments, practices, and the latest research. 

“The importance of medical cannabis education is 

undisputed,” says Prof. Yossi Tam, director of the 

Multidisciplinary Center for Cannabinoid Research. 

“As cannabis is becoming legalized in an increasing 

number of countries, it is more important than 

ever for doctors to understand this drug, its 

myriad uses, its benefits, as well as its current 

shortcomings. Our course reflects the expertise 

and extensive knowledge at the university. Medical 

practitioners will be able to learn from our leading 

cannabis researchers, gaining the knowledge to 

treat and advise with confidence.” 

RARE HALF-SHEKEL COIN FROM THE 

GREAT REVOLT FOUND IN JERUSALEM 

Recent excavations in the Ophel area south of 

the Temple Mount uncovered the remains of a 

monumental public building from the Second 

Temple period, which was destroyed in 70 CE. 

In the destruction layer, dozens of Jewish coins 

were found from the period of the Great Revolt 

(66–70 CE), most of them of bronze. This 

assemblage also included a particularly rare 

and unusual find – a silver coin in a half-shekel 

denomination originating from 69/70 CE. 

The dig was carried out by a team from the Hebrew 

University, led by Prof. Uzi Leibner of the Institute 

of Archaeology, in partnership with the Herbert W. 

Armstrong College in Edmond, Oklahoma, and with 

the support of the East Jerusalem Development 

Company, the Israel Antiquities Authority, and 

the Israel Nature and Parks Authority. The rare 

coin was identified by Dr. Yoav Farhi, the team’s 

numismatic expert and curator of the Kadman 

Numismatic Pavilion at the Eretz Israel Museum 

in Tel Aviv. 

HEBREW UNIVERSITY STUDY SETS 

NEW TRANSPARENCY STANDARDS FOR 

GMO-FREE PRODUCTION OF CULTURED 

MEAT 

A new process that significantly improves 

manufacturing efficiency and lowers the cost of 

producing cultured chicken was just published 

in the journal Nature Foods. In the study led by 

Hebrew University’s Prof. Yaakov Nahmias, who is 

also the Founder, President, and Chief Technology 

Officer of Believer Meats, researchers produced 

immortal cell lines of chicken fibroblasts using a 

process of spontaneous immortalization patented 

by the company last year. In contrast to others 

in the field, the process does not require genetic 

modifications, and thus the product is uniquely 

non-GMO. 

Consumer research studies show that American 

consumers are eager to try cultured meat, without 

fully understanding its method of production. 

Regretfully, most cultured meat companies hold 

their methods of production as trade secrets, 

disclosing little information on product composition 

and safety. 

“We strongly believe that honesty is the best 

policy,” said Prof. Nahmias. “As a parent, I am 

eternally worried about the nutrition of my 

children. I want to know that what I give them to 

eat is safe, healthy, and preferably sustainable. We 

wanted to ensure that everyone knows where our 

cell lines came from, how stable and safe they are, 

and that our efficiency is made a matter of public 

information, leading to the robust and sustainable 

production of lab-grown meat that everyone can 

afford.” 

HU LEADS TEAM THAT PUBLISHED HUMAN 

METHYLATION ATLAS 

In a recently published study by a team of 

researchers from Hebrew University and Hadassah 

Hospital in Jerusalem and the biotechnology 

company GRAIL, the team shared a novel 

epigenetic database and reported major advances 

in our understanding of how different cells in the 

human body control their unique characteristics 

and functions. 

The study reveals a broader view of the 

constellations of DNA methylation signatures 

present in the human body across dozens of cell 

types, including cells from the immune, blood, 

respiratory, cardiac, digestive, and vascular 

systems. This vast database will be a valuable 

resource for the scientific and medical community 

and will make it possible to answer fundamental 

questions in biology and promote new approaches 

to diagnosing diseases. 

Tommy Kaplan, Yuval Dor, Benjamin Glaser, Judith 

Magenheim, and Ph.D. students Netanel Loyfer 

and Ayelet Peretz from HU led the team. 

