AFHU News Spring 2023

PAGE 38
AMERICAN FRIENDS OF THE HEBREW UNIVERSITY
AFHU NEWS VOL. 30 PAGE 39
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