HEBREW UNIVERSITY RESEARCHERS 

DEVELOP CANCER NANOTHERAPIES 

EFFECTIVE IN TUMOR ERADICATION 

In a study led by Ph.D. student Arnon Fluksman 

in Prof. Ofra Benny’s laboratory at Hebrew 

University’s School of Pharmacy in the Faculty 

of Medicine, and Dr. Borja Sepúlveda and his 

team at the Instituto de Microelectronica de 

Barcelona, researchers developed metal iron-based 

biodegradable magnetoplasmonic nanocapsules 

(MAPSULES) to eradicate tumors via remotecontrolled 

local delivery of chemotherapy at 

ultralow drug concentrations. 

“Creating an ‘Iron Dome’ of sorts for cancer, 

MAPSULES not only kill cancerous cells but also 

protect the patient from unnecessary damage to 

healthy tissue, thus augmenting cancer treatment 

outcomes,” said Prof. Benny. 

Results also showed that laser irradiation of 

MAPSULES could increase therapeutic impact 

by generating heat locally in the tumor site. 

These findings introduce the first design of a 

full nano-scale carrier containing large doses of 

chemotherapeutics with a thin external metal 

coating, effectively delivering chemotherapy to a 

solid tumor site. 

ISRAEL FACES MAJOR WATER SHORTAGES 

WITHOUT MORE DESALINATION PLANTS 

During the six decades between 1960 and 2020, 

Israel’s water consumption rose from 1.3 to 2.4 

billion m 3 , an 85% increase over 60 years. By 2065, 

water demand will increase by 160% under the 

high-growth scenario. Increasing water supplies 

by this amount in just 35 years would constitute 

a quadrupling in the rate at which national water 

demand grew from 1960 to 2020. 

FIBER OPTIC COMMUNICATION CABLES 

COULD PROVIDE EARLIER CRITICAL 

EARTHQUAKE WARNINGS 

Optical communication fibers could provide an 

earlier warning of devastating earthquakes of up 

to 30 seconds, according to a new study by an 

international team of researchers led by Dr. Itzhak 

Lior from the Institute of Earth Sciences at Hebrew 

University. 

According to the study, published in Nature’s 

Scientific Reports journal, earthquake early warning 

(EEW) systems provide seconds to tens of seconds 

of warning time before potentially damaging ground 

motions are felt. Seismic sensors should be installed 

as close as possible to expected earthquake 

sources for optimal warning times. However, most 

seismological stations are located on land, while 

the most hazardous earthquakes occur underwater.

PAGE 26 



HEBREW UNIVERSITY AND UNIVERSITY 

OF KENTUCKY RESEARCHERS RECEIVE $1 

MILLION GRANT TO STUDY HUMAN BRAIN 

COMPLEXITY 

Hebrew University and University of Kentucky 

researchers are exploring whether a new type 

of protein substantially increases the molecular 

complexity in the brain and improves its function. 

This may have implications for the study of 

neurological diseases such as schizophrenia, 

epilepsy, and autism. 

The researchers received a $1 million joint grant 

from the American National Science Foundation 

(NSF) and the United States-Israel Binational 

Science Foundation (BSF) to study new aspects 

of RNA biology. 

The team of researchers, led by Prof. Ruth Sperling 

of the Hebrew University Alexander Silberman 

Institute of Life Sciences, together with Prof. 

Stephen Stamm from the School of Medicine 

in Lexington, Kentucky, hypothesize that a new 

type of primate-specific proteins, translated from 

molecules of circular RNA, improves the brain’s 

function in relation to other organisms with a 

similar number of genes. 

AFHU Supporter 

Testimonial: 

Chad Lasdon 

Learn how Chad Lasdon, a graduate of 

AFHU’s Leadership Empowerment and 

Development (LEAD) program, became 

involved with AFHU and what supporting 

Hebrew University means to him. 

L-R: Chad Lasdon, Laura Abrams, Clive Kabatznik 

Get To the Top with Hebrew 

University Alumna Jenna Fisher ‘94 

Jenna Fisher is committed to finding 

transformational leaders who can guide companies 

forward in a changing world. Over the past 20 

years, she has developed strong relationships with 

a broad cross-section of global business leaders 

and the companies they shape. Having completed 

more than 400 CFO and board searches, she 

has a deep understanding of what professional 

and personal experiences, as well as personality 

traits, are needed at the top. She knows that the 

most successful companies are led by diverse 

teams who understand and reflect their products, 

services, employees, and audiences. As a senior 

partner at Russell Reynolds, a leading executive 

search firm, Jenna co-leads the Global Financial 

Officers Practice and conducts senior financial 

officer assignments for leading global companies 

across industries. 

Prior to joining Russell Reynolds, Jenna was a 

consultant with Bain & Co., where she advised 

private equity clients and senior management 

of Fortune 500 firms in technology, consumer 

goods, and retail. She began her career as an 

entrepreneur, founding and successfully selling 

an educational services company in Houston. 

Jenna received her B.A., with honors, in sociology 

from Rice University and her MBA from The 

Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania. She 

also attended Duke University Law School and 

studied at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. 

In her new book To the Top: How Women in 

Corporate Leadership are Rewriting the Rules 

for Success, Jenna reveals how the world faces 

a once-in-a-generation opportunity to close the 

gender gap at the top of organizations today. 

Drawing on scientific research and the powerful 

stories of female business leaders, the book 

outlines how we can seize the opportunity in front 

Learn more about Jenna 

and her book here.

PAGE 28 



THE LEGACY IRA ACT – USING TAX-FREE WITHDRAWALS 

FROM AN IRA TO ESTABLISH A LIFE INCOME PLAN 

SECURE ACT 2.0 

Neal Myerberg 

Principal, Myerberg Philanthropic Advisors 

• The benefits provided for in the CGA and/or 

CRT may not be assigned. 

• If both spouses have IRAs and desire to 

establish a joint and survivor CGA and/or CRT, 

they may apply $100,000 ($50,000 each) to 

establish the life income plan. 

And, of consequence in the IRA owner’s planning, 

the QCD withdrawal of up to $50,000 in 2023, 

for example, may count toward the RMD amount. 

We can provide some strategies for you to 

consider as well as an analysis of a QCD CGA vs. 

a CCG funded with after-tax cash. 

Internal Revenue Code section 408(d)(8) was 

made permanent in 2015. It provides that an 

individual may make direct Qualified Charitable 

Distributions (QCD) from an IRA to section 

170(b)(1)(a) public charities in any calendar year 

up to the aggregate amount of $100,000 free 

of any income tax. Among the benefits this 

produces is the ability of an individual to take 

Required Minimum Distributions (RMD) tax-free 

by directing them as gifts to public charities. The 

distributions to public charities have to be made 

directly from the IRA and cannot be distributed 

tax-free to a donor-advised fund, a supporting 

organization or a private foundation. 

The charitable sector sought thereafter to have 

legislation enacted to enable individuals to use 

QCDs from IRAs to establish charitable gift 

annuities (CGA) based upon certain rules. Initially, 

the proposal was that anyone age 59 ½ or older 

would be able to make QCDs from IRAs up to 

the amount of $400,000 to establish CGAs. This 

amount would not be subject to income taxes. 

The CGAs would pay fixed rate lifetime income all 

of which would be taxed as ordinary income. For 

years, there were attempts to get this concept 

out of Congressional Committees to no avail. 

Even offering lower thresholds than $400,000 did 

not generate affirmative Congressional action. It 

wasn’t until the Secure Act 2.0 effective January 

1, 2023, was enacted into law that section 307 

(the Legacy IRA ACT) allowed individuals with 

IRAs to use a portion of their IRAs via QCDs to 

establish CGAs. That’s where we are now. 

SECTION 307 OF THE SECURE ACT 2.0 

There are now specific rules to follow in order to 

use QCDs from IRAs, tax-free, to establish life 

income plans which include CGAs and charitable 

remainder trusts (CRTs). CRTs include charitable 

remainder annuity trusts (CRAT) and charitable 

remainder unitrusts (CRUT). Beginning in 2023, 

an individual at least age 70 ½ may use up to 

a maximum of $50,000 in a single calendar 

year to establish one or more CGAs and/or 

CRTs. This is a lifetime limitation. $50,000 in 

the aggregate, in a single calendar year. Since 

the $50,000 maximum threshold will adjust 

annually based upon an inflation factor, one 

might elect to wait until 2024 or thereafter to 

take advantage of the opportunity to, perhaps, 

apply more than the initial $50,000 maximum 

amount to establish life income plans during 

that calendar year. 

Among additional rules are the following: 

• The beneficiary/ies of the CGA or CRT may 

only be the IRA owner and/or spouse. 

• All of the annual payments made to the 

beneficiary/ies must be taxed as ordinary 

income. 

• There will be no income tax charitable 

deduction for any portion of the amount 

contributed from the IRA to establish the CGA 

and/or CRT. That is the same rule that applies 

generally to any QCD. 

• The CGA or CRT established with QCD 

distributions cannot be added to, nor 

have added to it, funds that are not QCD 

withdrawals. 

• The use of $50,000 in QCDs to establish a 

life income plan will be counted toward the 

$100,000 QCD limitation for 2023 or for 

whatever calendar year the QCDs are used. 

AFHU has a team of experts available to work 

with you and your professional advisers to develop 

plans for your consideration. All discussions are 

confidential and without obligation. 

By partnering with AFHU, you not only assure 

benefits to you and your family for your lifetime 

but also contribute to the future work of the 

Hebrew University of Jerusalem. 

For more information, please contact us at 

plannedgiving@afhu.org or 212.607.8524

PAGE 30 



Event Recaps 

VP for Strategy & Diversity Mona Khoury Visits the 

United States 

LEAD Participants Take Part in AFHU Board’s Palm 

Beach Weekend 

AFHU welcomed its Leadership Empowerment and Development Program (LEAD) Cohort II 

participants in Palm Beach during the AFHU board weekend. Beginning on Saturday, January 14, 

fourteen members of the new LEAD class gathered for three days of stimulating and engaging 

conversation and education. 

Highlights of the program featured sessions with HU leadership and professors, including HU President 

Professor Asher Cohen, Chancellor Menahem Ben-Sasson, Professor Shy Arkin, and Professor Ori 

Adam. LEAD members also had a chance to meet with and learn about AFHU through a series of 

programs with with key members of the AFHU leadership team. 

The exclusive, 18-month immersive program is designed to develop a new generation of AFHU 

leaders who will serve as ambassadors for the university and its mission, as well as promoters of 

Israel’s bright future. 

LEAD Cohort II Participants 

On March 22, Hebrew University of Jerusalem Vice 

President for Strategy and Diversity Prof. Mona 

Khoury began a wide-ranging tour that included 

stops in Los Angeles, South Florida, and New York. 

Prof. Khoury, who also serves as dean of the 

university’s Paul Baerwald School of Social Work 

and Social Welfare, started her visit in Southern 

California, where she participated in a speaker 

series co-hosted by AFHU and Sinai Temple, Los 

Angeles. Prof. Khoury joined UCLA Prof. Ron Avi 

Astor for a lecture on “Diversity, Inclusion, and 

Collaboration Through School Safety,” where they 

shared information on a program that plans joint 

projects and exchanges between schools in Los 

Angeles and Israel. She returned to Sinai Temple 

later in her trip to join Sinai Temple Rabbinical 

School Fellows in a discussion on Israeli-Arab 

coexistence. 

While in Los Angeles, Prof. Khoury was a guest 

speaker at the AFHU Western Region Board 

Meeting, spoke with AFHU/HU foundation 

partners, participated in a UCLA-HU collaborative 

luncheon, met with UCLA academics, and shared 

information on Hebrew University initiatives for 

Orthodox and Arab students to an invited audience 

at Glaser Weil LLP. 

On March 30, Prof. Khoury visited South Florida 

to share “The Hebrew University: A Model for 

Coexistence in Israel Society.” Hosted by alumna 

Marian Kruss and her husband, Paul Kruss, 

Professor Khoury spoke to HU alumni and friends 

at the couple’s eatery, Mo’s Bagels, in Aventura, 

FL. Later that evening, she met with the AFHU 

Southeast Region Advisory Committee. The 

following day, AFHU supporters Hedy and Arnold 

Kanarick hosted Prof. Khoury at Frenchman’s Creek 

Beach and Country Club for a lively discussion. 

L-R: Hedy Kanarick, Prof. Mona Khoury, Arnie Kanarick 

Prof. Khoury concluded her U.S. stay with a visit to 

New York City from March 31 to April 4. During her 

time in NY, she met with advertising executive and 

talent developer Jonathan Russo, food distributer 

Steve Wils, and European real estate developer 

Amnon Bar Tur. The group discussed Arab Israeli 

student development, along with other efforts to 

build a more inclusive campus. 

Additional engagements included a meeting with 

Andres Spokoiny, President and CEO of the Jewish 

Funders Network, and dinner with Northeast 

Region Board Executive Committee members 

Jeremy Merrin, Founder and CEO of the Havana 

Central Restaurant Group, and HU Alumna Dafna 

Schmerin. 

Before her departure for Israel, Prof. Khoury 

visited the AFHU National Office. She shared 

with staff the progress the Hebrew University 

has made in building a welcoming environment 

for a variety of marginalized groups as well as the 

challenges that remain in creating a more diverse 

university community.

PAGE 32 



HU School of Medicine Head Dina Ben-Yehuda 

Visits South Florida 

Prof. Reuven Hazan Visits Southern California 

During a recent visit to Southern California, HU Prof. Reuven Hazan 

spoke at several AFHU-sponsored events. He is a professor in, and 

former Chair of, the Hebrew University’s Department of Political 

Science, where his research focuses on the interplay between 

electoral systems, political structures, and legislative studies. On 

February 6, 2023, Prof. Hazan spoke to nearly 100 attendees as 

part of the Sinai Temple Speaker Series on the topic, “Navigating 

the Labyrinth of Israeli Politics,” and on February 7, Prof. Hazan 

joined 40 guests at a luncheon held at Glaser Weil, LLP, where he 

spoke on “The New Israeli Government: Democracy and Judicial 

Reform.” Later that evening, the Israel Consul General to Los 

Angeles hosted 30 individuals at his private residence for a lecture 

titled, “Five Elections in Three and a Half Years.” 

On February 9, Prof. Hazan joined Professor Dov Waxman of the UCLA Y&S Nazarian Center for Israel 

Studies and Nazarian research fellow, Dr. Tamar Hofnung, for a discussion titled, “Understanding 

Israel’s Current Political and Constitutional Crisis: An Urgent Discussion.” This timely event, cohosted 

by the UCLA Hillel chapter took place at the university’s Gindi Auditorium. Finally, on February 

13, the Jewish Federation of the Desert in Rancho Mirage hosted Prof. Hazan at an intimate lecture 

with 20 people in attendance. 

American Friends Ellen and Sheldon Hechtman and Talia and Danny Bejarano hosted an introductory 

event for forty guests on February 2, 2023 at Akoya at Boca West, a new community in Boca Raton, 

FL. CEO Joshua Rednik opened with a brief overview of American Friends of the Hebrew University, 

followed by Dean and Head of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem School of Medicine, Prof. Dina 

Ben-Yehuda, who gave a comprehensive update on HU’s Faculty of Medicine and its computational 

medicine initiative. HU’s new Center for Computational Medicine will bridge the gap between data 

science and patient care, replacing the “one size fits all” model of medical treatment with datadriven, 

personalized healthcare. 

The following day, recent UAE-Israel mission participants Hedy and Arnie Kanarick hosted Prof. Ben- 

Yehuda for a morning discussion with a group of over twenty new AFHU event attendees. Later 

that evening, Ellen Levine and Jane Feinstein hosted Professor Ben-Yehuda for a women’s wine 

and cheese event. The event took place at the Levine’s home, where participants learned about the 

Faculty of Medicine, computational medicine, and the power and importance of women in medicine. 

The AFHU Southeast Region is pleased to continue its outreach to the Frenchman’s Creek community 

and all South Florida as a part of AFHU’s mission to expand knowledge of, and support for, Israel’s 

premier institution of higher learning, the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. 

Prof. Reuven Hazan at Sinai Temple in Los Angeles 

Israeli Consul General welcomes AFHU to his private residence

PAGE 34 



HU Professor Provides 

South Floridians with 

Insights into Proposed 

Judicial Changes 

law and religion and law and social norms. Her 

academic background and research experience 

provided event attendees with up-to-date 

information on the political events taking place 

in Israel, offered unique insights into the reasons 

behind the proposed changes, and explored the 

motivations of those opposing the government’s 

proposals. 

Ambassador Yossi Gal at 

Frenchman’s Creek 

Prof. Netta Barak-Corren 

With headlines focusing on the Netanyahu 

government’s planned changes to Israel’s 

justice system, the lectures given by Netta 

Barak-Corren, Director of the Hebrew University 

of Jerusalem’s Center for the Study of 

Multiculturalism and Diversity, provided timely 

updates on this evolving story. 

On March 20, Elaine and Dr. Beno Michel hosted 

Ambassador Yossi Gal, HU’s Vice President 

for Advancement & External Relations at 

Frenchman’s Creek Beach and Country Club. 

Supporters for over 50 years, the Michels invited 

a group of friends to dine with Ambassador Gal 

for discussion and dinner. From HU updates to 

an engaging Q&A session, the conversation and 

dinner was enjoyed by all. 

On March 3, Prof. Barak-Corren spoke at North 

Miami’s Michael-Ann Russell Jewish Community 

Center on, “Changes in the Israeli Judicial System 

and the Separation of Powers in Israel,” and 

again shared her insights with the congregation 

of Boca Raton’s B’nai Torah after the March 4 

morning service. 

A legal scholar, Hebrew University Professor 

of Law, and cognitive scientist, Prof. Barak- 

Corren conducts research on the empirical and 

behavioral analysis of constitutional and public 

law, with a focus on the interaction between 

L-R: Morry and Judy Weiss, Elaine Michel, Amb. Yossi Gal, Dr. Beno Michel

PAGE 36 



Frenchman’s Creek Mission 

Late October witnessed a delegation of 

American supporters of the Hebrew University of 

Jerusalem take part in a much-anticipated event: 

the AFHU Southeastern Region’s Frenchman’s 

Creek Mission to the UAE and Israel. 

The mission, which took place from October 

24 through November 1, 2022, was led by 

Elaine and Dr. Beno Michel, Sherry Norris and 

John Bauman, and Hedy and Arnold Kanarick. 

During the Dubai and Abu Dhabi legs of the 

trip, participants received expert briefings on 

the impact of the Abraham Accords; enjoyed a 

visit with the Israeli ambassador to Abu Dhabi; 

dined with the Jewish and Israeli communities 

of Dubai; and experienced tours of the Sheik 

Zayed Grand Mosque and the Louvre Museum 

in Abu Dhabi. 

The Israeli leg of the trip included a welcome 

dinner with HU Rector Prof. Tamir Shaefer, 

Vice-President and Director-General Mr. Yishai 

Fraenkel, and Prof. Aharon Palmon, Vice President 

for Research and Development. A visit to the 

Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food, 

and Environment at the university’s Rehovot 

campus featured a discussion about Israeli 

start-ups and the food tech industry with Prof. 

Eugene Kandel, renown economist, past CEO of 

Start-Up Nation Central, and former Head of 

the National Economic Council and Economic 

Adviser to the Prime Minister, followed by lunch 

at SavorEat, a revolutionary food tech company, 

with co-founder Prof. Oded Shoseyov. 

Sunday saw a visit to the Edmond J. Safra 

Campus and included a briefing by professor of 

Structural Biochemistry Isaiah (Shy) Arkin, an 

update on the elite military ‘Talpiot’ program, 

and a visit to the Edmond and Lily Safra Center 

for Brain Research (ELSC). 

The Monday visit to Ein Kerem included an 

informative meeting with the Dean of the Faculty 

of Medicine, Prof. Dina Ben-Yehuda, and lunch 

with students from the IDF’s Tzameret Program 

for Military Medicine. This was followed by a 

Founder’s Wall ceremony at the Mount Scopus 

campus and dinner with former speaker of the 

Knesset, Avrum Burg, at the home of Hebrew 

University Chancellor Prof. Menahem Ben- 

Sasson. 

The final day in Jerusalem included a private 

briefing with HU Vice President for Strategy 

and Diversity Prof. Mona Khoury, and a farewell 

lunch that featured former Mossad director 

Ephraim Halevy. 

AFHU missions provide high-level networking 

opportunities, grow support for the Hebrew 

University of Jerusalem’s thriving academic 

program and research community, and 

strengthen ties that link the American Jewish 

community to Jewish communities and people 

of goodwill throughout the world. 

Frenchman’s Creek Mission Group in Jaffa 

L-R: Arnold and Hedy Kanarick, John Bauman, Khalid Al Ameri 

Frenchman’s Creek Mission Group in Jerusalem 

L-R: Dr. Peter and Jane Feinstein, Amb. Yossi Gal at Founders Wall Ceremony 

A day trip to Tel Aviv included a tour of the ANU 

Museum of the Jewish People and a visit to the 

Milk and Honey Whiskey Distillery, while a trip to 

the Golan Heights included a tour of the Syrian 

border with Brigadier General Ilan Lavi and lunch 

at the Golan Heights Winery. 

Frenchman’s Creek Mission Group at the Israeli Embassy with Amb. Amir Hayak 

Frenchman’s Creek Mission Group at the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque

PAGE 38 



AFHU Western Region Mission to Paris and Israel 

From the City of Lights to the Old City, American 

friends enjoyed a busy, enjoyable adventure as 

part of the AFHU Western Region Mission to 

Paris and Israel, held from November 5–14, 2022. 

A special moment of the Paris leg included a visit 

to the Shoah Memorial, including the privilege 

of meeting one of the last witnesses of the Vél 

d’Hiv, the notorious round-up by French police of 

thousands of Jewish men, women, and children 

during the Holocaust. Highlights included a visit to 

the Nissim de Camondo Museum, home to a private 

collection of 18th century art; a tour of Fondation 

Louis Vuitton’s exceptional contemporary arts 

collection; a visit with the Israeli ambassador to 

France; a tour of the Grande Synagogue de la 

Victoire, France’s largest; a meeting with Brigitte 

Macron, wife of the President of France; and a 

meeting with former French president Francis 

Hollande. Throughout the mission, participants 

had the opportunity to meet prominent members 

of the French Jewish Community. 

While several participants had to leave the 

mission due to a COVID-19 outbreak, travelers 

on the Israeli leg of the mission enjoyed tours 

of Haifa, the beautiful Baha’i Gardens, and the 

historic city of Acre (Akko); a trip to IDF posts on 

Israel’s northern border; wine-tasting at a Galilee 

vineyard; tours of the Old City of Jerusalem; 

a meeting with Isaac Herzog, President of the 

State of Israel; and visits to the Israeli Supreme 

Court and Knesset. 

During their time in Israel, mission participants 

met with several HU leaders, including Harel 

Beit-On, Chairman of the Board of the Executive 

Committee of the Hebrew University; HU 

President Asher Cohen; Vice President for 

Diversity and Strategy, Prof. Mona Khoury; 

Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, Prof. Dina Ben- 

Yehuda; Vice President for Advancement and 

External Relations, Amb. Yossi Gal; Chancellor 

Menahem Ben-Sasson; bestselling author, Prof. 

Yuval Noah Harari; and members of the Hebrew 

University Executive Committee. 

Together, the group celebrated several American 

friends who were honored during this mission, 

including Michael Cypers, whose brother Ron 

accepted Michael’s Honorary Fellowship on his 

behalf; Sami Freedman and Marilyn Wallace, 

honored as Benefactors and included on the 

Legacy Tree; Rusty Gregory, honored in a 

Founders ceremony; Hella and Chuck Hershson, 

whose names were included on the Legacy Tree 

and inscribed on the Wall of Life; Larry Lyttle, 

honored in a Founders ceremony; and Stanley 

Schneider, honored in a Founders ceremony. 

Despite the disruption caused by COVID-19, 

the mission to Paris and Israel proved to be an 

enjoyable, moving, and educational opportunity 

for participants—an opportunity to build and 

strengthen relationships in France and Israel 

and a moment to honor devoted friends of the 

Hebrew University. 

Grande Synagogue de la Victoire of Paris 

Western Region Mission Group at Hebrew University 

Israel Prime Minister Isaac Herzog and his wife Michal in their residence with HU President Asher Cohen and Western Mission Mission Group

PAGE 40 



CEO Emerita Beth Asnien McCoy Honored With 

2023 Palm Beach Scopus Award 

The Southeast Region of American Friends of 

the Hebrew University (AFHU) celebrated Chief 

Executive Officer Emerita Beth Asnien McCoy’s 

dedication to the Hebrew University of Jerusalem 

and commitment to Israeli higher education at 

the 2023 Palm Beach Scopus Award Gala, held on 

Friday, January 13 at The Breakers in Palm Beach. 

The event raised more than $1.1 million for the 

Hebrew University’s Center for Computational 

Medicine in Jerusalem. 

Named for Mount Scopus in Jerusalem, the 

National Scopus Award is AFHU’s highest honor 

and has come to symbolize the university’s highest 

ideals of achievement and leadership. Beth was 

honored with the Scopus Award for her leadership 

of AFHU since joining in 2003. She became CEO 

in 2014 and was succeeded by Joshua Rednik last 

year. 

“Tonight, we awarded the prestigious AFHU 

Scopus Award to Beth McCoy in recognition 

of her dedication to Israel and her significant 

achievements in support of the Hebrew University 

of Jerusalem,” said National President Clive 

Kabatznik. “Under Beth’s leadership, AFHU has 

immeasurably improved in all key metrics, most 

notably fundraising and the public profile of the 

university in the United States.” 

Upon accepting the award, Beth remarked “AFHU 

has been my professional home for two decades, 

and tonight I feel fortunate and honored to be 

fêted by my friends, relatives, and my Hebrew 

University family. I can’t think of a better way to 

celebrate my tenure at AFHU than to help advance 

one of Hebrew University’s signature initiatives, 

the Center for Computational Medicine. I thank 

everyone who donated and participated in one of 

the most memorable evenings of my life.” 

Computational Medicine is a transformative 

approach to understanding and combatting disease 

by integrating computational data analysis and 

artificial intelligence methodologies into medical 

research and practice. The Hebrew University’s 

Center for Computational Medicine will stand at 

the forefront of Israeli healthcare, bridging the gap 

between data science and patient care by replacing 

a ‘one size fits all’ model of medical treatment with 

data-driven personalized health solutions. The 

new Center will provide vital insights into disease 

genesis, identify potential targets for therapy, and 

define protocols for prevention, all while preparing 

the next generation of computationally trained 

doctors and researchers. 

“Beth has had an illustrious career at AFHU 

and over 30 years as an accomplished leader in 

the nonprofit arena,” said Joshua Rednik, Chief 

Executive Officer of AFHU. “I have been fortunate 

to have her guidance and insight during my 

initial tenure as CEO and value the relationships 

she has helped me establish amongst our U.S. 

donor family,” he said, adding, “I would also like 

to thank our Dinner Chairs for their leadership 

and generosity: Roberta and Stanley Bogen, 

Sherry (z”l) and Kenneth Endelson, Lori and 

Bruce Gendelman, Michelle and Joseph Jacobs, 

Florence Kaufman, Roberta and Paul Kozloff, 

Elaine and Beno Michel, Annette Pakula, Lisa and 

Michael Rome, Barbara and Richard Rothschild, 

Judy and Robert N. Snyder, as well as Robbi and 

Bruce Toll. In addition, I thank our Event Chairs for 

their dedication and contributions: Marjorie and 

Robert Emden, Marjorie and Stephen Fiverson, 

Tina and Michael Lobel, as well as Jane and Ron 

Zimmerman.” 

L-R: Clive Kabatznik, Asher Cohen, Beth Asnien McCoy, Stanley Bogen and Roberta Bogen

PAGE 42 



Regional Offices 

Northeast Region 

199 Water Street, 11th Floor 

New York, NY 10038 

T: 212.607.8510 

E: northeast@afhu.org 

Mid-Atlantic Region 

11140 Rockville Pike, Suite 640 

Rockville, MD 20852 

T: 202.363.4600 

E: midatlantic@afhu.org 

Philadelphia Office 

PO Box 2147 

Philadelphia, PA 19103 

T: 215.330.6722 

E: philadelphia@afhu.org 

Southeast Region 

1930 Harrison St, Suite 201 

Hollywood, FL 33020 

T: 561.750.8585 

E: southeast@afhu.org 

Midwest Region 

223 W. Jackson Blvd., Suite 1100 

Chicago IL 60606 

T: 312.329.0332 

E: midwest@afhu.org 

Pacific Northwest Region 

548 Market Street, Suite 90944 

San Francisco, CA 94104 

T: 415.299.8691 

E: pacificnorthwest@afhu.org 

Western Region 

555 W. 5th Street, Floor 35 

Los Angeles, CA 90013 

T: 310.843.3100 

E: western@afhu.org 

Save the Date 

May 7, 2023 

May 18, 2023 

June 5-14, 2023 

June 10-13, 2023 

September 9, 2023 

September 10, 2023 

HYBRID Spring National Board of Directors Meeting (Virtual/NY) 

53rd Annual George A. Katz Torch of Learning Award Luncheon (NY) 

LEAD Cohort II Israel Mission (Israel) 

86th International Board of Governors Meeting (Israel) 

Bel Air Affaire (LA) 

Fall National Board of Directors Meeting (LA)

THANK YOU FOR 

YOUR SUPPORT! 


199 Water Street, 11th Floor | New York, NY 10038 

Tel. 212.607.8500 | www.afhu.org | info@afhu.org

AFHU News Spring 2023

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